Hammond City Directories 1945, Part 2

Author: Hammond Public Library - SGL Local History Room
Publication date: 1945
Publisher: Polk City Directories
Number of Pages:

USA > Indiana > Lake County > Hammond > Hammond City Directories 1945 > Part 2

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1943). It receives full Associated and United Press services, and serves the entire trading area.

Labor

Because of Hammond's location in the Calumet Region, there is a large supply of both skilled and unskilled labor. There is a good market for fe- male workers, because of the large number of male workers employed in the steel mills and heavy metal in- dustries where female labor is not employed.

With the exception of the building and printing trades, practically all in- dustries operate under the American plan, and Hammond is well known as an open-shop city. A few industries, such as oil refining, clothing, etc., employ union workers.

There have been no industrial dis- turbances over a number of years, and the general attitude of the city as a whole does not encourage labor troubles.

Housing and Living Costs

Hammond is the residential city for a number of the surrounding indus- trial cities that are unable to provide suitable housing of the better type and which have no expansion possi- bilities.

At the present time there is a shortage of homes, as is true in a majority of cities throughout the country.

Good homes can be rented, when available, at $25 per month and up, this depending entirely upon location and type of home desired.

Because of Hammond being in the Chicago area, prevailing living costs are about the same as in that city. Rentals, taxes and utility costs are cheaper.

Hammond is located adjacent to a superior garden and trucking area, immediately contiguous to the Michi- gan-Indiana fruit belt, and also is close to the large meat-packing oper- ations of the country, making these things available, with wide choice, and at reasonable prices.

Commercial Organizations

There are four commercial organi- zations giving direct service to the in- dustrial and commercial interests of the city.

The Hammond Chamber of Com- merce, the largest, composed of the representative professional and busi- ness concerns, is constantly promot- ing the general welfare of the city from a business standpoint and has a constructive program of activities.

INTRODUCTION

Government

Hammond is governed by a city council form of government. The in- cumbent administration is headed by Mayor G. Bertram Smith, a Demo- crat. The administration is regarded as conservative in its aims and has maintained an equitable balance be- tween the interests of all persons af- fected by the government.

The police and fire departments operate on a civil-service basis. The heads of these departments having been in office for years, is conclusive evidence of the high efficiency of these protective agencies.

The police department is equipped with a two-way radio system through which the possibility of crime has been greatly reduced.

Both the police and fire depart- ments have gained national recogni- tion because of the low annual fire loss and because of the very high standard of law enforcement.

Taxation

The law of the State of Indiana es- tablishes a rate of $2 for each $100 assessed valuation as the maximum tax levy to cover all taxing units, ex- cept for emergency expenditures. This undoubtedly is very beneficial in keeping the tax rate on a low level.

The general attitude of officials in making assessments on rèal and per- sonal property has been reasonable to industry. All assessments are sub- ject to review by the State Tax Board.

There is a state gross income tax of 1/2 of 1% on retail sales, 1% on indi- vidual incomes, and 1/4 of 1% on manufactured goods.

There is no state sales tax in In- diana, and no occupational tax.

There is a tax ranging from $3 to $150 per year on retail stores.

There is also an intangible tax of 25c for each $100.

Transportation

Transportation facilities in Ham- mond offer direct or inter-connected facilities with all parts of the U. S. The city is accessible by railroad, electric railroad, state and federal highways, bus and truck lines, water- ways and air lines.

RAILWAYS Hammond is serviced by ten railway lines; three belt lines.

The ten trunk railway lines are: Baltimore & Ohio; Chesapeake & Ohio; Chicago & Erie; Chicago, In- dianapolis & Louisville; Michigan Central; New York Central; New York, Chicago & St. Louis; Pennsyl- vania; Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chi- cago & St. Louis; Wabash.

In addition, the city is within the Chicago switching district and enjoys low freight rates, the same as those in Chicago. The three belt lines are the Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Term- inal, the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern, and the Indiana Harbor Belt. These make available a fast, direct service to all roads out of Chicago. Trap-car serv- ice also is available on belt lines for less-than-carload-lot shipments. Trap cars go to the Indiana Harbor Belt switching yards, where shipments are consigned to the various lines, thus offering a faster and more efficient service

The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad's largest terminal, Gibson Yard, is lo- cated in Hammond. Cars from the industries of Hammond and Calumet City are made up in trains and run direct from Gibson Yard to all east- ern, western and southern lines, mak- ing but one handling from the indus- tries to any one trunk line over which the shipment may move.

