South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-23

vailed upon 10 enter a campaign only |
under pressure"
Goetz first Office OF any note came /
TO him in 1892. He was appointed /
deputy oil inspector from the thirteenth 4
district. This position he held for 1
four years.
Urges Park Extensions.
1t was about this time that he be- 4
gan taking a deep interest in civic 4
affairs He found the city in great /
iced Of bigger and better park sys- /
Gem. He appeared before the council 4
end board )f works and park board 4
many times urging extensions. one 4
day in 1901 his opportunity came. He 4
was appointed member of the 1
board of works by Mayor Colfax. Tn /
der the special charter OF that year
the duties ~ the park board werc 4
turned over 20 the new board OF pub /
lie works consisting Of Mr.. GOetz +
Arthur l.. Hubbard and Samuel I
Leeper
Early in it's administration this 4
board established Lasalle park: soon
afterwards Leeper park. one Of the 4
finest in the city today, was laid out |
Howard park was already established I
but through the efforts of Mr. Goetz
and the other members OF the board 1
IL gradually was enlarged and grew
TO the proportions OF the present day. I
Beautiful parks was already one I
Of Goetz' hobbies and through his /
term as mayor he continued his work I
in this line adding 20 Haley park. es- /
tablishing Pottowatomie and Stude- |
baker until today the city boasts OF \
one OF the finest park systems in the /
state.
After 1901 through his connection /
with the board of works Goetz be- |
came more closely associated with |
civic affairs than ever. His work !
soon attracted the attention of his |
political associates and ne came 70 /
be looked upon as man OF strong |
will high ideals and a works. for the |
best interests Of the city.
Elected Mayor i'm 1910.
And in 1910 the city awarded him |
its biggest honor by elccting him !
mayor by the largest plurality ever /
given any candidate i'm the history OF 1
South Bend. He defeated ID. Il. J. /
Shafer BIZ a plurality Of $500 votes.
Although never craving public Of
flee, once in IL he grew enthusiastic |
with the possibilities il afforded him I
10 carry out his ideals From the |
first he worked for better and beau
tiful parks Next he launched the
idea of track elevation Long and |
hard he fought for this and at the
close of his term had succeeded in
establishing the nucleus of fund 10
be devoted TO this aim.
Perhaps the greatest achievement
during his term was the building Of
the new waterworks plant on y. Mich
igan st. This civic improvement.
dedicated a short time after his term
Of office expired was always looked |
upon by Goetz as one of the greatest
boons to the city.
Handled Difficult Situations.
1t is said that during Mayor GOetzs I
term of office there perhaps arose
more difficult situations needing al
most instantaneous action than dur
ing any other city executives regime |
In 1912 the Hungarian church |
trouble burst suddenly. Serious times |
were feared. Mayor Goetz assumed !
control, issued orders TO the police |
and detective force and saved what /
for a time threatened u dire situa-
ton
In 1913 the great Ohio and Indiana
floods broke. one Tuesday night at |
o'clock a faint call trickled into
the telephone Office that Peru was
facing destruction. All communica-
ton was cut off while the town was
Hooded; people were driven from their |
homes; stores We're swimming away
and the city faced starvation.
Mayor Goetz was called to the I
phone. BY s o'clock or Just one
short hour after the first call came |
into South Bend from Peru. the /
mayor had two special interurban /
cars on the track: had dragged the /
manager OF a big local wholesale /
grocery house from a banquet and |
ordered him TO begin loading supplies |
on the cars: had gotten in touch /
with big restaurant and ordered hot /
coffee sandwiches and milk for i'm |
mediate consumption had ordered !
blankets, clothing. boots and all other |
first aid materials necessary in a sit !
uatiOn like that at Peru: and by $50 |
provisions and officers ready for the 4
rescue. The South Bend party was |
the first to reach the stricken city /
assume charge and assist. Mayor /
GOetz was up until the wee hours Of /
the morning awaiting anxiOusly the i
first report from Peru For three |
days Mayor Goetz had little sleep but |
sat in his office taking all calls from |
Peru and directing rescue work from |
South Bend Peru vows never TO for |
get what Mayor Goetz did for her in I
time of need
And once more in 1914 just a few
days before he left his Office he was
again called upon for quick action. |
building just being completed on
Michigan ST collapsed. For a short
time everything was chaos. Then |
Mayor GOetz got on the scene. put
police i'm charge and directed the !
work OF rescuing the men buried in
the ruins.
Many Given Aid.
Although il is little known. Goetz
was one of the most charitable Of
men in the city. II is said at Christ
mas time many and many a family |
owed its dinner TO Mr.. GOetz while /
children played with toys and ate
candy and fruit brought by GOetz. |
Various institutions also came in for
his financial aid and he always gave
literally. As a member of the Elks'
lodge and the Turnverein he also gave
10 charity.
Goetz was married in 1883 10 Emma
r. klingeL whose father, Valentine
klingel. was a prominent resident OF
the city. To this union was born one
BRllln IL who survives The