Gary, Indiana, ghost town

As I'm sitting here pondering how to reply to your very well written observation, I too, as does Danny agree with you, somewhat. Conditioning does start at home with loving parents. But the conditioning aspect also comes from the school system. Unless a child is willing to learn from the teacher, he will not develop into a person of respect. This conditioning you speak of occurs throughout life. Not just in the home, but in the classroom and beyond. The cycles you speak of are not necessarily correct in my thinking. As i stated previously, my wife's grandfather was a full blooded Apache Indian. He saw discrimination first hand. He saw the hatred towards the American Indian. But he taught his children right from wrong, good from bad. There was no "cycle" to his teachings. My grandparents came to America from Italy. They too saw the discrimination towards them but taught their children right from wrong, good from bad. My point is this: Parents are bad because they don't want to change. They will always blame the other person for his/her problems. Bad parenting is inherted? I don't think so. Danny Malone said it best. "Without accountability, children have no motivation to improve themselves".

Maybe we should bring back the draft. If this is what will "condition our youth" I'm all for it. Military service teaches responsibility and accountability. It makes men out of boys (no pun intended). Then again, I'm so glad there is no draft because my son does not have to experience war, unless it is his own choosing.

Lillian, my aunt taught first grade at Emerson for decades. When did you attend there?

Syd. I am trying my best to agree with you. And I do. But only somewhat. Yes. Children do pattern behaviors by example. And most of the time that example does come from parents. But you make it seem that children can only pattern bad behavior from their parents. Why cant a child see the bad,destructive behavior of their parents and say to themselves "this is exactly what I WONT do when I get older and become a parent?" It is still learning be example, but it is seein behavior that is bad and learning NOT to do it. You dont have to be the child of wealthy,whitebread parents to learn how to make something positive out of something negative. Maybe part of the problem is we are so busy making excuses for childrens bad behavior that we forget to hold them accountable for it. Without accountability children have no motivation to improve themselves.

No Greg, I understood your point very well. However, I think you may have missed mine. I am NOT giving any excuse for the behavior of the citizens of Gary. I know FIRST HAND the results of such. What I am saying is that for you to judge an entire city based on the actions of a fraction of it's population is WRONG. Everyone in Gary is not ignorant or a thief or a drug user/dealer. And in my earlier statement, the point I was trying to get you all to see is that the problem is no longer about jobs, money, or anything other than a cycle. These behaviors started as a result of those things but they now continue because of a cycle. Uneducated and poor parents are raising poor and uneducated children. Your parent's may very well have struggled just as much but they obviously had something to offer you that many of these children today don't. That thing is guidance and support. Children are bound to repeat the actions of their parents (i.e. domestic abuse from fathers and sons) So those who have mothers and fathers that use/ sell drugs, commit acts of robbery and violence, have anger issues, and just an overall lack of work ethic raise children who will do the exact same thing. And why? That is what they know. It is who they are, not always who they want to be. And if you have ever worked with children, you know that many of them will tell you this. I've heard from children countless times that they don't know why they are the way that they are. They try not to be that way but anger controls them like a drug. Parenting is nothing more than love and conditioning of a child. Conditioning meaning turning them into the person they will be. Do you know who else conditions people? The army. Coaches of athletes. And through conditioning army men and athletes develop behaviors that they will continue throughout their ENTIRE life. So what do you think happens to the children that are conditioned by these bad parents? And keep in mind that alot of this parental "conditioning" occurs without love. They have children and do the same. Am I making an excuse? No, just helping you understand. It's very easy to judge when you are on the outside looking in. And also, it must be very disheartening to any residents (possibly children) of Gary that may be reading this to see such negative comments about them. Its very hard to believe in yourself when no one else will. I understand that you may not think so but everyone is not as strong as others. It just so happened that I was able to rise above the negative stigma placed on me due to the fact that I was from Gary but some of my weaker classmates weren't as strong. Do I judge them or look down on them? No. I try to understand what happened to make them turn out different from me.

Is the author of this rediculous article you mentioned on March 7, 2010 nuts? Is he trying to make a statement with regards to the way he spells, phoneticly? Or is he trying to say this is the new "Black" language? This makes every black student originating from Gary look ignorant. Then again, maybe that's his purpose. I myself find no humor in the article and it just enforces my thinking about the present Gary and the calibur of student or recent graduate. Now I really know why Gary became such a disaster. If this is how the author presents his people, God help you all! "Theys aint got no learnin n soles". ( you need to open the link provided by Charles and read the article to decifer my last sentence).

