MARKTOWN UPDATE A publication of the Marktown Preservation Society September 2007 Neither the celebration of La- From there we made our way bor Day nor the concept of a bi- to the old union building on South cycle tour or even a race are new Avenue O. It was the site of the concepts to the Pullman Landmark 1937 Memorial Day Massacre at District in Chicago. Acme Steel where innocent Just one year after the celebra- women and children were killed in tion of Labor Day began in 1883, the mayhem that broke out when the Pullman Palace Car Company over zealous security guards de- suffered a two month strike of its cided to break up the picnickers workers. The strike came about that had assembled seventy years when, after having to reduce the ago. Kevin Murphy, playwright, employees wages the company author and historian provided an failed to lower the rent on their outstanding but brief lecture on the homes in the Pullman neighbor- tragedy. hood. From there it was off to the And as for their relationship to west side of Wolf Lake and the the bicycle, this Labor Day marked William Powers Conservation the 120th anniversary of the first area for a presentation by Mike Chicago to Pullman bicycle race. Boos, Executive Director of the That historic race began at Adams Association for the Wolf Lake Ini- and Michigan Avenue at what is tiative. Mike explained some of the now the Art Institute of Chicago early history of the lake. His pre- and ended at the modern Pullman sentation detailed the building of neighborhood just outside of Chi- ABOVE: Participants prepare to de- the dikes those many decades ago cago. So you see, combining the part the Hotel Florence in the Pullman and the present restoration work celebration of Labor Day and bi- Landmark District in Chicago. that is being done. cycles was a natural event. Below: The group of nearly 100 riders The next stop on the ride was begin arriving in the Marktown Historic For the third consecutive year, the site of the Cline Avenue bridge District in East Chicago, the Pullman Civic Organization collapse 25 years ago this past sponsored the Pullman to Mark- April when 14 highway construc- town Labor Day Ride, a ride that tion workers lost their lives in what will be well remembered by all. was then the largest construction The chairperson this year was accident in U.S. history. Paul My- once again Patty Oyervides who ers, who worked for the Safety spent countless hours making Department of LTV Steel at the sure that everything went just right time of the accident presented a for this 40+ mile excursion. brief but poignant presentation The weather was perfect for was well marked on our maps, we based upon his first hand knowl- the ride this year. No rain and no somehow missed the stop and the edge of the event. 90 degree temperatures until well lecture by architect Michael Paul explained that the cause after we returned to Pullman in mid Shymanski. of the accident was attributed to afternoon. Patty Oyervides ex- We regrouped briefly on undersized footings under the plained the route to us from the 122nd Street between Stoney Is- scaffolds that supported the con- front steps of the Hotel Florence. land and Torrence where we crete forms and the actual bridge, From there we were off and run- learned about the wetlands on ei- and an unapproved change in the ning at just a bit after 9:00 AM. Our ther side of the road. For those at design of the scaffolds that were first stop for the day was to be the the front of the tour we spotted a used. It was also noted that the Market Square building just east Great Blue Heron in the marsh- total fine for the 14 deaths was of the Hotel Florence, and while it lands to the north. less that $12,000.00.

visit us on line at www.marktown.org From the Cline Avenue site it last stop: Whihala Park in Whit- was but a short ride to the mid- ing, Indiana. way point in our journey, as the Upon our arrival, John Pastirik Marktown Historic District was just of the South Side gave a brief lec- down the street. ture on the economic history of The group assembled at , both past and Paul's home in Marktown. Once present. What once had been a there his six room home was much needed tool for industrial ex- opened for visitors. Paul dis- pansion 100 years ago is now a cussed the history of industrial tool for quality of life issues and housing in the Midwest and the the economic grown of specific designs used in Mark- Region. He also discussed the town. Patty Oyervides arrived with bird sanctuary at the western end one of the SAG vehicles and pro- of the park, just past the Ham- vided fresh fruit, fitness bars and mond Marina. bottled water for the riders. After using the washrooms at Once the lecture was con- the county park, we remounted cluded and the questions an- and headed for the bridge at Horse- ABOVE: Riders make their way over swered, the group was off to our shoe Casino and our trip back to the Torrence Avenue bridge. the Hotel Florence in Pullman. Below: Kevin Murphy, author and his- Once there, lunch was a wel- torian provided an outstanding lecture comed site for all present and a on the 1937 Memorial Day Massacre variety of homemade side dishes at the Acme Steel site on Chicago's supplemented the hearty sand- South Side. wiches and fried chicken. Follow- ing lunch a group of local musi- cians entertained riders and resi- dents alike. It was by all means the best tour yet. Special thanks must go to the

