Round the Bend Now and Then

Matt Emery
  • 4.9 (28)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Local history nerd Matt Emery strives to tell the story of South Bend and Mishawaka through interviews with local leaders, business owners and community members. Learn how intertwined the South Bend and Mishawaka area's past is to our present.   Our episodes are available on all popular podcast apps (Apple, Spotify, etc.). I'm dabbling into visual content as well! Be sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel! Link below: https://youtube.com/@RoundtheBend574 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/roundthebendpod Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roundthebendnowandthen Reach out via email at: roundthebend574@gmail.com or instant message on Twitter or Facebook. For current and historic pictures and commentary on the South Bend and Mishawaka area, also follow https://twitter.com/roundthebend574 on Twitter!

  1. MAY 10

    Mishawaka's Lost Skyscraper

    For a brief moment in the 1960's, downtown Mishawaka almost looked completely different. Plans were unveiled for Center Point Tower - a futuristic 33 story skyscraper featuring offices, apartments, observation decks, and even a revolving restaurant overlooking the St. Joseph River. It would have transformed the Mishawaka skyline forever… but it was never built. In this episode, I sit down with local Mishawaka historian Pete DeKever to explore one of the most fascinating “what if” stories in our area’s history. Pete, author of Lost Mishawaka, shares the story behind the ambitious vision, the man who dreamed it, and why the project ultimately never became reality. A HUGE thank you to Pete for sharing his time, knowledge, research, and genuine passion for preserving Mishawaka history. Conversations like this are such an important reminder that there’s SO much history right under our noses. _________________________________________________________ A big thank you to the Mishawaka Historical Museum for supporting our work! Discover the stories and people that shaped Mishawaka through engaging exhibits, including over 160 newly displayed artifacts and pictures, and pick up your free Mishawaka History Summer Bucket List booklet! Learn more and plan your visit at mishawakamuseum.org and be sure to stop in and explore. _____________________________________________________ Thank you to InRugCo Studio & Gift Shop for supporting the show! Stop in and browse a unique selection of gifts and locally inspired items! Learn more at https://indianarugco.com/ and be sure to check them out in person! _____________________________________________________ Big thank you to Dan Berry Insurance for supporting the show. I’ve trusted them for over 25 years - their customer service and commitment to our community truly stands out! Learn more at www.danberryinsurance.com. _________________________________________________________ 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 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roundthebendnowandthen Follow us on TikTok! https://www.tiktok.com/@roundthebend574?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc 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.

    1h 13m

  2. APR 26

    The College Football Hall of Fame

    In the early 1990s, South Bend took a bold swing, landing the College Football Hall of Fame with hopes of putting the city on the national stage and sparking new life in downtown. In this episode, I sit down with Richard Nussbaum, former South Bend city attorney under Joe Kernan and someone who had a front row seat to how it all unfolded. From the excitement of landing the Hall, to the numerous challenges, to the eventual move out of South Bend, Dick shares a firsthand look at one of the most ambitious, and debated, chapters in our city’s modern history. This is the story of a big idea, the risks that come with it, and what it all means looking back today. _________________________________________________________ Big thank you to Dan Berry Insurance for supporting the show. I’ve trusted them for over 25 years - their customer service and commitment to our community truly stands out! Learn more at www.danberryinsurance.com. _________________________________________________________ Special thanks to our friends at Allie's Cafe for supporting this episode of Round the Bend Now and Then! A River Park staple for 26 years, Allie’s is more than just a cafe - it’s family. Stop in, grab a breakfast burrito (my favorite), or check out their catering at https://www.alliescafe.com/ and tell them Round the Bend sent you! _________________________________________________________ Thank you to M/T Box Computers for sponsoring this episode! Check out their website below to learn more about what they can do to fit your small business's technological needs! Did I mention that they're local? https://www.mtboxcomputers.com/ _______________________________________________ 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.

    33 min

  3. APR 12

    From Ruin to Revival: The Beiger Mansion Story

    If you’ve ever driven through downtown Mishawaka, you’ve likely passed 317 Lincolnway East... and probably slowed down to take it in. Even from the outside, it’s clear: This place has a story! The Beiger Mansion has lived many lives. Built by one of Mishawaka’s most prominent families, it was once a grand social hub, later served as a home for elderly women for over forty years, narrowly escaped demolition in the early 1970s, and was nearly lost to a devastating fire in 1975. Then, in 1989, Ron Montandon purchased the 22,000-square-foot mansion in rough shape and began restoring it piece by piece, determined to preserve its original character. In 2000, Dennis Slade joined the effort, helping transform it into the one-of-a-kind bed and breakfast and event space it is today. I sat down with Ron and Dennis inside the mansion itself, surrounded by the history we were talking about, for a conversation that brings this remarkable story to life. THANK YOU Ron and Dennis for sharing your story! Be sure to check out The Beiger's website for more details about the bed and breakfast as well as information about booking an event. https://www.beigermansion.com/ _____________________________________________________ A big thank you to the Mishawaka Historical Museum for supporting our work! Discover the stories and people that shaped Mishawaka through engaging exhibits, including over 160 newly displayed artifacts and pictures, and pick up your free Mishawaka History Summer Bucket List booklet! Learn more and plan your visit at mishawakamuseum.org and be sure to stop in and explore. _____________________________________________________ Thank you to InRugCo Studio & Gift Shop for supporting the show! Stop in and browse a unique selection of gifts and locally inspired items! Learn more at https://indianarugco.com/ and be sure to check them out in person! _____________________________________________________ Thank you to M/T Box Computers for sponsoring this episode! Check out their website below to learn more about what they can do to fit your small business's technological needs! Did I mention that they're local? https://www.mtboxcomputers.com/ _______________________________________________ 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.

