Gary, Indiana, ghost town

Hi Sarah,
I know who smashed your Dad's Twinkie-and it wasn't Ernie. He wouldn't take such a risk. We still miss all of you. Remember us to your Mom.

Hey PJ. I sure hope you were driving!!!!!!!!!!

Boss took me to lunch today at Miller Bakery Cafe in Gary. It is still a FANTASTIC, upscale resrautant, on north Lake Street. This place is so good, people from Chicago even go there to eat. Worth the trip! (It got three thumbs up on the PBS show "Check, Please!" a few years back.) Nice to know some Gary businesses are still thriving. The Miller area is still nice.

Just read this article from the Gary paper.
www.post-trib.com

Paul Hill,
Check out my post of Jan. 29th. Scroll down until you find the post about the Palace Theatre.

Robert, I was born in 1953. Lived a few months near 4th and Adams, then moved to Brunswick, 730 Porter St. Went to school at Gary Edison. Somedays, we'd take the bus to the YMCA for a swim. My dad would meet us for lunch at the Tivoli and sometimes bowling at the old Ambassador Lanes on 5th Avenue (manual pinsetters). I remember eating so much junk food at the Palace one Saturday watching Mary Poppins with my sister, that I was sick for 2 days, and every time I hear that stupid song "A spoonful of sugar", my stomach STILL turns. It was the best life.

Danny, The sandwich shop at Ridge Rd & Georgia Street was called Georgia Carryouts

Danny, hope you don't have a wife...if so...and you have golf clubs...you might want to hide them.

NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!If you only knew what I know!!!!!!!!!!!

Isn't it cute...do you think Danny will ever get past his school boy crush on PJ?

There's still a Lincoln Carry Outs on 10th Street in Hobart. The same fab sandwiches as always!

Was Lincoln Carry out the name of the sub sandwich shop on Ridge Rd. and Georgia in east Glen Park?

need Lincoln carryout

Oh to have an ice cold Leinenkugles and a REAL bratwurst!!!!!! And PJ Hays can share my Brats but she better not touch my Leinies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Morning Danny!!!

Good morning Ms. Sarah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RCG,
Just read your post, you are right on the mark about Riley being a family to all of us. I do know who smashed my dad's Twinkie, but mom and I can't remember if we ever told him. Helen Hensen's granddaughter and I were best friends all through junior and senior high school. Do you remember who came after Antich? Has Char finally retired? The person that directed you to this site has my email address if you would like it. Thanks for being such a great friend to my father and my family.

To C.H.W.
Boy, do I miss spell check. Sorry for the typos, my teachers at Emerson would have a field day if they my mistakes.

Hi C.H.W.
I review the posts on a weekly basis and find that most of the people are quite a bit youner than me (80). I was born in 1930 at 733 Tennesse St. Left Gary in 1970 because my father passed away in Bradenton, Fl and I wanted to be close to my mother. I would be happy to share "my like" in Gary with you.
contact me at bandwofocala@otowhomes.com

Greg of Deltona, Fl
You seem like a very intelligent person in your comments. I have you beat by about 21 years and have seen the good and I mean the very good of Gary, Indiana. I also stayed around long enough to see the decline. It was like being on a downhill luge. Fast and furious. As I have mentioned in my other comments I was born in 1930 on the east side and studied, played, worked, raised a family in what i called the best city in the nation. It was just a shame that the leaders were so greedy that when they lined their pockets with the multi, multi (not a misprint) millions of federal funds that the decline begin, never to return. My heart cries for the Gary of my youth.

Tom it is REALLY beneath you to hyperventilate and categorize people in such insipid ways. Since you are such an intelligent person why don't you read how Nixon came up with the soutern strategy to turn the democratic south republican and the working class union member whites in the north into republicans by merely pushing the race button. Realtors in the cities were hot to move millions of people into the burbs and surrounding communities...$$$$$$. Jobs followed. Instead of just having places like midtown Gary where all the blacks were required to stay from the 20s-60s, politicians and realtors and bankers were happy to flame race hatred instead of following the law of the land. Remember, Gary had mayors who were convicted, imprisoned and then reelected in the 50s and 60s and they were white. Unfortunately our first black mayor followed in their footsteps and lost, stole or missused millions of dollars of federal aid and never went to jail. Gary didn't have to turn out the way it has. Finger pointing is fine and they can point all over the place, and if we are honest, at ourselves too. You can blame Miss Gary and what you imagine her type of person is, but I assure you that she is definitely not to blame for the city which exists now. And, I'm way too far away to date her and my wife would kill me. By the way, things may get worse for our own communities if we don't take care. Jobs are going overseas for profit with no regard for the community. Banks invest in nonexistent paper and then we cover the loss. Wall Street has become more like gambling and actually a shell game. Who will you blame years from now when all colors roam the street due to our mistakes. I'm through ranting. It just seems to me that we blame those with the least power. The answers are way more complicated.

moe, I'm sure you had no problem understanding Miss Gary. And just for the record, I never felt superior to anyone before now. gp, thank you for pointing out the misspelled word, I doubt seriously that moe would have caught it, because he's too busy trying to impress Miss Gary. moe, you're not going to hook up with this idiot, so get off of my back and go try your luck at the Star Dust bowling alley. You may be able to find her over at the Cave on Ridge Road if you hurry; it's only 1116 pm. moe it's bleeding heart whites like you who helped destroy this city. Your father (GOD rest his soul) came to this country, he wasn't born, raised and educated here. Miss Gary on the other hand was most likely born, raised and educated in this country. She has no excuses. I know that she's too old and too far gone to change, but the least she could do is keep your stupid jive talking comments to herself and let the rest of us who have memories that go beyond the day we were approved for food stamps to talk about the old times. Do you think that Miss Gary 2010 will or could ever give a crap about you coming to her rescue? Before she even finished reading your comments she got distracted by what Brad on Young and the Restless was doing and never finished reading it. She and other idiots like her are lucky to have enablers like you to constantly run interference for them. You're like the butt boy that vampires keep around to make sure that no one bothers them while they're sleeping. I bet you think it's cool when boys wear their pants hanging off of their butts don't you. I've seen your kind often; I bet you've made the comments several times in your life, "when I look at a person, I don't see color,” or "most of my best friends are black,” and of course, "there are times I'm ashamed of being white." It’s ashamed that you'll never see the damage that your kinds do.

Hey man, I was going to use that phrase about getting along, but I went for the jugular. My bad. I did however intentionally make some grammatical errors in my last post so that Mr. Tom could catch me, but no reply yet. I thought it could lead up to the diagramming of sentences and stuff which would really be important to people who feel sooooo superior.

You have to admit it is a little funny that Tom spelled immigrant incorrectly. :-) Glass houses and all.

Cum On main...cayn't we all just git along????

Were you trying to be funny or ironic when you mispelled Immigrants? Or are you just a dumb boob who feels superior to others? I had no problem understanding what Miss Gary said. Try to keep up with the times. My father came to this country in 1950 and worked hard at the mill. When he died at the age of 92, he could not write the english language nor speak fluently. He did, however, recognize an idiot when he saw one and I'm positive he would recognize you you forwhat you are ----take a guess smarty pants.