Mike Boos, Executive Director of the Association for the Wolf Lake Initia- Paul Myers, who rode the entire route tive discussed the history and this year, explained the tragic occur- biodiversity of Wolf Lake. His presen- rences that lead to the death of 14 tation was made at the William Pow- highway construction workers on the ers Conservation Area on the west side Cline Avenue ramp 25 years ago this of Wolf Lake. past April 15th. Chicago Police Department for providing an escort on the Illinois side of the tour. To Patty Oyervides for chairing the event once again. To Tony Dzik for hav- ing designed the map, posters and

John Pastirik for not only leading the Above: Riders returned to the Flo- tour but also serving as a docent at rence Hotel in Pullman for a much Whihala Park in Whiting. He explained deserved lunch in the park. the integral role that Lake Michigan Below: Participants and residents played in the industrialization of the alike enjoyed the rock music provided Calumet Region and our need to re- by local musicians. store the lake as a recreation asset Bottom photo: Mike Boos and Patty for generations to come. Oyerides take a brief moment for a other support materials. To John photo before heading back to Pullman. Pastirik for leading the tour and serving as a docent at Whihala Park. To Mike Boos, Kevin Murphy, Mike Shymanski, and Paul Myers for also having served as docents at the various stops along the way. To those who set up the registra- tion table at the beginning and The turn around point for the tour was those who prepared and served once again the Marktown Historic Dis- the lunch afterwards. We must trict. Participants had the opportunity also thank the outstanding rock to take a much deserved break in the band members who once again ride and to hear a brief lecture on the provided the entertainment after history of Marktown and the labor our return to Pullman. And last but movement that facilitated its construc- not least, our thanks must go out tion 90 years ago. Paul's home was also opened so that participants could to the riders who made this event see the inside of one of the historic possible. For those of you who homes in Marktown. missed it: see you next year! The Times Names Seven Wonders of NW Indiana.... Last month, The Times spon- ing. sored an on-line survey to nomi- The Munster War Memorial is nate and name the Seven Won- by far the most modern of the ders of . The Seven Wonders of Northwest In- concept of doing so is not new by diana. This magnificent nine acre any means. The first such list was park was created in just three that of the ancient world and was years at a cost of $3.2 million dol- compiled some 2,200 years ago lars. by Callimachus of Cyrene. An up- More than 100,000 visitors dated list was completed in the from 40 U.S. states and nine for- Historic Crown Point Court House Middle Ages, and most recently a eign countries visited the park that modern list was assembled ear- first year in 2003. This outstand- lier this year. Not to be left out of ing park is one of the most inter- the fun, it should be noted that active memorials in the country nearly all of the states have also and features separate memorials assembled their own list of seven for each of the major U.S. conflicts wonders. So, here it is, the NW of the 20th century. Indiana edition of Seven Wonders: The Illiana Motor Speedway on The Historic Crown Point Court U.S. 30 is the only commercial House and commonly called venture that made the list. One of Munster War Memorial "Grand Old Lady" this magnificent the oldest remaining short tracks structure stands today as a trib- in the Midwest, it was first opened ute to the early years of Lake in 1947 and was called Harry's County government. Built in three Half Mile where fans paid to see separate stages, this magnificent motor cycles circle a dirt track. structure comes to us from 1878 The first full-fledged stock car in the height of the Victorian era season was in 1950. The