USA > Indiana > Lake County > Reports And Papers Of Lake County Indiana (1958-1966) > Part 4
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FIVE YEAR PERIOD-1939-1944
gone to live elsewhere with family or friends or had passed away.
After the very unpleasant, unorthodox incident of the two officers in 1925, that caused their dismissal, these two scoured the nearby towns of Miller, Chesterton and Hobart for veterans and eventually found ten, a charter list for a G.A.R. Post in Gary. The Civil War Veterans Association did nothing to oppose them. The William Kechum Post was the last one to be chartered in the Department of Indiana. Most of this roll did not attend the meetings and after a few short years the Charter was surrendered. The Posts in Hobart, Hammond, Whiting and Crown Point were function- ing. Crown Point, the John Wheeler Post, was the last one to disband. Their four guns of the 1865 government vintage were given to the Clara Barton Tent, who have placed them in the National Headquarters Building at Springfield, Illinois. (See NDUV story).
The Grand Army of The Republic was founded by Major Benjamin F. Stephenson and W. J. Rutledge, chaplain, of the 14th Illinois Infantry. Major Stephenson was a doctor in the medical corps during the Civil War. Both had dreamed of such an organization while in active service. March 1866, Major Stephenson called a conference in Springfield, Illinois. Fifteen Union officers came; the result was the birth of this noble organization. The first Post was organized at Decatur, Illinois, on the 6th of April, 1866. The Major was elected to the Department State Commander, with a charter membership of twelve ex-service men from the Union Army. The Post was given the title "Honor Post No. 1". The official closing of the Grand Army was October 16, 1956.
The first National Encampment was at Indianapolis, Indiana, November 2, 1866, and the last one held in Indian- apolis August 28 to September 1, 1949. The eighty-three Na- tional Encampments were held in different cities throughout the United States. Provincial Commander-in-chief was Ben- jamin F. Stephenson; the first commander-in-chief was Stephen A. Hurlbut, Springfield, Illinois; the second com- mander-in-chief was General John A. Logan who served three consecutive years. The final officers were: Theodore A. Penland, Portland, Oregon,-Commander-in-chief; Albert Woolson, Duluth, Minnesota,-senior vice-commander-in-chief ; and James Hard, New York,-junior vice-commander-in- chief.
31
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
Indiana had four commanders-in-chief, namely: Ivan Walker, Orlando Somers of Kokomo, William Ketchum, Indi- anapolis, and Isaac W. Sharp of Warsaw.
At the Twenty-seventh National Encampment held in In- dianapolis it was reported that five of the posts represented had been organized in Canada, one post each in Mexico and Honolulu, and one in Lima, Peru, South America, which had twenty-four on the charter.
The design of the "little bronze button" was approved and patented during the twenty-eighth encampment September, 1894, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Henceforth this was the proud emblem worn on the coat lapel of every Grand Army man. The first badges were made from cannons used in the Civil War. One Union and one Confederate cannon were ob- tained for this purpose. At the encampment in 1903 at San Francisco, the Grand Army presented $1,715.83 toward a home for the Confederate veterans in Mountain Home, Alabama. Over $3,000.00 was sent to Kansas for flood relief and $22,- 000.00 was raised in cash and supplies for the tornado dis- aster in Galveston, Texas. In 1906 nearly $10,000.00 was sent to San Francisco after the earthquake.
During this and the following years the Grand Army worked hard to get Congress to enlarge the amphitheater in Arlington Cemetery and to have them provide a site upon which to place the Major Stephenson monument. The Grand Army had raised $25,000.00 to buy the monument. In 1909 the latter had been accomplished so that the Stephenson monu- ment was dedicated in Washington, D. C., July 3, 1909. The one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln was fittingly observed. September 13 and 14, 1913, the fifti- eth anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg was observed by the Confederate and Union veterans. Fifty-five thousand at- tended. The two projects proposed to Congress were passed.
Another effort was to increase pensions, especially of the Civil War widows. During World War I the GAR and their four allied orders purchased over a million dollars of war bonds. In 1920 the amphitheater was dedicated and an in- crease in the pensions for army nurses was raised from $12.00 to $30.00 per month.
In 1924, House Bill No. 1869, incorporation of the Grand Army, was accepted. The Blue and the Grey held a last re- union, July 1-4, 1938, at the Battlefield of Gettysburg, on the
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FIVE YEAR PERIOD-1939-1944
seventy-fifth anniversary of that event. Fifteen hundred Union veterans and five hundred Confederates attended. The "Eternal Peace" monument was dedicated and unveiled at Oak Ridge. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President of the United States, was the speaker.