Talk about ignorant; I could hardly make out what you were trying to say. You're a perfect example of what is wrong with this city. If I didn't know better, I would have thought you were speaking a different language. You should be the poster child of everyone who finds fault with the city. I've never seen the English language destroyed better until I read your comments. Remember, Gary always starts with a capital letter or a big G. "alot is not the same as "a lot." Please learn how to use this word or phrase (in your case). You make illegal immagrants look like English majors.

I grew up in gary and it's a hell of a run down place bad thing is it's like a cancer spreading but that's the way it goes now does'nt it

To: A. Blackwell,
You are a very adult 18 year old. The world needs more young people like you who have a thinking head on their shoulders.
You keep up the good work, my friend, although I don't know you, you will be something someday.

Hi Lila,
I remember well my mom taking us three brothers to Broadway at Christmas time to see all of the animated displays in the store windows. And all of the people dressed to the "nines" Gloves and hats for women. Wow, what happened?

This little note is directed to C.S. I don't how old you are but it seems obvious to me that you are not old enough to remember Gary when it was the best place to live, work and play in. I was born in 1930 and left in 1970. I have been back for times since and have taken videos from the South Shore station all the way to Glen Park, from Ambridge to the far east side. There is nothing but desolation. I don't know where you would take me to show other wise.

I'm a 64 year old guy and am dried up too. You are entitled to your anger. Rock on. Those of us who escaped didn't stay and fix the problems, we took the easy way out. Now you are left with the legacy of 100 years and should be mad as hell, because you did not cause the problem. Take care.

Just a thought passed whats left of my mind. My dad, Allen E. Combs Sr. graduated from Emerson High in 1923 and of all who attended Emerson until about 1946 would remember E.A. Spaulding, the greatest principle ever. He was principle when my dad graduated. Russel Bone took over from E.A.. He was in my dads' graduating class.

Does any one remember the Service Center for our military that was located in the basement of the Y.M.C.A. on west fifth Ave? My dad, Allen E Combs was a member of the Rotary Club who was instramental in getting it started. This was in 1942 and I remember going there and helping all of the volunteers pass out doughnuts, soft drinks and of course gallons of coffee. It was a refuge for the military on there way to, only God knew. As a kid on the east side we would go door to door and collect any type of aluminum pots and pans and deposit them in the cornor container (almost every block had one) to be used in war. Ration stamps, saving stamps and bonds were just some of the ways we showed our support. We didn't have to have advertisements on our cars saying "support our troops" EVERY ONE WAS PATRIOTIC!!!! Somewhere in the depths of my unorganized "office" I have pictures of Gary in the early 40's and then again after the deteriation.

Miss Gary, If you are any indication of the caliber of people in Gary, thank God we who contribute our thoughts and memories about our "former" Gary, are gone and have left "da region"

Paul Hill,
How old are you? You must be just a kid, because all I paid at the Palace was 25 cents and walked from 7th and Tennessee and like you said, watched movies for hours. Started with several cartoons, seleced short subjects, the serial from the past week and a doulbe feature. Anyone under the age of twelve had to sit in the first five rows. Blacks in the balcony. Between movies the great Hammond organ would play and everyone would sing to the bouncing ball. And then there would be a drawing for dishes. And what a thrill to run home with a plate in your hand and beam while you gave it to your (stay at home) mom

Chuck Grubb. The spray could not have been toxic or I wouldn't be here today. When I was a kid living on the seven hundred block (year 1938) of Tennessee when the spray truck came around we would follow it and pretend we were commandos in a smoke screen.

No Chuck, I did not know your mom. I got out my 1984 year book and could not find her name. What year did she graduate from Emerson. You can contact me at bandwofocala@otowhomes.com.

It's pretty hilarious to me how most of the people commenting are sitting here talking about ignorance, and then i go on to read a comment such as 'gary and everyone in it should be burned' from the same person? A few times lol. Well all I have to say is people, you should know it better than anyone right? ITS BLISS! Sounds like some people on here are upset about how their life turned out so they have to blame it on the 'shithole' they decided to raise their family in. (no one asked you to stay here). And the other half sound to be women who are upset with the men because they all already have families (even if by '20' women because - ehem - 'they think its COOL') and these - and I use this term LOOSELY - 'ladies' are all dried up lonely old hags who have nothing to do but sit and badmouth something over the interent? SLIM TO NONE of you would say any of that to the black people you see walking around the city. I do agree that its not the best place to live, but trust, no ones askin you to stay here. And yea there ARE plentyy of ignorant people walking around this city...probably alot more than most...but do yourselves a favor and re-read all your comments....then work up the balls to call someone ignorant. Because youre just so high-and-fucking-mighty, right?
LOVE PEACE AND CHICKEN GREASE
and you can call me,
- MISS GARY INDIANA 2010! -

Yes, Matt, some current Gary residents have posted. You just have to read back through a lot of stuff to find them. I find it most interesting to go all the way back to the beginning. Time consuming, yes, but an interesting read. I know a few people who still live in my old neighborhood in Glen Park. They hate it there, but feel trapped. Two of them are elderly and simply don't want to leave the homes they've been in since 1948, when the subdivision was first built. I worry about their safety. They are afraid to go outside. Not a good way to live. My dad stayed in his house until he died in 1998. He slept with a gun in his bed and had several other guns throughout the house. Of course, every time his house was broken into and ransacked (which happened several times), thieves found more of his guns, so they ended up out there in the wrong hands. Yikes! Just what we needed - more guns on the streets in Gary. Life in much of Gary is a sad existence, indeed. However, there are still a few nice neighborhoods with lovely, well-kept houses, as well as a few thriving businesses. But not enough to effectuate a comeback for the city. Not as long as the city is run by thieves and liars.

Gary, In, born and raised there. I lived in the Horace Mann neighborhood. What a beautiful place to grow up. That was in the 50's and 60's. John H. Vohr, Horace Mann H.S. We could walk the streets all night and not worry about getting mugged. I can't begin to tell all the peoplke how good it was. I go back to the city and want to just puke. How can someone...anyone think they can turn that city around. Nothing but pipedreams. Law enforcement can't stop the flow of drugs,murder,robbery, I could go on and on. My fellow former Garyites, do not try to burden yourselves with the thoughts of ever seeing your city like it was. As the old saying goes, "The last one leaving Gary, please turn out the lights." Thank you!

Wow Tom, you posted on Jan 14th 2010, I love your style.

My question is this: Is there anybody that's reading this that lives in Gary? It seems like everybody here WAS a former resident of Gary. I've read some posts of people that drive there for work, but nobody's said much of what a day in the life at Gary is like anymore.

Anybody with internet that resides in Gary reading this?

Ralph, I hear you loud and clear. Danny Malone, I'm sorry you lost your toys to a bunch of thieving rapist. Susie Sans, Rudy Clay for president.

