Town of South Whitley

06/14/2026

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the United States flag by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. More than two centuries later, the Stars and Stripes remain a symbol of freedom, unity, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of America.

As we celebrate our nation’s 250th year, Flag Day is a reminder of the generations of Americans who have served, sacrificed, and worked to preserve the liberties we enjoy today. Whether displayed on a front porch, flying over a business, or carried in a parade, the American flag represents the ideals that continue to unite us.

Today, take a moment to proudly display your flag, reflect on our nation’s history, and honor those who have defended it.

Happy Flag Day! 🇺🇸

06/13/2026

Large-Scale Public Safety Training Exercise is scheduled for June 14th. Please avoid the area and understand the increase of public safety members in the area of Larwill and Whitko Career Academy

06/13/2026

Unidentified Feature Photo (from the local history files at SWCPL): Our local history files contain numerous photos that are unidentified. We would love to be able to find out more about these photos and are hoping that by featuring these pictures someone will be able to tell us names, places, what's happening, where it's located or any other information they know about the photo. Even educated guesses may lead us to filling in the missing information.

Our first photo features this gentleman. Our uneducated guess, based on the camera is that he was either a professional photographer or perhaps a journalist? The photo appears to be circa 1950s-early 1960s?

Drop your thoughts in the comments and let's see if we can solve this puzzle.

06/12/2026

There will NOT be trash collection today. Borden had damage to their facility from last night’s storm. They will pickup NEXT FRIDAY. They will accommodate any additional trash besides your bin.

06/11/2026

SOUTH WHITLEY – At Tuesday night's meeting, the South Whitley Town Council approved a street closure on Maple Street between the library and the post office for food trucks at the Park Department's event on July 3, Party at the Park.

06/10/2026

06/06/2026

A Moment in Time (from the local history files at SWCPL): For 28 years, Alfred Ross was the storekeeper in Collamer. Born near Heller’s Corner in Allen County, near the headwaters of the Eel River in 1847, Ross owned and operated a store in Heller’s Corner from 1872 to 1875.

From there, Ross followed the Eel River downstream and ended up in Collamer. Arriving in 1878, he purchased the general mercantile business there, operating it until 1906.

After settling in Collamer, Ross and his wife Etta Blystone Ross ran the store, participated in community affairs, attended church, married and had two children. It was a typical life for a family of the time period.

This quiet shopkeeper, though, had ties to the Revolutionary War. The Ross family and the Blystone family both hailed from Pennsylvania, one of the original 13 colonies. Ross’s grandfather was 16 when he picked up a musket and fought for the fledgling country’s independence. Etta’s grandfather was a captain in the Pennsylvania militia.

Despite the service of their grandfathers in America’s fight for independence, it was Ross’s great-aunt who made the history books: Betsy Ross, the seamstress for the flag that would became the symbol of America.

Ross died in 1932 at his home in Collamer at the age of 85. His wife passed away in 1931. At the time, it was believed that they were the only living relatives of Revolutionary War soldiers in Whitley County.