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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Dave Harding

East Glen park..what was the name of the small grocery store at 35th ave and Delaware street back in the 60s

20th October 2023 6:54am

Benjamin Clingaman (US)

Is there a way to explore city church Gary Indiana I would like updated contact information

23rd October 2022 4:21am

Dan Hand (US)

I just signed up recently for a complete membership at MyHeritage.com, which gives me access to billions of on-line documents for researching people for family trees, etc. Among the resources available to me there are some old Polk City Directories of Gary. Unfortunately, the 1964-1965 edition is not available, it seems, but I have found the 1960 edition, which basically has information that was collected as current in 1959, to be a goldmine of information about people and places from my early childhood (b. 1956). For instance, it has listings of every homeowner on a given street, along with their employment and phone numbers, at the time. Through the directory, I have a listing, for instance, of all of the stores then located at Tri-City Plaza, two blocks east of our family home in Brunswick-- which, as I recall, some of us were trying to recollect from memory, in earlier comments here. Feel welcome to put in research requests of your own!

10th March 2022 3:46am

Dolores Ann Zavala (US)

I lived in the Brunswick community from like 1961 to 68, I cannot for the life of me remember my street, only my best friend next door Irma Torres

I remember walking to the Dairy Queen to buy dilly bars, Rode bikes all over the place, it was safe and beautiful, loved going Downtown Gary especially at Christmas time, I remember waking up and looking out my bedroom window to my mother hanging clothes out on the clothes line, my mother loved bingo, we always walked to bingos, loved going to miller beach, such great memories, than the neighbor hood started to be unsafe, break ins and such and we moved. Had the best childhood ever though living in Gary ❤

29th October 2021 9:43am

Dee

What a fantastic collection of memories! I know it's probably been asked before given that the Jackson brothers originated from Gary, but I'd love to hear more from anyone who remembers the brothers from back in the day. You can contact me here: https://www.michaeljacksonslegacy.org/contact-us/

27th June 2021 3:19pm

Beth T.

My Grandfather, George Yonko, owned The Chuckwagon during his days in Gary. I didn't come along until well after he'd left the area, but I grew up hearing stories about the place. I've enjoyed reading everyone's memories in your comments.

18th March 2021 12:29am

Dan Hand (US)

Are you referring, Beth, to the Chuck Wagon Diner, in Gary? If so, I found a story, online:

***

Dye, the original owner of the Chuck Wagon, says the sign was a copy of one in Gary, Ind.

"We found a small dining car in Whiting, Ind., and put it on the square in Valparaiso. We did pretty well and ended up putting another one on campus (Valparaiso University). We ran them for eight or nine years," Dye says.

A turning point came when Dye and his wife decided to visit a diner in Gary also called the Chuck Wagon. It was the first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in Indiana.

"We went in and tried the fried chicken and it was absolutely delicious. I looked at my wife and said, 'We have to make a move.' We sold our house, the diners and went looking for a new location," Dye says.

The couple ended up in Champaign. . . .

***

23rd May 2021 5:40am

Margret Brown

This is my story of Grace. It took me so many thoughts to post this because I know I would be judged by those who know nothing about infertility. But after realizing that people are out there facing the same issues so I decided to publish my testimony without caring about me being judged or not. I am 38 year old, I got married to my husband at the age of 24 years. Unfortunately I was diagnosed with PCOS during my marriage. Due to being diagnosed as pre-diabetic I was given metformin. I was now coming in normal range and ovulating on my own. After putting a bit of pressure on, I was given clomid from May, 3 years ago. I got to my 4th round of clomid awaiting AF to start the 5th round. I had an appointment with a specialist and asked to start IVF if I don’t get pregnant till March last year. I did as i was told but still, there was no difference. This is my story of ups and downs on the road of infertility so far. Along with all these body issues which makes me come under the ‘infertile’

19th December 2020 5:04pm

Julius Titak (US)

Anyone have any pictures of Titak's Ron-D-Voo? My dad, and his brothers owned the business. It's a shame we don't have any pictures.

