Blog Posts – Page 2 – Griffith History Museums

July 24, 2025March 2, 2026 victoriavm Blog Posts, Depot & Train Museums, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Griffith History, Society Saga, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam, Tales of the Town, The Tower

WHAT IS AN INTERLOCKING TOWER, ANYWAY?

There is a truth beyond doubting that railroad companies really don’t like when two trains collide. Especially in bygone times when they were just getting started and money was tight.

So, wherever two sets of rail lines crossed each other, known as an interlocking, a small cabin on stilts was built to control train movement. It was up high to provide a clear view of the tracks. An employee would manually activate the grade crossing signals and gates before automatic detection was available or installed. (Check out the photos below!)

Griffith’s junction had five sets of rail lines interlocking at one place, hence the need for a larger brick building.

An interlocking tower was outfitted with machinery that linked the tower to sets of moveable tracks, called “switch tracks,” and a man that operated it. Through the use of levers linked to these tracks, the Operator, often called the Towerman, could control their position.

By carefully coordinating these switch tracks, the Operator was able to ensure an oncoming train was safely guided onto the right track to avoid a collision.

At one time, there were 5,000 railroad towers, in North America. Today, there are fewer than 50 towers still operating. Most of the rest have been torn down due to advancements in technology.

Our tower also faced demolition 25 years ago, but then Elgin Joliet & Eastern Railway general manager, Mel Turner, asked if we wanted the building. Of course, we said, “YES!”

We’ll continue to unfold more of this story here on our site, culminating in a Celebrate Our Tower Day, at the Griffith Historical Park, August 10th.

So, be sure to stay tuned, to use a well-known phrase of days gone by.

(And click the DONATE button now to help support upkeep of the Tower and rail-cam!!)

Left: Ames, IA Gate Tower, April 4, 1958 , which looks similar to a manually operated switch tower ; Web source: https://ameshistory.org/tribunearchives/railroad-crossing-watchmen
Right Top: Switch rails; Right bottom:
Griffith’s Interlocking Tower, July 6, 1974, Photo taken by John Strombeck
Web source: https://industrialscenery.blogspot.com/2017/09/griffith-in-ej-and-cngtw-junction-tower.html

July 21, 2025March 2, 2026 victoriavm Blog Posts, Depot & Train Museums, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Griffith History, History Notes, Society Saga, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam, Tales of the Town, The Tower

𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 – 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏

𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙎𝙖𝙜𝙖 – 𝙎𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧
𝘣𝘺 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘒𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘬𝘪

The tale of the Tower, and indeed a great deal of Griffith Historical Society’s history, reads like a storybook, hence the title.

Do you know what 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙮 is? Beyond an amazing Griffith ice cream parlor? I use the world a lot when talking about how we developed and grew.

Serendipity in the dictionary is described as: 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘆.

Serendipity in real life:

The chance meeting of four people who went on to spearhead the saving of the last Griffith’s depot from demolition. (See our first “Society Saga” in our spring newsletter or on our website for that story.)
The time the land we hoped to expand on, that was $20,000 when we first asked to purchase it, dropping to $8,000 when we absolutely, positively, 100% had to purchase it.
And we must mention how I was serendipitously connected to the General Superintendent of the Elgin Joliet & Eastern railroad when I called asking for key chains and paper engineer hat to give away to kids.

That man, Mel Turner, ended up giving us the Tower some five years later.

You know how you immediately click with someone? That was me and Mr T (though I never called him that to his face).

We talked for nearly an hour: about our getting the land and our future plans for it; about his railroad’s plans for tearing down our Tower, and could we have the equipment in the upper room, which was a yes.

From time to time, I would write him, filling him in on everything we were doing, and asking about the Tower. I found those old letters recently, and it was as though I was writing to a friend. I can only help wondering what he thought of my rambles.
In mid-December, 1999, Mr. Turner came out to the Park during our Santa event, with his beloved dog, Buddy. Our Tower, he told us, was being closed down at the end of the year. And, he said, he was giving us the Tower!

The whole building!! And $30,000, to help with the move!!!

