January 1848
The first Western Union telegraph office opens in South Bend.
February 1, 1831
County seat of St. Joseph County relocated to South Bend.
February 16, 1852
The Studebaker brothers open their first blacksmith shop in downtown South Bend.
February 25, 1912
To this date, Mishawaka has the largest knit boot factory in the world
(Mishawaka Woolen Company) and the largest windmill factory in the world
(Perkins Windmill).
March 7, 1881
Start of the first public library in South Bend.
March 18, 1845
John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed, dies in Ft. Wayne,
Indiana.
March 31, 1931
Death of legendary Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne in plane
crash.
April
3, 1883
The town of Granger in St. Joseph County founded by Thomas
Foster.
April
13, 1933
First Studebaker "Rockne" automobile rolls off the production
line.
April
20, 1861
First 97 men from St. Joseph County enlist in the Union Army.
April 26, 1880
The first telephone comes to Mishawaka, Indiana.
May 2, 1680
"The River of the Miamis" renamed the St. Joseph River.
May 15, 1929
Registered women voters outnumber men 2 to 1 in upcoming
South Bend election.
May 30, 1911
The very first Indianapolis 500-mile race
June 15, 1940
The last South Bend to Mishawaka trolley run.
June 24, 1832
Reverend Stephen Badin buys 1,100 acres where the University
of Notre Dame stands today.
June 28, 1816
First Indiana State Constitution adopted.
July 2, 1987
Grand opening of Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium in
downtown South Bend.
July 6, 1873
South Bend's City Council approves the building of the
Standpipe.
August 3, 1879
Heat wave continues with temperatures in South Bend reaching
101 degrees before noon.
August 9, 1865
Tornado destroys only covered bridge in South Bend and tears
the roof off the old 1855 courthouse.
August 18, 1857
Town of Lakeville, Indiana platted by Alexis Coquillard.
September 4, 1933
Bendix Airfield is dedicated. Airfield becomes the
Michiana Regional Airport.
September 21, 1954
Ground breaking for the construction of the East-West Indiana
Toll Road.
September 30, 1875
Eighteen marriage licenses issued.
October 1, 1934
Clem Studebaker dies.
October 1, 1954
Studebaker-Packard merger is final.
October 4, 1940
World premiere of "Knute Rockne-All American" starring Pat
O'Brien and Ronald Reagan occurs in South Bend.
October 18, 1830
Name of "Southold" changed to South Bend.
October 26, 1867
The St. Joseph County Historical Society formed. Later
was renamed the Northern Indiana Center for History.
November 1, 1679
Robert LaSalle arrives at the St. Joseph River
November 26, 1842
Father Sorin and his companions arrive at the site of the
University of Notre Dame.
December 1, 1882
Free mail service begins in South Bend.
December 9, 1963
Studebaker Automobile Corporation closes.
December 20, 1963
Last Studebaker automobile produced in South Bend rolls off
the production line.
December 27, 1864
Pierre Navarre, the first white European settler of St.
Joseph County, Indiana, dies.
December 31, 1981
South Bend Toy Company closes.