    58 min

  4. MAR 29

    Dillinger’s Last Heist: Chaos in Downtown South Bend

    If you were alive in America in the early 1930s, there was one name that dominated newspaper headlines everywhere: John Dillinger. He wasn’t just a criminal - he was a national celebrity outlaw. He and his gang had bank robbery down to a science: planning, timing, speed. In most cases they were in and out in a couple of minutes. And on June 30th, 1934, that machine wildly rolled into downtown South Bend. In this episode, I sit down with local historian and author Aaron Helman to explore the story of John Dillinger’s final bank robbery, which took place in broad daylight on a busy downtown South Bend street. Aaron wrote about this event on his website, The South Bend News-Times, in an article titled “John Dillinger’s Last Robbery Was in South Bend.” Be sure to check out that piece, along with Aaron’s other local history work, which includes multiple books, articles, and a podcast series. I’ve included links to it all below. https://southbendnewstimes.com/community/helman-john-dillinger-south-bend/ 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 M/T Box Computers for sponsoring this episode! Check out their website below to learn more about what they can do to fit your small business's technological needs! Did I mention that they're local? https://www.mtboxcomputers.com/ __________________________________________________ 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.

    32 min

  5. MAR 14

    Remembering Joe Kernan

    Joe Kernan’s name is deeply woven into the story of South Bend. A Navy pilot and former prisoner of war, Kernan returned home and dedicated his life to serving the community he loved. From his early role as the city’s controller, to nearly a decade as mayor of South Bend, and later as Indiana’s lieutenant governor and governor, Joe believed deeply in public service. But beyond the titles and headlines was a man who cared deeply about his city and the people who called it home. In this episode, I sit down with Dick Nussbaum, Kernan’s longtime friend and city attorney. Dick shares personal memories and stories that offer a rare glimpse into Joe’s leadership, his character, and the political instincts that helped shape South Bend during an important chapter in the city’s history. And as it turns out, this is the 50th episode of Round the Bend Now and Then and what better way to mark that milestone than by reflecting on the life and legacy of Joe Kernan! A special thanks to Dick Nussbaum for generously sharing his time and memories of someone who meant so much to him. _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ Thank you to M/T Box Computers for sponsoring this episode! Check out their website below to learn more about what they can do to fit your small business's technological needs! Did I mention that they're local? https://www.mtboxcomputers.com/ _______________________________________________ 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.

    48 min

  6. MAR 1

    The Lines Around Linden School

    In this episode, we’re talking about a school, but not just any school, we’re talking about Linden School: A place where education, neighborhood boundaries, civil rights activism, and the daily lives of children and families collided in the 1960s. I sit down once again with George Garner, the Assistant Director and Curator at Indiana University South Bend’s Civil Rights Heritage Center, to explore another powerful site featured in South Bend’s African American Landmark Tour and in his book, Placing History. Learn more about the African American Landmark Tour and the book, Placing History, at the link below: https://aalt.iusb.edu/index.html _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ Thank you to M/T Box Computers for sponsoring this episode! Check out their website below to learn more about what they can do to fit your small business's technological needs! Did I mention that they're local? https://www.mtboxcomputers.com/ _______________________________________________ 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.

    33 min

  7. FEB 15

    The West Side Recreation Club

    In this episode, we tell the story of 1415 West Washington Street, a building that’s easy to overlook today but for over 50 years served as the West Side Recreation Club, a vital gathering place and social hub for South Bend’s African American community. I meet with George Garner, the Assistant Director and Curator at Indiana University South Bend’s Civil Rights Heritage Center, and he does such a great job sharing the club's story. The West Side Recreation Club is featured in South Bend’s African American Landmark Tour, developed by the Indiana University South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center, and later expanded in George Garner’s book Placing History. Upstairs, the building housed offices of prominent African American professionals and leaders; downstairs, a pool hall that was frequently targeted by police. That contrast sheds light on how African American leadership and community grew in South Bend within a broader and often complicated civic landscape. Learn more about the African American Landmark Tour and the book, Placing History, at the link below: https://aalt.iusb.edu/index.html ______________________________________________________ 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.

    30 min

  8. JAN 31

    South Bend 100 Years Ago: 1926

    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. 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.

    48 min
See All (54)

4.9
out of 5
28 Ratings

About

Local history nerd Matt Emery strives to tell the story of South Bend and Mishawaka through interviews with local leaders, business owners and community members. Learn how intertwined the South Bend and Mishawaka area's past is to our present.   Our episodes are available on all popular podcast apps (Apple, Spotify, etc.). I'm dabbling into visual content as well! Be sure to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel! Link below: https://youtube.com/@RoundtheBend574 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/roundthebendpod Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roundthebendnowandthen Reach out via email at: roundthebend574@gmail.com or instant message on Twitter or Facebook. For current and historic pictures and commentary on the South Bend and Mishawaka area, also follow https://twitter.com/roundthebend574 on Twitter!

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Emery
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Matt Emery
  • Show Website
    Round the Bend Now and Then

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