by Jennifer Romano, Whitley County Historian
๐๐ฎ๐๐ค๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ & ๐๐ก๐ข๐ญ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ
Rev. L. A. Luckenbill was in partnership with Charles G. Whitney for the operation of a funeral parlor and ambulance service at 309 West Van Buren Street for 10 years, beginning around 1904.
In 1914, Rev. L. A. Luckenbill, the junior partner in the business, sold his interest to Jesse A. DeMoney. Luckenbill had decided to retire from funeral service to focus entirely on his ministerial obligations. DeMoney, prior to 1914, had worked for six years as an operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Whitney & DeMoney worked together for several years, however DeMoney sold his interest to Dr. B. F. Stickler in 1917 when it became Whitney & Stickler. They remained on West Van Buren until 1919. Whitney, after a period of financial troubles and divorce in 1921, sold out his shares in the business and moved to Attica, Indiana.
The Luckenbill & Whitney Funeral Parlor building at 309 West Van Buren was torn down in 1919 to make way for the Whitley County Motor Sales building.
๐๐ก๐ข๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ
Whitley County Motor Sales was owned and operated by William C. “Charlie” Thomson beginning in 1919. Thompson began working in the automotive industry in 1914, working as a repairman for the Mel Miller Ford agency on South Main Street. He was initially in partnership with his brother-in-law, George Walter with the East End Garage. Later, they constructed the building at 309 West Van Buren Street for the purpose of selling automobiles in 1919. A portion of the building was constructed using salvaged bricks from the old East Ward school building which had been located just east of Wayne Street between Jefferson and Jackson streets.
Their first franchise was with the Studebaker Company of South Bend. In 1924, Whitley County Motor Sales obtained the Chevrolet franchise and within the next ten years added Buick, Oldsmobile and Cadillac vehicles. In 1938, William’s son, William C. “Bill” Thomson Jr., joined the company, becoming partner and general manager in 1948. The enterprise would eventually expand well beyond 309 West Van Buren Street to include a reconditioning and body shop operation at 305 West Jackson Street, as well as a used car lot and new car storage at the corner of Jackson and Line Streets.
In addition to the sales and service of automobiles, they also eventually operated the Thomson Insurance Agency out of that location as well. In 1957, that service was offered by Charles N. Harker. Harrison Harker was a 46-year employee of the business and worked with all three generations of Thomson family leadership. Harrison Harker’s son, John, would later work for Redman Plumbing and Heating.
In 1968, under the leadership of Bill Thomson, Whitley County Motor Sales moved their enterprise to their new location on Business 30 East near U.S. 30 near C.R. 300 East. Bill’s son, Tim Thomson, continued to run the family business in that location until it sold to City Chevrolet.
๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง๐ & ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐
Redman Plumbing & Heating relocated from their long-time location at 367 1/2 North Line Street to 309 West Van Buren in 1968.
Paul D. Redman and his brother, Gerald Eugene “Pete” Redman, sons of Joseph and Amanda (Crone) Redman, co-founded Redman Brothers Plumbing and Heating in 1947. In 1951, Pete Redman sold his interest in the business to his brother, Paul and the name of the business changed to Redman Plumbing and Heating.
They would operate in this location until the fall of 2023.
๐๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ฒ
In June of 2025, the non-profit organization BABE of Whitley County opened their doors at 309 West Van Buren Street. BABE of Whitley County provides incentives for pregnant women & families to consistently participate in partner programs and services that benefit the health and well-being of infants and young children.
Thank you to Jennifer Romano, Whitley County Historian – Indiana, for her outstanding research and writing of the article and the Whitley County Historical Museum for sharing photos from its collection.
๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐พ๐: ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐
These windows reflect a recently renewed life for this building. In historic preservation, sometimes choices must be made in balancing a buildingโs structural integrity, economic realities, and historic character. Such is the case with 309 West Van Buren Street, currently home to BABE of Whitley County.
The building has been renovated over the past three years after being the home of Redman Plumbing and Heating. While it was Redmanโs, the building was covered by a sheet metal faรงade that concealed much of the original architecture, reflecting a renovation approach common during that era that prioritized practicality and maintenance. Now, with the recent renovation, the decision to remove the sheet metal covering prioritized the buildingโs historic character. Even then though, the decaying historic display windows were replaced by similar modern ones to balance with the structural integrity.
Columbia City Connect encourages the preservation and appreciation of downtown Columbia Cityโs historic character while supporting continued investment and revitalization efforts. Revitalization often requires balancing historic character with the realities of modern use, safety, and long-term sustainability.
This series is designed to help share the story of downtown Columbia City through its architecture, renovations, and historic details. By highlighting these buildings and the thoughtful decisions behind their evolution, we hope to foster a deeper appreciation for the history and character that make downtown unique.
Thank you to Nathan Bilger for providing the recent photos and valuable insights into the architectural history.
For more Columbia City History, check out the Windows into History series at the Columbia City Connectโs website: Windows into History Archives โ Columbia City Connect