track and is an outstanding example of remained as a dirt track until it was both Romanesque and Georgian paved in 1962. It still has a full rac- styles. ing season and is well known for What is probably most notable such fan pleasers as the Figure 8 Munster War Memorial of the structure is its more recent Bus Race (no passengers). This history, for it stands today as one two day event attracts spectators of the earliest and most important from across the country. examples of historic preservation Notable drivers from the past in all of Lake County. With the who drove the track include Mark lower lever dedicated to retail and Martin, Rusty Wallace and Tony the upper floors occupied by a mu- Bettenhausen. seum, the city court, offices and Ford Hangar in Lansing is prob- banquet facilities, this great old ably one of the only noted aviation building is more useful today than buildings in the Region. Built by Illiana Motor Speedway it ever was as a government build- Henry Ford in 1926 on 1,400 acres .....Marktown Historic District Included On List of land, it was originally designed on Indianapolis Blvd. and Ridge to be the home for the manufac- Road was established in 1925 ture of the famed Ford TriMotor when a group of local men pur- airplane. Unfortunately, the Great chased the 300 acre oak savanna Depression halted those ambi- for a community park. Just two tions and only about 200 of this short years after the purchase the famed aircraft were ever built. park opened to the public with a In the 1920s the airport was dedication ceremony conducted visited by the likes of Henry Ford, by President Calvin Coolidge. Charles Lindberg, Amelia Earhart The park now hosts a 18 hole and Wiley Post in their continued golf course, a three mile exercise Ford Hangar in Lansing efforts to promote the aviation in- track, a spray park for the children dustry in the U.S. Now known as and more picnic groves and beach the Lansing airport, the facility at- volleyball courts than any other tracts nearly 60,000 flights each park in the county. It is open year year and is also home to a Veter- around and frequented by thou- ans Memorial on the NW corner sands each year. of the property. Marktown Historic District is Indiana Dunes State Park and pleased to have been added to this National Lakeshore not only most prestigious list of NW Indi- made the cut for NW Indiana but ana attractions. Born of steel and Wicker Memorial Park is also included as one of the tempered in oil, this most unique seven wonders of the state of In- and isolated of neighorhoods has diana. More than 100 years ago also been listed on Historic Land- and long before the industrializa- marks Foundation of Indiana's 10 tion of NW Indiana, residents of Most Endangered list. The neigh- Chicago and Hyde Park fought to borhood has also been referred to establish what we now enjoy as as the Brigadoon of Industrial the Indiana Dunes State Park (est. Housing rising out of the mists 1926). That effort was spurred on of industry every few years. again in 1966 when a U.S. Sena- While tiny Marktown has not been tor from Illinois fostered the estab- restored to its former glory, the Indiana Dunes lishment of the Indiana Dunes potential and opportunity still exist National Lakeshore. This move- for this one of a kind neighborhood ment added an additional 8,300 on East Chicago's far north side. acres to this most remarkable Whether or not Marktown is ever ecosystem. The Indiana Dunes is restored is uncertain. What is cer- by far one of the nation's most re- tain is that it merits our attention vered national parks and often and deserves to be restored to its overlooked by those of us who live former glory, keeping the tenants in the area and take it for granted. of historic preservation as the Wicker Memorial Park located foundation of its future. Cowles Bog at the Indiana Dunes PHOTOGRAPHS BY NATALIE BATTAGLIE Nirvana in TEXT BY MOLLY WOULFE Northwest Indiana Sssh. Tread softly here. Listen to the silence.

