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A Compendium of Earl Histor And Remembrances of the Past Fiff Years Issued in Celebration of the Sesquicentennial of the Founding of Hobart, Indiana Published by The City of Hobart 1997 Marion Dudley, Editor &lt mPr a \ M The gristmill constructed by Hobart founder George Earle at the dam h built across Deep River. (Present site of the NBD bank building.) Hobart, which Earle named in honor of his brother, began as a business venture and quickly grew to a busy trading center and then a prosperous town. This sketch of the historic mill, which characterized Hobart and was the town’s centerpiece until it was destroyed b fire in 1953, was done by Dale Fleming. Fleming, wh lives in the Indiana dunes area, studied at the American Academy of Arts in Chicago. He has done sketches of several historic locations in Hobart. They are available at the Hobart Historical Society Museum. An Invitation to Commemorate and Celebrate Hobart&#3 Sesquicentennial from Linda M. Buzinec Mayor of Hobart What a wonderful time for the City of Hobart our Sesquicentennial celebration. One — hundred and fifty years as a community i certainly a reason to celebrate especially when you reflect on all that has happened to Hobart during that time span. From our pioneer beginnings as a site for George Earle’s gristmill to a thriving city that is home to almost 25,000 citizens, Hobart has definitely had 150 years of fanfare. Yet despite the changes in our community Hobart remains as charming and enticing now a it was to those early settlers. In 1997 Lake Georg is still the heart of Hobart like it was in 1847. Although the bricks and brickyards are long gone, the quality of life remains “solid as a brick” here in Hobart. My own grandparents lived in Hobart for almost 100 years. am sure if they were alive today they could attest to Hobart&#3 appeal as a place to raise a family both then and now. Whether you are a new or long time resident of our city, take time to participate in Hobart&#3 Happy 150th Birthday this year. Join us at the many events that will be hosted to commemorate our Sesquicentennial. Relax and read this booklet that narrates our past and appreciate the history that is ours. As we approach the dawn of a new century, make a wish for another 150 years as - special as the last for this unique place we call home — Hobart. HOBART NOW AN THEN — by Ann Schmelter When graduated from the Crown Point What a grand location. Only two blocks School systems in 1933, attended a grad- from everything — shopping center, uation party given by a close friend, Marie churches, schools and the wonderful Schmelter. It was a large family and many Brickie Bowl. When the band struck up on cousins were invited including Leonard Friday nights for football games, it might as who was destined to become my well have been in our own front yard. We husband. He was the oldest of nine witnessed th fire that totalled Hobart children belonging to the Joseph Lumber Company between 5th & 6th Schmelters, who made their home on a Streets. farm on 49th Ave., across from St. Sava&#3 A building at the corner of 4th and Main We were married in 1936 at St. Mary& was a gathering place for teenagers. Church in Crown Point. Because it was too It was called the “Ho-Hive.” A Kroger far to commute from Crown Point to Gary grocery store was in the middle of the Steel Mills where Leonard was employed, block between 3rd & 4th Streets. An A & we moved to Gary. W lived in rental grocery was located across from Lake apartments until Leonard&#3 wonderful George on 3rd Street. Boumer’s bakery on grandmother, Anna Wehner offered f sell the corner now features a jewelry repair her home to u if we were interested. She shop across from City Hall. Schultz Brothers wanted to keep this home in the family if dime store i now a Dollar General. A possible. Boy, were we interested a new St. Bridget Church was built on — home of our own! We moved into this Center Street where services were large, lovely home with our four children, previously held on the second floor of the Janet, Carol, Charles and Linda. school on Main Street. The development of Villa Shores, just west of Lake George, brought many lovely homes to the area. That along with the Lou Kuchta Bridge and the lovely Revelli Bandshell made a wonderful addition to Hobart. Now with the completion of the Lake George Project, Hobart residents can b justly proud of their beautiful city. Businesses have left the area only to be replaced by others. cannot recall all of them and must associate myself The Ho-Hive was established in 1945 in this house on the southwest corner of Fourth and Main Streets. It was a busy center of teenage with the adage — Bee there, done that, activity and entertainment and community meetings until It was razed can&# remember. to make way for the buliding of the City Hall in 1966. 