USA > Indiana > Lake County > East Chicago > East Chicago, A Historical Description (1947) > Part 5
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Somewhat different 'is the parish of St. Michael's Archangel. Originally"this and the St. Stanislaus parish
were one. Differences of opinion over twenty years ago caused a split and the St. Michael's group withdrew from the Fort Wayne diocese It is classed as a Polish Independent church.
The Protestant churches separated from the Roman Catholic church during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Services are conducted in the vernacular and are changed greatly from the ritual of the Roman church. There are more than nine Protestant denominations represented among the 29 East Chicago congregations.
The first Protestant congregations to be organized in the city were the First Methodist then located at 148th and Magoun Avenue and the First Congregational which is on its original site. The organization meeting for the Congrega- tional church was held in 1889 in the Tod Opera House. The original church was partially destroyed by fire on November 25, 1903. The present structure was dedicated on October 11,. 1914. Another early East Chicago church was St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran which was founded on November 22, 1890, at its present location. The membership of this congrega- tion was Swedish.
There were numerous Swedes among the earlier settlers in Indiana Harbor so. in 1906 the pastor of St. Paul's'in East Chicago organized the Gennesareth Lutheran Church. The two . churches still have a common pastor The first Lutheran church in the Harbor, however, is another St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran which was founded in 1904 at its present location. Before the church was built, services were held any place possible, a private residence, a bakery, and a community hall. It is said that the pastor regularly walked to Indiana Harbor along the railroad tracks being joined along his route by worshippers: This congregation is the only local Protestant organization which maintains a parochial school. This school was closed during the depression from 1931. to 1837 There Was a second Swedish
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.congregation, not Lutheran, organized in 1906 in East Chicago. It is interesting proof of the city's rapid growth that, when the Harbor St. Paul church was built at 138th and Deodar stweets, it was on the outskirts of; town, but the two Swedish churches, both founded two years later, are several blocks farther away.
On. October 12, 1902, when Indiana Harbor was still i largaly: a: tent town, the first Protestant church service in that'saction of the city was conducted by the Rev. W. G. Leasenby, pastor of the East Chicago Methodist Church, In a short time he organized the Indiana Harbor Methodist Church with twenty-four charter members. At first it met in the home of Mrs. Peterson on Pennsylvania Avenue but in June, 1902, the Methodists rented a hall on Pennsylvania Avenue. Abandoning early plans to erect a church at the corner of Commonwealth and Michigan Avenue, the organization purchased a site at the corner of 135th Street and Grapevine (now Grand) as the town was growing to the south, For a time the Methodists worshipped in the basement already constructed on the site by the Evangelical Association from whom the lot was purchased .. When it was decided that the basement was not large enough for the structure needed, the Methodists held services in Cline. Hall until the present edifice was completed on the Grand Boulevard site. The church was dedi- cated by Bishop Vincent, September 24, 1911, during the pastorate of the Reverend R. B. Seamon, A few years later a brick parsonage was built just south of the church.
The first Baptist church service in Indiana Harbor was conducted by Halley Farr Waggoner, a Chicago University student, Mon November 3, 1902. The Baptists met in the homes of their nuaber for a few months and then sub-rented the hall on Pennsylvania Avenue from the Methodists. The latter met there in the mornings and the Baptists in the afternoon. There on January 4, 1903, the First Baptist Church was organized. Later in the year. the meeting place was changed : to Schreiber!s Hall on Elm Street and again to Cline Hall. on
Michigan Avenue. In 1909 the Baptists completed their first :building, now the Masonic Temple located at 3511 Fir Street. 'The site: consists: of two.lots,; one of which they purchased, and the other was donated by the land company, The present Baptist Church was completed in 1988 during the pastorate of the Rev. E. M. Rhoades.
Another congregation which used Schrieber's: Hailtis the Christian, organized in the late fall of 1903 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Roop on Commonwealth Avenue. A temporary building was built on a leased lot on Guthrie Street in 1905 and the first minister was hired. Reverend Herbert A. Carpenter: became pastor in 1909 and under his leadership: the present . site : was purchased, a temporary frame , structure erected, | then the basement of the present building, and fin- ally: the superstructure. The church was dedicated in June, 1916
On February 22, .1911, the First United Presbyterian Church was organized with 28 members. For many years this church was partially. supported. by the United Presbyterian Missionary Board. At first, meetings were held in the after- noons in the Baptist Church on Fir Street. The congregation then moved to Cline Hall until the church building was com- pleted in 1912. The present: pastor, Rev. O. W. | McGeehon, has recentlyireturned to. the church' after several years sery- lice: as an army ( chaplain. . This| churchiboasts one of the finer pipe organs in the community.