October 29, 1945, Miss Katharine A. Flood, Newton, Mas- sachusetts, died. She served many years as secretary for the Grand Army. Miss Cora E. Gillis, Jamestown, New York, was named to fill the vacancy. Both ladies have been na- tional presidents of the Daughters of the Union Veterans (DUV) of the Civil War.
At the national encampment held in Grand Rapids, Michi- gan, September 28-30, 1948, there was passed a resolution to place the records in Washington, D. C. The books were to be sent to the Congressional Library; badges, flags, etc., to the Smithsonian Institute. Another resolution to make the 1949 encampment the last one and to petition Congress to issue a commemorative stamp at their final encampment in Indian- apolis in 1949. Six members attended this final convention, namely: commander-in-chief, Theodore Penland, age 100 years; senior vice-commander-in-chief, Charles Chappel, age 109 years; chief of staff, Albert Woolson, age 103 years, who was promoted to senior vice-commander at the death of Chap- pel; James A. Ward, age 108 years; Joseph Covese, age 105 years; Robert Barrett, age 107 years.
At the last encampment a resolution was made to con- tinue the offices and the secretary's office for the purpose of handling the business affairs connected with the final dissolu- tion. Thus Theodore A. Penland was the last man to be con- sidered for the office of commander-in-chief. Secretary Gil- lis was given authority to act in the capacity in closing the af- fairs of the organization, also to turn over to the Woman's Re- lief Corps and the Daughters of the Union Veterans all money left in the Southern Memorial Fund, since they had contri- buted that money.
It was here in Indianapolis that Chief Penland marched away to war and it was here where he returned in 1949 as the sole survivor of Indiana veterans.
The GAR was officially closed in October, 1956, by the United States District Court in Washington, D. C.
The total number listed in the Union army, navy and ma- rines, 1861-1865, was 2,778,304.
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
The Indiana Department of the GAR was organized Aug- ust 20, 1866. Dissension in the organization due to politics caused trouble and posts dropped out until very few were still functioning. Reorganization began in 1876. Indiana re- organized October 3, 1879. Former records were lost. There is no available record of how many GAR posts were in Indiana or what the total membership may have been.
Old Soldiers never die They simply fade away.
Compiled by,
MATILDA DIEDEL ROBERTS (MRS. J. J.), Past National President, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
Lake County Council of Churches
By S. ALLAN WATSON
The Lake County Council of Churches was organized on Monday, December 2, 1957. Twenty-seven (27) churches signed the original declaration of intention and took member- ship on that night.
Officers elected that night were:
President. Fred H. Jannesch, Gary
First Vice-President.
Robert C. Leas, Hammond
Second Vice-President. Rev. Robert Penn, Gary
Third Vice-President. Han Petersen, Chicago
Fourth Vice-President. Rev. Humphrey Walz, Crown Point
Secretary Mrs. Albert A. Ford, Hammond* Treasurer Jack Morfee, Gary
The Rev. Elbert Cole of City Church, Gary (Methodist), was chairman of the steering committee which set up the orig- inal organization meeting. It was held at the First Congrega- tional Church in East Chicago.
Our membership now numbers forty-seven (47) churches in the county. Nearly every month another church takes membership.
Early in June, 1958, I was called from my pastorate in
* Mrs. Robert B. Miller, Gary, resigned immediately after the elec- tion and was succeeded by Mrs. Ford.
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FIVE YEAR PERIOD-1939-1944
La Paz, Bolivia, to be executive director. I assumed duties June 15. Since that date we have held an administrative clinic for vacation church schools; four (4) vacation church school institutes; organized a youth council in Hammond. We have taken the lead in the county-wide drive against vice.
A council of churches is like an iceberg, nine-tenths of its work is submerged. It is not seen by the average person in the pew.
THREE-CREEK COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
CEDAR CREEK
Shelby Church of Christ. .E. L. Worley, Minister
St. Theresa's Catholic Church (Shelby ) Rev. John Woods, Pastor
Lake Dalecarlia Community Church. Rev. O. R. Foster, Pastor
Creston Methodist Church. Carl Quinluin Baker, Minister
Lowell Church of Christ.
Allen C. Meredith, Minister
Church of Christ of Lowell
.Rolland Fritz, Minister
Church of the Nazarene. Kenneth Dishman, S.S. Supt.
Lowell Assembly of God. . Reverend O. L. Cole
First Methodist Church. Claude J. Eaton, Minister
EAGLE CREEK
Range Line Presbyterian Church.