4 AS I WAS Part prairie, part forest, part marsh, crowned new town in 1847 and, because he had been by a ridge carved by a glacier, and the home the postmaster in Liverpool, he became of the Potawatomi ... the land on which Hobart& first postmaster. Hobart was founded. The town of Hobart was platted and Native Americans lived comfortably in this recorded in 1849 and the 1850 Federal Census bountiful place. According to “A Short Histor of reported the Hobart Township population to Hobart,” authored by the late Hobart historian, be 240 persons. Mariam Pleak, “Pine and cedar covered the Hobart became Lake County first railroad area black and white walnut, hickory, hazel center. The town prospered and grew. It was a ... and beechnut trees were plentifu huckle- trading post for Native Americans, supplier to ... berries, cranberries, red and yellow cherries, homesteaders, businesses and residents, and strawberries and grapes grew in abundance.” manufacturer and producer of various goods. Rivers, streams and lakes were filled with Followin the Civil War in which nine of pike, bass and sunfish. There was much wild Hobart&# young men gave their lives to save fowl and game. Beaver, otter, mink and the Union, churches and schools were built other furbearing animals attracted French and fraternal groups and cultural and patriotic furtraders following discovery of the area by societies organized. On March 3 1889, th first the Jesuit, Father Jacques Marquette, and issue of the Hobart Gazette was published. Louis Joliet in 1674. B the beginning of the 20th Century, From that time until the signing of the Treaty brick-making had become Hobart&# major of Paris in 1763, the region was claimed by the industry. The town had brick yards, lumber French. It was held by the British for the yards, sawmill and a foundry. following 20 years. Hobart was smartly managed. It had The United States Congres defined the a good water supply, an electric power facility Indiana Territory in 1800 It included what is and telephon office. Throug the years the now Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and parts of town continued to be characterized by the Michigan and Minnesota. particular individualities of strong leaders and The well-watered, rich Indiana soil attracted independent thinkers. As philosophies, settlers and, following the end of the War of attitudes and technologies were influenced by 1812, population increased quickly. On December 11 1816, Indiana became the 19th state. Much of the land in Lake County was pro- cured by treaty with the Potawatomi. Some Potawatomi chiefs retained areas which they sold to settlers for $1.2 an acre. Hobart&# Earl Histor Th first to settle in what would be Hobart came by covered wagon in 1836. They were Samuel and An Sigler, Elmira and William Hurst and Joseph and Melvina Mundell. About the same time, George Earle, a native of Falmouth, England, and a builder and developer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania bought the town of Liverpool, Indiana and a great deal of the property around it. Nearly ten years later he built a dam across Deep Rive five miles upstream from Liverpool. There Judy O'Bann (left) wife of Indiana Governor Frank he built a sawmill in 1846 and then a gristmil O'Ban and a small friend are shown examples of native Earle named the millsite area Hobart in and endangered plants by Keith Board, who discovered honor of his brother. He moved his family to his Hobart&# Cressmoor Prairie. 1947-1957 New home construction provided for the growing population. Polio was a continuing warm weather threat; milk was delivered to homes in glas bottles; Loretta Young films were being shown at the Art Theatre; and greeting cards required two cents postage. The nationally famous Hobart Hig School band continued to win honors in competitions and on tours and hundreds of cakes were donated for Band Mother&#3 Cake Walks in front of the post office. Harold E Thompso set a new helicopter speed record in a Sikorsk S-52 plane; schoo! closings were threatened by a coal shortage; le 3 64. e(aPtoe. : (leeae ae S _— there were outboard motor boat races on Brick-making began in Hobart in the 1850& and forty years later It had the lake; there was a shortage of doctors grown to be a major industry with several brick yards. The last operating and Mellon Insurance offered a policy to pay tile works, north of the railroad tracks at North Lake Park Avenue, was for treatment of “Lockjaw, Sleeping ‘Sickness, closed down In 1965. Dale Fleming sketch Scarlet Fever and Small Pox.” The 1948 Berlin Airlift had been successful, but national and world conditions and situations, a “Pattern for Survival” in the event of an Hobart adapted and developed atomic attack was published by the city& without losing its distinctive qualities, Civilian Defense organization. cherished and sustained in its churches The U.S Postal Service limited mail delivery to and schools and cultural, social, civic and once a da in 1950. Hobart’s branch ha just business organizations. been give First Class status