USA > Indiana > Lake County > A standard history of Lake County, Indiana, and the Calumet region, Volume I > Part 33
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ported the superintendent in his endeavors to build up a thorough system of schools. From 1883 till 1890 Superintendent Belman did consider- able class work. In 1890 he was placed in charge of the township work, which included the schools of Hammond, East Chicago and Whiting. He has placed all the schools under the same system and is endeavoring to work out a township system that shall be of great value to all the schools concerned.
"In 1887 the high school, which was organized in 1884 with but few pupils, graduated its first class, three ladies. From that time the high school has grown until at the present time (1892) it has become an important factor in the system.
"Thus from a small distriet school on the banks of the Calumet has grown a system of schools that today (1892) occupies six buildings, enrolls 1,500 pupils, pays an annual salary of nearly seventeen thousand dollars to its faculty. With such a system we may well feel proud, and with the sympathy that exists between people and schools we are sure of extended success in the future."
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1892-1904
Continuing Professor Belman's sketch, from 1892 to 1904, the Ham- mond Daily News, to which we are indebted for much other local his- tory, says :
"The foregoing sketch is of the schools while they were still under the township. At the time the schools were turned over to the City of Hammond, the Central High School building had just been completed at a cost of $65,000 by Township Trustee Merrill, with the assistance of W. C. Belman, superintendent. Besides that building, there were in use at that time (October 13, 1894) the Riverside School, corner Truman and Calumet ; the Lincoln School, corner of Gostlin and School streets; the East Side School, a two-story frame at corner Sibley and Calumet ; the Roby School, a small frame building still in use.
"During the building of the Central High School various rooms were secured about the district to accommodate the pupils and continue the school.
"The old two-story frame Central School building was purchased by M. M. Towle, divided into two sections and moved to a lot on Fayette Street, near the Erie tracks, where the two halves were again put together and stood until torn down the past season.
"October 13, 1894, the first board of education was appointed by the city council and was composed of the following named gentlemen : Kossuth H. Bell. A. W. Warren and J. B. Woods. On the same date
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they met and organized, electing J. B. Woods, president; A. W. War- ren, secretary, and K. H. Bell, treasurer. By lot they decided that Bell was to serve one year, Woods two and Warren three years. Trustee Merrill turned over to this board the sum of $305.95, the amount due the school city from funds in his hands.
"The number of enrolled pupils in the city at that time was 2,377. On January 31, 1895, K. II. Bell resigned as treasurer and was succeeded by A. M. Turner, who was chosen to serve out the unexpired term of Bell, and who afterwards was elected for a term of three years.
"In the spring of 1895 the kindergarten was established, and has grown in popularity each year. The teachers were paid from the tuition fund of the township until January 1, 1895, the amount having been a part of the trustees' annual estimate and levy paid to him by the county treasurer. The payroll for 1895, the first year paid out of the funds of the school city, was a total of $17,304.35. The records of the board show that P. W. Meyn in 1895 and 1896 took the school enumeration at $2 per day, receiving for the work July, 1895, $62, and in May, 1896, $63.88.
"June 12, 1896, Stephen Ripley, Sr., succeeded J. B. Woods as president of the board, and O. A. Krinbill succeeded A. W. Warren (resigned) as secretary. During that year the Riverside building was enlarged at a cost of about five thousand dollars.
"In 1897 the number of teachers employed was thirty-nine. A frame school building was erected at Robertsdale at a cost of $4,500 complete. In 1898 the La Fayette building was built at the corner of Sibley Street and Calumet Avenue at a cost of over fifteen thousand dollars.
"In 1900 and 1901 the Washington building was erected on Williams Street.