Rev. David Frey, Pastor
WEST CREEK
Schneider Presbyterian. . David Gallop, Minister
Lake Prairie Presbyterian Church. William Stephenson, Pastor
Trinity Lutheran Church .Rev. William Adam, pastor
St. Edward's Church Rev. Chester P. Zurawiec, Pastor
First Baptist Church Rev. Earl Newkirk, Minister
Lowell Grade School By RUSSELL KENNEY
Lowell Grade School, in 1934, was housed in the building on the corner of Main and North Union with an enrollment of 280 pupils in the eight grades and a force of ten teachers. Art, music, agriculture and shop was included in the curriculum. Later band was added. A cafeteria provided hot lunches for children desiring them.
The walls soon began to bulge with the increasing number of children. The cafeteria disappeared into a classroom, as did the library, halls, and all the basement.
The years 1953 to 1955 became a nightmare with classes
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
scattered from the school house proper to the Methodist church, the town hall, and a private house on the west side of Lowell.
In 1955 the Oak Hill School on Oakley Avenue was ready for occupancy. The kindergarten, which had been functioning seven years, and grades through five, moved joyfully into the beautiful new building, while grades six, seven, and eight re- mained in the original Lowell Grade School building.
The 1959 fall enrollment in the Oak Hill School was 455; in the Main Street School, 208; making a total of 663 with a crew of 23 well-trained teachers, 15 at Oak Hill and 8 at the other building.
A twelve room addition to the Oak Hill School is antici- pated to be ready for the opening of the school term in the fall of 1960.
Hammond Public Schools
By R. B. MILLER, Acting Superintendent
Significant changes in the Hammond public schools in the past twenty-five years are as follows :
1. The addition of special service schools to care for the various types of both physically and mentally disabled children.
a. Rooms for non-educable but trainable children.
b. Addition of a resource teacher for blind children. (This teacher is to assist and counsel the regular teacher in whose rooms the blind and near-blind children will work.)
c. Five teachers of speech and hearing therapy who visit each school regularly and test and work with children with speech and hearing defects.
d. The employment of two physical therapists as well as a consulting orthopedic specialist for physically handicapped children.
e. The employment of three teachers to instruct the homebound child, who because of extended illness or disability cannot attend regular classes.
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FIVE YEAR PERIOD-1939-1944
2. Expanded program in the health program of the schools.
a. A school doctor has been employed to direct and upgrade the entire health program.
b. The employment of additional nurses so that nurses are available for all schools.
3. Expansion in the field of psychology.
a. A full-time psychologist has been employed to work with teachers and principals in discovering and working with the mentally and socially re- tarded or disturbed child.
4. Introduction of classes in remedial or developmental reading.
5. Stepped up program in science, mathematics and for- eign languages.
6. Improvement in the guidance program. Providing more and better trained guidance personnel in our high schools.
7. Greater stress is being put on the teaching of the American way of life and the dangers of Communism.
a. All high school students must take at least one se- mester of world geography.
b. A year of world history is required of all high school students.
c. All senior students must take one semester of eco- nomics as well as a required semester of U. S. Government.
8. Individualized reading program in the elementary grades. Experimentation is being done in permitting children to read at their own rate in the field of great- est interest.
9. Definite steps are being taken, and with much success, to raise the standard of work for all students.
East Chicago Public Schools, 1934-1959
The basic education program of the East Chicago public
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
schools has changed very little during the past 25 years, but the community has tried in many ways to improve the educa- tion of its children. These include changes in administration, building, class-size, teacher's salaries, and special services.
The administrative changes have involved the selection of school board members. For years prior to 1952, the board had consisted of three members appointed by the city council. Between 1952 and 1957 it consisted of five individuals chosen by a special election. Since the middle of 1957 it has had five members appointed by the mayor with the approval of the council.
During the depression the building of new schools had ceased while the school population continued to grow; so that, when Roy W. Feik assumed the superintendency in 1934, the average class contained 36 pupils. In 1937 a gymnasium and shop building was added to Roosevelt High School and in 1940 the vocational annex was built at Washington. The enroll- ment which had been 9,569 in 1934 began to decrease rapidly in 1939 and continued to do so until 1949 when it was only 6,954 and the average class size was less than 26. In 1944 despite the drop in total enrollment some schools were crowded and the birth rate was beginning to increase; so Superintend- ent A. C. Senour (1943-58) was directed to arrange for a building and site survey by the University of Chicago. As a result of this survey several of the older buildings were mod- ernized and a new 30-room Field School was constructed.
