tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post7759315112130244331..comments2024-03-11T18:10:42.788-07:00Comments on Places That Were: Horace Mann School - Beloved and Abandoned in Gary, IndianaPlacesThatWerehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08906573012383225740noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-42021701107476062752024-02-23T06:52:49.308-08:002024-02-23T06:52:49.308-08:00Hatcher was not the down fall of Gary. US Steel, ...Hatcher was not the down fall of Gary. US Steel, racists poli tics were the cause. Gary was on decline long before Hatcher. I to lived in Gary and graduated from another high school in 1961. Notice how grand Horace Mann is described. What was missing is that minorities could not attend due to racist housing patterns. The other 7 high schools not as grand under went the same metamorphosis. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-26985453536489269452023-09-15T07:08:20.011-07:002023-09-15T07:08:20.011-07:00My mother once worked at the school and my sister ...My mother once worked at the school and my sister attended school there. It's sad to think of how it's become. Horace Mann was the best school at one time....part of my family history.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-28088694580075093952023-05-10T14:50:07.080-07:002023-05-10T14:50:07.080-07:00Stacy Harris - the racism street runs in both dire...Stacy Harris - the racism street runs in both directions. Let me share with you one of my life's experiences.<br /><br />Back in October of 1992, my lawtwe'a work in Room 4 at the Lake Superior Courthouse at 4th and Broadway concluded early. (I'm a retired lawyer.) The rest of the morning was open. As I departed the Courthouse, I thought to myself 30 years before, I was in the first semester of my senior year at Mann. I hadn’t been back since 1965. A return was long overdue. So off I went.<br /><br />After arriving at the Mann property, I parked in the teachers’ parking lot that faced Cleveland Street. My attempt to enter through the west door was thwarted by a thick chain that had been affixed to secure the door from opening. So much for the fire drills of yesteryear.<br /><br />By then, both of the handball courts had been demolished to allow for the construction of the new gym so there was no longer an entrance from the north side of the building, at least none with which I was familiar.<br /><br />So I walked around to the south side and up the stairs to the entrance which was never, ever used back in the day. As I breached the doors, there to greet me was a cadre of Gary Police Officers standing on the stairway leading to the second floor. All nine were black. All were in full uniform, complete with bulletproof vests. Except for one, they didn’t look at all cordial. The outlier identified himself as Sgt. Alton Brumfield. He asked my business and after hearing what I had to say, asked if I’d like a guided tour.<br /><br />Inwardly, I laughed. Even after a 30 year absence, I felt I knew the intricacies of the place as well as he did. But the offer was accepted.<br /><br />We ascended the stairs to the throat of the old auditorium. I asked if we could go in. He obliged, removing a set of keys from his belt so the lock securing the chain with links of half inch steel could be removed. And in we went. <br /> <br />As we ascended the side steps up to the stage, I stood there, looking out, fondly recalling all of the pep rallies, athletic team honor ceremonies and class plays, including those in which I had “acted”. Looking up to the control booth way atop the auditorium, I could still see Bob Weiss and his cohorts running the lights.<br /><br />When I was in 8th grade, Mrs. Page taught the music class in one of the two rooms there behind the stage. Her room was accessed by the stairway on the north side. <br /><br />Those stairs looked to be dust covered and unused so I asked the Sergeant if the room was no longer used. His response was one of the two that were seared into my memory, never to be forgotten. He said, <br />“Nope, too many babies made up there.” I thought, my, how things have changed over the course of those three decades.<br /><br />Well, the auditorium tour was concluded. We exited. Sgt. Brumfield re-secured the doors with the chain and locked it up to secure it from who knows what.<br /><br />Upon exit, we turned left, to the east and proceeded no more than fifteen feet. I looked into the trophy case which thirty years before was filled to the brim with the trophies won be teams from the late 20's to the early 60's. The case was empty. I asked what happened to the trophies.<br /><br />It was then that the second response was seared indelibly into my memory. Brumfield said, and I quote, “THE KIDS DECIDED THEY DIDN’T WANT WHITEYS’ TROPHIES AROUND.” Inwardly, I cried and seethed with rage. Imagine the reaction we would have received if the tables were reversed and as a group we cast the aspersions in the other direction. <br /><br />The wooden classroom doors that had six of eight panes of class were gone, replaced with what looked to be ones made of solid steel. <br /><br />The place had an eerie silence. The an ambience was so unlike anything from back in the day. The place I had so loved, respected and revered was no more. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The wooden classroom doors that had six of eight panes of class were gone, replaced with what looked to be ones made of solid steel. <br /><br />The place had an eerie silence. The an ambience was so unlike anything from back in the day. The place I had so loved, respected and revered was no more. <br /><br />Arnold Coonsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-54139975200220260022022-08-23T07:28:25.178-07:002022-08-23T07:28:25.178-07:00Why not all of you get together put your money tog...Why not all of you get together put your money together and buy it Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-34910834480988680942022-06-30T13:46:52.412-07:002022-06-30T13:46:52.412-07:00I lived in Detroit in the 80's for 12 years, s...I lived in Detroit in the 80's for 12 years, same exact thing there and for the same reasons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-46967591241842807292022-01-06T23:51:55.210-08:002022-01-06T23:51:55.210-08:00I lived at 2224 W. 5th Ave from 2005 to 2007. That...I lived at 2224 W. 5th Ave from 2005 to 2007. That's amazing.ddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04667517132697047565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-8872732087275725152021-10-28T15:03:08.587-07:002021-10-28T15:03:08.587-07:00greatest school ever. 1980 graduate member drill t...greatest school ever. 1980 graduate member drill team tennis team math mann and more. I am saddened to see it this wayAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06279587864182028048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-21241794778855024932021-02-23T19:57:23.982-08:002021-02-23T19:57:23.982-08:00Me too. Vohr from '65 to '68 then Horace ...Me too. Vohr from '65 to '68 then Horace Mann until I graduated in 1975. Horace Mann included 7th and 8th grade back then. Williamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01911677286293336715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-12413768060493662722021-01-17T10:59:48.302-08:002021-01-17T10:59:48.302-08:00I taught sophomore biology at Gary Horace Mann HS ...I taught sophomore biology at Gary Horace Mann HS my first year out of college, the 1969-1970 school year. My name at the time was Violette Summers. I lived a block & a half away in an apartment building (?2224 West 5th Avenue). I walked to and from my apartment and was never afraid. My neighbors across the street were a fellow teacher and his family, a lovely black family. There was a grocery store about the same distance away in the other direction. It was great for someone without a car. <br /><br />My students were about 1/3 black, 1/3 white, and 1/3 latino. It was a wonderful place: great teachers and administrators who helped me navigate my first year as a real grown-uo. But, it was an old school even then. It was very similar to Hammond High School from which I graduated in 1964. Thete was a lab with sink one sink. The lab tables didn't have sinks. I brought basins of water to the room for messy labs. I left for Japan after only one year to marry a soldier stationed on a navy base as a food inspector for the Vietnam troops, then never went back to Indiana except to visit family.<br /><br /> It was for me a joy to be in an integrated school: students and staff. I remenber few names, but my top students were from each of the 3 groups. I continue to be an advocate for integrated public schools.It breaks my heart to know that schools are now more segregated than they were in 1963.<br />Horace Mann was right. Public schools are NECESSARY.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02114494991837615373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-30010082083525713682020-01-07T11:29:14.930-08:002020-01-07T11:29:14.930-08:00I'm from Chicago and I didn't go to the sc...I'm from Chicago and I didn't go to the school, but I was there last month filming a video. It's a lot worse than the pictures now. Beautiful graffiti though. https://youtu.be/bXYEyzJ-fGIAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-36424433482470052672019-11-07T13:20:08.312-08:002019-11-07T13:20:08.312-08:00I graduated class of 71. My husband class of 69. I...I graduated class of 71. My husband class of 69. I loved being a part of the orchestra and the concert and marching band! This was a great time in my life!<br />It saddens my heart, but I have great memories in my heart still!