13th October 2020 10:49pm

Patricia Ross (US)

I live at 501 Madison St and would like to see the beutification of that area like it was in the begginng

15th July 2019 1:10pm

Elizabeth Gray Hansen

I am hoping to see pictures of the Sinclair Station, next to Miller Drugs. My Father ran the gas station, and would live to see pictures if anyone might have them.

1st October 2018 5:58pm

Diana

Try the Facebook group called Northwest Indiana Memories. Most people are posting there now.

1st January 2019 7:58pm

Kay

I lived in Gary for 33 years, worked at U.S. Steel Corp., laid off in 1983. I left Gary in 1984 and moved to Texas where I've been since. I still remember the good and the bad times in Gary and cry when remembering how the city used to be when we lived there. We walked to school because it was safe, went downtown to shop, and the parks to swim (Buffington). It was bad when I left and looking at these pictures breaks my heart. We lived on both the West and East sides of Gary and they were very well kept neighborhoods.

21st June 2018 5:41pm

Rick

Rose those are wonderful memories, what year was that?

1st March 2018 4:05am

Rose Ann (US)

I remember the trolley ride on 45th ave to Broadway, then bus ride to downtown post office with my dad, I use to echo my voice loudly in there, I was small that place was huge to me as a small child. I also remember very well the Goldblates building. School time, and Christmas time we would go. Yes indeed there was underground floors 2 to be exact, with a narrow walk way between the 2 floors as poured concrete made a slope hill to go from one floor to the next. It was a tight squeeze, but that is wear they kept the under garments and school clothes for the children. My parents never knew our sizes so we were brought to make sure we fitted the clothes we got, we were a family of 8 and always tight on money. So we got 3 pairs each. It was so stifling hot and the air was that of a coal mine, it was mid summer I remember well of this.The sales were down below my dad would say. We never visited the the upper floors, but I would play on the moving stairs, they had furniture upper floors.

25th February 2018 12:53pm

Wayne

I grew up on the west side, Gary Heights-Brunswick. Spend all my time on Facebook now at Northwest Indiana memories, as others here have done. We have OVER 10,000 members!

11th January 2018 2:33am

Omar

There is a reunion of Sacred Heart people at gelsosomo bar and grill in Schererville 1013 W. Lincoln this is for Sacred Heart school Joe Guzik is getting it together September 28 1pm

27th September 2017 5:16pm

Rick

What?

1st September 2017 2:00am

cudahy

Please seperate the majority of the convicted felon into the western Hemosphere of Indiana all of the educated at the the city hall have to make a commence to the state board of education and give taxes to the department of agriculture the human society has to evaluate the water reservation . The biggest problem is contaminated water. The food resourses vegetibles and fruit have to be evaluted for poison control. The city employees who work for the chamber of commerce have to check the electrical wirering.The results have to be taken to the supreme court for civil stipulation......

24th August 2017 6:27pm

Rick

I'm back in Gary this week visiting family and it is great to be home. I'm surprised to see that the city has stabilized and hasn't deteriorated any more since last year. There are actually Eastern European families moving into Glen Park because they can't afford to live in Chicago. One family from Poland bought a home on 45th Ave for $5000.00 and they fixed it up completely. Nice to see.

12th July 2017 12:01am

Dolores Ann Zavala

Hi Jesse F. Was that Dixie Dairy in the Brunswick Community?

5th July 2017 1:36am

Rick

Did anyone out there go to Ivanhoe Elementary School? I went there from 67 to 73.