And we had until July 30th to get the Tower off their land.

Tale to be continued…

Mr. Turner and Santa in the Caboose

July 16, 2025July 17, 2025 victoriavm Depot & Train Museums, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, History Notes, Society Saga, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam

Our Society Saga … #1

In this space, we’re going to share with your the story of how the Griffith Historical Society came to be.
But first, we’ll share the meaning of the word ‘saga.’ It’s an old word that historical society people like to throw around. It just means ‘a long story.
Since we’ve been around for going on 42 years, you know the word fits. Now, onto the story of us.
Take one town elder, Ray Anderson, walking his dog, Herman. Add in three young women – Kathy Anderson (no relation,) Marthann Hanrath, and Donna Gonzalez – walking for exercise.
You see, Ray mentioned to the ladies that the last railroad depot in town was scheduled for demolition. “They’re demolishing our heritage,” Ray told the ladies.
Later that day, Ray told his son, Howard, the same tale. Then Howard contacted Marthann and said, “Let’s save our heritage.”
Now sagas, because they are long, are often made up of a whole lot of smaller stories. And what happened next, and beyond, with Ray and Howard and the ladies, we will tell you in upcoming newsletters and posts.
But first we want you to meet Herman the Dog. Herman never left Ray’s side. Like when he was walking and encountered the ladies. Even when Ray attended Griffith Lions Club meetings. Because of his devotion to his master, Herman was made an honorary Lion.
He is the first canine to be so honored. Herman’s certificate of membership is shown here.

July 8, 2025March 2, 2026 victoriavm Blog Posts, Depot & Train Museums, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam, The Tower

Look familiar? The Tower made the Times!

We all like to see ourselves in the paper! We were excited to see something familiar in Monday’s edition of the Times of Northwest Indiana!

We’re celebrating this 101-year-old Tower this summer!

Plus a Sunday Celebrating the Tower in August! Date TBA

If you’re a subscriber, check out the Times article here: https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/article_c2cfc388-2eaf-4f80-a165-95dca1ddde51.html

July 7, 2025March 2, 2026 victoriavm Blog Posts, Griffith History, Tales of the Town

A Tale of the Town

Join us as we go back in time to tell the stories of Griffith, from before our town was even though of and onward. We’ll begin in the early 1800’s, when the area we live now was completely waterlogged and the beaver was the most prominent citizen around.

Our town is located on low ground, between two high strips of land — now called Ridge Road and Route 30. For the longest time, these lowlands in the middle were mostly a huge wetlands, fed by the Grand Calumet and Little Calumet river systems.

It was known as Cady Marsh, after a man named Jack Cady who ran an inn along the high ground that would become Ridge Road.

The area was also considered uninhabitable, and was not part of Indiana when it became a state in 1816. Yet, all that water was good for growing all kinds of plants and trees. So, it wasn’t surprising that a lot of beavers made their home there, too.

One group of people knew that the marshland was habitable when the water dried up in the summer heat — Native Americans from the Potawatomi nation who lived in small villages southeast of here.

In that dryness of late summer and early fall, they camped here as their people had done for generations. Gathering edible plants, and grasses to weave baskets used for storage and to hold foods.

Hunting beaver was a prime activity during those waning days of summer. Potawatomi tribesmen then took those beaver furs to sell at Bailly’s Trading Post, some 20 miles away. They got in return, European-made goods like guns, metal tools, cloth and beads.

Speaking of Europe, that’s where these Indiana beaver furs were sent, to make top hats for rich European gentlemen.
Bet you didn’t know our area was once part of the massive North American Fur Trade!

By the mid-1800’s, most of Indiana’s Native American tribes had been moved out of — the Land of the Indians — by use of treaties. The Potawatomi Tribe was the last to go.

Time was coming to an end for the Cady Marsh, too. But that is another story.

July 1, 2025March 2, 2026 victoriavm Depot & Train Museums, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Griffith History, History Notes, Society Saga, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam, Tales of the Town, The Tower, Volunteer

25th Anniversary of the Tower

𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝟮𝟱 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗝&𝗘 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

The building is now on the National Register of Historic Places and the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures.