ELECTRIC LINE The Chicago, South Shore & South Bend Railroad provides a fast passenger and freight electric service to Chicago, passenger service operating every thirty minutes and requiring 36 minutes from the Hammond station to the Randolph St. station in Chicago. Low round- trip passenger fares are offered on commutation tickets.

BUS SERVICE - An inter-city bus service including Hammond, Calumet City, Whiting, East Chicago, Gary and Chicago is maintained by the Chi- cago-Calumet District Transit Co. In addition, there are electric railway services inter-connecting these Calu- met Region cities.

TRUCK SERVICE - Fast, daily truck service is operated between Hammond and Chicago and numer- ous other points by a number of trucking companies. Hammond is the focal point for a large number of highly improved highways radiating in every direction.

WATERWAYS-Hammond is only a few miles from Indiana Harbor on Lake Michigan, which provides easy accessibility for water transportation. The Indiana Harbor is used by a number of large industries as a port for shipping to foreign countries, and also for receiving shipments from for- eign ports.

The Great Lakes Dock Terminal maintains a shipping point at Indi- ana Harbor. Direct regular railway service is available to St. Louis and Cairo, Ill., for barge transportation on the Mississippi to the Gulf, and from there to other ports of the world.

INTRODUCTION

AIRPORTS Hammond is less than three-quarters of an hour by automo- bile from the Chicago Municipal Air- port, and from the Ford Airport at Lansing, Ill.

Public Utilities

ELECTRICITY-Electric energy for Hammond is available in unlimited quantities with a rate structure de- signed to encourage use by industries. The rate schedule for electric energy, which is provided by the Northern In- diana Public Service Co., is as low as can be found in any large industrial city. Hammond is the location of one of the largest steam-generating plants in the world, and the company is equipped to take care of any in- dustrial demand.

GAS-A high-grade gas is also fur- nished by the Northern Indiana Pub- lic Service Co. at a very low rate for industrial users.

COAL-With coal mines in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Virginia, Hammond is assured of a plentiful supply of cheap coal.

OILThe largest oil refineries in the world are located within the Hammond district, and fuel oil is available at reasonable rates.

PETROLEUM COKE - Because of the large oil-refining operations, an adequate supply of petroleum coke is also available, a special fuel valuable for certain operations and not to be had in many industrial areas.

WATER - The City of Hammond owns its water plant, the supply com- ing from Lake Michigan, and the rate being a graduated scale based on the amount used. Hammond has the low- est water rate of any city in this sec- tion of Indiana.

A $1,000,000 filtration plant, with ample storage capacity, guarantees a plentiful supply of the purest water for industrial and domestic use.

COMMUNICATIONS Hammond is served by the Illinois Bell Telephone Co. and the Western Union Telegraph Co. It also has Radio Station WJOB, operating on 1,300 kilocycles.

Publishing and Printing

There are a number of printing es- tablishments in Hammond that have a national clientele. Much Chicago printing is handled in these plants. The plants are equipped with all mod- ern facilities for color printing, off- set work, bookbinding, and the print- ing and preparation of catalogs and mailing pieces.

There is one daily afternoon news- paper, The Hammond Times (Inde- pendent Republican), with a circula- tion of 31,315 (ABC report, March 31,

1943). It receives full Associated and United Press services, and serves the entire trading area.

Labor

There have been no industrial dis- turbances over a number of years, and the general attitude of the city as a whole does not encourage labor troubles.

Housing and Living Costs

Hammond is the residential city for a number of the surrounding indus- trial cities that are unable to provide suitable housing of the better type and which have no expansion possi- bilities.

At the present time there is a shortage of homes, as is true in a majority of cities throughout the country.

Good homes can be rented, when available, at $25 per month and up, this depending entirely upon location and type of home desired.

Because of Hammond being in the Chicago area, prevailing living costs are about the same as in that city. Rentals, taxes and utility costs are cheaper.

Commercial Organizations

There are four commercial organi- zations giving direct service to the in- dustrial and commercial interests of the city.

