gary-indiana-ghost-town Urban exploration: Gary, Indiana, ghost town

Gary, Indiana, ghost town

Type	Country	Exploration Date	Publication Date	Location	Status	Rating
Public building	USA	2006-08-12	2006-09-19		Endangered	****

No Future City?

Another 2006 exploration. to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the city of Gary, Indiana. The city was artificially founded by the United States Steel Corporation in 1906, on the shore of Lake Michigan. Just to to meet the region's needs for the flourishing steel industry. The city reached up to 200,000 inhabitants.

The White flee from Gary (white flight), unemployment and insecurity set up. The city gets more and more empty, encounters major economic problems, and reaches the highest rate of crime of USA. Today, the beautiful huge buildings are demolished one by one, leaving behind large empty spaces.

More info about Gary? Just check the Wikipedia article.

-> Gallery of Photos: a walk in Gary <-

Gary, Indiana, ghost town

-> Gallery of Photos: Gary's Methodist church <-

Gary, Indiana, ghost town

-> Gallery of Photos: School & Theater <-

Gary, Indiana, ghost town

-> Gallery of Photos: The Standard Liquors building <-

Gary, Indiana, ghost town

-> Gallery of Photos: Jackson Five theater <-

Gary, Indiana, ghost town

-> Gallery of Photos: The Post Office <-

Gary, Indiana, ghost town

Note: this page shows only some older, abandoned buildings downtown Gary. It does not show the effort done by the city to re-launch Gary in its 2nd century.

Seth Thomas aka dev null

I had the chance to do this exploration guided by Seth Thomas (aka dev null) in August 2006.

He was loving Urban Exploring in general, but Gary was for him more than just another exploration.

Since then, Seth passed away way too early, at the age of 24.

May this page be dedicated to him.

Wherever you are Seth, we are all sure you keep EXPLORING.

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Wayne H

Richard, according to the book "Gary, A Centennial Celebration" Tony Zale lived in the "Patch" area of early Gary and graduated from Froebel HS in about 1931. The Froebel area of the Patch encompassed roughly 9th Ave. from the north to 15th Ave. on the south, Broadway on the east and Grant St. on the west. Little Oscar, who rented from my grandmother at one time, was also born in the Patch area and lived at 1313 Harrison Blvd., graduating from Froebel in 1941. No address is given for Tony Zale. My father first settled in the Patch at the end of WW2 but soon bought a home at 7th and Jefferson.

On another note, more sad news.
(Dr) George Grcevich passed away Dec. 15th, only 2 days after Wally Kankowski. George was 1 day short of his 64th birthday, he played BB at BLL with my brother. His younger brother Mark played the same time as me.

For what it's worth..... every one have
A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

24th December 2012 12:26pm

miguel

I used to talk with a girl named Jennifer. I can't remember her last name but I know you was white and between the ages of 25 and 28. She lived in Gary with her adopted parents and her sisters and brothers. I think her last name started with the letter "D" or "G". If anyone could help let me know. Thanks

20th December 2012 7:18pm

Richard

Does anyone know where the prize fighter Tony Zale (not his real last name) used to live?

20th December 2012 3:50am

Paul Hill

Wayne, This is sad news. Wally Kankowski was so much fun to be around. He was our third baseman my last year at BLL. He came over to "study" once in a while, but we usually wound up playing pinball in our basement. My mother liked Wally because when he showed up at the house, it was usually when we had ordered pizza from the Tivoli. Bless his family.

18th December 2012 11:16am

Wayne H

A good friend of mine when growing up in Gary Heights/Brunswick has passed away. Some of you may have known him.

Wally Kankowski passed Thursday Dec 13 at age 59....... WAY too young! His family moved out to Lakes Of The 4 Seasons where Wally graduated from Boone Grove High School in 1971.

We played ball at BLL, home run derby in the back yard, played with the ice block the milkman left us on Saturday mornings, built cardboard forts, would gather beer cans out of Mr Stack's garbage for crickett (he hated that!), terrorize the neighborhood girls, and had just plain fun.

I Will Miss You Old Friend.