with si city carriers Everyone took part in the enthusiastic and tw rural routes. celebration of Hobart&#3 Centennial. Men Voters elected Fred Rose, Jr. to the first of two grew beards and they and women and terms as mayor in 1951. The following year, the children wore clothing in the style of the Common Council voted to build a sewage mid-1800&#3 The town&# 100- history Plant on Front Street at Duck Creek. was dramatized in a spectacular pageant _. stage in Brickie Bowl. More than 400 took part in the ambitious production, which was performed the evenings of July 3, 4, 5, 6, 1947. The Hobart Centennial Association, Inc. published a “Souvenir Program and History issued in Commemoration of the Centennial Anniversary.” It documented Hobart&# first century. It honored by name the young men who had give their lives in service to their country in the Civil War and World Wars and I and all veterans of the Mexican, Civil and Spanish American Wars and of World Wars | and Il.* It was a carefree and optimistic time. World War Il had ended, returning service- men were marrying and beginning new families. There was a prosperity of spiri and —_—. > of the economy. In 1858, George Earle gave land for a station and right-of-way for the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway (later on, the Pennsylvania *A copy of the "Pr and Histor is available for Railroad tracks). The restored depot bullding still standing o Lillian Street perusal at the Hobart Historical Societ Museum. was built in 1912. Dale Fleming sketch 6 a Members of the Brickies Booster&# club held A Nike base was built in Wheeler; the “smokers” to support the winnin hig school Bloodmobile made regular visits; a petition was football teams; the School Patrol boy and circulated against the City’s plans to buy the girl were give picnics Hobart was designate clay pit for a garbage dump; and Henry Ittel par of a critical defense area and rent controls requested a permit to operate his own taxi. were restored. The Brickie Harriers were the big news in Februar 19 1953 was a sad, sad day. 1957! Coach Red Kurth&# Hobart Hig School Hobart&# historic mill, it preciou landmark and cross country team won the State symbo of its beginning was completely Championship and they would do it again ... destroye by fire. in 1960. At Indiana University “scrappy” Don About this time, the city’s water syste was Howell was assigne a guard position on the connected with the Gary/Hobart Water football team. Company; the Lion& Club initiated rat- In 1958, Jim Johnston set a national pole drives; there was active oppositio to water vault record of 14 feet, four and one-half fluoridation; the Izaak Walton League inches; the Hig School band continued to be determined the lake not safe for swimmin and practically perfect; and the Ho-Hive planned choked with silt; Fre Dair Queen gav free trip for teens to Riverview Park sundaes to dads on Father&# Day and the in Chicago. Chamber of Commerce moved into the Beach The City Council was taking bids on the cost House on Front Street in 1956. of spraying against Dutch elm disease and denied the Nickel Plate Railroad permissio to 1957 - 1967 dispense with the services of a watchman at Much was to happe in the world and in the Main Street crossing A Jewel store was Hobart in this decade. The first jet plane was put built at 600 Main; the Pennsy R raised the into passenger service and Hawaii and Alaska price of a ticket for 24 rides between Chicago were give statehood. and Hobart from $17.0 to $18.85 and, after 20 The millpond created by George Earle’s dam became Lake George, Hobart’s centerpiece. Once graced by fine hotel, it gave towns- people and their guest much pleasure, picnicking, swimming,fishing and boating in summer, and ice skating in winter. Young penrods with their poles and pups and old anglers with rods and reminiscences found along its shores solitary, grassy places to fish and dream. years at Fourth and Main, Waldo Liechty moved his hatchery to South Lake Park Avenue. In October of 1959, Mayor Fred Rose, who had been nominated to run for a third term, died. Herman Pflughoeft was selected to ru in his place and took office January 1 1960. Hobart was experiencing growing pains. Ten adjoining areas were annexed in just three years and there were rezoning and service problems. There were expressions of need of an industrial zone; General Telephone Company opened its new building to house dial technology; Blair Truitt bagged a trophy bear in Alaska; the Hobart Hig In winter in the 1960&# Pete Kellen (right foreground) dammed the stream School band set a 30-year record fo firsts; behind his greenhouses on 10th Street (present site of Park Place) to and a Lake George clean-up committee create a safe skating pond for Hobart children. He provided hot chocolate for chilled skaters in the warming shack he built beside the pond. was organized. Walter A. Keller photo Fred Rose Park was named as a memorial to the late mayor; Leon Gardner