Griffith Depot and Historical Park – Page 2

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 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/

May 29, 2025March 2, 2026 victoriavm Activities, Depot & Train Museums, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Monarch Waystation, Sundays at the Depot, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam, Volunteer

Get to know us!

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘁!
Come down to the Griffith Historical Park and visit the 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺𝘀!

Get to know us and learn a little bit about the history of the railroads and the town that came to the tracks.

• 1 – 3 pm
• 201 S Broad Street
• At the tracks, on the corner of Broad Street and Avenue A

May 3, 2025 victoriavm Activities, Barrel Train, Fundraiser, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Monarch Waystation, Sundays at the Depot, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam

No rain can keep us from having Butterfly Day!

𝗪𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘:
𝑩𝑼𝑻𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑭𝑳𝒀 𝑫𝑨𝒀 𝑰𝑺 𝑶𝑵!!

• The Barrel Train will NOT be running
• The Depot and Train Musems WILL be open
• Our flower & butterfly experts will be inside
• The rest of the fun will be inside!

𝑵𝒆𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒅, 𝒏𝒐𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒖𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑩𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒍𝒚 𝑫𝒂𝒚!

May 2, 2025 victoriavm Activities, Fundraiser, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Monarch Waystation, Sundays at the Depot, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam

Get your butterfly-friendly plants!

🦋𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻?
🌻𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀!!
👋Join us on Sunday to get your butterfly-friendly plants, and learn more about these amazing creatures!
🚂Griffith Depot & Train Museums – Corner of Broad St & Ave A, next to the tracks!
🙏Thanks Scheeringa Farms & Greenhouses for helping us choose plants butterflies love!

April 21, 2025 victoriavm Activities, Barrel Train, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Monarch Waystation, Sundays at the Depot, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam, Volunteer

Butterfly Day at the Depot!

Join us to celebrate National Start Seeing Monarchs Day!
Visit Griffith’s very own butterfly garden, aptly named the Griffith Junction Butterfly Stop.
It’s the first anniversary of the garden, conceived and planted by Griffith Tri Kappa member Jeanette Bobos, and supported by the organization.
May 4th is one day after National Start Seeing Monarchs Day, when America celebrates those beautiful, endangered orange and yellow creatures.

It will be a fun and interesting Sunday afternoon at the Griffith Historical Park, where:
The Depot & Train Museums, and the Tower will be open to tour
Our barrel train, the Hess Express, will be running
Jeanette Bobos, the retired Master Gardner who planted our garden, will be on on hand to share her knowledge. We’ll have info on Monarchs and how they’ve become endangered.
Kim Moor, from The Wild Ones, will be with us sharing information about adding native plants to your garden.
Want plants to help butterflies, especially Monarchs? Through the courtesy of Scheeringa Farms, we’ll have a small selection of milkweed plants; black-eyed Susans, Griffith Centennial’s flower in 2004; plus some Heirloom Plants, as well.
Girl Scout Troop 15620 will be selling cookies, lemonade, and butterfly clips.
The Cub Scout Pack 622 and Boy Scout Troop 623 will be on hand with hotdogs, chips and pop.

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.