17th December 2012 5:21am

alb

Richard, his last name was Edwards. I can't remrmber his first name. His older brother was Oscar, a real nice guy. If I remember correctly this guy was released on parole but soon committed another murder and was sent back. He was only about 16 when he killed Mrs Borman.

14th December 2012 10:06am

Richard

Alb, I remember the candy store at the corner of 15th and Burr very well, our house was four blocks North of there on 11th. Frank Borman was the astronaut he was born and raised in Tolleston. I remember that the poor woman was stabbed to death. Do you remember the name of the guy who killed her? Years later the store was turned into a record/ music store. The building is gone now, and the only thing remaining to show that there was ever anything on that corner is a metal pole with a broken sign atop it which still reads "RECORDS."

14th December 2012 4:46am

alb

TCP Lighthouse Restaurant, Gary National, Cleaners, Jewel, opening into the parking next to Clark Rd Toytown. You are right Toytown faced north. Frank Grillo's was one of the finest men we could ever know. That's where most of us became Wilson baseball glove fans. He sold A2000s for $29.95. Remember his great selection of model kits. He also sold a 35" plastic bat. We bought so many wiffle balls from him. I bought my first wiffle ball from him when he was on 11th avenue in Tolleston.
My dad did all of the plowing of snow, mowing the grass, and planting and placing of the flowers. I think MLKing was the only place he worked for the postal service. He was on straight days. He was about 6'2" and about 200 pounds.
Sounds like you saw the rumble at lunch at Dairy Castle. A bunch of Harbor guys jumped some Edison guys and worked them over pretty good.
You went into Cudahy on Durbin st. As soon as you crossed the South Shore tracks you turned left. We used to play baseball games against the Cudahy Cubs in the summer. The Guitterez house was the beginning of the Cudahy neighborhood.

14th December 2012 2:34am

Wayne H

First of all guys, Dr. Senics!!! He tried to ruin my teeth! My mom always took us kids to Dr Drakos in Tolleston on 11th Ave. He moved to Glen Park and mom started taking us to Dr Senics, what a huge mistake! That guy was cruel!

Paul..... I do not remember the Sunny Spot but i do remember the Purple Martin gas station on 15th n Clark. You know they gave out those saving stamps just like S&H.... gawd S&H! another memory! EHS was already rough before we moved in 1963. Mom went to pick up my sis from school one day (she usually rode the bus) and i witnessed a "rumble", chains and clubs and whatever they could swing, it was bad. The cops were showing up as we drove off. TOYTOWN..... Frank Grillo was my buddy! There was train set i kept looking at through the summer and fall of 1962. I dropped a hint(wish) to Frank to mention that train set if he ever saw my parents Xmas shopping in there. It worked! I still have the original box out in the shed! I'll have to look and see if it still has the TOYTOWN tape on it.

Richard..... I can still get a Lure today! The one in Portage is still open.... and a great Ham n Cheese they have! The artery clogging fries are great too, they even serve GYROS! The employees wear a shirt that says "Est. 1957" on the back, i would like to purchase one but they always refuse to sell one! Edmar, yes.... Friday evening shopping, mom buying us Waverly pop and Cheetos. Then home to watch Home Run Derby on TV by 6:30 or 7:00. I think it only aired in the spring of 1961. TOYTOWN, it was on the far west end of TCP in the building facing north. There was an opening between that and a building that faced east (TCP was L shaped), in that bldng was i THINK a restaurant and a grocery store? I think the Bowling alley was built later, like 1959 or 60.

Alb.......... gosh, i really wish i could remember your father's face. I probably saw him all the time. I worked inside slinging mail and he was in maintenance. Did he also work at the old downtown Main Office? You say he retired in 1986, so we worked at the same time at the MLKing facility for 12 years! Our father's left us too soon with my dad passing in Jan. 1983. Gosh, it'll be 30 years in a month!

