USA > Indiana > Lake County > A standard history of Lake County, Indiana, and the Calumet region, Volume I > Part 38
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Temple Israel Congregation was organized in October, 1910, with a membership of twenty-two, which has since more than doubled. The construction of the temple on Adams Street was commenced in 1913. Services are held in the basement, which is the only part of the edifice which has been completed. Besides the church property, the congrega- tion owns five acres of land which is subdivided for cemetery purposes for its members and other Jewish residents of Gary and vicinity. Wil- liam Feder is president of the congregation, and Dr. Joseph H. Stoltz minister.
LATER CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
The Disciples of Christ organized two churches within the corporate limits of Gary in 1911. In the spring of that year Mrs. Martha Trimble planned for the erection of a church building at Tolleston to be com- pleted in a day. It was finished within the twenty-four hours designated and services were held in the evening of the day that the building was commenced. Rev. C. J. Sharp of Hammond dedicated it on the follow- ing Sunday, raised the money for it and held the first revival meeting therein. The Tolleston Christian Church, under the pastorate of Rev. D. C. Ford, is about to commence the erection of a larger house of worship.
A "church in a day" was also erected at Glen Park in 1911. The church was at first ministered to by Benjamin S. Borton, an employe of the Gary steel mills, who has since become a pastor and an evangelist. The present pastor is Rev. D. C. Ford, who also presides over the Tolleston church.
OTHER PROTESTANT CHURCHES
The Lutherans are strong in Gary and are represented by the St. John's Lutheran, with Rev. August Rump as pastor; the Evangelical
GARY'S Y. M. C. A. BUILDING
HI UEFA CE EE EE EE EE EE
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Lutheran Trinity, the Grace Evangelical Lutheran, and the Swedish Lutheran. Grace Church is composed of English Lutherans.
The Congregationalists have a large church under the pastorate of Rev. E. I. Lindh ; the Christian Scientists have also planted themselves at Gary; and there may be other religious bodies from whom the editor has been unable to obtain information.
The St. Paul's German Methodist Episcopal Church is a mission at Glen Park, with Rev. J. M. Stone as pastor, and there is the First African Methodist Episcopal Church on Washington Street, under Rev. L. J. Phillips.
CHURCHIES FOR THE FOREIGN BORN
Among the best known churches which have been organized in Gary for the benefit of its large foreign population are the following: The Holy Trinity Croatian on Adams Street, which was founded in March, 1912, has a membership of 1.500, worships in a $25.000 edifice, and is in charge of Rev. Father Lucas Terzich; and the St. Michael's Greek Catholic Church, with a membership of 300 families, or about fourteen hundred souls, with Rev. George Thegze as its pastoral head, which is erecting a large permanent house of worship.
Besides these may be mentioned St. Mary's Russian Orthodox, the Holy Trinity (Slavish). St. Hedwig's Catholic, and the Roumanian Baptist, founded in September, 1914, and just commencing life under Rev. John Wank.
THE Y. M. C. A. OF GARY
The Young Men's Christian Association of Gary has a splendid building on Fifth Avenue, between Adams and Jefferson streets. Through the munificence of Judge Elbert II. Gary, head of the United States Steel Corporation, the site, structure and equipment representing the home of this great and useful institution were made over to the association as his gift. The donation amounted to fully $250,000. The total cost of the building, which was dedicated in February, 1912, was $274,000. The building is a cut-stone structure of magnificent propor- tions, four stories in height, the upper story being devoted to dormi- tories for 100 members of the association. About three hundred pupils are now enrolled in the various classes for instruction. The Gary build- ing is the last word in Y. M. C. A. construction, amusements, comforts and improvement of mind, body and morals.
The association was incorporated in February, 1910. Some of the
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leading men of the city were its first trustees, all of whom are still in active service, viz. : William P. Gleason. chairman ; Horace S. Norton, Samuel Miller, A. R. McArthur, and John Kirk. In another part of this work (see index) will be found a more extended account of the aims of
GARY THEATER BUILDING, BROADWAY AND FIFTH AVENUE
the association and the arrangements of the building which are so fully bringing them to practical fruition. C. M. Mayne, general secretary of the Gary association, has been identified with the progress of Y. M. C. A. work for the past twenty years.
THE W. C. T. U.
