More than just a wedding venue
The Hobson returns as downtown's premier event center; also, the sheriff's association offers scholarships
Beautiful, breathtaking, detailed, stunning, perfect and “Wow.” These are the superlatives used by visitors and clients of the Hobson, the premier event center in downtown Kokomo, according to its new manager, Stephanie Stover. “Sometimes photos don’t do it justice,” Stover says.
The Hobson, located at the southeast corner of Walnut and Washington streets in downtown Kokomo, started life as Kokomo’s City Hall. The building housing the venue was due to be razed in 1987 until developer Scott Pitcher of the Fortune Companies stepped in and rehabbed the historic Kokomo landmark, dedicating it to the “Artisans and craftsmen of Kokomo.”
The Hobson is housed on the third floor of the Romanesque style structure which was originally built in 1893. Leslie Bolinger started the renovation of that area of the building for her son and daughter in-law's wedding and continued renting out the space as The Hobson. In July 2022, Pitcher purchased the business from the Bolingers with the idea of making the space more than just a wedding venue, but also a community event center.
The Hobson hosted more than 100 events prior to Stover taking over earlier this month. She has been a part of the business since 2019, starting as an event host, and has held many roles within the company, including Event Coordinator and Assistant Director of Events.
“I plan to provide the same unforgettable guest experience that has become synonymous with The Hobson,” says Stover. “I look forward to maintaining and developing relationships with local wedding vendors and continuing to share this beautiful wedding and event space with our community.”
Kokomo’s local history blends with modern and contemporary elegance at the Hobson.
Upon entering the building visitors are mesmerized by the attention to detail that the building has, with remarkable lighting and furnishings in the entryway that bring back the memories of the Victorian era during which the building was constructed. An elegantly appointed elevator leads to a greeting room that exits to an English style bar area and to preparation rooms for both the bride and the groom. A huge main reception room and event space with wood veneered floors is the centerpiece of the venue.
Although there were plans were to close The Hobson at the end of 2022, Stover reiterated that the venue is open and is completely ready and already booking for 2023-2024.
“We are excited to reopen our books…we have begun scheduling tours, hosting open houses and accepting bookings,” said Stover.
Contact The Hobson by calling 765-457-8020 or emailing hello@thehobsonkokomo.com.
Sheriff’s Association offers scholarships
Howard County Sheriff Jerry Asher recently announced that the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association will again be awarding college scholarships to qualified high school seniors or college students who are pursuing a degree in criminal justice studies. There will be approximately 40, $750 scholarships awarded to qualifying students throughout the state.
The Indiana Sheriffs’ Association Scholarship Fund was established for the purpose of receiving, investing, and dispensing of funds to provide college scholarships to qualified students who are committed to pursuing an education and career in the law enforcement field.
To qualify for one of these scholarships, the applicant must be an Indiana resident, be a current member of the association or a dependent child or grandchild of a current member of the association, attend an Indiana college or university, major in a law enforcement field, and enroll as a full-time student (12 hours).
Applications needed to apply for the scholarships are available from area high school counselors or the sheriff’s office. The scholarship application also can be downloaded from the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association website: www.indianasheriffs.org. The application must be completed and received by the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association on or before April 1, 2023.