I was born in Gary..went to Holy Angels school...Emerson...I remember the Lake Hotel...I saw Dorothy Lamour when she visited...my sister was elevator operator there at the time...I have been back several times mostly for funerals...one at Rendina funeral Home...saw Tony Rendina former classmate from Holy Angels...wish I knew where some of the others are. Lot's of memories back there...but I love where I'm at ...been here over 30 years..

Hey, Robert. I was born in 1954; lived at 44th and Kentucky. Went to Riley, Bailly and Wallace.

nilevalleynetwork.net

Hi PJ,
When were you born and where did you live in Gary?

Hi Kevin B.
I also get goose bumps when I see pictures of the Village, because my grandfather Combs and my dad built it and when it opened in 1956 it was the largest shopping center in NW Indiana. It is still, the last time I was there 100% occupied. But I cry when I see my city today.

I attended Wirt high school for a couple of years ( 7th & 8th ) grade in 1968 & 69 before moving to California. We were having a lot of "white flight" in our neighborhood about that time. But I still remember it as a safe place to walk to school and ride our bikes. I haven't been back to the old neighborhood since leaving . Does anyone remember Jack Sprats Ice Creme Parlor, Ming Lings Chinese food or the Lake Hotel . I remember getting up early on Saturday mornings and walking to Marquette Park to fish. Can anyone provide me with the names of other places in the Miller area to stir up some these long past, wonderful memories?

John: Thanks for the YouTube Video. I got goosebumps when I saw the Village Shopping Center. Man, the amount of time I spent there with mom and dad! It's great to see MY HOMETOWN.

Jon, thanks for the link to the great video! I, too, recognized all the places shown. Gary, my home town! Those were the days.....

Well Said Robert.
Amazing to see so many, busy happy people in that video. Busy streets, a safe public.
Sadly, the radicals of our world today will never "go away". THey love their pitiful existence. And of COURSE it's all our fault. Maybe Mohammed should pay a visit on a Donkey before Jesus. He would be sick of their crap too.

To Jon and Lorie T.
First Jon, thanks for the youtube video. I remember ALL of the places shown on the video. And to Lorie T, I am glad you listened to your folks when they relayed to you the stories of the finest city in America. Being born in the 30's in Gary was a wonderful experience. All neighbor hoods were filled with ethnic groups of every nation in the world. We lived side by side and played and worked with each other. Maybe we were too dumb to know any better, but I truly believe that if that particular era could be revived we wouldn't be having our troops stationed in the vast regions of the globe. The radicals should have to go back to that time and take lessons from their ancestors.

www.youtube.com

Thought some folks might like this.

I never grew up in Gary but have always heard stories about the city in the late 1930`s through the 1940`s. My parents grew up there and I heard nothing but wonderful stories of their youth growing up there. My father did not go to Emerson but to Horace Mann. He was a part of the basketball team, The Horsemen of Horace Mann, Daniel Mellinger. I believe he graduated in 1942. All my life I heard nothing but great stories told by both. My mother went to Froebel {sp?} then to Horace Mann. When I think of Gary [growing up near the city], I do not think of the Jackson`s, I think of their stories and how great of a city it was. It made me wish I had been born back then to experience the times they had. Lorie T.

Cork and Cleaver????? Are you 100% sure??? Because this is BIG news for me. That is what I said it was for a long time and no one would agree with me...therefore THE BET!

It used to be the Cork and Cleaver. They had the first nice lounge where you could sit in a comfy chair and actually talk to the person you came with. Steaks were ok too.

Thanks all; I now use facebook for publishing stuff that cannot be on my website. Like this one below.
Become fan -------> Forbidden Places on Facebook

There are'nt really to many places in Gary to be hang'in out. There is a place in Hammond by the name of La Rosa's they have pretty good pizza. If you take 15th ave west passed Purdue Cal. to Indianapolis Blvd. turn right (north) La Rosa's is on the right. They have live music there. Another place is Leroy's, it's in Porter. Take US-20 east, it's right before you get to I-149. I would also suggest driving the dunes Highway (US-12) from Ogden Dunes to Michigan City. It['s a great drive. There is also a good band named Triple dose that's pretty good.