A local organization of this widely known union was instituted at Gary in June, 1911. The membership has since increased from twelve to forty. The president of the union was Mrs. Jennie Roberts from its establishment until September, 1914, when she was succeeded by Mrs. L. Underwood. Mrs. Roberts has been quite prominent in temperance
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work, having served as a delegate to several national conventions of the order.
GARY AS A LODGE CITY
Gary is rather strong as a lodge city. The Masons are represented by lodge, chapter and commandery, as well as the Order of the Eastern Star. The last-named, although organized as late as January, 1910, is especially flourishing and has a membership of 175.
The Odd Fellows organized as the Steel City Lodge No. 853, in Jan- uary, 1908, with fifteen charter members. It has a present membership of 386 and meets at the I. O. O. F. Hall, at Sixth Avenue and Massa- chusetts Street.
Of the lodge buildings and headquarters the Elks Temple on Wash- ington Street is the most elaborate and elegant. It was dedicated early in 1911 and is the official home of 375 Elks. On the main floor are the amusement parlors of the organization, while the upper floor comprises a handsome club-equipped lounge room and the lodge and social hall.
Other social, secret and benevolent organizations of prominence in Gary are the University Club; Lodge No. 783. Loyal Order of Moose ; Camp 12.667, Modern Woodmen of America; Court 328. Tribe of Ben Hur; Camp 143. Woodmen of the World: Aerie No. 1,683, Fraternal Order of Eagles: Leo Court No. 1,733, Catholic Order of Foresters; and Couneil No. 1,347, Knights of Columbus.
In 1891 a call was sent out over this broad land of ours to all women who claimed the blood of a Revolutionary soldier in their veins, to be present in Washington, D. ( .. for the purpose of organizing a Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, whose aim it should be to foster the glorious spirit, the untiring devotion, the unfailing loyalty of those men and women who made it possible for us to enjoy "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." Three women responded to the call, but so persistent were their efforts, so resolute was their de- termination, that within a quarter of a century. today, they number nearly one hundred thousand members.
These women have pledged themselves to:
"Perpetuate the memory of the spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence, by the acquisition and protection of historical spots, and the erection of monuments; by the encourage- ment of historical research in relation to the Revolution and the publi- cation of its results: by the preservation of the documents and relics and of the records of the individual services of Revolutionary soldiers and patriots, and by the promotion of the celebration of all patriotic anniversaries.
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"Carry out the injunction of Washington in his farewell address to the American people, 'to promote as an object of primary importance, institutions of knowledge.'
"Cherish, maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty."
The City of Gary, the County of Lake, may well be proud that they can claim representation in such an organization. The Pottawatomie Chapter of Gary, with nineteen organizing members, received their charter number, 1165, on the eighteenth day of February, 1914, and thirty-three women affixed their names to it. They will seek to carry out the ideals of their order locally and they hope that Lake County will feel the results of their efforts. The officers of the society, at pres- ent, are Mrs. Edna Tobey Matthews (organizing regent), Mrs. Grace Humble McLouth (vice-regent), Mrs. Grace Perkins Flowers (secre- tary), Mrs. Marguerite Blachly Boyd ( treasurer ), Mrs. Ezretta Bass Lud- berg (registrar), Miss Keziah Stright (historian), and Mrs. Mary Morse Mason Elvis (chaplain). The other members, at present, are : Mesdames Ethel Haynes Skeen, Rose Haynes Keller, Helen Mar Light Hitchcock, Fanny Lutz Mead, Mattie Winters Kelly, Nellie B. Bowers, Mary Muller Downer, Allie D. Tobias, Josephine Wheeler Schaible, Laura Ketring Van Liew, Edna Earle Roberts, Jessie Ketring Morgan, Flora Cutler Hudson, Ella Draper Combs, Ada Coder Fox, Bess Vrooman Sheehan, Mary Jones Garver, Minerva Burgess Snyder, Clara Theresa Lutz, Loretta Cummings Fairlie, Mary Helen Snyder Starr, Louise Shearer and Lillian F. Bruce, and the Misses Nell Stright, Annie Klingensmith, Amelia Bell Lockridge. Nora Mellessa Lockridge and Rose Amelia Matthews.