donated was assassinated; and nearly one-half million U.S. “disaster kits& to be kept at the ready: the troops were in combat in South Vietnam. Hobart Fire Department was the state In Hobart, bonds were issued for new sewers; the waterball champ; and a group of Hobart Doughboy statue was refurbished by the VFW; the Post women held a tea for Mrs. Henry Cabot Office was expanded; the swimming pool opened; Lodge. and the Chamber of Commerce proposed closing At the end of 1960, Laura Bracken suf- Main Street from Third to Fourth and designing all store fronts to look alike. fered a stroke. She had served her city for more than 30 years as Hobart city clerk. Voters rejected the Lake Clean-up referendum four “The Sixties” are memorable. John Glenn to one; the old Cressmoor club house burned: first orbited the Earth; President John Kennedy class postage cost was raised to five cents and the Zi Code system was adopted; and John Johnson was drafted by the Chicago Bears. Hobart High School enrollment passed the 1,000 mark; the YMCA revealed plan for its new building on Wisconsin Street; and in the fall of 1963, Lilburn J. Titus was elected to the first of what would be his three terms as Hobart’s mayor. The following year Heuring Motors introduced the Mustang; the spillway below the dam was repaired; the fallout shelter in the Post Office was stocked with emergency supplies; the Ancilla Domini Sisters announced the building of a hospital at 61st Street and Highway 51; and plans were made for a new city barn on the Hobart — industrial site. Hobart&#3 first City Hall was on Fourth Street between Main Street and the Ground was broken for a “City Hall that will lake. It was built by S.H. Henderson, elected the town’s first mayor in 1921. be ageless” in 1966 and sites were selected The building, and the ones beyond it which housed the Police and Fire for a second fire station and a new public departments. . were demolished to provide a parking area for the present library. City Hall, which was erected in 1966. Dan photo 8 1967 1977 Theatre&# showing of “The Last Tang in Paris” - When the new library was built on Fron Street in was protested. 1968 the Hobart Historical Society purchased the A biologist identified Lake George as a ol library building, built in 1915 to preserve it and “future swamp;” the City Council adopted to house a museum. another “Master Plan;& Frances Greene was the B this time the city dump on Ridge Road was first woman appointed to the Hobart Planning about filled and being covered and the City Commission and, in 1976, Calvin Green became Council approved the Chamber of Commerce Hobart&#3 first Democratic mayor... and he would request for building space; the lake was be re-elected in 1980 and 1984. declared unsafe for swimming; annexation of about 15 square miles of Ross Township was 1977 - 1987 considered; and Robinson Lake Park was Construction of a new Wisconsin Street bridge opened for swimmers. took 22 months to complete; the Old Settlers Jerry Rowley& seven-place tandem bike Cemetery on South Lake Park Avenue was officiated at the opening of the Bike Route; dedicated; Hig School students protested ROTC Pavel Farms was Indiana' largest breeder of cancellation; a long winter freeze brought Arabian horses; the 1971-72 Brickie Cagers were hundreds of dead fish to the lakeshore; and sectional champs for the first time in Hobart Hig downtown merchants protested the loss of a beat School history; and the ceiety& garbage was policeman. trucked to Wheeler. Halina Zielenski was Hobart& first “meter- Its faith and traditions unchanged by maid;” funds for the operation of a “mudcat” to congressional resolutions, Hobart stubbornly pump silt from the lake were included in the city insisted on observing November 11 as Armistice budget: there was a declining school enrollment; Day. The High School band, colour guards, the and fire destroyed the Scout Cabin. Sheriff& Posse on horseback and hundreds of Jim McGee moved his health club to Hobart; candle and flag-bearing patriots honored the census takers counted 22,385 persons in the city; defenders of their country. the City purchased two ambulances; Brickie There were plans to enlarge the sewer plant; footballers continued to be Duneland and th first building began at the Southlake Mall; Regional champs; TV cable companies vied for the Brickies were football Conference Hobart business; and the sewer moratorium and Champions nearly every year; and the Art high interest rates equalled no growth. — 5 & FOREMAN SCHOOL ss . ay - ; e a oo ‘x ’ _-_ Foreman School, bullt on 10th Street in 1945 and named with affection for “Uncle Billy” Foreman, a school janitor, and Mundell School, built in 1923 on land on Wisconsin Street acquired from the Mundell family, were razed in 1974 when Joan Martin Elementary School was erected on the Foreman School site. The state-of-the-art facility provides the technology for computer-age education, but these old schools are well-remembered.