INTRODUCTION

The Hammond Safety Council, a di- vision of the Chamber of Commerce, has been successful in maintaining low insurance rates through its work in fire-prevention, public safety, etc. This division has received several awards in the Inter-Chamber Fire Waste Contests conducted by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber of Commerce, with other organizations, is constantly ac- tive in a study of proposed budgets of the taxing units and has been a strong influence in maintaining a low tax rate. It has also given much at- tention to proposed legislation and has been successful in protecting the interests of the manufacturers in many legislative matters of a vital nature. The program of the Cham- ber of Commerce is a general one and always in the interest of the com- munity as a whole.

The Hammond Junior Chamber of Commerce has a representative group of young executives, actively inter- ested in civic affairs and making a splendid contribution to a number of war agencies.

The Manufacturers' Association is composed only of manufacturers. This organization deals entirely with matters affecting the interests of its membership.

The Hammond Merchants' Associa- tion, a division of the Chamber of Commerce, deals in subjects affect- ing the retail trade only. It devotes most of its efforts toward trade pro- motion, trade practices, etc.

The Hammond Credit Exchange is composed of a large number of re- tailers. This organization is solely for the purpose of giving confidential credit information.

Other organizations active in mat- ters in their particular fields of busi- ness activity are the Hammond Real Estate Board, the Lake County Un- derwriters' Association, the Calumet Region Auto Parts Association, etc.

Civic Organizations, Etc.

Most of the civic, and practically all of the fraternal organizations are represented in Hammond.

Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions and Opti- mists represent the civic luncheon clubs. Also there are the active Women's Club, League of Women Voters, American Legion Auxiliary, Parent-Teachers' Association and Business and Professional Women's Club.

All character-building and welfare work clears through the United Wel- fare Association, which conducts an annual drive for a fixed sum to pro- vide for these activities each year,

thus relieving business organizations of solicitations more than once a year for these purposes.

Organizations which derive their support from this Association are:

Bethany Children's Home

Boy Scouts Brooks House

Calumet Goodwill Industries Carmelite Home for Boys Catholic Associated Charities General Relief Agency Girl Scouts

Hammond Fresh Air Camp

Salvation Army

Young Women's Christian Associa- tion

Educational, Religious and Cultural Features

SCHOOLS - The Hammond school system consists of sixteen grade schools, three high schools, one Cath- olic high school and nine parochial schools, all of which are staffed with highly competent teachers and in- structors.

The Technical Vocational School is an important source of potential em- ployee-leadership and offers a train- ing course designed to fit young men to take their place in the industrial community.

There are two highly-rated private- ly-owned commercial schools, assur- ing an adequate supply of stenogra- phic and secretarial help.

For those desiring higher educa- tion, extension courses are provided from the University of Indiana, and engineering courses are given from Purdue University, oftentimes spe- cializing in such subjects as the heat- treatment of metals, electric welding, gas welding, and kindred subjects of particular interest to manufacturers.

Many Hammond residents avail themselves of the opportunity to take night courses at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.

CHURCHES-All denominations are represented in the religious life of Hammond-39 Protestant, 8 Catholic, 2 Jewish and 8 miscellaneous congre- gations.

LIBRARY-The Hammond Public Library has six branches, and will, with the cooperation of the indus- tries, establish a branch within an industry if the demand for library service justifies it. There are 100,000 volumes in the Hammond Library system.

Recreation

PARKS - Hammond is equipped with all types of wholesome recrea- tion. There are fourteen parks, with an acreage of 250, and a valuation of $1,750,000. These parks are equip- ped with tennis courts and play- grounds with attractive landscaping.

INTRODUCTION

GOLF-There are five golf courses within a few minutes of town-Wood- mar Country Club, Wicker Park, Lan- sing Airport Course, Lake Hills, and Burnham Woods.

SWIMMING-There is swimming at modern pools in a number of the city parks. Numerous beaches are located in the Dunes territory and elsewhere within short distances of Hammond.

WICKER PARK - - Within a few miles of Hammond is the famous Wicker Memorial Park, which is one of the few township-owned public parks in the country. It has 235 acres. This park is equipped with an 18-hole public golf course, picnic fa- cilities, modern swimming pool, and other equipment which make it a popular place for company and or- ganization outings.