Wow and Yow. Mr. Combs had a very interesting post just 3 or 4 below which reflected that slavery did not really end in Gary until the the 60's at the earliest. Please remember Midtown Gary and what we did to citizens in our fair city until the late 60' and early 70's. Gary kept everyone of dark color sequestered in one area. How would you like that a century after slavery supposedly ended. The cities were already burned in the 60's and 70's when outraged american citizens learned that equality only applied to white america. That didn't solve or help anything. Now, some think that death and destruction can solve problems. Sign up for Iraq and vent your anger. Even better do something for Haiti. Make your own community better too.

My, aren't we hateful today? I happen to be writing from Gary at this very moment.

Finally, it looks like people are waking up and finding out the facts about Gary and it's demise; What it was like back then and what it's like now and the causes. As far as burning Gary, start with the top: the mayor!

As info: In Sunday's Orlando paper, there was an article about a new Jackson theme park that is going to built in Gary. A museum, hotel and a golf course at a price tag of one billion dollars to honor Michael Jackson. Groundbreaking is to start this year with the project spread out over 10 years. Sounds like another white elephant to me. Burn, Baby Burn.

They should burn Gary and everyone in it!

I am definitely out of touch with the type of people that come from that area. This is exactly what I have experienced. This is reality, not something that I have seen on television or by "word of mouth". The people here are so ignorant is pitiful! The current mayor takes all of the money and spend it on Hummers and fur coats. He even gave his son 25,000 dollars just to take pictures of him! What a waste!

Robert, well said and thanks for sharing your perspective.

By the way, my mother was born in 1930 and also went to Emerson. Did you know Delores Marovich?

I was born in Gary in 1930. spent 18 years living at 733 Tennesse St and went without a doubt to the best school ever, Emerson High. Gary had at that time the best school system ever called Work-Study-Play. My grandfather Leslie I Combs came to Gary in 1905 and lived there until he died in 1956. He was at that time selling bricks which went into 90% of the brick streets, some still driveable today, also sold bricks for the major brick buildings on fifth ave, (that is the ones that are still standing) and Methodist Hospital.
Gary was a proud city resting on the banks of Lake Michigan. U S Steel was responsible for the new city outside of Chicago. They did more in the early 1900's for Gary then any one else.
Do you want the real reason Gary declined. It all started with a man named Hatcher, who was the black mayor, reaping in millions and millions of government dollars to help revitalize Gary. It all went to him and his crooked cronies. I am not nor have I ever been a racist and the comments I have read on this website tend to lead towards racism. Blacks were not allowed to come into the city after certain hours. Never saw any downtown shopping, EVER. That was racism at its best.
I moved from Gary in 1970 to be close to my mother after my dad passed away in 1968. I have been back four times for differant occasions. Class reunions, the 25th anniversay of the Gary Historical Society, where I was a speaker. Not one white person showed up. Racism still thrives in Gary.
I drove down Broadway from 4th Ave to Glenn Park, 5th Ave from Miller to the far west side. Nothing but derilcit buildings, boarded up windows, burnt out buildings, trash and liquor stores and pawn shops. No one was walking the streets of down town. In the 30's through the 50's if you went down town to shop you dressed up. Women with hats and gloves, men in shirts.
I loved my city but, sadly today it is a ghost town only remembered for the Jacksons. People don't know (or care) how many other great people were from Gary.

Lila, the people who destroyed the city of Gary was and still is poverty prone people. It’s the same in every part of the country. In the city of Gary the majority of the poverty prone people happen to be black. In some southwestern cities the poverty prone people are Mexicans or Native Americans and the places they live are every bit as bad as the housing project in Gary. And in the southern states, you will find a lot of poverty prone whites who live in squalor. It's not the race or ethnicity that determines destructive behaviors, it's the culture. Having lived all over the US and overseas, I've learned that any group of people who have existed in poverty for generations live in crap holes. It can start out as a brand new low income single family apartment but guaranteed it will be a crap hole within a year if not sooner. Put poverty “inculturated” (I made that word up) people of any color in a Park Avenue Apartment over- looking Central Park, and they will destroy it. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that they respect the property, appreciate the opportunity to live there and honestly try to maintain it; they won't or can’t spend their money on the day to day repairs, i.e. cutting the grass, buying an outside light bulb when it goes out, repairing a mailbox that was knocked over accidently or intentionally and here's a big one, paying for garbage pickup. What my parents’ neighbors do is throw it over the fence into my parents’ yard. While I was there in July after returning from Iraq, I watched as the neighbor loaded several bags of his trash on top of my parent’s trash container. Before I could say anything, my mom told me not to, because at least they’re not throwing it over the fence anymore. My dad tells me that the man who does this is very friendly, he’s just filthy. However, when another neighbor would beat this guy to the punch and sit their trash on top of my parents’ trash bin, they would simply toss their trash on to the over grown vacant lot to their left. I’ve known poor people who have more dignity and self respect than I'll ever have but they’re clean. Their homes are trailers or shacks but they are clean. Falling apart, but cleaned to the best of their ability to clean it. What separates these poor folks from the ones we know in Gary and South Chicago, East Chicago Harbor etc, is generation after generation of welfare. Welfare, handouts, freebees, or whatever you want to call it, over an extended period of time causes people to lose respect for themselves and not give a crap about anything short of their next check. Its learned dependency and it gives recipients of hand outs a sense of entitlement if it goes on for a long time. These people actually factor in their welfare income long in advance. It’s not a question of whether they’ll get on the welfare; it’s when and for how much. You cannot teach these people regardless of color or race to live among people who work for what they have. It never works. If they don’t get their check they take your stuff because their mad. They destroy your stuff why not, they destroy the free stuff they were given. It’s all free. Even if they bought it, the money to buy it was free. They do this to each other and they get into fights and they learn to fight and thus become violent people. Violence gets results in every situation and they’ve learned this. Ask for money and you may not get it, but beat someone over the head and taking it works 100% of the time. Spend money on a date only to be told let’s be friends for a while, or resort to rape. The rich kids where I live simply drug their young dates, rape them, video tape it, and put it on the internet. But that’s a different story; we’re talking about poverty prone people specifically from Gary and why no one wants to live by them.

Hey, Bob! I grew up a few blocks from you, DOB 1954. Riley, Bailly, Wallace. I share many of the same memories with you, except when we went downtown we didn't walk - we hopped on a bus at 45th & Georgia. It was safe to go anywhere back then. Ahh, it'll never be like that again. In an earlier post I wrote about catching crawdads at Prott's Ditch. We had such a great time making "forts" back then in the relative wildnerness (ha) and spending entire days exploring, catching crawdads, bugs, frogs, snakes. Camping out. Always feeling completely safe, everywhere we went in Glen Park and Downtown. Your comment about watching fireworks at Gilroy Stadium brought back a flood of memories. We went there many times for the fireworks and sometimes watched them from the Gleason golf course. Ice skating on the Little Cal is another great memory. What a marvelous time we had, growing up in Gary!