CHAPTER XXVI
EAST CHICAGO (INDIANA HARBOR)
FOUNDING OF EAST CHICAGO-GEN. JOSEPH F. TORRENCE AND HIS WORK-THE EAST CHICAGO COMPANY-MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. LEWIS-THE CORPORATION-THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES-THE COMMER- CIAL CLUB-PUBLIC SCHOOLS-STATISTICS-EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM-EAST CHICAGO HIGH SCHOOL-THE METHODIST CHURCH- ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH-ST. STANISLAUS PARISH-OTHER EAST CHICAGO CHURCHES-THE METHODISTS AT INDIANA HARBOR- THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH-THE I. O. O. F .- KNIGHTS OF THE MAC- CABEES-MASONIC BODIES-KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS AND PYTHIAN SISTERS-THE D. A. R .- MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA-LOYAL ORDER OF MOOSE-OTHER FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS.
There is not much ground for contention over the claim made by East Chicago (including Indiana Harbor) that it is the hub of the extensive industries which are covering the Calumet region of Indiana with such rapidity and solidity. It is wedged in between Gary on the east and Whiting and Hammond on the west, but has gained enough territory for many years of manufacturing and residential growth. East Chicago holds about a quarter of the total capital invested in the manufactories of the region, is the hub of the canal system and embraces the fine outlet into Lake Michigan which stamped that locality and its eastern districts as Indiana Harbor.
The historic steps leading up to all this have already been taken, and will not be retraced. The purpose of this chapter will be accom- plished when the writer has given a general picture of the municipal, civic, educational, social and religious forces at work to make East Chicago the home of thousands who have come from all parts of the world to work in her factories and business houses, to manage her banks, to engage in professional labors and to forward the higher institutions and movements of society.
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FOUNDING OF EAST CHICAGO
We have already seen how about thirty years, from 1855, George W. Clarke and George M. Roberts, Mrs. Jacob Forsyth (sister of Mr. Clarke) and Jacob Forsyth himself, acquired much of the land now included in North Township and virtually all covering the present site of East Chicago. Mr. Forsyth, formerly of the Erie Railroad, built a sawmill at the Harbor, then known as Cassella, where some improve- ments had been made. Further south the original swamp lands bought by Mr. Clarke and inherited by his sister remained practically unchanged
FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, INDIANA HARBOR
until 1888, when the Penman family came with the Wm. Graver Tank Works.
The coming of the Chicago & Calumet Terminal to that locality in 1888 brought manufacturers who were seeking cheap sites and outside of the great city, but in communication with it. Plats were purchased, factories commenced to arise, a sawmill was built, plants sprung up with greater rapidity, a cluster of dwellings was soon above ground, streets were lined out and East Chicago was spoken of with favor by the western world of manufacturers. Within two years the place had a thousand people and was incorporated. In the meantime the site of East Chicago had been sold to the J. Kennedy Tod & Company syndicate, which developed it.
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GEN. JOSEPH F. TORRENCE AND HIS WORK
Incidentally, the connection of Gen. Joseph F. Torrence, of Chicago, with the founding of East Chicago has been noted. During its initial year he started the Calumet Canal and Improvement Company and the Standard Steel and Iron Company, the latter establishing the pioneer industry of the locality ; more strictly speaking, it was the latter corpo- ration, backed by General Torrence, which platted the City of East Chicago in 1889.
In 1892 General Torrence sold his holdings in the companies men- tioned, and in 1895 the Lake Michigan Land Company was organized by Owen F. Aldis and associates, of Chicago, who acquired the property now included within the limits of Indiana Harbor and began the im- provements which eventuated in the establishment of the Inland Street Company's mills in 1901. During that year the old East Chicago Com- pany had been reorganized, and in 1903 the Calumet Canal & Improve- ment Company, Standard Steel & Iron Company and Lake Michigan Land Company were absorbed by it. J. Kennedy Tod & Company financed the purchase of the land from Caroline M. Forsyth in 1888 for C. C. & I. Co. and S. S. & I. Co., and also the construction of Chicago & Calumet Terminal Railway under direction of General Torrence.
THE EAST CHICAGO COMPANY
The East Chicago Company originally held 7,000 acres of land within the present limits of East Chicago. Under the auspices of that company and the active superintendence of C. A. Westberg, the harbor was con- structed in 1901-3 and the canal commenced in 1904 and improved up to the present time. About twenty-two hundred acres of its original holdings remain to be sold to manufacturers and others. So that the company is still perhaps the largest private factor in the future of East Chicago.
MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. LEWIS
Among those who came to East Chicago in the early days of its development was George W. Lewis. He has never tired of assisting in the progress of the city from every point of view and there are none now living in the locality who antedate his family as settlers, or who can claim to be more faithful as workers for the best interests of East Chicago.