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02027658621090622108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-69253347924373418992019-09-13T11:19:43.428-07:002019-09-13T11:19:43.428-07:00My mother graduated from Horace Mann in 1953 and m...My mother graduated from Horace Mann in 1953 and my aunt in 1947. They both talked of the great education they received. My grandfather was a doctor at 2006 W. 4th place from 1946 until they moved in 1960. I have only seen the home and attached office room in family photos and now on google earth. In the 1960s and 1970s my parents would not take me to that area, even in the day, due to the high crime rate. My dad worked at US Steel until 1962, when they moved. Gary grandchildnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-31979472883279804242018-11-22T11:19:14.100-08:002018-11-22T11:19:14.100-08:00Jim,I remember You Around "69 or 70" Jim...Jim,I remember You Around "69 or 70" Jim Farley I'm in Crown Point Stay in touch!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-57740148555646208052018-11-02T21:33:01.330-07:002018-11-02T21:33:01.330-07:00I graduated class of 93 and I was just there yeste...I graduated class of 93 and I was just there yesterday and yes it is very creepy in there now.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02202770694087131567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-50178317176875528222018-10-19T23:40:25.037-07:002018-10-19T23:40:25.037-07:00The library was named after him following the imme...The library was named after him following the immense contribution he made towards establishing the library for the school community. <a href="https://happystronghome.com/benefits-of-a-digital-writers-notebook/" rel="nofollow">comment</a><br />Mark Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11987642111220555555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-1028728918011091632018-08-24T06:02:06.082-07:002018-08-24T06:02:06.082-07:00I was in there yesterday and it looks a lot differ...I was in there yesterday and it looks a lot different now. The auditorium is damaged from a fire. ReganH22https://www.blogger.com/profile/17154274134842311215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-8719888257973718742018-08-01T11:55:03.896-07:002018-08-01T11:55:03.896-07:00Jim, you're doing a great job touring througho...Jim, you're doing a great job touring throughout the U.S in documenting these lost places. But don't emphasize a lot about how great things were back then or maybe it's the comments I see. It's good to mention how memories are great. However, our country has always had problems from political scandals, wars, unemployment, natural disasters to race riots to mass murders. No decade is immune to horrible things that have happened. When you mention how great American ingenuity was back then, it was. But don't forget to mention that our government leaders at the time sided with the corporations starting from the Reagan era and 100 years before that. How many American workers died at the hands of violent union busting gangs hired by the corporations? Many. People just want a chance to make a decent living wage to raise their children and give them better opportunities. My point is that we shouldn't fantasize about returning to the '50's because there were plenty of problems back then too and worse. We all seem to forget that for some reason. But in a lighter note, keep on doing what you're doing. Just be cautious when going to these places, you never know what you may encounter. Lupehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12458516917749549598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-88391836273579036122018-08-01T11:44:42.329-07:002018-08-01T11:44:42.329-07:00One final note: this article pubished in Slate out...One final note: this article pubished in Slate outlines Reagan's strategy to criminalize single moms as welfare queens in order to "reform" the welfare system that totally cut off aid to women & children to this day including the mentally ill. It was mean spirited and we're still suffering the "feminization of poverty" to this day. <br /><br />http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history/2013/12/linda_taylor_welfare_queen_ronald_reagan_made_her_a_notorious_american_villain.htmlLupehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12458516917749549598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-271056508723297682018-08-01T11:41:58.171-07:002018-08-01T11:41:58.171-07:00May I add that Reagan exploited the use of the wel...May I add that Reagan exploited the use of the welfare queen to run for office and cut funding to women and child services. Excellent article:<br /><br />http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history/2013/12/linda_taylor_welfare_queen_ronald_reagan_made_her_a_notorious_american_villain.html<br /><br />Also, women are paid less than men for the occupations they work in. Until we have a equitable system of pay for women in America, poverty won't be abolished. We're living in an era of what most sociologists call "the feminization of poverty."Lupehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12458516917749549598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-3383222363883408022018-08-01T11:25:11.384-07:002018-08-01T11:25:11.384-07:00Actually, it