"Pessimists who feared irreparable loss by the removal of the G. H. Hammond Company plant to Chicago found no justification in the statis- ties of the school board, the enumeration of pupils for the period from 1894, when the board was organized, was as follows: 1895, 2,377; 1896, 2,762; 1897, 3,194; 1898, 3,106; 1899, 3,143; 1900, 3,375; 1901, 3,621; 1902, 3,901; 1903, 4,523; 1904, 4,443; a loss of but eighty in the enu- meration occasioned by the Hammond Company going away. Greater loss is shown between 1896 and 1897, caused by the moving away of those who, previous to the industrial depression, had been employed in the iron and steel industries. The enrollment of scholars in the schools shows a still smaller loss in 1904, there being a difference of only five scholars less than 1903, as follows :
"Enrollment for 1895-96, 1,377; 1896-97, 1,390 ; 1897-98, 1,570; 1898-
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99, 1,749; 1899-1900, 1,849; 1900-01, 2,012; 1902-03, 2,085; 1903-04, 2,080.
"The number of teachers employed in the schools from year to year since 1894 is as follows :
"Number of teachers: 1895-96, 37 ; 1896-97, 37 ; 1897-98, 40; 1898-99, 47; 1899-1900, 58; 1900-01, 62; 1901-02; 63; 1902-03, 69; 1903-04, 69; 1904, 69.
"Besides the natural increase since 1894, the work in the schools has been greatly added to.
"In 1900, while W. C. Belman was still superintendent of the schools, athletics were introduced, and in 1901, when W. H. Hershman succeeded Professor Belman, still more time and attention were given to the intro- duction of athletics, until in 1904 Mr. Cantwell was engaged to teach English and athletics in the high school.
"In 1903-04 manual training was introduced into some of the schools by Professor Hershman.
"It is generally believed that the teaching of athletics in the schools instills ambition and order into the minds of the pupils. Organization is given to the scholar when he first becomes familiar with the estab- lished rules of the games he plays. The scholar learns to respect the laws of his city, state and nation by a realization of the necessity for rules to govern himself and playmates at play. An ambition to excel at play is wholesome, natural life. When given the right cultivation it soon branches out and becomes an ambition to excel in everything."
POINTS FROM SUPERINTENDENT MCDANIEL
C. M. MeDaniel, the present superintendent of schools, has prepared the following succinct statement, bringing the history of public educa- tion in Hammond up to the present day : "The Hammond High School was organized in the year 1884 with but few pupils to do the work of the Freshman year. In June, 1887, three young ladies constituted the first graduating class. In March, 1894, the High School occupied the present quarters.
"Today there are twenty teachers in the High School, with four hundred pupils. It is the belief of the school authorities that with the completion of the $300,000 Industrial High School Building more than five hundred pupils will be enrolled. When a new building is erected on the North side, the present Lincoln Building will be used for a trade school.
"During the school year 1905-1906, sixty-nine teachers were em- ployed; in the school year 1913-1914, one hundred and thirty-one. The Vol. 1-23
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total enrollment for 1913-1914 was 5,110. The per capita cost of grade pupils was $16.69; High School pupils, $53.80. The total amount paid all teachers was $115,945.38.
"There are nine school buildings which, with ground and equipment, are valued at $850,000.
"Art was introduced in 1905-1906. Bench work, domestic science and domestic art were added in 1911-1912. All girls from the fifth grade through High School have the advantage of domestic science and domestic art; the boys, of bench work and mechanical drawing.
By Courtesy of Frank F. Heighway, County Superintendent of Schools.
WALLACE SCHOOL
"The night school was started in October, 1912, and nine hundred and forty-two students were enrolled during the year. Practically all of the work is along vocational lines.
"Children have had thorough medical examination since 1911. Phys- ical education has been in charge of a special instructor since 1910.
"During the year 1913-1914 the children whose parents could not afford dental work were given it gratis. A room was equipped in the Jefferson School through donation of Hammond citizens and the Ham- mond dentists operated it without compensation. With the addition of a nurse, the physical welfare of the children will be well cared for.
"Many pupils in the High School cannot remain for four years. A two-year commercial course has been added for their benefit.
"With the erection of the Industrial High School and the equipment of a trade school. Hammond will be able to direct the pupils more def- initely for the life work for which they are especially inclined."