He is one of the men who have been most intimately identified with the growth and development of the City of East Chicago and was the
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local manager of the corporation which some twenty or twenty-five years ago did so much development work in that section, and for the past ten years has been engaged in real estate and insurance business on his own account at East Chicago. Mr. Lewis has had a long and thorough com- mercial experience, and is one of the well known and highly esteemed citizens of the Calumet region.
George W. Lewis was born at Kalamazoo, Michigan, February 22, 1863. Both his parents died in 1871 and from that age he was reared on a farm in Kalamazoo County. That was his home until November 28, 1884, at which date he arrived in Chicago, a young man of twenty-one, with an ambition to make something of himself in the commercial field. During the winter of 1884-85 he studied stenography in a Chicago business college, and had his first practical experience in a real estate office for six months. Then followed one year in the office of E. Rothschild & Bros., wholesale clothiers, then for about three years he was private secretary to the General Passenger Agent for the Chicago & Atlantic Railway, now the Chicago & Erie, and for about two years was assistant secretary and had charge of the office of the Chicago Coal Exchange in the Temple Court Building.
On February 1, 1892, Mr. Lewis formed a connection with the East Chicago Land Companies, and on December 8th of the same year moved to East Chicago to take charge of the general office of the Land Com- panies as local manager. When the East Chicago Company was organized about 1900, he was elected its secretary, and held that office until he resigned January 15, 1905, to engage in business for himself in the real estate and insurance. He has since done a large general brokerage business in local real estate, and represents some of the well known insurance companies operating in this field.
Mr. Lewis was married September 5, 1889, to Miss Margaret A. Hinds of Chicago. They have a married daughter and one son. Mr. Lewis is a Knight Templar Mason, also a member of the Scottish Rite Consistory, and is a member of the Hammond Country Club, the East Chicago Club and the Hamilton Club of Chicago.
THE CORPORATION
The city is well governed, with Frank Callahan as mayor; T. Y. Richards, clerk : Charles E. Bowen, chief of police, and James F. Doherty, chief of the fire department. There are flourishing public libraries both within the territory known as East Chicago and Indiana HIarbor. The public schools are under the control of the Board of Education, of which F. II. Fish is president, and are directly super-
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intended by Edwin N. Canine. W. L. Spencer is secretary of the board and J. C. Dickson treasurer.
The city hall at East Chicago, which was built in 1908 at a cost of $65,000, is a fine building located on a large, beautiful site, and worthy of being the home of the municipal departments.
The fire department is housed in its own building near the city hall. It is valued at $20,000.
The municipal building at Indiana Harbor, which was erected in 1908 at a cost of $28,000, houses both the police department and the branch of the fire department. In 1913 the Twin Cities purchased two of the largest and finest auto fire engines in the state, each costing over
PUBLIC LIBRARY, EAST CHICAGO
nine thousand dollars. With the special fire protection provided by most of the industrial plants located within the city limits, East Chi- cago rightly considers that her safety in this regard is well assured.
THIE PUBLIC LIBRARIES
It was through the efforts of Mrs. John D. Kennedy, president of the "Tuesday Evening Reading Club," that the movement for the estab- lishment of a library was started. The first action was taken by Mrs. Kennedy on December 1, 1908, when she appointed a committee to solicit books with the idea, they would form the nucleus of a public library. After the ladies had raised several hundred dollars through circulating
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a subscription among the business men of the town and the observance of a "Tag day," Mesdames Kennedy, Johnson, Williams, Meade, Fischer and Jacob went before the City Council and petitioned that body to pass an ordinance to make a levy for library maintenance, the Council unani- mously voted to levy one mill on the dollar which was the maximum levy. The first Library Board consisted of J. G. Allen, John R. Farovid, Geo. W. Lewis, Dr. A. A. Ross, Mrs. JJ. D. Kennedy, Mrs. A. II. W. Johnson and Mrs. E. V. Walton.
Two libraries were established March 1, 1909. One in the city hall in East Chicago and one over the fire station in Indiana Harbor. Mr. L. B. Blanchard was the first librarian. The matter of a Carnegie Library was first discussed by the board in December, 1910. Doctor Ross, Mr. Farovid, Mrs. Johnson and Miss Sweezy, the librarian were appointed to take the matter up with Mr. Carnegie and this effort was successful. Mr. Carnegie donated $40,000, which was equally divided between two buildings, which are constructed of red vitrified brick. The one in East Chicago is located on what is known as the "Circle" at Chicago and Baring avenues, the site having been donated by the East Chicago Com- pany. It houses a well-selected collection of 3,967 volumes, with Mrs. Frances Byers as librarian. John R. Farovid is president of the library board and HI. C., Rutledge secretary.