Rick

10th April 2017 3:34am

Dan Hand

I lived at 545 Hovey until September 1967, shortly before my 11th birthday. I played for Luds Motor Sales in 1966, wearing number 10. Just as I cannot recall my 3rd-grade teacher (1964-1965) at Holy Rosary School, for some inexplicable reason, I likewise cannot recall who my coach was when I was on Luds Motor Sales, that summer, just over half a century ago!?! Not just the man's name, I mean; I cannot remember what he looked like, nor what he sounded like, nor how he treated us kids. Memory is a very strange phenomenon! My best friend during my last two years in Brunswick was Rudolph Perez, who lived somewhere in the middle of 7th and Hovey, on the even-number (western) side of the street. His younger brother, Joey, was on my Red Devils team, in 1965, during my first year in Little League. Another of Rudy and my classmates lived somewhere across the street from Rudy-- I think closer to 8th Avenue (such as it was!). His name was Victor, but I cannot recall his last name!?! (He also was a Mexican-American.) If you are older than I, you might have known one or more of my seven brothers and sisters who were older than I; if younger, I also had a sister two years younger. Most of us went to Holy Rosary School, until we moved, and all of us to Holy Rosary Church, where all four of us Hand boys were altar boys for varying lengths of time.

15th February 2017 9:45am

vincent j mace

Any-body remember St Casimir school & church ? How about Dixie Dairy ? Eagle bakery ? Grant & 15th ave. A mother & daughter..[Rose Terry]who ran the first dairy queen shop out of the front of their house on 15th ave ?
Still able to remember all the good times..parades..school functions and picnics. Worked as an usher at the Palace theatre..delivery helper at the Palace of flowers..Gary Hobart Water Co..as a meter reader then pipe construction..on to water plant operator. Didn't want to go to Froebel HS..so commuted to Noll Central[now Bishop Noll] riding the South Shore or bus or hitch-hiking. Rode my bike to Hobart weekings to my "River-Rats" cousins for skating ,hunting, roaming,fishing etc, on weekends. The street car tracked to Garyton from 11th & broadway,then a long walk to rt 6.
Some of the sites were along Grand River.."New Chicago" "Deep River". Gamble Airfield along the cemetery.
Anyway..am open to any questions or to help revive some of these old memories..just e-mail or post. Was surprised to find this site. Vinent M [ an old Lithuanian]

18th January 2017 6:27pm

Jesse F

Hey Paul, good to hear from you, its been a long time. Hope all is well with you. I believe my sister has a team picture we took with the minor league field scoreboard in the background. I'm in East Chicago this weekend, I'll see if she can find it and I'll have her post it on Facebook for your viewing pleasure. Hope to chat with you again. Take Care and Happy New Year.

6th January 2017 1:52pm

Paul Hill

Jesse, I definitely remember you and your great Dad. We had a good team and your Dad was the best coach. I remember he took us all to the Flamingo for pizza at the end of the year. I also remember that you lived on Hovey street next to a vacant lot near 8th Avenue. Sure was a lot of fun.

28th December 2016 2:37pm

Jesse F

Paul, not sure if you remember me, but I believe we played on the same Brunswick Little League Team. Does Lud's Motor Sales ring a bell. My Dad was the Manager. I lived on 7th and Hovey.

12th December 2016 2:30am

Jay W (US)

Jesse F...and Paul H. I think I posted the Lud's Team photo on FB. My Dad was assistant Coach and the flamingo trip was memorable. I was the catcher.

14th October 2018 6:44pm

Rick

Paul, this web site goes through dry spells and then it just picks up again and goes strong for another year. Don't give up all together, check back from time to time.

Rick

8th December 2016 3:23am

Paul Hill

Seems we've lost a lot of steam here. Guess I will join the crowd on Facebook at Northwest Indiana Memories. Thanks for all the great memories. Brunswick was absolutely the greatest place ever to grow up.

24th November 2016 3:03pm

Robert Combs

Hi Prof.
Seems as though most comments are from the west side, Brunswick, etc. I sure was looking for an old eastsider.

3rd November 2016 1:26am

jassi j

I finally got around to this forum that Dave J. sent me a few months ago. I've read the past six months and I am amazed how well you all remember. It seems I was asleep all those years in Brunswick, Tri-City Plaza, Holy Rosary, delivering the Gary Post Tribune, riding our bicycles.... Lucky for me, I had a partner to grow up with my twin brother, Tommy Cisar.

28th October 2016 2:48am

Rick

Robert I'm not from the East side but it looks as if where the only two here.

Prof Vargas

27th October 2016 2:52am

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