Glass House and a Stone Bench
I've been wandering a lot lately and not that I mind. I love exploring and sharing Best-of-Show assets, as well as more understated assets. Two weeks ago a friend of mine and I went driving the 1913 Route of the Lincoln Highway from the Ohio State line to LaPorte. It left me wanting to travel the remaining portion through Indiana in Porter and Lake Counties.
I had a special reason to make a trip to Lake Michigan last Sunday to tour The House of Tomorrow - a glass house. Years ago, Beth and I visited the Century Of Progress Homes in Beverly Shores, Indiana. We returned a few years later and I have revisited in the last few years as well on my own. But I have never been inside one of the homes and the glass house has allure of its own. Arrived at the Beverly Shores Depot for the South Shore interurban. More people gathered and then we rode a shuttle from the parking lot to the Century of Progress Home Tour.
The back story. At the close of the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago, a real estate developer purchased five homes that were featured in the Home and Industrial Arts venue and had them moved to Beverly Shores anchoring a new development on the lakeshore. This was in the heart of the depression and he sold the home as private residences. "With the creation of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in 1966, the National Park Service began acquiring land and buildings. Over the ensuing decades, NPS purchased all the homes under a program that allowed the residents continued occupancy for up to 25 years." Without sufficient government funding, "... neglect was claiming the structures until Indiana Landmarks listed the Century of Progress District on its 10 Most Endangered List from 1993-1997. The preservation nonprofit engaged the NPS concerning a partnership to save and restore the district."
Beverly Shores Depot, Florida House from inside the Glass House, Vista of Century Of Progress Homes
Over the last 20 years, Indiana Landmarks has leased all of the houses from the National Park Service. "For four of the houses, it(we) found the right sublessees, preservation-minded private individuals and families who restored them using their own funds, according to approved plans..." Lease holders are required to open the houses annually for a tour. Four of the restored homes have been returned to their exterior appearance in 1934" and today's tour gave visitors a chance to see the interior of the glass house, the House of Tomorrow. The superstructure is finished but still needs lot of work to get it ready for occupancy.
Top L-R -- Florida Tropical House, Weiboldt-Rostone House
Bottom L-R -- Cypress Log House, Armco-Ferro House
We were able to walk around and through all three floors of the structure and learn about the engineering challenges to restore the house to modern standards. Visited with the contractors who worked on the reconstruction and the company that designed and built the windows. I was able to take pictures of the outside, but not the interior. However, I was able to take pictures from the glass house of the Florida home across the street. There was a brunch with opportunities to converse with other visitors and learn stories from Indiana Landmarks staff members who shepherded this monumental effort. It was also an opportunity to financially support this important organization that has its fingerprints all over the state of Indiana.
At the event's conclusion, took the shuttle back to the Depot. The station is located on the South Shore Interurban line from South Bend to Chicago, the only remaining interurban remaining in the US. Traveled on US 12 abutting the Indiana Dunes State Park and the Indiana Dunes National Park. At Porter, at the county line, turned south on State Road 49 through Chesterton to Valparaiso.
Drove through Valpo on the Lincoln Highway/Lincoln Way (Main Street) through downtown and passed historic and restored storefronts in this thriving city. Continued west until arriving at the county line with Lake County. The historic route turned me onto US 30 briefly and then I was now in Merrillville. Quickly exited US 30 onto Lincoln Highway again which eventually turned into 73rd Ave. If you like to wander, this two -lane highway was better than the thoroughfare that replaced it,
Passed by Wood’s Historic Grist Mill in Deep River County Park. Hard to see much beyond the foliage of the trees, but I have a great picture in my catalogue.
It was interesting to see some points of interest along the historic route and a sprinkling of older farmsteads along the route. Merrillville is a bustling commercial center so it was interesting to see its original downtown. Continued on the same road into Griffith and Schererville, then merged back onto US 30.
On Lincoln Highway, I crossed over US 41 and then turned onto a side street and parked in a restaurant parking lot. Walked to the location of a historic marker -- The Ideal Section -- on the major thoroughfare.
The next stop was about a mile ahead in the Town of Dyer. Parked at a medical office building and walked two blocks along US 30 eastbound to get to the memorial markers. This was originally a memorial for the Secretary of the Lincoln Highway Association. It has has been restored and modified. There were excellent interpretive panels, stone memorials, and one of the Lincoln Highway markers.
Stone Bench Memorial Bench
One of three interpretive panels, All the elements of the memorial, Lincoln Highway "L" Marker
I was within one mile of the Illinois state line, but returned to US 41 and then went south. The entire area is developed so it is hard to distinguish when you leave one community to the next. I had planned to travel US 41 all the way south toward Fowler and then on US 52 to Lafayette. However, when I arrived at St. John I spotted the highway sign for US 231 which starts here and travels the entire length of Indiana before continuing to Panama City, Florida. I've traveled this highway before, but not with the awareness of roads that I have now. I chose this alternative route instead.
Lake County Historic Courthouse, Crown Point Jasper County Courthouse, Rensselaer
Drove into Crown Point and circled the historic Lake County Courthouse before stopping for a picture. Continued southeast and under I-65, through Leroy, then to Hebron. US231 turned south toward Demotte and then I paused in Rensselaer for a picture of the Jasper County Courthouse. Also, stopped in town to meet a fellow Indiana FFA State Officer. Hopped on I-65 to Lafayette then cut cross-country toward Frankfort to the home farm. The next day I was running the grain cart between the combine and the semi-trucks bringing in the harvest.
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