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FRIEND OF THE BACKWARD PUPIL
Superintendent McDaniel is abreast with the progressive educators, who hold that more attention should be given to backward than to nat- urally bright pupils. On this point he says :
I believe that many pupils have been required to repeat their grade because of an artificial standard of grading. Any figure that may be determined upon is both arbitrary and artificial. No standard grade can be a just expression of a pupil's mental development. A slow pupil might fail with a fixed standard and yet develop more mentally than a naturally bright pupil and be as well fitted for promotion as many pupils who reach the passing grade. I do not want to convey the impres- sion that all pupils should be regularly promoted, but every teacher, every principal and every school superintendent feels the number of failures is excessive.
At the close of each six weeks a list of the pupils whose work is "unsatisfactory" is made by each teacher, a copy of which is given to the principal and another copy to the superintendent. Each list is carefully compared with the preceding lists and progress noted. As an aid for the "unsatisfactory" pupils a system of coaching has been established. In the first four grades definite places upon the program are given for the coaching of backward or the unusually brilliant chil- dren. In the four upper grades the time of any regular subject in which the work is satisfactory may be used for giving special time to sub- jects in which the work is not satisfactory or for coaching individual pupils. The principals aid the regular teachers in this work.
It is admitted that "coaching" is not as satisfactory as separate rooms, but the want of schoolroom accommodations prevents this as a feature of the school system. However, one room will be used for back- ward pupils in one of the buildings with the completion of an addition to the building.
Examinations have been another disturbing factor to both pupils and teachers and are an unnecessary burden for each. In the grades all examinations, as generally practiced, have been abolished. As we use examinations, I prefer the word "test." The object of the "test" is to indicate to the teachers the lines of work which need emphasis. The "test" is an aid in determining mistakes in the presentation of a subject, and also an aid in the study of the development of each pupil. These "tests" have no more bearing upon the passing of a pupil to another grade or his detention in the same grade than any one recitation in the same subject during the week.
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Some pupils who are naturally slow in development need a longer time than is usually required to finish the work.
The purpose of eight weeks' summer school is threefold: To enable the students who are slow in their development to complete the reg- ular work and receive promotion; to enable the students who have extra ability to do the required work in less than the usual time; and to give outlet to the energy of the boys and girls who do not have positions during the summer. The work covers all academic subjects, but emphasizes especially the industrial and the playground phases. The summer school has been in existence three years, although previous to the last vacation the term was only six weeks. It has accomplished the aim indicated and is a fixed part of the school system.
HAMMOND'S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
By Carroll R. Woods
Our present social fabric is founded, generally speaking. on the principle of cooperative effort. Harmonious, concerted action is always constructive in its results, whereas, dissension and strife, or even the policy of indifference for that matter, has a destructive tendency.
The business element of a city may be classified into two pronounced divisions. One type is the man who is a real citizen and the other simply lives there. The first is, to a large extent, a parasite on the community, for it becomes his purpose to profit to the greatest possible extent as an individual and to give in return as little as the law will permit.
The real citizen may be defined as the man whose line of vision is not limited to his own sphere of activity, whose efforts are not confined to his own welfare, but one who is broad enough to interest himself in promoting the general good of the community.
Such are the men who unselfishly and assiduously promote the chambers of commerce in almost every city in the United States today. These are the men who make the Hammond Chamber of Commerce pos- sible and are accomplishing much good for the city without desiring direct compensation for themselves.
It was nearly twenty-five years ago that a business men's association was founded in Hammond for the purpose, I am told, of moving the county seat to Hammond. Since that time some sort of a business organization has been almost continually in existence, with a checkered career of success and failures.
In April, 1912, the present Chamber of Commerce was founded.
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It was the most pretentious organization ever created in Hammond. Four hundred citizens joined in the wave of civie spirit which swept over the city and enrolled their name on the membership lists. Mag- nificent quarters were established on the third floor of the Citizens National Bank Building and these are the quarters in use today.
The theory upon which the chamber was founded was that it could provide a proper medium for the discussion of public questions, create and sustain a sentiment of pride and loyalty in Hammond, build up the city by loeating industries and attracting capital, stimulate busi- ness, and make our city a more healthy, wholesome, congenial place in which to live.