SCOUTING-For boys and girls of scouting age, there are active scout- ing troops in Hammond. Both or- ganizations maintain camps for Ham- mond boys and girls.

FOREST PRESERVES-Immediate- ly across the state line in Cook Coun- ty, providing bridle paths, trails and outing facilities, is one of the Illinois forest preserves.

Public Health

Hammond maintains an efficient health department under the direc- tion of a board of health of three members and in charge of a qualified physician, safeguarding the city against the spread of infectious and communicable diseases. The appro- priation of this department provides for free analysis of milk and water in a well-equipped laboratory, and also for a registered nurse.

Hospitals

There is one hospital, St. Margar- et's, operated by the Sisters of St. Francis, with a capacity of 260 beds. The hospital is fully equipped for surgery and for the proper care of patients.

Section 28, Copyright Law In Force July 7, 1909

That any person who wilfully and for profit shall infringe any copyright secured by this act, or who shall knowingly or wilfully aid or abet such infringement, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment for not exceeding one year, or by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or both, in the discretion of the court.

PUBLISHERS NOTE

The information in this Directory is gathered by an actual canvass and is compiled in a way to insure maximum accuracy.

The publishers cannot and do not guarantee the cor- rectness of all information furnished them nor the complete absence of errors or omissions, hence no responsibility for same can be or is assumed.

The publishers earnestly request the bringing to their attention of any inaccuracy so that it may be corrected in the next edition of the directory.

R. L. POLK & CO., Publishers

WHITING

Statistical Review

Form of Government-Mayor and council.

Population-10,307 (1940 U. S. Cen- sus).

Area-970 acres.

Altitude-585 feet above sea level.

Climate-Mean annual tempera- ture, 49.2 degrees F .; average annual rainfall, 33.04 inches.

Parks-1, with 30 acres.

Assessed Valuation - $24,265,355, with 781/2c per $100 city tax rate and $2.96 per $100 total city and county tax rate.

Bonded Debt-None.

Financial Data-3 banks, with total deposits of $8,423,600 (Dec. 31, 1944), and total resources of $8,961,500 (Dec. 31, 1944). 1 building and loan asso- ciation, with assets of $438,554 (Feb. 28, 1945).

Telephones in Service-3,128.

Churches-12, representing 6 de- nominations.

Industry-Chief industries of city: Standard Oil Co. of Indiana, employ- ing 5,000, producing a complete line of petroleum products; Carbide & Carbon Chemicals Corp., employing 500, chief product, synthetic organic chemicals; Union Tank Car Co., em- ploying 400, leasing and maintenance of tank cars; Federated Metals Divi- sion, American Smelting & Refining Co., chief product, metals and metal alloys; Globe Roofing Products Co., employing 150, chief products, roofing products and siding.

Newspapers-1 weekly.

Hotels-1, with 66 rooms.

Amusements - Largest auditorium in city seats 1,200 persons. 2 moving- picture theatres, with total seating capacity of 2,200 persons.

Education-4 public schools, includ- ing 1 senior high and 1 junior high. 2 parochial schools, including 1 junior high. Number of pupils in public schools, 1,736; in parochial, 592. Number of teachers in public schools, 70; in parochial, 17.

Public Libraries-1, with 23,615 vol- umes.

City Statistics-Total street mile- age, 13.5, nearly all paved. Daily av- erage pumpage of water works, 2,500,- 000 gallons; value of plant, $321,- 559.64. Fire department has 15 men, with 1 station and 3 pieces of motor

equipment. Police department has 21 men, with 1 station and 4 pieces of motor equipment.

Location, Population, Etc.

LOCATION-Whiting is located in Lake County, the second largest county in Indiana, in the northwest corner of the state. It is seventeen miles from the center of Chicago, five miles north of the retail business dis- trict of Hammond, three miles west of Indiana Harbor, and ten miles west of Gary.

BOUNDARIES-Whiting is bounded on the north by Lake Michigan; on the east by East Chicago, Indiana Harbor and Lake Michigan; on the south by Hammond and Lake George, and on the west by Hammond and Wolf Lake.

POPULATION-The population of Whiting was 10,307 according to the 1940 U. S. Census.