Bob S., I just want to add this comment. I remember that in the 60's with the 'white flight' that many housing projects were being built for the city's poor. The were beautiful homes that were practically give to the residents at very low cost. Go down the neighborhoods today and see what conditions these buildings are in. I guess the word poor give a person the right to destroy and move on. That is disgusting! That is part of the reason the races are afraid to live and co habitate close to each other. The mere example of what happened to Gary is mostly the reason that people don't wantto live amongst these people that would destroy and bring property values down where people worked hard to raise their standard of living and not have a fear od rampant crime. I always wonder in the back of my mind if minorities couls ever build a city as Gary once was. We certainly know they can destroy whatever they have.. I do not speak for all minorities beacuse I know many people who would make the whites look bad too. I guess this crowd who believes in gov't handout, who does nothing but eat, sleep, and collect their gov't checks are the ones mostly responsible for this chaos, and I don't think there is anything that can be done unless people wake up and see what they've done to Gary and other metropolitan areas as well. Politicians are much to blame as well as the lazies of the world. The votes always seem to go to those who promise the most to those who simply refuse to contribute to society, only take from it. Make these people work for all the freebies they collect before giving them everything for free. Nothing in this life is free.

Gary...Before. It was 1953 when I first said hello to Gary, Indiana. It was the year I was born there. As a young boy growing up in (at that time) a wonderful place, I have many great memories that I will take to my grave. The schools I attended (Melton, Riley, Bailly, and Lew Wallace) were filled with caring, nuturing teachers and administrators that became an extended family to us kids. Summers were filled with the sounds of umpires calling out balls and strikes at well groomed baseball fields well into the summer night, the smells of hotdogs and popcorn from the concession stand all made possible by volunteers, caring and supportive parents that desired to provide a wholesome, safe place for their children to grow up in. Fishing for Carp (because they fought so hard) at Turkey Creek on Broadway across from Piatek Meats and making friends with Black folks there because we enjoyed the same sport. I learned the art of negotiating as a young boy over several summers there at Turkey Creek when we sold the Carp fish that we caught to our Black friends. Walking from my home on 44th and Georgia Street all the way to the Palace Theater to see movies such as Ride The Wild Surf, then the long walk all the way back home without incident. Lake County Fair, Kiddieland, St. Joseph Church Carnaval, fireworks at Gilroy Stadium, I can go on and on and on. It was all good back then.
Gary...After. Fast forward to 2010. The city of Gary looks like the aftermath of a bombing raid. How could a city so thriving, so vibrant, so caring end up this way. It's people. It was people that built those beautiful brick and stone structures that now stand empty, burned and broken. It was people that volunteered their time to work those concession stands and keep baseball fields manicured like their own personal yards. It was people that cared if students learned and got a good education. It was people that looked out for others because the word "community" meant something to them. And it was people that brought down this once great city. Whether or not these people have brown, black, white, skin is not the issue. The question to ask is, is there enough people left in Gary that care enough, desire enough, want to make a change enough to make this city a great place to live in again. Majority rules. If enough people want to make Gary a model city to live in, it will happen, it's that simple. If not, it won't. It all comes down to desire. How bad do you want what ever it is that you want. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. No outsider can make it happen, it needs to begin with the people who currently live in Gary to say, enough is enough. All things are possible and unity moves mountains. I, like most of you, have friends of many different races, nationalities, religions. It's not the color of ones skin that makes the difference, it's the character of the person. Character must be taught, just like respect must be taught. If people don't care, don't respect, don't have a good character in most cases it's because these traits weren't taught and home. If Gary is to rebound to become the awesome city as it once was it will begin with the people of Gary deciding they no longer want to live the way they are. It will take massive action to turn it around. The good news is, they have the power within themselves to do get this done. The bad news, us who have such fond memories of Gary's yesteryears will never again see it as it once was.

Ralph------I think you may be missing the point that some of us who grew up in Gary, specifically Glen Park, are trying to make. We had no problem with black people moving into the area. The problem wasnt that they were black! The problem was that they were thieves,rapists,muggers and just plain lazy assed bums. We would have felt NO better if they had been white thieves,rapists,muggers and lazy assed bums. All we know is that sort of crap DID NOT happen before they moved in. Coincidence? I dont think so. I do know that before they moved in Ms. PJ could play outside all over the neighborhood and never feel threatened. I know that Dave K. and I could leave our bikes and sports gear laying out in the yard and it would still be there the next morning before the blacks moved in but stolen after they came. I know that our church never got broken into and no girls got raped inside the church before the blacks moved in and this did happen after they did. We can only judge by what we haved lived through and seen with our own eyes. None of this is just a figment in the imaginations of a bunch of bigots. But in this day and age of political correctness, I guess I'm a racist just for telling the truth! If so, so be it!

Charles I now live in a middle class subdivision and I can't help to think of how odd this place would be to anyone who came out of North West Indiana as I did. Let me paint the picture for you all. I live in a cul-de-sac which explains why I’ll keep referring to the neighbors to the left of me. I'm a dark skinned Mexican, my wife is Irish; my neighbor to the left of me is a single Asian woman; to her left is a couple from England; to their left is a family from Spain; to their left is your average white family; to their left is a black family; and then a white and black couple and then a family of Indian decent (from India). Now, I thought I knew all there was to know about living among different races of people coming from Gary, which was once the melting pot within the melting pot. I knew nothing. These people moved into these homes, right next door to one another, pretty much knowing what these other people were. Being from Gary this blew my mind. Prior to moving in, I had only seen my white neighbors and wondered if my brown behind was going to cause the property values to go down or make the neighbors run for the hills. Imagine my shock when I saw I had a black neighbor, directly across the street from me. The first thing that jumped into my head was “I just paid $300,000 for a house and I have black neighbors? Man am I going to lose my shirt in this deal.”
I learned a lot in the five years I've been living here. I learned that black people only cause property values to go down if they’re moving onto your block anywhere in the North West Indiana or Chicago land areas. I learned that a typical black family here consists of a mom and dad living together with children, working and are in as much debt as I am in. I learned that people from Spain are Caucasians and I learned that I don't like them. There are a lot of them in this state and I don’t think I like any of them. I learned that not all Asians are brilliant. My neighbor is a sweetheart, but an idiot. I learned that not all English people are snobs and that not all of them are Beatles fans. I learned that the Brits as I call them lived in Africa and Canada before moving here. I learned that the woman from the Indian couple is from India, but the husband is from Pakistan. He’s Indian, but from Pakistan. He’s Catholic and attended schools in England and grew up in Dallas Texas. My black neighbor learned, the very first day I came over to his house to thank him for helping my wife and kids with the sprinkler system while I was away, that I’m the husband of the white lady across the street and not a day laborer who wondered into the neighborhood looking for a job picking strawberries at one of the farms he owns. We still laugh about that one.
I learned that just about everyone knows where Gary is because of the Michael Jackson and they all know that Gary is predominantly black and that it is the murder capital of the world (that is what they believe). They are fascinated with the city and when I try to explain to them about Gary, the one points I keep coming back to is that in Gary, there is no way in hell that all of us would be sitting together drinking beer outside one of our homes while our kids played nearby. In Gary, there was no way that we’d live next to each other. Maybe that is where the problems in Gary started?

Peter you are correct in stating that life in Gary has declined due to the people that live there, however I did'nt call anyone a racist in my comment. I don't live there because my career options were limited in Gary. I still go there to visit. The drug situation has killed Gary. While I was living there I did'nt have to look for a job at all. Peter don't make assumptions about people you don't know. I'm living here in Az. and happy as can be. I don't have to lock my doors. I live here and people white, black, or hispanic are less driven by race based hatred, accept or maybe the maricopa county sherriff. I'm just saying that we as a country.

Peter said very well by a person who knows what the truth is and is not afraid to say so. There is bad and evil everywhere. By all people. Gary is a result of a hard working "melting pot" slowly melting away.

Charles, why is it that whenever anyone presents facts, it's a racial comment or a comment made out of hate. Well I'm a black man and proud of it and my wife and children are as black as I am and I have no problem admitting that the people of Gary destroyed Gary and the majority of those people are black. I know that the majority of people on welfare in the U.S are white; because there are more white people than there are black people. Bottom line, many of the people on welfare, white or black or brown, have made a life based on getting "their check." I've been through Black Oak daily for at least 24 years and what I saw was a bunch of hillbillies. But Black Oak is only a few blocks large, the rest of the city is mostly black and it is not safe and it's not because of the whites from Black Oak. It is not safe because my very own people. Parts of LA are not safe because of some (not all) of the Mexican that live there, China Town isn't safe after 5pm because of the some, not all of the Asians that live there, and we all know about the Italian or Russian mafias or the Irish gangs in some parts of Chicago, Boston etc. So why can't we admit that black people, the black or should I say the African American people, My People in Gary, are mostly responsible for the crime and condition of the city of Gary? Two things I've learned by traveling the world: 1) a lot of people all over the world don't like Americans, and 2) a lot of people all over the world don't like black people. We have a bad name and we're not going to change beliefs by making excuses or calling anyone who points out the truth a racist. Bottom line: nothing I say will ever sink in because any non black person who speaks the truth is a racist and any black person who makes similiar observations is an Uncle Tom and a Sell Out. Well I don't see you living in Gary anymore, why is that. Don't bother to answer that one, I already know; "because a black man can't get a decent job because all of the high paying jobs go to the white man."

Well, take a deep breath. Today is supposed to be a day of service. When MLK was killed, Gary felt the effects immediately. When Obama was elected a small part of MLK's dream was realized. We blew it in Gary. Make sure you remake the Gary you remember in your own community, but please leave out midtown Gary. We need to live together and many cities have made it work. The steelworkers worked together with everyone. Robots don't give a hoot at the mill, but there are few workers. Give some blood or contribute some money to Haiti this week. The current generation gets a lot of this. Let's follow their lead for awhile.

Well stated, Danny. Charles, I'll bet at least 99% of the comments on this web site are from ex Gary residents. I fall into that catagory. Having been raised in West Glen Park, attended Webster elementary, Bailey Jr. High & graduated from Gary Wallace in 1969, I too have witnessed the demise of Gary. To state that these comments are out of hate and fear is somewhat exagerated or overstated. You see only what you want to see. We previously from Gary, have witnessed the destruction and downfall of a once thriving city. Does one think that the outcome of Gary would have been the same if Hatcher was not elected? I for one, think not. I too remember Gary at christmas time. My dad would take us kids downtown to see all the lights and displays. Gary was safe then. Not now. Alot of things irritate me. Let me bring up just one thing. Gary Railcats stadium. What a beauty and something to be proud of. But ask yourself: Who supports the team? Not very many Gary residents. They will come IF they are given free tickets and hotdog vouchers. What about the cost to build the stadium? %0 million? Come on, lets get real. Does anybody see 50 million dollars worth of stadium? The cost was doubled due to the fact that for every union person employed on the project, there had to be a Gary resident being paid the same wage. Hence, a 25 million dollar stadium now becomes a 50 million dollar site. Get the picture? You can take advantage of the system only so long before you start to overstep. Once the mony dries up, what then? And by the way Charles, would I be called a racist if I wanted to see a Miss White America pageant? I think it's racest that there is a Miss Black America Pageant. There seems to be double standards here, don't you?

We don't contribute our comments because we are racist, hateful or evil, but because we have seen what has happened to Gary and we are discusted at all the freeloaders overwhelming the system.

One last thing. The 13th ammendment abolished slavery I believe, in 1865 stating that slavery shall not exist within the United States.. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 calling for the Union armies to liberate all slaves. This I learned in high school history class. Do you think the majority of Gary students know this?

Charles from Tempe,
I am not someone who has spent a mere 15 minutes in Gary and formed an opinion from what I saw in that 15 minutes. I went to grade school at Riley, Jr High at Bailey and High School at Lew Wallace. I remember Gary, ALL OF IT, from the 50's,the 60's,the 70's,the 80's,the 90's, the 00's and now the 10's. So I have watched the city go from a thriving, family friendly place to the sewer it now is. So keep your sermons to yourself before I sic PJ on you!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone remember Gary at Christmastime? The sidewalks and stores were so crowded that you could hardly get through. The Christmas lights between 4th ave right through midtown reminded me of ITS A WONDERFUL WORLD, there were a couple of santa Clauses in the stores. The merriment is nothing like what we have today. The buses were standing room only. People everywhere, crime was rare. Goldblatts was full of merchandise upstairs, downstairs, and on Washington side. The deli was awesome. Music was sometimes pumped to the streets. Oh what memories. A loaf of bread was about 15 cents. My mom bought ham for 29 cants a lb. but complained it was too expensive! It seems we were in another world then. While atomation may be good, but I would love to spend just one day in a Christmas past in Gary.

Does anyone remember Gary at Christmastime? The sidewalks and stores were so crowded that you could hardly get through. The Christmas lights between 4th ave right through midtown reminded me of ITS A WONDERFUL WORLD, there were a couple of santa Clauses in the stores. The merriment is nothing like what we have today. The buses were standing room only. People everywhere, crime was rare. Goldblatts was full of merchandise upstairs, downstairs, and on Washington side. The deli was awesome. Music was sometimes pumped to the streets. Oh what memories. A loaf of bread was about 15 cents. My mom bought ham for 29 cants a lb. but complained it was too expensive! It seems we were in another world then. While atomation may be good, but I would love to spend just one day in a Christmas past in Gary.

My reference to welfare is related to Gary. The majority of welfare recipients in Gary are black. Granted there are also white people on welfare. But I don't see the white welfare recipients taking advantage of the system. Come on Chuck. Open your eyes. The taxpayers are supporting the system and you know who takes advantage of it and us.

Whoa, some of these comments seem to be written by people that are so out of touch with the city and the people of Gary.

Susie sans says "The men that you date there are worthless. They either are looking for someone to take care of them or someone to mother their child." Seems like one should be a better judge of character.

I agree that Gary is a pretty bad place to live, but just remember that once the low income housing closed in Chicago those families moved to Gary. Hence the horrid murders.

To Lila of Schereville Lincoln did not free slaves, re-read your history lesson on this matter. www.sobran.com

The statement that “Lincoln freed the slaves” is a gross oversimplification. Its widespread acceptance shows not only ignorance of history, but a deep incomprehension of the U.S. Constitution.

No president, as Lincoln well knew, could simply pick up a pen and do away with slavery. To think that he could is remarkably naive — yet that is what most people do think.

Legally, slaves were the property of other men; that is what slavery means. And under the Constitution, nobody could be deprived of his property without “due process of law” — that is, a court proceeding had to prove to a jury that a slaveowner had somehow forfeited his property.

“Due process of law” didn’t mean a legislative act. Congress had no power to pass a law outlawing slavery. Lincoln acknowledged this in his first inaugural address and even said he could support an amendment to the Constitution protecting slavery where it already existed.
If the Constitution meant what today’s liberals say it means, Congress could have simply passed a law banning slavery by invoking its “Power ... to regulate Commerce ... among the several States.” But in the 1860s, nobody thought that this power was so broad as to nullify property rights. They understood that the Constitution would have to be amended to give Congress authority over slavery, which at the time seemed less likely than an amendment for the opposite purpose.

Tom- Reno, Danny Malone, you guy's comment are out of hate and fear, the same emotion that is tearing this country apart. I see that your's is the same mentality that sold out America. Call your phone company to check your bill. Who answers the call, SOMEONE IN INDIA. All the jobs have gone to China, Mexico. Gentlemen be realistic!

Greg, statistically please research who the majority of people are on welfare.

Has any one the you that don't like Gary as it is now ever been to Black Oak?

Don't take it personal just an observation.

DEAD-----------well, thats 1 way to get the hell out of Gary!

A lot of people are abadoning the area. They are either moving out of state, in jail, or DEAD.

I agree. The men that you date there are worthless. They either are looking for someone to take care of them or someone to mother their child. These men have babies by 20 different women and think this is the trend for the day or this is "cool". In addition to this, the men are very abusive physically and verbally. The parents in this area obviously do not raise their children right. They all sit back and smoke marijuana on a daily basis and nothing is being done about it.

Gary is one of the worst places to live, especially if you ACTUALLY want something out of life. You have the risk of getting robbed , killed, etc. The people here don't even know how to READ or do simple mathematics. This is because the school system here is so "lax" as far as education. Don't dare date anyone that resides here, please. The people here do not have any type of morals at all.

A common excuse for not working is... now we are entitled to recieve aid from the gov't because of slavery and the unfairness rendered them by slave masters, so now they they feel they have the right to enslave those of us who never had anything to do with that time.. Most often that is an excuse.. but what about, drugs, gangs, murder? Did slavery cause that too? Their lack of reality sets them back 150 yrs. Did Abraham Lincoln ever figure what America would look like today, after he did so much to give them freedom. Now that freedom has been abused. Why can't people listen to someone like Bill Cosby who brings ignorance and lack of education to light. Once you become set in a mindstyle, its hard to ever change. Thats why hope for the future of Gary looks bleak unless the people themselves want to keep Gary alive. Maybe some businesses might come back a trickle at a time. Visitors certainly won't come to Gary without carrying a weapon.
Mr Elbert Gary must be turning over in his grave.

I once and still am proud to say that I hailed from Gary. The comments I have been reading, including my own, offer similar reasons as to the demise of Gary. Here is my final conclusion. The city of Gary is made up of residents, businesses and government. Unless all three work towards a common goal, the end result is what we now see. Of the three I have mentioned, only business seems to support Gary. If not for U. S. Steel, there would be no Gary. Other business have have come and gone. Why? There is no support from the citizens of Gary. Thugs and gangs take care of the rest. Who in their right mind would take a chance in starting a business in Gary? Open one day and your dead the next. Thank you gangs and drugs. The police (God Bless them) can only do so much. Granted, there are a few Gary residents that I would not mind calling them neighbor & inviting them into my house. But the majority looks out only for themselves. It's always "what do I get out of it"? or"you owe me". I would surmise that common thinking amongst the younger generation is have more babies; collect more welfare, sit on my rear end and have the system take care of me. On the other hand, sell drugs, drop out of school, rob, etc. As for government, when you place into office inept people, you get what you elect. Corruption, nepetism & mentality such as how can I screw my fellow constituents? Along with the so called "white exodus", went the knowledge and expertise of how to run a city. Hatcher was the one and biggest reason and direst cause for the demise of Gary. Once in office, he placed inept people of color having very little experience in running and or managing people and departments. But on the other hand, he provided jobs to those needing them. This senario has continued to the present day.

I see no recovery for Gary under present leadership. The damage has been done. Until the crime & drug situation ends, the baby factories stop generating, government stops bleeding the citizens, parents take control of their children & in general, people stop taking expected handouts (welefare), there will never be a new Gary again.

That's enough from me. I think I have irritated enough people now. But at least I got you thinking.

John,
You can create $20 per hour jobs. But if people wont get up off thier fat,lazy asses and go to them each day,what have you accomplished? I have for most of my life tried to give the benefit of the doubt to people. But even I am now convinced that ALOT of the working aged men in Gary are just lazy slobs with thier hand out to get what they can get from the government. There is no incentive for companies to invest in Gary. If they did invest in Gary, creating jobs,more than likely those jobs would be eventually filled by people from the outlying areas. Because those willing to actually get up each day and EARN a living left Gary in an attempt to create better lives for themselves and thier families. Does anyone else see a resemblance in the pictures coming out of Haiti and certain parts of Gary? At least the Haitians have an earthquake to blame for the destruction of Port a Prince! Gary just has itself to blame.

I have known many people from Gary that are the most well mannered, nicest people you would ever want to meet. There are people there that deserve an opportunity to see their hometown thrive. All I was trying to say was that if there were living wage opportunities in Gary you would see things change, in present and future generations. There clearly is the possibility for things to change with industry. Couldn't Gary be turned into a key trucking and transport hub for the midwest with some of the light manufacturing done in town? Why you say? I say why not? It is a failure of government, yawn, and maybe the current course of things is what the city needs. I just hope that the GOOD people aren't denigrated any further and we should all appreciate what they have done to help save the city. That is all.

It seems with yrs and yrs of the welfare system going on in Gary, the people would use some of that help from the gov't they would be proud and continue to make Gary a better place to live. Instead the opposite has happened. My question is why? Are some people raised to to build and work to accomplish something, while others are raised to stay at home and destroy what they have? Not to mention let their city go down in ruins like the Titanic did.

Gary was once a safe and bustling city, now you can't even call it a city. No wonder people flee to have a better place to live, and guess what, no welfare! Not that people aren't poor but they're proud and intent on bettering their community.
People who refuse to work or are generational welfare recipients don't even appreciate it anymore, and won't lift a finger to make the environment more beautiful or a safe place to live.. I believe the lack of moral values is the major decline of a what was great place to live in Gary.. There are few fathers living with their significant others/wives.. kids run around like animals and no supervisison because mommies, daddies might be doing drugs or running around looking for other women or men for more sex and breeding of little ones. The political dictators are constantly begging Washington for more. God only knows when this will stop, perhaps when the country begins to resemble Gary. I know what has happened to Gary has happened to most major urban areas.. but why has this been allowed to happen in the first place? Gary certainly didn't have to decline so rapidly if someone cared. I hope this nation will wake up before Gary will set an example of what the norm is in all of America.

I agree. The screwed-up welfare system has played a big part in Gary's demise.

Hey Greg------Dont you just love it when you pull your last $2 out of your pocket to pay for the bologna you have to eat for lunch and the guy in front of you pays for his 2 inch thick steaks with food stamps?????????? I have to admit it. That really pisses me off!

Tom, your right on with your eloquint summary of Gary. I agree 100% with your comments.The citizens and politicians of Gary do nothing more than blame everyone else for their problems. Politicians blame the white exodus and Washington. Welfare is out of control. The more babies one has, the more aid is given. Who pays for this? We all do. What irks me the most when I used to live in Gary, is seeing welfare recepients drive up in their cadillacs and weigh in excess of 200 pounds collecting their food stamps and money. Something is wrong with this picture. Enough is enough!

Born and raised in Gary and the son and grandson of US Steelworkers, and a stock holder, I can tell you John that Gary Works in 2007 produced almost the exact amount steel as they did in 1960, the year US Steel considered the Gary Plant's worst year ever. Their statistics, available through the NYSE.

Not only did we have black and white TV, we had to get up off the couch and walk over to it to choose between the 3 channels! Then at Christmas, before the advent of colored lights we had this multicolored spinning wheel that sat in front of the tree and made it look the tree was colors. And, I would get mad if I couldnt find my very last little plastic thingy that you had to put in the center of your 45 rpm records so it would go onto the spindle! Of course PJ remembers blac and white TV! She's so old she remembers when the Burger King was still a Prince!

Hey John from Hobart, you're way off the mark. You can give these young men all the work they can handle, which wouldn't be very much, and they'd continue to be arch villains. Do you honestly think that you can take criminally incultureated people, and change their behavior by giving them employment? Just think of it, we'd have little to no crime in this country. We wouldn't have to give all of them jobs, just the hard core criminals. They'd be too busy earning an honest buck along with going to sleep early so that they'd be fresh and awake the next morning that the streets would be safe to walk on at night. Keep dreaming. On a bright note, murder is down in Gary and according to social scientists; the reason for this is that the majority of these psychopaths are either dead or in prison. Prime work force my butt. These social misfits might take the job you give them and shove it down your throat but they won't show up for it. And if they did show up for work they'd only show up long enough to demand a break or commit a crime at the work place. John where have you been? Gary used to have jobs for everyone, and the crime was always high. Look at our history John. See the photos from the early 1900's of federal troops on Broadway to restore peace. How about the snipers of the 70’s that were taking out truck drivers. And all of that was over the jobs that were in abundance. Look at recent history, State police drive into Gary in the early morning hours to take the city and arrest Gary cops. And these cops were on the JOB when they were arrested. Today we have a bunch of oxygen thieves that do nothing but collect free money, steal, breed, eat and crap. And when they're not doing that, they find time to murder, do drugs, demand what they think they are entitled do, visit their dawgs in county, get visited in county, breed some more, forcefully if need be, and if we're lucky, die before they make too many victims. Perhaps if we gave these boys a job in the middle of their career s in crime, they'd work hard, put themselves through school, become accountants, support some of those future defendants they fathered and maybe buy their babies mommas' a little something something and join us on this blog and a discuss how to make Gary safe again?

Does anyone know if this church still stands?

Hi all,

Interesting to read all the comments from people that once lived in the great city of Gary.
I was born in Gary at Methodist hospital and spent the very first years of my life in a nice home in the Miller area right off Route 20 near the old Golden Coin restaurant. I don't remember much of the early days of my life in the 60's but I definetely remember Gary in the mid to late 70's and its unbelievable downturn. Now live in the Vegas metro area and I do indeed run into people here that once lived in the "region".
Don't really think that there is any hope for Gary. The best option IMO is to just raze the whole city and start from scratch. It's an ideal location for a nice new bedroom community near Chicago

I was wondering if you saw my little joke on you! Just think... young people now-a-days have no idea about B/W tv's... and only ONE in the HOUSE??!! Turntables with vinyl records / shoveling coal???? they wouldn't even shovel snow to get to school / 8 Track tapes ha! There's not even record stores anymore. So different now, but what an APPRECIATION we have for the comforts of today based on how we grew up. BUT... Kick the can vs. x-box 360 ???? what time are the streelights comin' on tonite Dress warm we'll meet you outside............

Dave K, I just noticed your 1/6 crack about aluminum foil on my rabbit ears. Actually, I DID have that on my portable TV until just last year when I switched to digital and got a new antenna!!

Another memory from my growing-up years in Gary (50s & 60s): black and white TVs with tubes that had to warm up before the picture came on. My dad was one of the last hold-outs - I think we were the last family on our block to get a color TV. Same with getting a gas furnace - in the early 60s we were still shoveling coal into the old incinerator. As if we weren't getting enough carcinogens in our lungs from the steel mills!

the fact that you are missing is that US Steel produces more steel than ever from its Gary plant and employs signifcantly less than ever before. If you are expecting something from politicians to improve conditions in Gary or anywhere else for that matter you can continue to wait....to assume it has anything to do with race is offensive. Here's some facts; Gary's largest population demographic is aged 20-35 year old males. That is prime work force age. Gary's strength remains. In my opinion crime is derived from men not being able to earn a decent wage, that creates the need to 'hustle' and the further breadown of families. Gary needs to give its young men hope that they can earn a decent living without crime and the education, pride, diversity returns regardless of any politician other than Clay.

I am actually replying to a couple of posts below yours. My apologies.

Boy you sure put an end to some interesting comments. Gary was great until the mills went south in the 70's. It was a wonderful one employer town until US policies changed the competition, which continues to go on to the very day. The mayors may or may not have been corrupt, but they had no power to change the tide. Diversification should have happened way before the 70's. Once there was tons of unemplyment, those that could moved far away and those that couldn't actually do that moved to the surrounding communities or stayed. There are many from Nixon's time happy to see black cities fail--and they were all factory cities where jobs and white peole escaped one after the other. It was sad to see and finger pointing was easy. Those who were not pointing fingers had no idea what the heck went wrong..all they knew is that they had no jobs or had lower paying non-union jobs. Sound familiar? Sooner or later we will wake up and find out the people of color were made the scapegoats the last time around and now we--the middle-class and-working class are about to take another hit and the unions are basically gone and white people and unions will be the fall guys this time around, unless those who have the actual power can blame someone else----maybe brown people. Gary may not make it back , but we need to stop a repeat of history in our current communities. Gary was absolutely wonderful for the regular person and the average person could make it in the world. That's why we remember it so fondly. Wonder why you can't find such a community now? Try and find out.

Sarah,
I was directed to this web site by one of your father's co-workers. I have been reading with interest many of the comments
being made by the students who attended Riley School, and by those who have lived in Gary. Many of the names posted on the site bring back a lot of memories.
I worked with your dad for several years, and I can tell you that it was a hoot. When I arrived at Riley he was my mentor, and he was seldom incorrect in his appraisal of any given situation. He loved his Twinkies, and did not approve of anyone disturbing them. However, I can tell you that someone did mess with his beloved Twinkie, and he lost his composure.
Mr. Lax was my supervising teacher in his split class in 1965. Mr. Lax was a strict and disciplined supervisor who expected his students and his student teacher to be able to perform to the standards that he had set.
Anthony Bohanon was the first non-white student that I had at Riley School. He was a very able student.
I attended Horace Mann High School in Gary, and I can tell you that it has not been torn down. It has been closed for several years, but it is still standing. The school that has been torn down is Froebel High School that was located on 15th Avenue between Madison and Jackson Streets.
Some of the teachers who inhabited the old wooden building that burned down in 1970 are names that will forever be etched in the memories of Riley students. Besides Messrs. Lax and English there were Mr. Cross, Ms. Adelsich, Mrs. Adkins, Mrs. Hysong, Mrs. Gerometta,Mrs. Montoro, Miss Kyle, Mrs. Vician, Mrs. Barbieri, Mr. Smock, Coach Ward, and the irrepressible Coach Antich.
Mr. Emil Gobbie was the man in charge of the buidling. His assistants were Mr. John Stupar and Mrs. Helen Hensen.
The principal was Mr. Wood, and the secretary was Mrs. Sarture.
As time progressed some of the staff moved on to other positions, but the family attitude remained at Riley.

In 1976 our family went back to Gary, my dad and I were walking down Broadway St. while he explained what used to be here or what he did there when he was growing up. All of it was gone by then and he suddenly stopped and said "Snooger (cause that's what he called me) this isn't where I grew up" and turned to silently go back to the car. This was one of the very few occasions I saw my father cry. When entire communities are supported by a single large corporation, like U.S. Steel, the collapse is quick and sure when the inevitable shut down occurs. I always considered Gary the tracheotomy of the US the arm pits are New Jersey and LA. Guess what New Orleans would be?

My family came to Gary in 1951 so I have some great memories as a child and into my teens. By my teen yrs Gary was badly slipping into drugs, racism, political decay.. After looking at these pictures it literally makes my want to cry. I attended Sacred Heart school in Tolleston and driving by there a few weeks ago thankfully it still looks good. Someone bought the building and restored it quite nicely.. all the memories I had from there! Tolleston high school doesn't look that well however, i don't know if it still is open though. The rest of the city looks like a bomb hit it. I would love if one day someone would just burn down all these abandoned buildings, and may be someone could buy up the land to build up the city with new new ones. Maybe the city could be saved, and all the drug dealers, and bad elements of the city could move out. I hope before I die, someone will be able to save my city.

Lew – Not in Gary December 04, 2009 - 17:26What happened to Gary
Great post and So Very True..Experiment Failed. So very sad, I don't even tell people that it is a good place to be from anymore.

You know it is very sad to say, but it started with the "experiment".

In 1967, a young black councilman named Richard Hatcher ran for mayor. His underdog campaign attracted national attention....Sens. Bobby and Ted Kennedy held fund-raisers for him.
Hatcher ended up winning the election.He hoped that Gary would become a showcase for what blacks could achieve when given power, and announced that blacks would get 50 percent of all government positions. And when Hatcher proposed building low-income housing for blacks in an all-white neighborhood of 42,000, the residents rebelled and tried to secede from the city. The secession movement did not succeed, but many whites left by themselves, moving out to the suburbs, complaining of rising crime and a mayor who wanted to make an all-black city. By 1970, Gary was more than 50 percent black. Gary was also seen as an experiment for black political leadership. Wanting to help Gary become a black success story, the federal government had been funneling money to the city since the 1960s, for housing, for job training, for initiatives like the Model Cities Program and the War on Poverty.

But at the same time, jobs dried up, poverty deepened and crime worsened. Gangs took control of the streets, and the murder rate was among the worst in the nation. By the time the federal money dried up in the 1980s Hatcher, one of the first two big-city black mayors in the nation, was identified with failure. In the 20 years he was in power, the city lost a third of its population, U.S. Steel cut 20,000 jobs, and city services had become so bad that thousands of homes were abandoned.

The situation did not improve under Hatcher's successor, and in 1993 the city hit a new low when its 110 murders gave it the highest murder rate of any city in the country. The police union put up billboards at entrances to the city saying, "CAUTION!!! You are currently in Gary, Ind., 1993 MURDER Capital of the Nation. Where officers are EXTREMELY Underpaid and Overworked."

I also read that a large number of murders should "not be counted toward gary becuase "they were killed elsewhere and drug there". As if to say... take da mo' fo' to gary cuz they won't notice just another body.

It should be pointed out Gary has been accused of under-reporting it's homicide numbers for the past year. They listed several as "undetermined" or "unknown". Several months ago the Trib even mentioned that the Gary police couldn't confirm what the number of homicides was. Likely this has alot to do with Rudy Clay & him going to Indianapolis this week to beg for more money!

The Jacksons apparently never cared about their hometown.

I always wondered why the jacksons never came back to do a concert to bring revenue back into the city, that they claim they care so much about.

So do you still have Aluminum Foil on your Rabbit ears?
Rick that was some good info. Five miles any direction..... cracked me up. Speaking of Crime >>> Today's Post Tribune" We're Doing better, only 49 murders in 2009 and since the population is down, we're off the FBI's ten worst citeis list"
WHHHHHHHHHHooooooo ooh.

Thanks for setting the record straight, Chuck. I don't get cable or satellite TV (stop laughing, everyone!), so have never seen the History Channel program to which some posters have referred. If anyone wants to visit the city's web site, I believe you'll find it at www.gary.in.us.

The reference to Gary, Indiana in the History channel's series, Life After People occurred last season (June 2009). The purpose was to discuss how buildings deteriorate when abandoned or left without human intervention for a period of time. The show was featuring Chicago and stated, (paraphrased) "for a look, one only has to go 35 miles SE to Gary, Indiana". They then did an interview with an expert within the Gary Methodist Church (shown on this site).

The History Channel did not state that Gary was abandoned. Here's a link to the show: www.history.com

Gary Indiana; the only city in America where you can drive five miles in any direction and never leave the scene of a crime. First city in America where 7-11 closed its stores. First city in America where Holiday Inn pack up and left. the FBI left Gary because it wasn't safe to come to work.