We made this video in 2003 as an entry for a prize from the show “The View” but it’s a great summary of what we’re about and why we do what we do!

More about the Tower: https://ghsinc.org/the-tower/

April 26, 2025March 2, 2026 victoriavm Blog Posts, Griffith High School, Griffith History, History Notes

Ruth Hutchins Inducted into Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame

🏆 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀!
🏀 Today, our very own 𝟭𝟵𝟮𝟴 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿, 𝗥𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘀, is being inducted into the 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗲!

From the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame 23rd Women’s Induction Class Program:

𝗥𝗨𝗧𝗛 (𝗛𝗨𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗦) 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞𝗘𝗥, 𝗚𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟭𝟵𝟮𝟴
The late Ruth (Hutchins) Parker, a 1928 graduate of Griffith, was a prolific scorer in her era, setting a record of 120 points in an 126-4 victory over Merrilville on Feb. 4, 1928. That was after she scored 106 points on a 53-of-64 shooting in a 115-10 win over Ross on Jan. 28, 1928. As a senior, the Purple Pantherettes of coach C.L. Wilson went 17-0 and outscored opponents by an average of 30.2 points, 41.9 to 11.7. These numbers were amassed when six-player rules were used for girls’ basketball – three forwards and three guards on each side of center line, no crossing the center line, two-dribbles maximum and a player had three seconds to pass or shoot the ball. After high school, Hutchins played basketball in an independent league, once scored 159 points in a game and later worked in the railroad industry. She married Ralph Parker, and they were parents to three children. The one-time scoring star passed away at 46 on March 29, 1956.

December 27, 2024 victoriavm Blog Posts, Community Callout, Franklin Center Museum, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Meetings, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam, Volunteer

Special General Membership Meeting

Please join us for a Special General Membership Meeting.
Wednesday, January 8th at 5:30 pm
•Franklin Center – Community Room
•Enter Door A

As we plan for and move strategically into 2025, the Board of Directors is recommending changes in how we operate and represent the Griffith Historical Society Museums, not only in Griffith, but across the nation within a fraternity of hundreds of other Historical Museums.

To do this, we are proposing changes in our Bylaws regarding membership.

Please join us at this Special Membership Meeting to hear about the changes and vote on them, to secure the future of the Griffith Historical Society.

December 25, 2024December 27, 2024 victoriavm Blog Posts, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam

Happy Holidays!

Happiest of Holidays to everyone!

December 17, 2024December 17, 2024 victoriavm Activities, Blog Posts, Fundraiser, Santa in the Caboose, Sundays at the Depot, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam

Santa in the Caboose THANK YOU!

✨THANK YOU THANK YOU!
🎅This year’s Santa in the Caboose was a huge success thanks to every visitor and so many volunteers!
🚂This event is fun for everyone and has a huge impact in funding the upkeep of the Depot and Train Park!

🎄Thanks to our old friends who come every year, and to the new friends who found us this year.
🍪Thanks to the Scouts and Leaders of Griffith Girl Scout Troop 15620 for baking cookies for us to sell at our bake sale and for being part of the fun with their holiday hair club and headbands.
🌭Thanks to Griffith Cub Scout Pack 622 for again selling hot dogs and hot chocolate up at the Park during the event.
🥧Thank you TriKappa for donating baked goods!
🏫Thanks to the Griffith Public Schools for helping get the word out about Santa in the Caboose.
🌳Thanks to the Park Department for sharing the info at Central Park.
🏢Thanks to all the businesses that let us put flyers in their windows.
👋Hopefully we didn’t forget anyone!!
🙋‍♀️And a huge thanks all the Griffith Historical Society members who decorated the Depot and railcars, worked to promote the event, made goodies to sell, and made the event run smoothly!!
✨A special shoutout to volunteers/members Karen, Nancy, Martha Belinda, John, Laura, Valerie, Debbie, Jim and Beth for making this weekend a success!

🎅🤶And, of course, a big thanks to Santa and Mrs. Claus!

We had a wonderful time and we’ll see you next year!!