The Indiana Harbor Library is located at the corner of Grapevine and One Hundred and Thirty-sixth streets, on a site purchased by the Library Board. The collection comprises 3,456 volumes; Mrs. Byers is librarian for both and has assistants at each library.
THE COMMERCIAL CLUB
The Commercial Club has done much to advance the interests of East Chicago and Indiana Harbor. It was organized in 1909 and that year the club erected its permanent and handsome home on Guthrie Street, one of the main thoroughfares of Indiana Harbor, at a cost of $20,000. It is a two-story brick building, occupying a 50-foot front. Its main floor is rented for business purposes and the club has reserved the second floor for its pleasant rooms and offices. The membership of the club numbers 340. Present officers: Newton W. Hembroff, president ; M. E. Crites, secretary.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Superintendent Edwin N. Canine, head of the East Chicago public school system, has prepared the following condensed statement of the
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present status of the six modern schools which are doing such fine work in the education of varied minds and nationalities.
Harrison : Corner of Magoun Avenue and One Hundred and Forty- fourth Street. A stone building erected in 1898 for high school pur- poses. It now houses the junior high school, consisting of 200 seventh, eighth and ninth-grade children. Large yard and athletic field. Value of building and grounds, $60,000.
MeKinley : Corner of Magoun and One Hundred and Forty-eighth Street. A brick building with sixteen school rooms, besides a full equip- ment for manual training and domestic science. Erected in 1905. Large playground. The school city owns and uses the old Methodist Episcopal
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MCKINLEY SCHOOL, EAST CHICAGO
Church on the opposite side of Magoun. On this site a building for auditorium, gymnasium, industrial and administrative purposes will be erected. - Value of present building and grounds, $85,000. Enroll- ment, 800.
Garfield : Corner of Melville Avenue and One Hundred and Forty- eighth Street. Erected in 1912. Will be doubled in size, making a building of twenty-five classrooms, besides gymnasium, auditorium, offices, etc. Value $75,000, including old Wallace Building and grounds on opposite side of street. Enrollment, 600.
Washington : Corner of Parish Avenue and One Hundred and Forty-first Street. Erected in 1907 as a grade building, but remodeled in 1914 for a junior-senior high school, with an enrollment of 350. Value of building and grounds, $85,000. The school owns one block of ground
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just across the street, which is being fitted for a playground and athletic field. Has manual training, printing and domestic science equipments.
Riley : Corner of Elm Street and One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Street. First half erected in 1912, and completed in 1914. Twenty-five classrooms, gymnasium, auditorium, shower baths, etc. Playground across the street. Value of building and grounds, $110,000. Enroll- ment, 950.
Lincoln : Corner of Elm and One Hundred and Thirty-sixth streets. Erected in 1903, eight rooms. Has good playground. Value, $40,000. Enrollment, 350.
STATISTICS
Total value of buildings and equipment, about $500,000. Total enrollment, October, 1914, 3,200. Total number of teachers, 115.
HIGH, NIGHT AND SUMMER SCHOOLS
The high school is organized on the six-and-six plan, with a junior high school in the Harrison building and a junior-senior high school in the Washington building. The eighth year is regular high school work and the twelfth year corresponds to the first year in college, giv- ing pupils sophomore standing.
The night school, with an enrollment of 500, offers English courses for foreigners, industrial and domestic science, commercial and other courses.
The summer school provides opportunity to make up back work or to advance in grades. The shops and playgrounds are kept open dur- ing the summer with regular teachers in charge. Home gardens are supervised, and frequent Nature-study excursions conducted during the summer by teachers employed for that purpose.
EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
Superintendent Canine has in his 1913 report so elucidated the interesting East Chicago system that liberal extracts are taken from it, as follows: "East Chicago, like the other Lake County cities, has to meet many school and community situations peculiar to a rapidly grow- ing industrial region. The population is cosmopolitan and yet intensely democratic. There is no wealthy or especially cultured class, and extreme poverty is uncommon. And vet, while the community is com- posed almost wholly of working people and their children, these same
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