Photographer Natalie Battaglia and reporter Molly Woulfe set out in search of unsung trea- sures that define the region. What they found were dreamscapes; havens of peace and calm existing amid steel mills, farms and strip malls.

Some are man-made, some TALLTREE ARBORETUM & GARDENS, VALPARAISO natural wonders. All are star- tling in their beauty.

Stop. Look. Reflect.

Welcome to the quieter side of Northwest Indiana.

This outstanding article and accompanying photographs first appeared in the lifeStyles section of The Times on Sunday, August 5, 2007. MARQUETTE PARK, GARY

MOUNT BALDY, MICHIGAN CITY MARKTOWN, EAST CHICAGO GIBSON WOODS NATURE PRE- SERVE, HAMMOND Choose a path, any path; the half- mile “short” trail; the self-guided mile, or the two-mile “long” route. Each begins with a raised boardwalk and leads though sun-dappled prairies, the kind that dominated the Calumet Re- gion in pre-settlement days. Watch MARQUETTE PARK, GARY wooden Japanese bridge. Cross it, for the rare Karner blue butterfly and Follow Grand Boulevard as it navigate around a toppled tree and endangered Franklin’s ground squir- winds past the statue of Father step on to the rusting-but-sturdy sus- rel, two of the 100 wildlife species Jacques Marquette. Admire the pension bridge over the lagoon. Wait. that call the 178-ace sanctuary home. canopy of oaks overhead and the A white heron cries and beats its Founded in 1981, the county-owned 1920s Aquatorium to the right, a one- wings, the only sounds within miles. preserve also shelters fragile wetlands time “bathhouse” that now houses the Forget to breathe. Wait again, for the and savannas. This is Nature’s gar- Aviation Museum. Keep going, park- stillness to re-descend. den; walk softly, listen to songbirds, ing outside the brown-brick Marque- Hours: 9- a.m.-5 p.m. Monday and gape at what must be the biggest tte Park Pavilion. Take a side path through Friday. Take U.S. 12 to east robins in Northwest Indiana. through waist-high Queen Anne’s of Lake Street and Grand Boulevard Hours: Nature Center, 11 a.m.-4 Lace and make your way to the old in Miller Beach. p.m. (through Oct.); trails, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at, 6201 Parrish Ave., Hammond MARKTOWN, EAST CHICAGO Step back into time in historic Marktown. Architect Howard Van Doren Shaw based this 1917 com- pany town on an English village com- plete with narrow 16-foot streets. Many of the 200 Tudor Revival stucco cottages are crumbling, but some boast fresh paint and picket fences. As for residents, a sense of community pervades their run-down Brigadoon in the shadow of Mittal Steel. All insiders park on the side- walks and use the streets for foot traf- fic, a quirk recorded by Ripley’s Be- lieve It or Not. “Everybody knows everyone,” says Alexis Gutierrez, 17, who calls a sloped-roofed duplex home. Adds Rick Lopez, 21, “There ain’t no other place like this in Indi- ana.” Marktown Preservation Society, 405 Prospect Street, East Chicago. Call Paul Myers for information or to request a tour, (219) 397-2239. MOUNT BALDY, MICHIGAN CITY A breeze ruffles dune grass on Mount Baldy, the pride of the National Lakeshore. The famous “living dune” is super-sandy, steep and semi-out of bounds. A magnet for tourists, beach- goers and track teams, the 123-foot high giant is shifting inland at such a alarming rate that it may cover its own parking lot in seven years. Since foot traffic speeds erosion, the has fenced off Baldy — so dubbed for its bare top — and mapped out a new route to the sum- mit. Head up the wooded trail about 100 yards to the west of the original path to scale this refugee from the Sahara. The reward: A panoramic view of the Michigan City Lighthouse, the mills and the distant Chicago sky- line. Hours: 8 a.m. to dusk daily. Take U.S. 12 about two miles just east of Michigan City.

TALTREE ARBORETUM & GARDEN, VALPARAISO The mighty oak rules at Taltree, Porter County’s 360- acre living-tree collection and top bird-watching destina- tion. The bur oak serves as mascot, but the preserve is DEEP RIVER COUNTY PARK, HOBART home to more than half-dozen varieties plus hickory, haw- The entrance to this 1,400-acre park is easy to miss — thorn and wild cherry. Hiking down the Bluebird Trail watch for the white, wood-frame visitor’s center/gift shop (1.5 miles) is a near-religious experience due to the ca- and the wedding gazebo. Both are big draws, but Wood’s thedral-life hush. Steal quietly to Heron Pond to glimpse Mill is a historic showpiece. A red-brick relic of a bygone Big Blue Herons and Little Green Herons fish for their era, the 1876 grist mill houses a two-ton grindstone semi- supper and to Buttonbush Swamp to watch migrating powered by a genuine waterwheel. Watching the wheel flocks. The drone of an unseen plane is the only reminder turn in its silty pond is mesmerizing; you are compelled to that life exists outside these woodlands. buy two-pound bags of stone-ground cornmeal ($1.50 Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday apiece). Nearby attractions include an old sawmill and and Friday; 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday; 5:30 am.-7 P..m. Grinders Field, a grassy clearing where the Deep River Saturday; 5:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 31 . The Grinders play vintage baseball by 19th-century rules. grounds are at 450 West 100 North, Valparaiso.