Each influx of people to East Chicago has been marked by: the organization of new parishes, the erection of new churches. One of the older Negro congregations is that of St. Mark A. M. E. Zion, founded in 1917. World War II has 1 added more churches,The newer organizations are repeating the experiences of the older congregations: first meetings are held in homes, halls, or stores, land is purchased; fin- ally a building is built, enlarged, remodeled. Sometimes, funds accumulate so slowly that the congregation will'meet in the basement until the superstructure can be afforded
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The oldest East Chicago Jewish Congregation dates; back to : the early days of the city's beginnings when a "Minyan" would be called in any convenient place available. Later Mr .. Pisach: Cohen, one of East Chicago's pioneers, father of the late Judge Hyman Cohen, contributed a building for pub- |liciworship' The congregation was for many years known as the ."Pisach Cohen Congregation", Even before they were able to afford a Rabbi, | the congregation employed a teacher to instruct the younger generation in religion and Hebrew, This instruction was given after the dismissal of the public School classes each day, In 1940 the congregation builtits present : synagogue, to which it gave the name Beth Sholeme congregation. Its present membership is around 250. Serv- ices are held every Saturday morning and alternate Friday evenings in the winter. The congregation maintains a school ifor: religious and Hebrew instruction. The classes meet each afternoon at four o'clock. It also has a Sunday School.
The Indiana Harbor Jewish Congregation had its begin- ning: back in the early 1900°'s when Samuel Block, a member of the Jewish faith, laid the foundations for Indiana Harbor by locating. the Inland Steel Company here. Early prayer' meet- ings were held at different homes. Later a permanent meet- ingi place was found in the Wolf Marcovich Building. In 1913 Ithe present building, B'nai Israel Synagogue, was built. The present pastor of the congregation is Rabbi Eli Kahn The/ congregation maintains a religious and. Hebrew . school wherei instruction in Bible and Hebrew, ; the language of the Bible,jis given. It also, conducts a Sunday School, Its membership is around 350.
1 Minyanı (Hebrew for prayer meeting)
2. Beth Sholem (Hebrew for "House of Peace")
Chapter Vil
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Located at the corner of 138th and Deodar streets is East Chicago's social service project, the Katherine House. .It is'now' (1047) in its 28th year of service . having been founded in 1919 by some of the leading citizens of the com- munity in an efforti to furnish a worthwhile center for the improvement of social conditions. Its purpose was to create a place where people, especially foreign born, could find friendly counsel, ' guidance, and worthwhile: educational and recreational : facilities. East Chicago in 1919, as now, was in need of a neighborhood center; to curb delinquency by furnishing people a clean wholesome environment. . The project was made possible through the financial support of the Indiana Baptist Convention and the Women's Baptist Missionary Society. Upon the founding of the East Chicago Community Chest, Katherine House became one of its benefici- aries receiving part of its support from this source. Although Katherine House' received its impetus from Baptist sources it has been operated on a non-sectarian basis, It conductsi religious services as a part of its diversified program, but these services are wholly on a non-sectarian ibasis. Its Board of Directors has included people of many (religious beliefs and three of the presidents of Katherine House . in: recent years | havei been, ' in order, 'a Baptist, / a Catholic, . and' a Methodist.
It is impossible in this history to explain at length the ever-expanding program conducted by this organization. Briefly, the principal undertakings of Katherine House are :-
Clubs for Boys and Girls. Handicraft Classes Community Programs Dramatics, Musicales, Home Talent Programs Gampi Rooms and Library Family-Night Gatherings Non-sectarian Religious Services
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Community Kitchen Community Programs Day Nursery for Working Mothers Baby Clinic Venereal-Disease Clinic Summer Campa, for. Underprivileged Children Americanization and Citizenship Classes
In the fall of 1844 a branch of Katherine House called the Calumat Christian Center was established in the building formerly the home of the Hungarian Baptist Church. This building is owned by the Indiana Baptist Convention and through it the building was made to fit the needs of the Katherine House program.