Just thought I would add my two cents. Graduated from Gary Edison in 1959. Went there all but two years. Then there was IUNW; the navy in 1963, and never returned. I worked at Jarabak's Drugs on 5th and Burr, EdMar Super Foods across from Edison, Tom Olesker's Men's Clothes downtown, Calumet Flexicore on Cline Ave. and then Inland Steel before the Navy. It sounds like I am trying to tell you who I am by where I used to work. Where I was raised and lived the first 20 years of my life may have had an effect on the way I look at the world but it is not who I am. All of the things I worked so hard for my whole life is just 'stuff'. I feel badly for the city I grew up in. But in the end, it IS all just stuff.

Hi Nikki,
I'm a Miller resident. It's beautiful, but it's not the whole story. To really see Gary, drive down Broadway, the main drag, from Dunes Highway (U.S. 12/20) south to Merrillville. If done during the day, there's no great danger. You'll see boarded-up businesses, vacant buildings and empty sidewalks. Near downtown, there are some spectacular old buildings ranging from a church to a high school auditorium and a library that are simply crumbling into rubble. The neighborhoods surrounding downtown are riddled with vacant or burned-out houses, weedy lots, garbage and rundown buildings.

There also are new homes being built and some neighborhoods that still are well-kept. Even on the worst blocks, it's not unusual to see one house where the yard is mowed, flowers bloom and the paint is new enough not to be peeling. That's one of the most heart-breaking sights in Gary - someone trying against all odds to maintain a decent standard of living.

It's important for people to see this. Nothing ever gets fixed if it isn't seen and acknowledged. Even though you don't live in Gary, you might have a good idea for it. If nothing else, it will give you plenty to think about. Hope you have a great time!

Your comment just touches the surface of the problems that led to the current Gary. It's complicated by a factor of ten. You hit great points and they are not simplistic like some earlier posts. At this point I am not sure that there are very easy answers. Generational change takes ....generations. We just need to plug along in the right direction.

Nikki, my first comment is to be careful if you're coming to Gary! Do you have family there? I work in Gary 5 days a week, and much of the city is NOT a place you want to be, especially if you don't know your way around. It is a very dangerous city to wander in.

That said, if you must come, visit the Miller area, which is at the Lake Michigan shore, the northeastern portion of the city. Marquette Park and the beach are beautiful, and Miller has some good restaurants. That's about all I can think of to visit in Gary.

Hey,
Just wondering where are all the cool places to visit? Im visiting someone out there, and don't feel like going to all the 'proper' places. It would be awesome if you guys helped me out!! Thanks

I grew up in Glen Park--in the 50's and 60's , I remember my mother having to work two jobs and myself and two siblings cut lawns and shoveled snow to help earn money to pay our bills and maintain our home. My father passed away when we were teenagers. At the time he passed away women were not revered in the workplace. But, my mom never gave up or quit. Many times I wondered -How she maintained a positive attitude for us and life in general. My point, is that not all white people had a bed of roses either!. I guess that I just get tired of hearing the Black community in Gary complaining about lack of education or job opportunities!. My mom said If there is a will there is a way. Also, I do not condone that the black community was oppressed in the 50's and 60's. But it happened!. Would the black communities have been better off today if the Dutch did not bring them into America in the 1690's. I don't think so. Again, it all in the mindset--If there a will there is a way. I hope for all in Gary and all mixed communities that the future in much brighter! All our children and grandchildren ( bLack & white) deserved the very best we have to offer!

Syd, I think you may have missed our point previously printed about Gary, past, present & future. My grandparents came here from Sicily, Italy. Having landed at Ellis Island in the early 1900's, they first moved to Chicago. When my grandfather heard about the new steel mill being built in Indiana, he left Chicago for the new city, Gary. He lived in squaller along with the Irish, Slovaks, Polish and many other nationalities. They worked for pennies a day and yet they provided for their families. They had it rough and hard for they were the outsiders. One major difference though. They didn't quit or give up or lay down and pass blame onto others. They made Gary, a thriving new city. My wife's grandfather was a full blooded apache indian. He was discriminated against, but he made the best of a bad situation.

Granted, there was white flight in the late 60's when Hatcher became mayor of Gary. But why? People saw him as a true racist as evidenced in his years as mayor. He was the main factor for the demise of Gary. What happened to the millions of dollars his administration was receiving from the federal government for all those years? No one saw any sign of improvement within the city limits. To this day, the same senario exists. What can I get for nothing? "I'll just blame the white race for putting me in this situation". Well, I say enough is enough. Lead by example. What kind of example is being put forth to Gary's youth (or for that matter, any youth) when the blacks find it acceptable to wear their pants down to their waist, hair braided and down to below their shoulders. I would never hire someone looking like that, be it black, white, brown or yellow. I just don't buy the excuses any more. Remember, the black race was not the only race that was broken down because of ethnics and nationality. Unfortunately, it seems to be the only race that still won't help itself & blames others for their failure.

