For decades Goshen’s main drag was the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night.
Teenagers in muscle cars and tank tops clogged U.S. 33 on downtown’s Main Street. It was bumper-to-bumper party that in many ways put Goshen on the national map.
A story about our town’s legendary cruising scene was chronicled in an Associated Press story in 1982. It was even picked up and published in The New York Times. An underground marketing campaign ensued. It was not unheard of to see “I cruised Goshen, Indiana” bumper stickers on cars while traveling out of state during summer vacations.
Cruising had a long and often infamous presence in downtown Goshen. Finally, in May of 1986, it effectively came to an end.
Goshen’s mayor at the time, Max Chiddister, declared war on the pastime. His ammunition came from the Indiana Department of Highways when officials there said Main Street’s center lanes could be restricted for emergency vehicle use from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
While the action was the ultimate buzz kill for cruisers, it was a necessary direction for the city to take. It is hard for anybody to deny that by the mid-’80s cruising had gotten out of hand and the weekend revelry it fostered was indeed a public safety hazard.
Still, it’s hard not to smile when the topic of cruising Main Street comes up. It is fun to reminisce about the good old days and remember the times that were had. Sure, cruising didn’t always bring out the best of Goshen, but it is a significant part of our community identity, even more than 20 years later.
Goshen’s Don Riegsecker must feel the same way. He has organized a Cruisin’ Goshen Reunion Night this coming Friday from 6 until 9 p.m. The event will coincide with July’s First Fridays. As of Friday afternoon, nearly 200 people on the event’s Facebook Web site had said they will attend the event. Another 350 say they might attend.
We would like to thank Riegsecker and all those involved for organizing this reunion. It would be nice if it becomes a regular event. Just not every Friday and Saturday night.
Opinion
Highway 33 revisited
- Opinion
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13 turnarounds we can admire
Before trustees of Goshen Community Schools met this past Monday night, a reception was held to honor 13 deserving students. They weren’t valedictorians or salutatorians. They weren’t class presidents or all-state student-athletes.
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Recognition as bicycle-friendly city appreciated
Goshen is in the second year of its four-year designation by the League of American Bicyclists as a bike-friendly community. We congratulate city planners and bicycle advocates for this continuing recognition.
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A message that all children need to hear
Gayla Konanz is giving girls the message they need to hear — fitness begins early in life and is the foundation that self-esteem and confidence are built on.
Konanz is a fitness advocate for children and works through the Girls on the Run program. The Goshen News told readers in the May 2 edition how Konanz is working with girls at Bristol Elementary School and is encouraging them to get fit and stay fit. -
We’re No. 12, and No. 1,268! Way to go GHS
This has become a popular space for singing the praises of our local school corporations in recent years. That’s because we believe in the quality work and effort our educators and students are putting forth on a daily basis in and out of the classroom.
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Bill Bloss was a superb servant
Bill Bloss, a man who was always willing to step up and help his hometown of Goshen, died Wednesday. We know that everyone who had met Mr. Bloss and got to know him, will miss him plenty.
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Voters and candidates deserve a 'thank you'
In light of Tuesday’s primary election, we’d like to take a moment and thank two groups of people.
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A portrait of success this past Friday
Goshen’s First Fridays has garnered its fair share of headlines since March when the City Council began considering ordinance amendments geared toward youth attending the monthly festival.
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Time not always on public’s side
One candidate was asked whether or not he was a socialist. Others discussed funding priorities, and even braved the tricky topic of where Goshen’s “south link road” should or shouldn’t go.
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Good news in local education
Public schools — especially diverse urban districts — often get a bad rap by those who choose to look through the narrow telescope of standardized test scores. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Standardized tests are a wonderful tool for educators, but not the end-all, be-all of gauging achievement and effectiveness.
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Gang 'talk' is what we need
Business owners see the evidence on their store fronts. Teachers see it sitting in their classrooms. Police officers see it in their daily reports. Graffiti. Clothing. Violence. While the term “gang” can conjure images of crusty inner-city slums, it is not a term that is lost any longer here in Elkhart County.
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13 turnarounds we can admire
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