Articles by Josh Lange

Published March 20, 2025

Earlier this month, Harry McCool, a close relative of mine, had a large 90^th birthday party celebrated at the South Side General Baptist Church. He is one of the oldest Northside Mishawakans, and after speaking with him and other relatives, it made me realize that his story needs to be preserved and shared, as he embodies the Mishawaka everyman of an era that no longer exists. His era and generation had built Mishawaka into what it is today, and we should honor each person who made our community, like Harry.

Harry McCool was born on March 7, 1935, in Mishawaka in his family’s home on the 1100 block of Howard Street to James “Jim” McCool and Lilly (Upson) McCool. The couple also had a younger son named James, Jr. Like other Mishawakans of that time period, Jim worked at Ball-Band, providing for his wife and children. The family moved a couple times, once to Marion Street, then to Ann Street, which are all in the same neighborhood. Harry went to Mary Phillips as a child, then Battell School, and finally Mishawaka High School as a teenager. While in high school, Harry was a member of the choir, the National Honor Society, and was given the Senior Award of Excellence in the electric shop. He also worked part-time after school, making extra money at City Cemetery mowing lawns. Harry graduated in Mishawaka High School’s Class of 1953 with his lifelong friend Robert “Bob” Beutter.

That same year, Harry married his high school sweetheart, Juanita Kelly, at Immanuel Baptist Church. Harry got a job at Robertson’s in downtown South Bend, where he started as a stocker, then moved on to working in the toy department. Harry and Juanita had three children, Elaine (McCool) Lange, Cheryl (McCool) Nave, and Dean McCool. With Juanita raising the three kids, Harry got a job at Studebaker, working on the assembly line. With the growing family, they needed a larger home, so in 1960, they purchased a house near Harry’s childhood neighborhood on Howard Street. They bought the home from the Rea family, the owners of Tribe O Rea Drugstore.

After slow periods of work at Studebaker, Harry decided to work in Mishawaka at Ball-Band, where he stayed until retirement. He started on the Red Ball Jets shoe line before moving up to the promotion of line supervisor. After the shoe line was discontinued, he was transferred to coated fabrics for Naugahyde. He worked there for 36 years, and by the time of his retirement Ball-Band (now Uniroyal) was starting to close its Mishawaka plant.

Harry and Juantia’s three children all graduated from Mishawaka High School, just like their parents. Cheryl married Rev. Daniel Nave, Dean married a fellow MHS graduate, Kerri (Campagna) McCool, and Elaine married David Lange. With the children out of the house, Juanita, who was elected as a lifetime member of the PTA for Mishawaka schools, took a job as a secretary at John Young Middle School. She worked diligently at John Young for 23 years, before retiring.

Cheryl moved out of the area to accompany her husband on spreading the word of the Lord but kept Mishawaka in her heart. Dean and Elaine stayed in the community, both being active in Mishawaka. Dean became the postmaster of the Mishawaka Post Office, as well as an assistant coach for the Mishawaka Cavemen football team and a Mishawaka sports historian. Elaine worked as the choir accompanist, an assistant for the choir classes at Mishawaka High School and is an active member of the Mishawaka Alumni Association.

Harry McCool created a legacy of helping the community that is continued by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He is one of the most modest and humble of men I have ever known, and he is someone who Mishawakans should strive to be like. Harry has lived his entire life in Mishawaka, totaling 90 years. He has seen Mishawaka evolve and change into the city that we see today. When Harry was born in 1935, milk, ice, and coal were still being delivered to Mishawaka homes, and the iconic Battell Park rock walls were under construction. He loves spending time with his 6 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, many of whom graduated or are going through the Mishawaka school system. Harry is a Mishawaka patriot and absolutely loves the city more than anyone I know. He is one of the last Northside Mishawakans of a distant era that is slipping away. I encourage readers to talk to their elders about their lives growing up in our community. To help honor these people, we should preserve their stories and memories as a tool to educate younger generations about Mishawaka’s past.

Harry McCool and his 3 children (1961)