Episode 5: Lucius Tong

Tong was mayor of South Bend from 1878-1880, the first of its leaders to come with a degree from the University of Notre Dame. During his term, Tong oversaw maintenance on a city whose original infrastructure was turning 15 years old, acquired the land that would be come Howard Park, and watched over one of the worst fires in the city’s history. He also wrote some pretty awful poetry.

Part of Series 1: Dawn of the City of South Bend

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05:03    A brief biography of Lucius Tong

07:30    Lucius Tong writes awful poetry

11:07    The ethnic landscape of South Bend begins to change

12:47    The contentious election of 1878

19:40    Christmas Eve fire rocks South Bend

23:10    City acquires the land that would become Howard Park

25:11    President Rutherford B. Hayes visits South Bend

26:38    The shocking, earth-shattering election of 1880

30:36    Mayor Tong’s legacy and death

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman. 

Visit The History Museum's website.