In the same year, Katherine House and Brooks House of Hammond began the development of a $25,000 project near Wolcottville in LaGrange County. This is to be known as Camp Okalona (Whispering Waters) and is located on Lake Witmer, one of seven little lakes. The state is planning to build a state park near this camp. The camp started functioning in 1946 and is mainly for underprivileged children.
At the time of the writing of this history, Katherine House is planning an addition to its present quarters in order to meet the challenge of its growing services, The estimated cost of this addition is $100,000. The plans call for the adding of the two wings, one to the East and another to the South of the present building. This projected addition will jasrcase facilities 200 per cent. It will. Include @ gymnasium-auditorium, a more spacious game room releasing the present game room for club-room purposes, rooms for social nights, and a kitchen for teaching cooking.
The St. Joseph's Home for Girls, more familiarly known as the Carmelite Orphanage, was established in October, 1913. It is located at 4840 Grasselli Avenue in the Calumet section of the city. It was made possible through voluntary contributions of people interested in the welfare of orphan
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girls. The same order of sisters, the Carmelite Order, con- ducts a home for boys in Hammond. The Home cares for sixty children ranging in age from three to eighteen. Although the Home is operated by a Catholic order it is not restrict- ed to Catholic children. The children during the day attend the schools of the city, most of them going to a parochial grade school several blocks from the Home and to Bishop Noll High School in Hammond.
The girls are placed in three groups, according to age, each of the groups having separate dormitories and living rooms . There is one large recreation room for all the groups.
The Home is financed in the main by the Community Chest, although the Lake County Welfare Department also con- tributes to its support. All girls in the Home are placed through the Welfare Department. Colonel Walter J. Riley has for many years shown a deep and consistent interest in the orphans, arranging for outings in the summer and an annual Christmas party each winter. He has also obtained employ- ment for many of the girls after they have left the orphan- a ge .
There are at the present time nine sisters in charge of the Home. Their aim is to make it as cheerful and homelike as possible. An indication that they are successful is found in the fact that many of the girls return for visits to the Home years after they have grown up, bringing their husbands and families with them-proud of the training and guidance they received there.
Land to the west of the building is owned by the orphanage and it is hoped that sometime, in the not too distant future, an addition to the building will be con- structed, Limited to sixty girls, the present quarters are not adequate for all the girls in this region who are in need of care of this nature.
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St. Catherine's Hospital was opened in May of 1928 in a dedication ceremony conducted by the Most Rev. John F. Noll, D.D., Bishop of, Fort Wayne. The original cost of construc- tion was $1,300, 000 7 /Half of this money, was paid by' the industries of East Chicago and the other half was paid by the MotherHouse of the Ancilla Domini Sisters located near Donaldson, Indiana. Since its beginning it has been super- vised by a committee of the manufacturers of; the city which serves as the hospital board. When the hospital.was com- pleted, Protestant, Jewish, and Catholic organizations, societies, and lodges, participated in the project by furnishing various rooms.
The hospital property occupies a block of ground, with the entrance on Fir Street south of 143rd Street. It is a five-story structure, fireproof and E-shaped to give: the maximum amount of sunlight and air. A laundry and heating plant adjoin the building, and a new building is being com- pleted: (1947) which is to be used for a nurses' dining room, a dietetic and a chemistry laboratory, and to provide some room for housing the student nurses. It is hoped that a nurses' home can be constructed. in the future. Frequent additions of equipment keep the hospital one of the most modern in this area.
The hospital was the answer to a long-felt need, for previous . to its construction; the people of East Chicago had to: depend on: neighboring communities for hospital service. People: of: all; races and creeds are rendered service by this institution which is operated by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, a Catholic order. This order operates many hospi- tals in the United States and throughout Europe and has been rendering' this kind. of service: since Civil War Days. The hospital is named after Catherine Kasper, who eight years before Florence Nightingale won honor as a nurse in the Crimean War, distinguished herself by rendering aid to the people of Dernback, Germany; in the field of visiting nursing.
