What was life really like in South Bend 100 years ago?

In this episode, I sit down with local historian and author Aaron Helman to step back into 1926 South Bend - a year full of change, contradictions, and everyday moments that still echo today.

January’s edition of Aaron’s website, The South Bend News-Times, features six stories from that year and we use them as our roadmap: from industry and public health to music, sports, and local characters you may have never heard of. On the surface, the stories couldn’t be more different, but as you’ll hear, they’re deeply connected.

Together, we explore what these moments reveal about daily life in our area a century ago, the challenges people faced, the ways they coped, and the small details that bring the past to life.

Aaron has a rare gift for digging into local history and sharing it in a way that’s thoughtful, accessible, and genuinely funny. If you enjoy stories that help you see South Bend a little differently, both then and now, this one’s for you!

Check out the articles we discussed and MANY more at

https://southbendnewstimes.com/issues/

Learn tons about our local history from Aaron’s books. Check them out at:

https://www.aaronhelman.com/

Aaron also hosts and narrates a local history podcast called “A Bend in Time” Available wherever you get your podcasts or at the link below:

https://www.historymuseumsb.org/see-do/a-bend-in-time/

__________________________________________________

Thank you to the Portage Township Trustee's Office for sponsoring this episode! Thank you to Jason Critchlow and his team for ALL that you do in our community!

Check out their website and Facebook below and discover ALL that the Portage Township Trustee's Office does to meet our community's needs!

https://portage-township.com/

https://www.facebook.com/share/1786tvftXK/?mibextid=wwXIfr

__________________________________________________

ALL of our audio podcast episodes are also on YouTube! Check out our channel! Be sure to like and subscribe! Link below!

You Tube Link: https://youtube.com/@RoundtheBend574

Be sure to follow Round the Bend Now and Then on Twitter: @roundthebendpod

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roundthebendnowandthen

To contact the show, you can email at roundthebend574@gmail.com or message on Twitter or Facebook.

For current & historical pictures and commentary on the South Bend & Mishawaka area, follow @roundthebend574 on Twitter.