The birth rate continued to increase; so the survey was repeated in 1955-56 and a new building program was outlined. The new Field School was enlarged (1955), a new gymnasium was built at Washington High School and a temporary pri- mary building was built in the new Roxana addition (1957). Meanwhile on January 6, 1956, Garfield School burned, neces- sitating shelving of other building plans until its replacement, the Carrie Gosch School, was completed in 1959. When Dan Simon became superintendent in 1958, the enrollment was at an all-time high, 9,923. To handle this number the licensed staff, which was 289 in 1934, had increased to 407 and the average class size was over 27 which meant many classes were larger than is considered desirable. Also, the number of classes had increased until a shortage of rooms necessitated shortened sessions in several buildings.
The 1921 teachers' salary became inoperative during the depression ; so a committee of teachers proposed a new sched-
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FIVE YEAR PERIOD-1939-1944
ule which was adopted in 1938. Subsequent improvements have resulted in one of the better schedules in the nation, the average salary for classroom teachers being $6,431 in 1958-59.
In 1934 the school population consisted predominantly of the children of immigrants from central and southern Europe. During the intervening years these people have been largely displaced by people from the South, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. This fact plus an active social conscience has resulted in the addition of many special services: three teachers for younger homebound pupils; Executone service for older homebound pupils; a class for "trainable" children; provision for the blind; a vastly expanded counseling staff; four remedial teachers for normal children with deficient skills in language, reading, and/or arithmetic; and beginning in 1959 a psychi- atric social worker.
Education in Lake County, 1934-1959
By MAMIE SPANGLER Supervisor, Elementary Education, Lake County Schools, 1937-1959
The increased enrollment in the Lake County Schools has been an amazing phenomena. This reflects not only the in- creased industrial expansion in the area and the trend to move from the crowded cities but is a sample of what is taking place in all metropolitan areas. With increased transportation fa- cilities many people prefer to live out in the suburbs and drive in to the plants or offices to work.
This back to the country movement began in the middle 30's when, during the depression years, working hours were greatly reduced. A house in a new subdivision with ground enough for a garden, fruit trees and possibly fowls proved a great economic aid.
This movement was predicted by sociologists even before the depression years. The movement was slowed down during the World War II period on account of gas rationing but was renewed with vigor later.
The rapid increase in school enrollment was amazing to school officials and caught some of them off guard. They didn't think this could be happening or that it would continue long. However, over a period of time studies have been made of the trends and we are able to project the problem into the
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
future and to be better prepared.
In order to house the pupils it has been necessary to resort to half day sessions in some areas and to use churches, town halls and empty store rooms in others.
TRUSTEES OF LAKE COUNTY
The trustees of the eleven townships make up the Board of Education of Lake County. However, each one, with the advice of his three member advisory board, is the sole admin- istrator of his township. Together they determine the gen- eral school policies and meet the first Monday in each month in the office of the Lake County superintendent of schools.
The towns of Munster, Highland and Schererville are ad- ministered by town boards but were under county jurisdiction until they grew to such size that they now have their own superintendents.
When Calumet Township became eligible in 1957, under a new law, to form a metropolitan school district, it was or- ganized and now has a five-member board and its own super- intendent, Dr. Schuur. The township continues to have serv- ices from the county school office.
Trustees who have served since 1934:
Calumet Township-Mrs. Mary Grade Wells, Mrs. Frankie Helman, Mr. Peter Mandich, Mr. Harold DeVault.
Cedar Creek Township-Mr. Vivian Hayden, Mr. Morris Gilbert, Mr. William Sisson, Mrs. Wilfred Weaver.
Center Township-Mr. Julius Nielson, Dr. Francis Roth, Mr. Bert Margison, Mr. Harry Meyer.
Eagle Creek Township-Mr. Thomas Fisher, Mr. Winfred Bryant, Mr. Thomas Fisher (another 2 four year terms), Mr. Elmer Childress, Mr. John Amey.
Hanover Township-Mr. Frank Govert, Mr. Edward Fed- ler, Mr. Frank Schafer, Mr. Raymond Mager.
Hobart Township-Mr. John Harms, Mr. Henry S. Evans, Mrs. Henry S. Evans, Mr. Ivan Meister, Mr. William Green.
North Township-Mr. John J. Mehan, Mr. J. L. Ginther, Mrs. Mary Ginther, Mr. John Sertich, Mr. John Brozovic.
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FIVE YEAR PERIOD-1939-1944
Ross Township-Mr. Emil Buchfuehrer, Mr. Harry Holmes, Mr. Ted Houchin, Mr. Henry Fieler, Mr. Cecil Tona- gel.