was Reagan and his bogus "trickl...Actually, it was Reagan and his bogus "trickle-down economic"s of the 80's that put the nail on the coffin for these communities. The decade of the 80's was the decade of deregulation and greed by corporations. I lived it so I know first hand what it did to my community in Illinois. Reagan, if you read the archives and history, coined the term "welfare queen" to single mothers, Latina & African American which was clearly racist to fuel division. Reagans top advisor even tried to prove it by his published flawed study that single parent households (google it), usually minority, caused crime and decay in our society. It was later to be disproved by many sociological studies in the past two decades. Sadly, the premise that single mothers cause crime in America still prevails in people's minds. That is what the powers to be and corporations want us to think---blame the single moms for having kids without dads. That's totally bogus theory now. Talk to any criminologist or social anthropologist. I'm so glad I took a college level black history studies course because you get a different perspective then what you learn in a typical U.S history class devoid of people of color who were unsung heroes and not depicted accurately. Lupehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12458516917749549598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-5090708217718439862018-08-01T11:02:48.933-07:002018-08-01T11:02:48.933-07:00To Anonymous. In most communities, where they once...To Anonymous. In most communities, where they once thrived, the corporations decided long ago to abandoned for cheaper wages overseas. They didn't give a crap about hard working folks of all colors. I grew up in one of those rust belt community about 2 hours away and we were all hard working. I believe that if these places if given attention by the powers to be & grassroots folks who care about these towns and give folks opportunities, there is progress. What happened to Detroit was plain out corporate disregard, racism at all levels and white flight. Just call it what it is ok and don't blame on the victims of dispossessed economic opportunities. We don't say negative things "like total disrespect for the law" to white communities that have undergone economic change, do we? We seem to have more compassion. I think there's something called a double standard applied to people of color and minorities in our society. Call the white elephant in the room--institutionalized or implicit racism.Lupehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12458516917749549598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-38029520874713017892018-06-29T07:33:44.602-07:002018-06-29T07:33:44.602-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358800223065707615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-81905272238294498072018-06-29T07:33:43.592-07:002018-06-29T07:33:43.592-07:00You are absolutely correct, I was born in Gary, In...You are absolutely correct, I was born in Gary, Indiana, we lived in an apartment off 8th and Jackson. I went to school at Jefferson Elementary, played Little League in Gary, used to go to the CYO, Boys Club, the Library downtown, got my haircut at Goldblats (spelling) dept store downtown, candy at Pinellas off 8th ave. However prior to moving out of Gary in 1969 we could not go out once it got dark or you would get shook down, harassed or even killed by street gangs, drug dealers and attics. I have such fond memories of Gary, swimming at Horace Mann HS in the late evenings. However we had to move out, everyone started moving out after Mayor Hatcher was elected in 68, I went thru downtown Gary in 97 and it was boarded up, my buddy said get us out of here and back on the freeway !!!! We were on our way to visit Norte Dame. I feel for all of the families that had to move out of their hometown due to horrendous crime and frequent rapes and murders. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18358800223065707615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-89055355843603395172018-05-26T08:34:11.013-07:002018-05-26T08:34:11.013-07:00You got part of it right the to you left you white...You got part of it right the to you left you white folks got mad when Gary had the first black mayor in the country y'all left im not being racistsStacey Harrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5398633296962611892.post-25018812847529925082018-04-04T10:44:11.018-07:002018-04-04T10:44:11.018-07:00Born in Gary, graduated from Horace Mann 1959. Wh...Born in Gary, graduated from Horace Mann 1959. What a school. Sports were great, some great football teams, great championship band. So sad to see these pictures. I was in the band and we traveled all over to parades, played half time at an NFL game, and won a lot of trophies and medals. It was a beautiful school in such different times.<br />Ed "Lynn" Cobler ; April 4, 2018Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com