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The hospital has the full approval of the American Medical Association and the American College of Surgeons. It maintains a school for nursing under the approval of the State of Indiana and the above mentioned organizations. In addition to the approved staff of physicians and surgeons, in April, 1946, there were 7 sister nurses, 83 student nurses, and 56 graduate nurses employed by the hospital who, with other employees, make a total resident personnel of about 206.
The following table is a record of the patients served and the number of births at the hospital since its incep- tion: -
Births
Year
Patients
177
1928
1,801
327
1929
3,446
372
1930
3,568
367
1931
2,870
290
1932
2,532
343
1933
2,931
457
1934
3,620
535
1935
3,768
641
1936
4,760
775
1937
6,177
927
1939
1, 094
1.940
8,315
1, 602
1942
1,553
1943
8,205
1,400
1 944
9,064
1,232
1945
1, 684
8,809
1946
Another organization for the relief of suffering, the East Chicago Chapter of the American National Red Cross, was chartered March 4, 1917. Its first activities were with members of the armed forces and their families during the first world war.
At the end of the war were instituted the peace-time activities of the National body which include national and (international relief in the time of disasters, such as pes-
tilence, famine, fire, and flood. A local service of this nature was provided. during the depression when flour was distributed as weretclothes made locally' from materials pro- 'vided by the national government.
Another important local activity of the Red Cross is education. Pupils in all public and parochial schools are enrolled in the Junior Red Cross by which they are trained in ideals of service. Home nursing, first aid, and water safety are taught. to adult classes as well as in the high schools.
As the United States moved nearer participation in World War II, the volunteer production program grew increas- ingly important. At first, garments were made for people in Europe but later garments for servicemen and ex-servicemen in hospitals were also made. Also, 1,800,000 surgical dressings were made. Other wartime services included collection of blood for plasma thru mobile units, develop- ment of volunteer service in St. Catherine's Hospital by Nurses! : Aides and Gray Ladies, disaster preparedness in cooperation with the O. C. D., and services to members of the armed forces and their families. Help to servicemen includ- ed: furlough investigations, aid in securing family allow- ances and financial help until they were received, informa- tion about : health and welfare of servicemen for their families, and sending packages to· prisoners of war. Volun- teers worked as canteen' workers, staff assistants, and as members of the uniformed 'motor corps to enable the local chapter to handle this increased volume of work.
While the Chapter is returning to peace-time work again, it is still helping veterans in'many ways. Chief, is assisting them to file claims for : benefits, such as' hospi- talisation, pension, and medical, care. Survivors are helped- with claims for insurance and death benefits. Financial aid is given in emergencies.
1938
5,810
7,127
1,236
1941
9,043
5, 700
998
7,979
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The Boy Scouts of America constitute another important social: institutions in East Chicago, The first troops were organized. during the period from 1911. to. 1919 thru the ef- 'forts: of individuals who were interested in boys, Fred Woodbury, H. W. Dickes, Walter Cox, C. C. Hahn, Rev. W. W. .Day, and/H. E. Shephard. Scout executives were hired. for the first time: in 1919, ' A. H. Watts, 'for East Chicago, and A. J. . Sambrook, for Indiana Harbor. The two councils' were 'merged' and' Mr. " Sambrook became sabut executive for the whole city when Mr. Watts' resigned in 1921 to accept a similar position'at Lansing, Michigan.
. There is-record of a summer camp at Shelby, Indiana, in 1914.Camps were held at other spots until 1919 when the Inland Steel Company furnished- duneland for Camp Win-Sum. Champ Happy at Buffalo, Indiana, served in 1930 and 1931. In 1932! the' trustees of the William Wright Estate purchased 120 acres. of . land. on . the Tippecanoe River near . Rochester. Thousands of trees have been planted on the camp site, several. permanent buildings have been erected, and other improvements have been made. In East Chicago a scout house Was built in Riley Park. in 1927 thru the efforts of the Scout; Council and the Isaac. Walton. league. Those troops "which: do not meet at. the scout house use school gymnasiums and. church, bagements. Therelis, a troop of sea.scout composed of older: boys which has met at the headquarters. of the Indiana. Harbor , Boat Club.