13th December 2012 8:27pm

Paul Hill

It's always great to read everyone's memories from Brunswick. Dr. Senics (OUCH!), The Lure, Dog N Suds. When I turned eight, my dad gave me $5.00 for my birthday, and I flew to TOYTOWN and bought a basketball game called BAS KET, little flippers, a ping pong ball, and plastic baskets. My dad and I wore that out. It was getting rough by about 64, but I tried not to notice. My sister Kathy and I had our last year at Edison in 1966. Wayne, I don't remember the White Owl Tavern, we would go to Friday fish dinners at the Sunny Spot (15th and Clark). Cudahey? I remember the smell of the refineries, the drive-in movie, and a billboard for Old Dutch Cleanser near a bridge as you headed for East Chicago.

12th December 2012 3:05pm

alb

Wayne, that DDS was around 5th and Hanley wasn't he. Painless he wasn't. If I remember right the little store on 15th and Burr belonged to an astronauts aunt. She was murdered in a robbery by an Edison student. He sat at my table in SH. Edison was becoming a tough place by then (1964). My Dad worked at the MLKing facility until 1986. He had to retire for health reasons. He died in 1984 from heart disease.

12th December 2012 11:14am

Richard

Thank you Wayne for taking me down memory lane. My sister in law worked at the Lure in the 70s and, my sister worked at Brunswick Drugs, and two brothers and two sisters attended Edison High School. Untill I was 12, I didn't know that there was another place to shop besides Edmar. I was baptized at Holy Rosary and who could forget Tri City. Where was TOYTOWN. I can't for the life of me remember where it was. Do you remember Shoppers Fair? Wayne, do you have any memories of Cudahey?

12th December 2012 1:10am

alb

Was the dentist Dr Senics? OMG! He would sour you for all dentists. My Dad worked until 86. He died of heart problems in 88. Was the store on 15th and Burr Bormans. If it is,Mrs Borman was the aunt of the astronaut. She was murdered after school one day by a guy who sat at my table in study hall. Edison was getting bad by then.

11th December 2012 3:06am

Wayne H

Richard, i wished i could help you. I didn't live too far from there (11th and Baker), even having an aunt and uncle who lived just south of 11th and Durbin. Seems we just never traveled over to Burr street along 9th or 15th avenues all those years we lived there! If we went to Brunswick Drugs or EHS it was via Clark Rd to 5th ave to Burr. I remember 9th ave that went west from Clark along the RR tracks to Burr, but we rarely used that route. When we went to This Is It, we went south on Clark to 25th ave, then west over to Burr. Do you remember the White Owl Tavern on about 15th and Durbin? It was somewhat east of Durbin. We always bought Friday fish dinners from there. They were good! Because of them i learned to like cole slaw! LOL

Aside from Tri City Plaza my parents frequented Edmar, First Federal Bank, a dentist office i wish to forget, even the Lure along 5th ave. MY favorite place was TOYTOWN! There are more places but i just can't remember them. I wonder if anyone remembers the fruit and vegetable stand that was on the southeast corner of 5th and Clark where Tri City was built? (1957). We left church one summer day (Holy Rosary) and saw smoke billowing from that corner. Dad drove over to there and the stand was burning down! Gosh, My Remember Brunswick brain is burning out! LOL

10th December 2012 10:38pm

Wayne H

Al, i should remember your father, his name just doesn't ring a bell. I bet if i saw a picture of him i would remember. You mentioned that mural on the lunch room wall, wow! A guy by the name of Dave Brummitt painted it and i DO remember that John Deere! I have no pictures of that mural, it was covered up with new paint years before i retired (2008). I think i'll ask my sister if she knew him as she worked in the MLK building too, on the day turn. I worked midnights from late 1974 to 1980, then 3-11 from 1980 till 2008. Maybe because i was on midnights till 1980 is why i don't remember your father. I do remember Joan Hac who worked at the post office, she is Omar Farag's sis, i played LL at BLL with Omar on the same team with Don.

10th December 2012 10:15pm

Richard

Does anyone remember the little store right on the corner of 15th and Burr street. Or the pool hall on 9th avenue diagonal from where West Side High School is now?

10th December 2012 3:35am

Richard

Chris, I grew up at the corner of 11th and Burr Street in the Brunswick area. I don't go back that far, so the only dump sight I know of was the one at 15th and Burr.