As a former 20 year resident of Gary, IN I must say that I am appalled by many of these comments. I am a gradutate of Emerson V.P.A and Indiana University in Bloomington. I grew up on 6th and Taft St. in Gary's Horace Mann area and I have to be honest as well and say that GARY has seen far better years. But I am also a BLACK WOMAN and I refuse to blame that on any one race (whether it is black, white, mexican, asian etc.) I'm sure that all of you guys are educated so you realize that the demise of a city cannot be blamed solely on residents or government. When you take a race that is as broken as African Americans what do you expect? The problems of African Americans are not and CANNOT be solely "OUR RESPONSIBILITY"!! How can a Black fathers be expected to raise confident, dependable, and strong black men when they were taught for centuries that they weren't any of these things?? You can only tell a person how worthless they are for so long before they start to believe it! Even in the 40's and 50's when Gary was thriving and there were jobs, we weren't given the same chance to obtain them!! Only after the STRIKE were we permitted to obtain those HIGH PAYING STEEL WORKER JOBS... SO that means that it was hard for a BLACK MAN to provide for his family. DO you know what that does to the spirit of ANY MAN?? ANY RACE?? He becomes defeated in his own mind when he cannot provide for his family! SO what else does this mean? His wife bears the stress of this with him, making her a less adequate mother.. The children's education suffers because you need to put money into the schools to foster a good learning environment. Also the amount of lack creates an environment for depression and anger.. SO what happens next??? CRIME!! Those without the basic neccessities to survive do what they have to do to survive. NO it's not right but it's REALITY! WHat comes next??? IMPRISONMENT! and we all know there's no coming back from that... SO while daddy is IMPRISONED for selling those little white rocks to put food on the table and make his family feel like they are worth something, who is supporting the wife?? No one. She works two jobs to support her children. But that only allows her to break even so there is no money for daycare or afterschool activities that so many of our children enjoy today! SO what are the kids doing while MOM is working herself into an early grave?? Her SON is selling drugs/stealing to take the place of his father and help his mom because he believes that no one will help him in his situaiton. And her daughter is somewhere laid up making babies with some man who, even if just for a moment, takes away the pain of not having her dad. And niether child is really focused in school because how many of us can truly focus and excel in squalor??? So the rate of crime, poverty, and childbirth rises far past anything you could imagine. And what business owner (usually white because what poor black person can afford to invest in a business?) can thrive in a city full of poor, desolate blacks? (The whites left a long time ago) So all the business' fold or pack up and go elsewhere. And now unemployment is on the rise and which only leads to more crime and substance abuse to try to escape reality.... And the cylce continues! All these problems have a generational link. If you grow up poor, chances are there is no money to go off to college or invest in a business so you repeat all these things over again. In a small town like Gary, it doesn't take long for the decline to hit rock bottom. So for those of you that are soo quick to blame the problem on one race or one thing, think about why PPL are the way they are.... You can just fix the outside of a home if the foundation is weak. Giving the youth in Gary a job will do them no good if they are in a bad emotional state. And how can they properly manage money if they nor their parents have ever had any? There is more than just a money or employment problem in Gary. These ppl are hurt and in need of a complete change inside and out. Every one there is not just on welfare and lazy. I know plenty of youth PERSONALLY that are either in college or have completed college (and not just a few). And they want a better life and they are not about to leave GARY with their degree and turn their backs. They would like to be a part of the solution and so should we!

James Cummer,
I looked in the 1945 Emerson year book and found a Rosemary Cummer.

Mike Kristoff,
I looked in the 1947 year book and found that your mom graduated that year. I don't remember her, maybe because I was just a puny Junior.

While I didn't live on the "East-side", our apartment at 623 Washington St, was very close. The walk to Emerson in the early forties (graduating in 1945), was a daily pleasure. Whenever I'm headed to Chicago, I like to spend a little time driving through the old haunts. The saying was,"Any place is a bad place to spend a night, but a good place to live your life".