In return for public/ support . boy scouts. perform many public services. They / have always taken. an active part. in clean-up campaigns and similar projects. During Worl . War II. they, collected much. scrap during salvage drives and wax& eganized to, do messenger service for the O.C. D.
url( A parallel.organization for; girls, . the Girl Scouts, Was · set up.in. Kast: Chicago. in 1924. Their headquarters, . the Little: House, ' is located in. the easternipart of Tod Park I Was dedicated: October 30, 1988. The fact that practically
every civic group in town contributed toward constructing this building is evidence of the esteem in which the Girl Scouts are held. Altho summer camps have been operated for over fifteen years, the Girl Scouts have not secured a camp of their own. For the past few years they have used the facilities of the Winamac. Demonstration Recreational! Area where Camp Potowatomi is operated for different groups of youth Like the boy scouts the girls perform many services for the community. Outstanding along this line, the Junior Hospital Aids, a group of 85 senior scouts, helped in the preparation and the serving of foods and occasionally helped in room service at St. Catherine's Hospital during World War II.
About.1909, :304 enthusiastic citizens formed the Indiana Harbor Commercial Club. The group incorporated and built the building at 3422-24 Guthrie now occupied by the Club Nicholas Iorga. The first two floors were rented to provide revenue to maintain the building, but the top floor was used as a club room and eating place, the members gathering there every noon for luncheon. Feeling the need for concerted action from both sides of town this club was dissolved about 1915 and the building sold to an electrical firm. A new organization, the East Chicago Chamber of Com- merce, was formed with George Evans as executive secretary and with Headquarters in the building at 916 East Chicago Avenue now the telephone company office. A membership drive in 1924 greatly strengthened the Chamber. The chief func- tion of this body is the improvement of business conditions in East Chicago. Monthly luncheon meetings for all members are addressed by prominent individuals. A group of retail merchants, the 12: 13. Club, meets weekly A permanent staff, with headquarters in the Elks Building, among other activi- ties, does the clerical work connected with the annual Community Chest drive. The Retail Merchants Credit Bureau, which is now independent but which was originally sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, uses the same offices.
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The Community Chest deserves explanation. Before it was formed, each organization in town which depended upon public donations for support-Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Katherine House, Carmelite. Orphanage, Red Cross-conducted a separate drive with the result that it seemed that one drive had scarcely been completed before another started. The Community Chest was incorporated to eliminate this waste of effort. A Board of Directors meets with the heads of the "various social service organizations, discusses their needs, and draws up a budget of money to be supplied to each thru public:donation. A drive is held, the money is collected and distributed with less expense and bother to everyone. A recent innovation has been the authorization of payroll deductions whereby workers in local industries may have their employer deduct money each month for the Community Chest fundo
There are numerous sororities in East Chicago. These women's groups usually are local branches of a state or a national organization. Dating back to 1918, the Tri Kappa is the oldest of the local chapterso Its activities are characteristic of the services performed by the sororities. Perhaps first in importance is helping with the summer camp for underprivileged children mentioned in connection with the Katherine House. A scholarship fund is maintained for graduates from the local high schools. Each month the sorority furnishes money to meet emergency needs: medical, dental, food, clothing, which are reported to it by schools or social service agencies.
There are three "service" or "luncheon" clubs in East Chicago which have: civic welfare as one of their aims. The oldest of these is the Kiwanis which was organized February 199 .1924, with 54 members. This club, like the others, meets once each week for luncheon when they listen to an ad- dress and transact business. Reading a history of the local Kiwanis: Club, one finds that it organized a Junior Baseball | League in 1924 and has maintained one since. Activities for
crippled and underprivileged children appear several times in the history of the club: in April, 1936, four hundred were taken to a circus; there was a Halloween party in 1928; and in 1937 a K1-Li Boy!s Club was organized in Field School. The Lis part of the name of the boy's club stands for the Lions Club who were co-sponsors of this enterprise. The Lions Club.zes organized in 1926, Like the other derviee clubs this organization is international in its scope. One special field of interest, in which the local club has taken part, is helping blind people. The Lions originated the use of white canes. They are now sponsoring the manufacture of Braille typewriters. The local eluo' has helped the scouts by sending poor children to camp and, several years ago, helped the girl scouts establish Camp Echo in Michigan. During the past year the club has been investigating the possibility: or.a Y. M. C.A. for East Chicago. The third of the service clubs, the'Rotary Club, was organized in 1945 so it has not had time to build much of & history.
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