Message from the President

It's no exaggeration to say that 2009 is history. For many of us, that's good news as we're glad to see it gone with foreclosures, unemployment, and the melting dollar. For the Duneland Historical Society, however, 2009 was a good year. Membership is strong, we are fanancially sound, our programs have been well recieved, and (I hope you all agree!) our dinners were delicious. But I think there are many more people in our community who would enjoy our organization and our programs and we are the best advocates of it. So at the next meeting, pick up a "New Member" brochure at the front desk and pass it along to a friend along with a flyer of upcoming programs. Spread the word! Happy New Year.

Joan Costello
President

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Beverly Shores was a hit!

The March meeting was a huge success!  We spent the evening learning about the town of Beverly Shores from Carl Reed.  Reed spent the evening relating tales of how the town was first started through the work of developer Frederick H. Bartlett and his original concept of a resort community.

Come join us for our next meeting April 15 at 7:30 p.m.  This is also our dinner meeting for DHS members.  The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. 

The program will be presented by South Shore Railroad historian and artist Mitch Markovitz who will spend the evening talking South Shore Railroad history with us, and will also have some of his famous posters available for viewing and purchase.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Come to our next meeting! March 18, 2010

Join long time resident and Historical Society member Carl Reed to learn about the history of the Beverly Shores community through interesting facts and photographs.

Beverly Shores is well known regionally, and has undergone many significant changes in the past 80 to 90 years.

Visit the Beverly Shores Historical Society website for information on current exhibits at the museum and information on the Beverly Shores South Shore station. 

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Edwin Way Teale - February 18, 2010

The February meeting was a huge hit.  The presentation by DHS member Tory Duhamell brought in Edwin Way Teal fans from all over the area. 

The presentation featured photographs of Teal later in his life along with photos of his grandparents and photos taken by Teal with his first box camera during his summers at Lone Oak Farm in Furnessville, IN.

Following the presentation there was a discussion on Teal's life and works by the various people who attended the program.  The discussion included the approximate location of Lone Oak Farm in Furnessville.  More information as to the farm's location can be found at the Westchester Township History Museum in Chesterton.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

2010 Spring Programs

February 18, 7:30 p.m.

Historical Society member Tory Duhamell will present a PowerPoint presentation on the life and works of local author, Edwin Way Teale. This program was originally presented by Thomas Creswell for the 1983 Duneland Folk Festival.

March 18, 7:30 p.m.
Long time resident and Historical Society member Carl Reed will present a program about the history of the Beverly Shores community. Beverly Shores is well known regionally, and has undergone many significant changes in the past 80 to 90 years.

April 15, 7:30 p.m. The program will follow a dinner for members and guests at 6:30 p.m.
South Shore Railroad historian and artist Mitch Markovitz will spend the evening talking South Shore Railroad history with us, and will also have some of his famous posters available for viewing and purchase.

May 20, 7:30 p.m.
Indiana University Northwest History Professor Emeritus and longtime author of local history James Lane will speak about the history of the City of Gary. Gary recently celebrated its Centennial Anniversary.

Fall Programs

September


The fall program season kicked off with “Valparaiso University: An Unfinished Educational Trilogy, 1859----” presented by Professor James Albers. The University is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Prof. Albers told of three distinct periods in the school’s history. 1859-1871 Methodists ran the Valparaiso Male and Female College which closed partly because of the Civil War. 1873-1925 the institution was privately owned and called in succession Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute, Valparaiso College and Valparaiso University. In 1925 it was purchased by the Lutheran University Association and accreditation was achieved in 1929. Professor Albers used a power point presentation which showed pictures of campus buildings through the years and people important in the school’s history.



October

Following a delicious dinner catered by CafĂ© Elite, a large audience of members and guests enjoyed a musical program featuring songs from as far back as World War II. The Wolffgang singers, eight talented young women directed by Hobart High School teacher Mr. Dean Wolff, presented an energetic program. There were a lot of tapping toes in the audience and a standing ovation after the program climaxed with a medley of Andrews Sisters favorites such as “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” and “Boogy Woogy Bugle Boy.”

Members of Hobart High School's Wolffgang Singers perform for delighted DHS members.


November

“The Lincoln Funeral Train” video produced by Bill Warrick of Ogden Dunes tells the story of the train which in 1865 carried the body of the slain president through many cities and small towns on its way from Washington D.C. to Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Warrick introduced the program and told of his research and how he combined still photographs of actual events and film of re-enactments. The train came north from Indianapolis and stopped in Michigan City before continuing to Chicago. In the video a plaque is shown which commemorates the train passing through Westville.