Government

Whiting is governed by a city coun- cil form of government. The admin- istration is headed by Mayor James T. McNamara. The administration is regarded as conservative in its aims and has proved satisfactory to the people of this city.

The heads of the departments of police and fire have been in office for the past several years and there is much evidence of the high efficiency of these protective agencies.

Taxation

The tax rate for Whiting for 1944 was $2.98 per $100 assessed valuation. This included city and county tax. The city tax is 781/2c per $100 as- sessed valuation.

There is no state sales tax in Indi- ana, and no occupational tax.

The assessed valuation of Whiting for 1944 was $24,265,355.

Transportation

Transportation facilities in Whit- ing offer direct or inter-connected fa- cilities with all parts of the U. S. Whiting is on three U. S. Highways: 12, 20 and 41. The New York Cen- tral and the Pennsylvania railroads furnish excellent suburban service to Chicago and Gary. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the E., J. & E. Railroad also maintain service sta- tions here.

INTRODUCTION

The Chicago & Calumet District Transit Co. operates a large fleet of the highest type motor coaches. Service is furnished between Whiting, Chicago, East Chicago, Indiana Har- bor, Hammond and Gary.

The Yellow Cab Co. of Whiting maintains regular Yellow Cabs and gives the usual high-type service af- forded by this system.

The American Railway Express Co. handles practically all express. In ad- dition, a number of the large transfer and express companies of the sur- rounding cities deliver here. There are several transfer companies doing business in Whiting.

In addition to the railroads men- tioned above, the E., J. & E. Railroad, the Indiana Harbor Belt Railway Co. and the Baltimore & Ohio Chicago Terminal Co. operate freight service. Whiting is in the Chicago Switching District, and Chicago rates apply on all commodities.

Whiting is only a mile or two from the shipping canal in Indiana Har- bor, which provides easy accessibility for water transportation on the Great Lakes.

Public Utilities

ELECTRICITY-Electric energy is provided by the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. and the rates are comparable to those in other indus- trial communities.

GAS-A high-grade gas also is fur- nished by the Northern Indiana Pub- lic Service Co. at reasonable rates.

COMMUNICATIONS - Whiting is served by the Illinois Bell Telephone Co. and the Western Union Telegraph Co.

Labor

There is a large supply of both skilled and unskilled labor in Whit- ing. There have been no industrial disturbances over a number of years, and the general attitude of the city as a whole does not encourage labor troubles.

Housing and Living Costs

At the present time there is a short- age of homes, as is true in a majority of cities throughout the country. Good homes and apartments can be rented for reasonable amounts when available.

Whiting is located adjacent to a superior garden and trucking area, immediately contiguous to the Mich- igan-Indiana fruit belt, and also is close to the largest meat-packing op- erations in the country, making these things available with wide choice and at reasonable prices.

Commercial Organizations

There are several commercial or-

ganizations giving direct service to the industrial and commercial inter- ests of the city.

The Whiting-Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce is composed of repre- sentatives from the industrial, busi- ness and professional groups. The organization gives careful considera- tion to legislative matters, cooperat- ing with the other local and state commercial, industrial and civic groups, with the result that the in- terests of all have been better served.

The program of this organization is a general one and always in the interest of the community and its in- habitants as a whole.

The Whiting Credit Bureau is com- posed of a number of retailers. This organization is solely for the purpose of giving confidential credit informa- tion.

Civic Organizations, Etc.

Whiting has a number of leading civic clubs, including the Business & Professional Women's Club, Lion's Club, Whiting Women's Club and Par- ent-Teachers' Association. Nearly all the fraternal organizations are rep- resented in Whiting.

All character-building and welfare work clears through the Whiting- Robertsdale Community Chest, which conducts an annual drive for a fixed sum to provide for these agencies each year. Organizations which de- rive their support from this Associa- tion are: Whiting Relief & Aid So- ciety, Whiting Boy Scouts, Whiting Girl Scouts, Whiting Community Service, Lake County T. B. Associa- tion, Carmelite Home for Boys and Carmelite Home for Girls.

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Hammond City Directories 1945, Part 2

Author: Hammond Public Library - SGL Local History Room Publication date: 1945 Publisher: Polk City Directories Number of Pages:

Author: Hammond Public Library - SGL Local History Room
Publication date: 1945
Publisher: Polk City Directories
Number of Pages: