USA > Indiana > Lake County > History Of Lake County (1929) > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
Near Portage, I stopped at a camp where there was a little papoose. When his mother, who was making a red shirt, asked him if he wanted to 'go with white man' he ran and hid his head under a blanket. An ornamented carrying-board leaned against a tree. They had made a unique cradle, with a bow in the form of an arch above it, hung with bells that the little fellow could reach and ring.
I was well acquainted with Solon Robinson, the founder of Crown Point, Indiana, and with Timothy Ball, the historian, who was head of a school there.
Among the pupils of the Ball School was a girl of the Kinney family. One day when he came late, she rushed to him and, as he was a diminutive fellow, picked him up, saying, "Oh, Timothy ! we were so frightened-we thought you had fallen into an ant hill !"
I frequently passed through the site of the present city of Gary, on my way to Rolling Prairie, Pine, and Chicago. The country was rugged, and there were trees everywhere, with but few scattered farms in the locality.
Among my relics of circuit-riding days are the saddle-bags my father made in 1853, and those of my father-in-law, who was sheriff of Blackford County.
I married Anna Mercer, at Hartford City, in 1872. My daughters, Keziah Stright, and Mrs. Carl Oliver, are em- ployed in the Child-Welfare Department of the Gary Public Schools."
151
Schools of Eagle Creek Township
(Paper written by Mrs. Joseph E. Brown (nee Avis Bryant) from material collected by Matthew J. Brown)
MRS. JOSEPH E. BROWN
The passing of the district school is rapid, so rapid that it will be legend or history to the next generation. Such an op- portunity as this occasion makes it possible to record facts that might become lost, not alone through carelessness but be- cause those who know have passed from our community. Thus we are glad that a history of the Eagle Creek Township Schools will be available.
I have inquired here and there and am indebted to the fol- lowing for many items of interest: Mr. Oscar Dinwiddie, Miss Eva Bryant, Mrs. Edith Crawford, Miss Ruby Brown, Walter Fisher, T. K. Fisher, Palmer Temple, Calista Peter- son, C. E. Black, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dilley, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Pearce, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Brownell, S. A. Brownell, Mrs. Roy Childs, Zora Busselberg and Mr. and Mrs. Joe E. Brown.
In the summer of 1834 on Section 6, Township 35, Range 7, the first settlement was made in what is now Lake County. In all probability the South East Grove site was chosen as early as 1836; at any rate there were enough families by 1840 to warrant the building of a school house which was located in N.W.1/4, Section 12, Township 33 North, Range 8 West.
Previous to this time a private school was held in a log- house on the Cutler lot north-east of the South East Grove Cemetery. The deed to this cemetery, drawn in 1850, is in the possession of Mrs. Edith Crawford, of Crown Point. How- ever, the above mentioned public school was a very small house built of logs located just east of the section corners near the center of the grove.
The first teacher, according to report, was Olive Hixon, (Mrs. Ray). It is a fact that in 1842 (the year my mother came) Eliza Kinyon (Mrs. Nichols of Lowell) was the teach- er. Mother (Mrs. William Brown) and Aunt Rhoda Wallace Dinwiddie taught in this first log building as did Mr. D.
152
SCHOOLS OF EAGLE CREEK TOWNSHIP
Crumpacker who was so tall that he had to stoop to pass through the door-way and bow his head when walking around in the room. Ellis Sarjeant was the last teacher.
In 1850 the men of the community raised enough money by subscription to build a larger frame building, erecting it on land in the Southeast Quarter of Section 2, Township 33 North, Range 8 West, which served until 1865 when it was sold to Joe Bray, and removed to what is now the Jay Doak Farm, but then called the Hugh Boyd place.
The school population had increased to such an extent that a much larger frame building was erected just north of the site of the second one. So well had they planned for the future that this school house was not abandoned until the consolidat- ed building was completed in 1927. The structure was sold to the trustee, Win. Bryant, in the summer of 1927 for $55.00. Some of the material was used in rebuilding his home.
When this third building was built a dilemma was found: three townships cornered in the Grove,-Center, Eagle and Winfield. Evidently these political divisions did not exist to cause trouble before. My aunt Cynthia Wallace, who was the teacher at this particular time, said that she was told to teach only those living in Center township because the school prop- erty was in that district. All of the people had contributed to build it; naturally all of the children should have the privi- lege- to attend. This was finally accomplished. However, the commissioners soon met; the matter was presented, and solved by making the boundaries of Eagle Creek larger, including the school house land.
Each building was more pretentious than the preceeding, a splendid illustration of the progress of our American life. Slab seats were replaced by raised seats, (much like our pres- ent auditoriums) they in turn were put aside and the latest style of factory-made seats, with desks, were installed. Slates and sponges were discarded for the more sanitary pencils, pens and tablets-as was the water-pail and cup for the drinking fountains. Even the black boards have succumbed to change.
Passing to the Southeast quarter of Section 23, Township 33, Range 8, we come to the site of the Plum Grove group. The first school was taught in the winter of 1846-47 by Mary Ann Thompson, in a small log house, built by Alfred Bucklew, to hold a claim. This cabin was used for many years as a blacksmith shop.
153
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
The first school-house was erected about 1850 on the ground where the Michael Pearce dwelling now is. The floor dimen- sions were approximately 20 by 24 feet, the logs were hewn flat on two sides and laid on edge with ends notched and saddled. The cracks were chinked with split pieces of hard wood (driven in between the logs), over which a mortar of clay and lime was plastered.
There were three windows, each having two sashes of six lights of 8 by 10 inch glass. One door of dressed boards about 31/2 by 612 feet, with cracks battened to keep out the wind was at the entrance. Cleats, about 11/2 to 2 inches and tapered smaller at one end, were nailed across near the top and bot- tom of the door with the broad ends projecting. In these ends were auger-holes about an inch in diameter, which were slip- ped over the rounded ends of two blocks nailed to the door casing, thus forming the hinges. The door latch was a thin piece of oak or hickory fastened about eight inches from the front edge of the door, with a bolt or nail projecting so that it slipped into a notched block nailed on to the casing. Since the latch was on the interior it was necessary to have a buck- skin string attached and threated through the door so that one on the outside could unfasten by pulling the latch string.
The desks were long boards, supported by two inch square sticks driven into auger-holes made in the logs of the wall at a slant so that the front of the desk was lower than the edge toward the wall. At the wall was a narrow board on the level to hold the books.
The seats were merely slabs from the out-side of a fair- sized log, with the flat side up. Three pairs of legs were in- serted on the rough or under side of each length. The size of the child was considered when making these benches. The little ones did not need desks. A big box stove which radiated heat when needed served as a dunce block in warm weather for those who violated the rules.
The school term of six to eight months was determined by the amount of money in the school fund. One winter in the fif- ties a new director hired a cheap teacher which caused John W. Dinwiddie and Michael Pearce to employ Emily Vanhouten for their children. This private school was held in a nearby cabin, probably Bucklews.
Spelling-matches and revival meetings brought capacity
154
SCHOOLS OF EAGLE CREEK TOWNSHIP
crowds; also the day-school needed more room; so the trustee, John W. Dinwiddie, directed that a larger frame building be built on the Northwest corner of Section 26, Township 33 North, Range 8 West in 1860. While Charles Brownell was trustee, about 1896, the frame building was sold to Jerome Dinwiddie, and has since been used for a granary. The third building, another frame one, was put up at a cost of $900.00, this was sold to Claude Brownell for $168.00, 1927, by W. A. Bryant, trustee.
It might be of interest to state at this time that in 1860, John D. Dinwiddie, as trustee, had school-houses built in Dis- trict Number 2, or Plum Grove; District Number 3, or Center ; District Number 4, or South Eagle Creek, and District Num- ber 6, or Doty. The contractor was John Wilson, Lyman Dunn assisting.
From the History of Lake County of 1882 the following ac- count was taken:
"April 22, 1853, Michael Pearce, Samuel Turner and S. O. Servis, trustees, met at the home of M. Pearce, William Brown, clerk, A. J. McCann, treasurer whose bond was $1500.00, with John W. Dinwiddie and S. Andrews as bondsmen. The treas- urer was ordered to pay Caroline Berdine (Flint) $26.00, services rendered in School district Number 6, Township 33, Range 7 West for winter of 1852 and 1853."
"Mary McGill, $10.10 for teaching in the same district.
"Mr. Huffman, 44 cents as treasurer of Township 33, Range 7 West.
"On May 23, 1853 a tax of 25c on the $100.00 was voted for school purposes."
November 18, 1853, $9.60 was voted to Cynthia Wallace for services in District Number 1.
Continuing with our survey of the districts we now come to the Southeast corner of Section 13, Township 33 North, Range 8 West, the very spot where this crowd is assembled tonight.
The first school sessions were conducted in Thomas Tem- ple's residence just north of this place. The first school-build- ing was erected in 1860 by John W. Dinwiddie, a frame struc- ture about 24 by 36 feet. At the present time it is the garage for this consolidated school,-this fine brick edifice of four
155
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
class rooms, modern basement, including this big auditorium, all up-to-date in every respect.
Eagle Creek township citizens have reason to be proud of this monument to their interest and efforts, and are to be con- gratulated on their good judgment. The cost in dollars is 40,000.00, but its value in service to the township's boys and girls and to the adults, as a community center, will be far greater. The contractors were F. E. Muzzal and sons; the trustee is Win A. Bryant. The bonds were issued to the amount of $30,000.00, payable $2000.00 annually.
The frame building just described, as well as the school- buildings of Grove, South Eagle Creek and Doty districts which were built in 1860, were rebuilt in 1895 by Lyman Dunn, as contractor and M. J. Brown as Trustee.
Going over nearly to the center line of Section 20, Town- ship 33 North, Range 7 West, on the east side of Eagle Creek, we find the location of a log school-house built in conjunction with Districts Number 4 and 5, between 1840 and 1850. This was near the south line of the Susan and David Turner farm, now known as the Kate Wilson farm. Sam Clavin, Teacher.
The second building, a frame, was located in the Southeast quarter of Section 20, Township 33 North, Range 7 West, by John W. Dinwiddie, in 1860, and was sold to M. J. Brown by Win Bryant, trustee, in 1927, for $125.00, and is still at this place. The land was sold at the same time for $35.00 to the same person.
We will next consider North Eagle Creek School, which did not come into existence as an independent school until 1861 or 1862, when a small frame house was built a short distance west of the present residence of John Anderson, or the north line of Section 20, Township 33 North, Range 7 West. The school was closed in 1912 on account of small attendance. Starr Brownell, trustee, sold the building for $77.00 to T. K. Fisher, and it is now used as a granary on Fisher's farm.
Over in the southeast quarter of Section 9, Township 33 North, Range 7 West, 11/4 mile west of Hebron, on the north side of the road, John W. Dinwiddie erected another frame building in 1860 where school was maintained until 1902, when it was sold to Mat Witters who moved it to Hebron and made it over into a dwelling on the east side of North Main Street, now occupied by Roscoe Witters.
156
SCHOOLS OF EAGLE CREEK TOWNSHIP
The first brick school house was built by Hugh Boyd, trus- tee, in the Southwest quarter of Section 11, Township 33 North, Range 8 West, on land deeded by Edward Donnaha to the township with the provision that when it ceased to be used for school purposes it should then revert to the grantor with any improvements thereon. School has been discontinued since 1900 and the building torn down.
Turning about, and traveling almost due east to the north- west corner of Section 9, Township 33 North, Range 7 West, we come to the location of the Dave Wilson or Ed Hough school, built by trustee Hugh Boyd, of Eagle Creek township and trustee Jacob Wise, of Winfield township. The land, owned by Charles Simpson was south of the line, or in Eagle Creek. The tuition money of the Winfield pupils helped to defray the school expenses. In 1917, May 26, the most destructive cyclone in the history of the region demolished the building, which was not rebuilt.
The Bowers or Dammeir frame school building, built by David A. Fisher, trustee, in 1890, at a cost of $600.00 was located in the Southeast quarter of Section 34, Township 34 North, Range 8 West. It was sold by Jay Pearce, trustee, to Charles Blume, in 1918, for $120.00. It was discontinued on account of scarcity of pupils.
Following the draining of the Kankakee marsh, the land was fit to cultivate; consequently the farms were settled, and a necessity for a school house was felt. The trustee at that time, 1910, was Starr Brownell, who had a small frame build- ing put up on Pearce Ridge, Southwest quarter, Section 31, Township 33 North, Range 7 West, at a cost of $600.00. In 1922 it was sold by Jay Pearce, trustee to the Presbyterians, who used it for a church. In the meantime school was held in Dr. Geisel's residence, about four miles southwest (also in the old building.)
In 1920 F. E. Muzzall and Sons, contractors, built a fine brick two story structure in the Northeast corner of Section 12, Township 32 North, Range 8 West, at a cost of $16,000.00, known as Liberty School, (J. Pearce, trustee.)
In the passing of the district schools in Eagle Creek Town- ship four private institutions have been noted, fifteen public ones. Three buildings were log, eleven were frame, and one brick. All of these have disappeared, to be replaced by two
157
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
large brick buildings, one of two rooms, the other of four, with large basements and modern improvements, to accomo- date the boys and girls who come from the former, then sep- arate districts. Since 1840 a grand total of twenty-one struc- tures of various sizes and materials have been built at the expense of the tax payers.
THE PIONEER SCHOOLHOUSE
The old-time schoolhouse,
Alas, that is no more! Its walls have long since crumbled ;
Likewise the puncheon floor. The footsteps, too, have vanished,
That marked the trodden sill,
And only pioneer memories
Young generations thrill.
The pioneer schoolhouse
Blazed education's way, Where the master taught the three R's
On the minimum of pay. The high price cost of living Ne'er troubled him a bit,
He got his living boarding 'round,
And was thankful to submit.
The old-time schoolhouse, Safe and snug among the trees,
Where the morning songs of wild birds
Was borne on summer's breeze, And many a barefoot urchin, Proud of his mimic skill,
Poured forth sweet notes alluring As he whistled "whippoorwill."
The pioneer schoolhouse, Alas, that is no more!
The social centers, good times,
And the spelling bees are o'er. But dear, so dear, thy memories, And the wholesome truths there taught,
Thy name is wrought in history, From life's page Forget-me-not.
MRS. ROSE SHOEMAKER.
158
SCHOOLS OF EAGLE CREEK TOWNSHIP
TRUSTEES
Michael Pearce (53 yrs. old) died 4/4/1861; John W. Din- widdie (47 yrs. old) died 4/12/1860; G. W. Handley, 1867; H. W. Bryant, Wm. Fisher, John Crawford, John Brown, Jr., Wm. Brown (4 yrs.) ; Hugh Boyd (4 yrs.) 1879-1882; Tim- othy Serjeant (4 yrs.) 1885-1889 ; David Fisher (4 yrs.) 1889- 1893; Chas. A. Brownell 4 yrs.) 1893-1897; M. J. Brown (4 yrs.) 1897 -- 1901; Wm. Cochran (4 yrs.) 1901-1905; C. E. Black (4 yrs.) 1905-1909; Starr Brownell, 1909-1913; J. Carl Brownell (2 yrs.) 1913-1915; Jay M. Pearce (8 yrs.) 1915- 1923; Win Bryant (6 yrs.) 1923-1929.
TEACHERS OF EAGLE CREEK TOWNSHIP SOUTH EAST GROVE (DISTRICT 1) 1842-1927
Cynthia Wallace, Olive Hixon, Eliza Kinyon, Rev. D. Crum- packer, Rhoda Wallace, Mary Jane Wallace, Pleaides Kings- bury, Ellis Sargeant, Ben Williams, Mr. Cutler, Mr. Cunning- ham, Rev. Edis, Jennie McClaren, Ella Kisscadan, Anna Mc- Williams, Lucinda Nash, Sophronia Erb, Charles Jones, Rich- ard Mackey, Sam Dilley, Carrie Sigler, Oscar Baird, Mr. Mc- Carry, Celia Ketchum, Clara Irish, James Herrick, Martha Barney, Jane Hide, Mary Boyd, Frank Doak, Merta B. John- son, Matilda Beattie, Pearl Holton, Mary Martin, Le Roy Doak, Nina Ward, Mary Merton, Retta Stewart, Alice George, Ber- tha George, Margery Brough, Myrtle Hill, Fred Ewer, Sr., Tecla Anderson, Margaret Stahl, Kate Brownell, Anna Boyd, Robert Quillen, Ruby Simpson, Myrtle Clites, Phoebe Baird, Lucy Jenkins, Bessie Robertson, Anna Henderson, Eliza Muz- zall.
PLUM GROVE (DISTRICT 2) 1846-1927
George Doak, Mr. Curtis, Fannie Van Houten, Lizzie Foster, Henrietta Ball, Cynthia Hogan, Norman Stone, Chas. Post, Mr. Fotte, Dorcas Adams, Sadie Starr, J. W. Hole, Mary Mc- Gill, Martha Haste, Myron Mee, Carrie Buchanan, Ellen Daum,
159
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
Jennie Talcott, Maggie McKnight, Le Grande Meyer, Starr Brownell, Mollie Blake, Marguerite Will, Lizzie Baird, Lela Bryant, Morris Newby, Bessie Griffith,
CENTER (DISTRICT 3) 1860-1927
Jane Turner, Janette Pearce, Harriet Pearce, Sarah Ken- ney, Marian Brown, Chas. Burham, Birdie Hanley, Ruth Barney, M. J. Brown, Edith Brown, Will Brown, Luella Full- er, Mary Dunn, Alice Brownell, Cora Sargeant, Myrtle Gid- ley, Agnes Mae Stewart, Myrtle Hill, Lillie Wright, Laura Hale, Libbie Kenny, Sarah Kenny, Martha Buchanan, Alys Hess, Marie Landen, Margaret Pearce, Mamie Dilley, Jessie Turner, Beth Pearce, Mabel Sparling, Smith V. Glass, Eliza- beth Bradford, Mildred Sparling, Bertha Garriott, Opal Lewis, Cynthia Green Brayton.
SOUTH EAGLE CREEK (DISTRICT 4) 1845-1927
John Fisher, J. H. Dowd, Nelta Bliss, Clara Bliss, Eva Bry- ant, Ed. Mee, Ida E. Fisher, Ella Talcott, Clara A. Bliss, Effie Wilson, Mary Sargeant, Sarah Hughes, Lillian Hughes, Nettie Hughes, Elizabeth Hughes, Nora Sargeant, Margaret Ludy, Doris Stauffer, Clara Matthews, Pearl Huntington, Sue Turn- er, Lillie Lamberg, Mary Bryant, Cerilla Saylor, Bessie Wil- son, Margaret Wilson.
NORTH EAGLE CREEK (DISTRICT 5) 1845-1912
Sam Turner, Jessie Simpson, Rev. J. N. Buchanan, Tom Fisher.
DOTY (DISTRICT 6) 1860-1902
Mr. Patrick, Calista Andrews, Anna Kelley, Sue Hildreth, Ella Dennison, Hattie Bryant, Susie Bagley, Eva Shoup, Cyn- thia Green, Mabel Crawford, Fay Rolston, Mabel Brown, Belle Garrison, Sue Turner, Dorothy Nichols, Bernice Bagley, Ethel Richardson Zim.
160
SCHOOLS OF EAGLE CREEK TOWNSHIP
DONNAHA (DISTRICT 7) 1880-1900
Mabel Burgess, Jurilla King, Lora Henderson, Cynthia Wood, Edna Seims, Margaret Buchanan, Loren Boyd, Effie Boyd.
WILSON (DISTRICT 8) 1880-1917
Mary E. Davidson, Lizzie Simpson, Charley Childs, Luther Roper, Phoebe Westbay, Minnie Wilson, Nannie Kelley, E. E. Dilley, Tom Scott, Fern Wilcox, Allie Sherwood, Margaret Ross.
BOWERS (DISTRICT 9) 1890-1918
Elbert Boyd, Myrtle Pearce, George Tangle, Chas. Warner.
FIFIELD (DISTRICT 10) 1910-1929
Mabel Dinwiddie, Walter Beck, Loris Cornell, Paul Sheehan, Ola May Wilson, Zora Dunn, Lena Heick, Mary Fisher, Ed- mund Hough, Hubert Long, Martha DcCook, Estella Clarkson.
DOUBTFUL
Miss Clark, C. Kelley, Letha Dickinson, Allie Faulkner, Maud Meeks, Nina Giles, Fannie Giles, Marie Bormer, Lizzie Cornell, Isabelle Spaulding, Jessie Death, Ruth Bacon, Ruby Bacon, Jessie Bryant, Emma Wilson, Sarah McQuire, Dorothy Berg, Lucille Wheeler, Eunice DeCamp, Ernest Lock, Ida Fleming, Genevieve Cunan.
161
Public Parks
GARY PARKS By W. P. GLEASON December, 1929
In reviewing the development of parks in our city, it might be well to refer briefly to the original site upon which Gary is built. In the spring of 1906 the United States Steel Corpora- tion commenced work on the construction of the Indiana Steel Company plant, and the building of a city. The site was very unattractive, consisting of sand dunes, ravines and marshes. It was decided to level the entire area, establishing a grade above the lake, which would even up the hills and sloughs. The spring, summer and fall of 1906 were consumed in cutting down forests, leveling the hills, outlining and building sewers and streets, building water works and mains and electric ser- vice-lines.
In its first sub-division the Corporation set aside two parks, one on the east side, and one on the west side, and soon after the city was organized these parks were improved.
East Side Park
In the East Side Park, trees and shrubs were planted, a band stand provided, walks laid out and built, and the park developed so that it could be used not only for a public park and municipal band concerts, but for outdoor public gather- ings or meetings desired by the people.
West Side Park
The West Side Park, where the Park Commissioners' office is located, was improved and developed with a view of pre- serving, as nearly as possible, the original contour of the ground; a covering of black earth, and the building of lawns has transformed the original sand hills and ravines into a very beautiful park.
Tolleston Park
Later on, acreage was obtained on the south side of Fif-
162
PUBLIC PARKS
teenth Avenue for what is now known as Tolleston Park. Trees and shrubs were planted and playground, baseball dia- mond and tennis courts installed. In the spring of 1925 con- struction was started on the pavilion, containing shelter house and rest rooms.
Tyler Park
Shortly after Tolleston Park was obtained, the United States Steel Corporation presented to the city Tyler Park, which is located in the vicinity of one of our largest public schools, and where many of the foreign denominations have built their churches.
In addition to the fine old native trees already growing in this park, many other trees and shrubs were planted, walks laid out, and a pavilion, or assembly hall, was built for a meet- ing place. This pavilion has proven very beneficial to our foreign people as a place to hold parties and other gatherings. The grounds, during the summer months, are used largely for family picnic parties, where games and other forms of outdoor recreation are enjoyed.
Jackson Playground
Jackson Street Playground north of Fourth Avenue was next obtained, and it consists of up-to-date playground ap- paratus, wading pool, shelter house, tennis courts and base- ball diamonds. In this park, as well as in all the others, are held many children's parties, including their Hallowe'en par- ties which are annually arranged for by the Park Commission- ers, and attended by thousands of adults and children. In the winter season the baseball diamonds are flooded for skating, and toboggans are erected for the children. In 1929, the Park Commissioners arranged to move one of the flat buildings ac- quired at the time the property was purchased for the Gate- way Park, and located it on the north-east corner of the play- ground; this building was remodeled and is now used as a de- partment service and garage building; it also contains rooms for future offices. The basement serves as a warming room during the skating season.
Lake Front Park
After years of effort to obtain a Lake Front Park, inter-
163
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
ference coming largely through the fact that the land desired was not within the city limits, and also by litigation of proper- ty rights, the United States Steel Corporation purchased one hundred and twenty acres and donated it to the City of Gary, and through additional purchases this park now consists of one hundred and thirty-five acres and has a lake frontage, to- gether with riparian rights, of approximately two miles.
Upon receipt of this property, the Park Board started at once to clear the wooded portion of underbrush, and trimmed the oaks and pines. A comprehensive study was made and a map of the park and roadways prepared, which study has been generally followed. Efforts were made to have a hard sur- faced road built, but there were no funds available in Hobart Township, where this park then was located, and being un- successful in our attempts to build a hard-surfaced road to the park, the Park Board made a temporary road of cinders, mov- ing about 50,000 yards of sand to do this; and also provided a parking space near the lake. This enabled the people to get to the beach and also provided a road for the contractors to haul material for the building of the bath house. Finally, the Park Commissioners were successful in annexing to Calumet Township the northern part of Hobart Township, which in- cluded part of the City of Gary; and a hard-surfaced road was then built.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.