It was generally recognized that Hammond possessed wonderful com- mercial advantages. It is in the distributing center of the United States and the locality in which raw materials can be assembled at the lowest possible cost. With eighteen trunk lines, three belt roads and a Lake Michigan waterway ready to be developed commercially, its shipping facilities are everything that could be desired. Add to this the cheap acreage available, low taxes, plentiful labor market, and cheap power, and you have the answer to the question of why Hammond has recently shown such remarkable commercial progress and why its citizens profoundly believe it is destined to become one of our great American municipalities. It is one of the purposes of the Chamber of Commerce to bring these potential advantages to the attention of the outside world, and not sit by in apathetic contentment until they are discovered.
Organized effort, as represented in the old commercial clubs, was chiefly responsible for locating several of the industries which are now the backbone of the city. The present Chamber of Commerce under the leadership of Judge Reiter was active and effective in dealing with many important business emergencies, more particularly that of the Indiana Harbor waterways project in regard to which a number of our citizens were sent to Washington to press the claim of this region. Their efforts to adjust the long distance telephone rate matter were eminently successful. Among the numerous other accomplishments which, in the aggregate, were of material good to the city, there was one movement which will redound to the credit of this organization forever. That was the raising of $2,000 in this city for the relief of the flood sufferers of Southern Indiana-a most remarkable tribute to the charitable spirit of our citizens.
What might be termed a change of policy in the Chamber of Com- merce occurred in May, 1914, when the board of directors decided to employ a paid secretary. It purported to have the business of the
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chamber conducted in the future in a business-like manner. It was deemed necessary to have some one devote his entire time and atten- tion to the organization which represented the interests of the city as applied to public projects outside the jurisdiction of the city govern- ment. That policy is still maintained, and has been, I believe, pro- duetive of good results.
Among the recent accomplishments of this organization was that of acting as an agency to effect the settlement of a serious strike called by union plumbers and which had involved all of the allied building trades. Building operations in the city were at a standstill and the merchants and workers were considerably affected when that branch of industry was suspended. After all negotiations between the con- tending parties had been dropped, the Chamber of Commerce got them to agree to arbitrate, appointed the arbitrator, and the strike was per- manently and satisfactorily settled.
A problem which assumed serious proportions this summer was the lack of sufficient water pressure. That was not only an economic but a sanitary question. A committee of the Chamber of Commerce con- ducted thorough investigations into conditions and subsequently made a most competent and comprehensive report. Their recommendations were acted upon by the city administration (which by the way is in entire harmony with the chamber) and the water difficulty will, in the future, be alleviated.
The Merchants' Fall Festival held in October, 1914, was an idea originating in the Chamber of Commerce and promoted by it. Its purpose was to stimulate trade and civic spirit. It was conceded to be one of the greatest events of its kind ever held in this section of the state. Thousands of visitors were brought to Hammond and not only were excellent entertainments provided during the two days, but the free prize idea brought 300,000 people into 190 stores participat- ing on the first day of the contest. The decorations, and grand night pageant, aviation flights, and other events were fine evidences of what the business men of Hammond could do when their interest was once aroused.
Perhaps one of the greatest problems which the chamber hopes to assist in solving is the creation of a Calumet Sanitary District, a proj- ect that has now been launched, and which has been carefully studied and discussed by our membership. This organization has, and will continue, to play an important part in the destiny of this plan.
Just at this time the Chamber of Commerce has launched a scheme to centralize all relief work in Hammond. A bureau has been estab- lished through which it is hoped to systematize charity work in Ham-
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mond, to extend aid to those who are not cared for through other channels, and to conduct this work as efficiently as possible at the low- est possible cost. It has all the advantages of the United Charities idea without the usual heavy overhead expense. In short the Asso- ciated Aid Society of the Chamber of Commerce will see to it that no one in Hammond shall lack the necessities of life and that no one can procure relief who is not actually in need. This work is one of the more humanizing purposes to which this organization is committed. It is one of the movements that make for a better city in which to live.
It would be possible to enumerate many other more or less inci- dental problems that have been dealt with successfully, if space per- mitted. The privileges which the members enjoy in a social way should, however, be mentioned. The Chamber of Commerce is, in a sense, a social center. On an average of one meeting a day is now held in the quarters, while many organizations take advantage of them for social purposes at nominal rental. The business men find it a splendid medium for becoming acquainted with one another. Good speakers and lecturers are occasionally provided at the meetings. At these meet- ings there are also many matters of much moment to the city and region discussed by the leaders of public sentiment.
I believe that the work and the spirit of the Chamber of Commerce commends itself to all of our citizens possessed of the higher ideals of living. The compensation which its work renders to the individual is, of course, indirect, but it is none the less assured. As I endeavored to state in the beginning, it is the self-effacing, publie-spirited type of a man that is supporting this movement, and who will likely con- tinue to support it so long as there is a necessity for its existence. That, I surely believe, will be for ever more.
CHAPTER XXIV HAMMOND'S CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES
ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH-FIRST METHODIST EPIS- COPAL CHURCH-ST. JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC CHURCH-FIRST CONGREGA- TIONAL CHURCH-FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH-ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH-THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH-FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH- ST. CASIMER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH-ST. JOHANNES' GERMAN EVAN- GELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH-ZION'S GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH- EVANGELICAL IMMANUEL CHURCH-ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC CHURCH -JEWISH CONGREGATIONS AND SOCIETIES-FRIEDENS EVANGELICAL CHURCH-ST. MARY'S CHURCH-OTHER CHURCHES-HAMMOND'S MASONIC HISTORY-ODD FELLOWS LODGES-INDEPENDENT ORDER OF FORESTERS-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS AND PYTHIAN SISTERS-THE ELKS CLUB-KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF MACCABEES-DAUGHTERS OF LIBERTY -MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA-LOYAL ORDER OF MOOSE- KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS-FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES-OTHER SECRET AND BENEVOLENT BODIES-THE HAMMOND CLUB-HAMMOND WOMAN'S CLUB-THE HAMMOND COUNTRY CLUB-OTHER SOCIAL AND LITERARY CLUBS-THE HAMMOND SETTLEMENT.
Hammond has enjoyed the benefits of religious instruction for more than forty years-long before it was organized as a city. The Lutherans and the Methodists preceded the Catholics in the local field by several years, and with the growth of the city as an industrial center and the attraction of a rapidly expanding populace with most varied religious beliefs, the churches have fully met such conditions and demands by a rapid increase in numbers, especially during the past twenty years.
The social, benevolent and charitable instincts of the people have also found vent through the founding of all the firmly established secret societies, such as the Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. benevolent, social, literary and sociological organizations of more recent origin. As in most communities of at least middle-age, the Masons and Odd Fellows were first organized into lodges at Hammond, and it prob- ably was not a simple and remarkable coincidence that they became such on the same day-that is, May 27. 1883, the year preceding the incorporation of Hammond as a city.
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In all of these movements of a religious and generally uplifting nature the women of the city have been leaders, although they are not always mentioned by name in the sketches of churches and societies which follow.
ST. PAUL'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Organized Lutheranism in Hammond dates from 1871. A few families from Reverend Wunder's church, the oldest Lutheran organ- ization in Chicago, had settled at Tolleston, now Gary, and were ocea- sionally visited by Reverends Mayer, Mott and Rauschert from Dalton, Illinois. On their way to and from Dalton these ministers would also stop at Hessville, where some eleven Lutheran families had settled. In 1871 Rev. Herman Wunderlich was called to the Tolleston pastorate, with branch at Hessville, which was afterwards incorporated as a part of Hammond. Reverend Wunderlich conducted the first Christian service in Hammond at Jacob Rimbach's residence, on Hohman and Dolton streets. The only attendants at these services were the three families of Kleeman, Rimbach and Hartman. Because of the small attendance these services were discontinued and the Hammond families attended services at Hessville. Regular bi-weekly services were begun in 1880 and held in the public school and later in Miller's Hall by Reverend Wunderlich.
On October 22. 1881, the Lutherans resolved to build a small frame church. For its site M. M. Towle donated a lot on Clinton Street, on which August Seestadt built the church, which was dedicated July 29, 1883.
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