St. John Township-Mr. Paul Gettler, Mr. Roy Hillbrich, Mr. Mike Kolling, Mr. Don Moriarity.
West Creek Township-Mr. Harry Hathaway, Mr. Roy Pattee, Mr. Ernest Burnham, Mr. Ray Forburger.
Winfield Township-Mr. Julius Batterman, Mr. John Keehn, Mr. Byron Henderson, Mr. George M. Phillips.
ENROLLMENTS
1934 Townships
2181
Towns-Highland, Munster, Schererville 455
Total Elementary
2636
High Schools
Calumet
Dyer
707
Lowell
Merrillville
Grand Total
3343
1939
Townships-Elementary
3030
Towns
680
High Schools 1064
Grand Total 4774
1944
Townships-Elementary
4206
Towns
1089
High Schools
883
Grand Total 6178
1949
Townships-Elementary
5925
Towns 1358
High Schools 1352
Grand Total
8635
1954 Townships
Towns (Schererville)
8801
265
Note: During this period Highland and
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
Munster had grown to such proportions that they withdrew from county administration and formed independent corporations. High School 2247
Grand Total (without Munster and Highland) 11313
1959 Townships (excluding Calumet which during this period formed the Calumet Metropolitan School District with its own Board of Education and superintendent, but with services from the county offices) 8247
High School 2622
Grand Total (excluding 3 towns and Calumet Township) 10869
ENROLLMENTS
Note: During this period the River Forest High School in Hobart Township had been added. These high school pu- pils had been going to Hobart High School. Lowell High School includes pupils from Eagle Creek, Cedar Creek and West Creek as well as some from Hanover. Other Hanover pupils go to Dyer.
Center and Winfield Township pupils go to the Crown Point High School. Merrillville High School has pupils in Ross Township only. Dyer High School has St. John Town- ship pupils, Schererville and some from Hanover. Calumet Township has its own senior and junior high school. Munster formerly sent high school pupils into Hammond and High- land into Griffith but now they have their own high schools.
Total enrollments at 5-year intervals at a glance:
1934
1939
1944
1949
1954
1959
3,343
4,774
6,178
8,635
11,313
10,869
Add to this the original towns and Calumet enrollments equal 30,000.
CHANGES IN ENROLLMENTS
From 1934-1939 = 1431 increase.
From 1939-1944 = 1404 increase.
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FIVE YEAR PERIOD-1939-1944
(Note: The movement from the cities slackened due to the gas rationing in World War II.)
From 1949-1954 = 2678 increase although Highland and Munster had withdrawn.
From 1954-1959 = 444 loss. This was due to Calumet Township forming an independent school district which now has 4913 pupils. Counting this township our grand total in 1959 was 15,782. Add to this Highland, Munster and Schererville and the total enrollment of the same area was approximately 30,000 or almost 10 times the enrollment of 1934.
SCHOOL HOUSING
The rapid movement from the cities to the suburbs and from other areas-mostly from the South-put a tremendous burden on taxpayers, trustees and school administrators. In some areas particularly in Calumet and Hobart Townships the growth was so rapid and continuous that temporary buildings and half day sessions in the lower grades have prevailed.
The first relief came in the later 40's when the Federal government provided funds when it was determined that 90% of the families were in defense construction. Both Calumet and Hobart Townships qualified for these. Three new ele- mentary schools, two additions to Black Oak Junior High School and High School have been built since the early 40's in Calumet Township.
From seven rooms in Hobart Township, two new elemen- tary, a junior high school and a senior high school have been built. Soon another elementary will be added.
In the areas that could not qualify for Federal funds the state has made provisions for buildings. Townships may form a holding corporation or may borrow at very low interest from the soldiers' fund. When the state levied one-half cent for a soldiers' bonus much more money accumulated than enough to pay the stipulated amount so the surplus was set aside for schools who could qualify. That meant those who had used all their own available funds and had reached the limit in taxation for schools.
School architecture has kept pace with modern home and business buildings. In fact they are so lovely that they are sometimes called the Children's Country Clubs. Most of them are one level ranch type with the latest in lighting, plumbing,
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HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
seating and decorating. Colors are scientifically chosen and it is rare to find two rooms alike.
A large multi-purpose room functions as an auditorium, gymnasium and dining room for the cafeterias. Dining tables have folding benches attached and the seating for programs and games can be pulled out from the walls where they are concealed in tier-like arrangements. The state building code requires that school buildings have ample play space.
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