lbkulinski Depot & Train Museums, Griffith Historical Society, Griffith History, Town History Museum at the Franklin Center

Beautiful Memories

These Griffith Centennial Black-Eyed Susans flourished this summer in Board Member Karen Kulinskiโ€™s back yard.

This plant was the official flower of the townโ€™s Centennial in 2004. A couple of Susans were set out that year in the Kulinski back yard and have made themselves at home. It doesnโ€™t seem possible that celebration of Griffith and its history was almost 20 years ago.

The Griffith Historical Society continues to celebrate our town and its history every day. Stop down to Franklin Centerโ€™s lower level and view our newly reimagined displays, featuring The Story of Griffith from its damp beginnings, and our Wall of Honor celebrating Griffithโ€™s veterans.

The museum is open in September and October on the second and fourth Saturdays from 10 to 2, enter through door G. In November we go back to our normal first and third Saturday schedule.

lbkulinski Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Griffith Historical Society, Town History Museum at the Franklin Center

Some Updates

A NEW PAGE

We have a new page on our website featuring the rebuild of our C&O Inspection Car that had been left in pieces when a renovation project was abandoned several years ago by the person who began it.

Thankfully, two men who have a passion for these vintage work cars stepped up and are bringing our little car back to life. Look for information and photos here.

FRANKLIN CENTER MUSEUM CLOSED UNTIL SEPTEMBER
               
The Model Railroad group at Franklin Center has closed down for the summer. When they are not open, we do not have easy access to bathroom facilities, so we must close also. We will be open the 3rd Saturday in September, the 17th, from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.

As we did this past summer and through last winter, we will be again working on new displays during our downtime. In particular, we will be setting up displays in our new school and school sports room.

papakulinski Griffith Historical Society, Meetings

Annual Meeting And Dinner

The Griffith Historical Society’s Annual Meeting and Dinner will be held at the Griffith Senior Center, 349 N. Indiana St., on November 16th. The evening will begin with a turkey and ham dinner, complete with all the fixings at 6:30 pm.

The Annual Meeting will follow with an overview of the Historical Society’s 2021 activities, plans for the upcoming year, and the election of officers and board members for 2022.

For further details and to attend the dinner meeting, contact President Nancy Stout at [email protected]

lbkulinski Griffith Historical Society, Griffith History

Farewell, Dear Friend

Mother. Teacher. Wife. Bookstore owner. Grandmother. Genealogist. Great Grandmother. Historian. Friend.

Maxine Hess was all these things and more during her long life, but today we write about Maxine as Historian and Friend.

Maxine was a contributing member of the Griffith Historical Society for more than 30 years and served many terms on our Board of Directors. She worked with us in maintaining the Grand Trunk Depot Museum, creating and growing our Griffith Historical Park, and establishing our Griffith History Rooms at Franklin Center.

There wasnโ€™t an event or activity that Maxine didnโ€™t volunteer for, among them working the Historical Society booth at our annual Railroad Fair for 19 years; scheduling elves for our Santa in the Caboose every Christmas and working the event; helping set up our historical rooms at Franklin Center; and starting a veterans registry that we will continue in her name.

Maxineโ€™s legacy will live on with The Hess Express, the barrel train for children she was instrumental in our acquiring and which was named for her. The train not only is a source of income for our Society, but also provides fun times for so many children each year.

Over the years so many Griffith Historical Society members have become Life Members, like Maxine and her late husband, Jay, were. But more than that, our working together to preserve our townโ€™s history resulted in life-long friendships, as well.

So, today, we say goodbye to our friend, Maxine. She will not be forgotten.