10th December 2012 1:34am

robert

Robert Premil,
Did you go to Lew Wallace. If so what year did you graduate? My daughter, Kathy Combs graduated in 1970.We lived at 4680 Harrison St.

9th December 2012 1:54pm

chris

Hello,

Was wondering if any of you remember any old (pre1930) dump locations in Gary or any of it's neighborhoods. Tolleston, Brunswick etc.
Looking for places to dig bottles in Northern Indiana.
Thanks!

9th December 2012 5:26am

alb

My Dad worked at the MLKIng facility. He was in the mural on the lunchroom wall along with his John Deere mower. His tomatoes were in the extreme rear part of the property.

8th December 2012 10:19pm

Richard Vargas

Robert, you don't remember me but I was a classmate of your brother Mark and your sister Kathy at Riley Elementary. I remember your parents very well and your grandmother, whom I believe lived with you at the time that I knew your siblings. If I recall, didn't your father design the library at 39th and Broadway?

I pray that your family is well, and please remember me to your brother Mark and sister Kathy. Please pass to them my E-mail address which is: Riccvargas@aol.com, and ask them to put the words Riley Elementary School in the subject line so I won't delete it as spam mail. I currently live in Tampa Florida and would very much enjoy talking to Mark and Kathy. I try to get home at least once a year and would love to see them.

8th December 2012 4:03am

robert premil

The stories of Gary are very interesting. I grew up there (1959 - 1974)...in Glen Park. Many great memories. It was a fine city. My Dad was a great architect in Gary and many of his then "state of the art buildings" are still in use. Sad to remember what it was and see it now. Thanks to everyone for sharing their memories.

7th December 2012 7:20pm

Wayne H

First of all, Danny, i remember Mr Baran taught at Washington Elem. School. The Russian part you speak of, i have no clue! I do not believe foreign language was taught at the elementary level. LOL

AL b.... Seems i would have remembered your father. I remember a "Benny" who was a groundskeeper, at the Main Office on 6th & Mass. Did your father work at one of the Gary stations? Ex. Brunswick, Tolleston, Glen Park, Miller, etc. The part about tomato plants makes me think he worked one of the stations. There was no place to plant tomatoes out back at the Main Office. Did he work at the MLK Drive facility?

6th December 2012 8:05am

Danny Joe Malone

Wayne H----Wasnt Mr Baran the Russian Language teacher? Spaciba!

3rd December 2012 3:41pm

Blair K

Hello again,

I am still hoping someone can remember and provide some history/info on this old GM dealership. Thanks

2nd December 2012 2:23pm

whelve

So far as safety goes in Gary I've been visiting two to three times yearly since 2008 and have never had an issue. Most of the time if anyone talks to you they'll tell you the history of the building you're looking at, or the dangers. Most of the time they seem to think we are surveyors looking to tear the buildings down. Once we met up with a transient in an apartment complex, he was quite nice and shared photos of himself and his family back when life was better for him.

2nd December 2012 12:21am

alb

Wayne, you worked at the Post Office at the same time as mine and Don's dad. He was groundskeeper. He loved working outside. He always had a spot out behind the building where he grew tomatoes. His name was Alton Bradford.

30th November 2012 2:37am

Wayne H

John, just google NWI Times online newspaper, then click "NEWS", then click, "LAKE COUNTY". Read the "News, Lake County" for about a week(or less may be all that is needed), and make up your own mind.

Thousands of people drive through that city every day with no incidents. To be honest with you, i wouldn't try to drive by my childhood home on the west side. I will drive to Flamingo Pizza on Shelby St. in Miller to get fantastic pizza tho! I did work at the Main Post Office downtown from 1969-1974, then the Martin Luther King Building from 1974-2008 with never a problem. It's your call!

29th November 2012 5:14pm

Robert Combs

John
Take a Google earth ride through Gary and then make up your mind. Start with downtown Broadway and work south to Glen Park and then go to the east side of down town.

29th November 2012 3:08pm

alb

John, I can't help you with the safety issue. I haven't been in Gary in 24 years.

28th November 2012 1:37am

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