Derek Brubaker
New Road: Who's This?
Why Is It Called New Road?
BY DEREK BRUBAKER // POSTED JULY 18, 2026
When driving north on US-31, I inevitably always pass a small green sign that proudly proclaims “New Rd”. For a brief second, I always think: “New? It seems pretty old to me!” and then I go on about my day. But that's what's so fascinating about New Road. This road isn't new. It never was. In 1858, New Road didn't exist. Neither did the city of South Bend, which wouldn't be officially incorporated for seven more years.
John Kern: The Man who Failed Upward
BY DEREK BRUBAKER // POSTED MAY 23, 2026
History is written by the victors, not by those who come in second place… and yet, one of St. Joseph county's major roads is named for a man who perpetually fell just short of victory. John Kern was born into a middle-class family in 1849 in Alto, Indiana — just south of Kokomo. He was an incredibly intelligent young man, though he was persistently plagued with debilitating illnesses throughout his life. After getting his law degree and opening his own firm, he ran for the Indiana state legislature in 1870, losing the race.