Robert Combs, my mom graduated from Emerson; in 1948, I believe. Kolodzinski.

how did he die

Wow, It's great to hear from all the kids that grew up in Gary. Is there really any one out there that lived on the east side and went to Emerson High School and graduated around 1948 when Gary was at its prime? I've got memories I haven't even used yet about growing up in the greatest part of Gary. Yeah, right Glen Park is ok but when I grew up it was the end of the world to take a streetcar south on Broadway for ever before reaching 45th Ave for the return trip to 8th and Broadway. Nothing and I mean nothing compares to the east side in the 40's. Would love to hear from another old foggie. I am now 80 years old and still call Gary (with tongue in cheek) my home.

That place had real good food. I think he had something to do with the education system too but I have to confirm that.

Dave K - the place was Jansen's. . . hope you win big!!

Mike
The place you are thinking of was called Bianchi's. They had the black Mina Bird that would whistle at the girls who walked in.
NNNNooowww If you could only help me remember what the name of the restaraunt was in the bldg. that is now a HOOTERS, on U.S. 30/ I-65. I know that it was CIsco's before hooters but what was it before that?????????? I still have alot riding on this.
And to everybody else... I know I know.... here he goes again.
I'm sorry. It's like NOrm and Cliff from CHEERS trying to find out how many bolts held down the wood floor at Boston Gardens.... sorry.

"Yes. We white people have been working on rythym for awhile. But we got a long way to go!"
Jimmy Buffet

We were pretty pathetic. You couldn't find a whiter marching band. Even the black kids in CYO band played like they were white. We'd go to parades and compete. While warming up, we couldn't help but notice these other bands full of black kids. Those guys were good; cooler uniforms too. They'd do everything short of break dancing while playing.

We usually had to stop marching just to play "It's a Grand Ole Flag". We certainly never played while rounding street corners.

Matt,

I did go to P&P. Graduated in '76, then Andrean '80. No Joan in my family though, all boys. When I started CYO band, director was Mike Wanshak. We practiced weekends at St. Luke's my first year, then Blessed Sacrament Activity Center (Old Mnsr. Ryder KofC hall) on 45th and Cleveland the rest of my years. I played Alto and Tenor Sax. Have a brother Dave that is 5 years older than me.

Mike, did you attend SS Peter & Paul? I'm approx three years older than you and was in the CYO band as well. We practiced upstairs in that building (next to Luigi's Pizza) on Saturday mornings I recall the summer eves marching in the St. Mark's Parking lot. Straight, turn, straight turn, straight, turn... A guy by the name of Thomas Suroviak was the band director. I played trombone.

I grew up on the other side of Broadway a few blocks behind Dunkin Donuts at 58th and Broadway -- near the Salvatorian Father's Monastery.

Was your sister, Joan? I recall a Joan Kristoff in my grade. Real pretty and nice girl.

Matt

This is an amazing photo essay...an incredible piece of art. I stumbled here out of curiousity during a search for an old memory. There was a restaurant, I think on West Ridge Road that had a black mina bird. My friends and I can't remember the name of for the life of us. If anyone recalls, it would be appreciated.

I can't get over these photos. It's like an episode of 'Life After People' on the Discovery Channel.

I truly want to cry. I was born at Gary Mercy Hospital in 1962, but my family moved out of Gary in 1957, before I was born, so I grew up in Merrillville. I remember catching the bus at 56th and Harrison, and taking it downtown to shop in the late 60's and early 70's. We'd see movies at the 'Glen Theatre' and go for burgers and orange sherbet at Miner Dunn after. I took saxophone lessons in the basement of the Gary CYO building off the corner of Ridge and Harrison...marching band practice through the neighborhood of St. Mark's School.

My parents would talk incessantly about how beautiful Gary used to be...in their childhoods. Dad was raised on the West Side, and Mom on the east. Dad was friends with Little Oscar (Georgie Molchan). I can't believe the memories that are flashing through my mind now because of these photos.

Ms. Sarah----I think PJ Hay did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know Ernie didn't smash my dad's Twinkie. I want to thank you for letting us know about this website. My mom and I have had a wonderful time reading the posts about Riley. My mom, my oldest daughter, and myself spent hours reading the posts and using Goggle Earth to visit the area. We were able to show my daughter the homes in Glen Park where I lived, the different homes where my mom grew up in Glen Park and Merrillville, Riley School, the old neighborhood around Riley, remembering all the families that lived there. We also visited via Goggle Earth your old home. It has been a pleasure to share wonderful memories with others. Take Care Ernie and Catherine!

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!