A little catch up on our summer activities:
On Wednesday, June 5th, Griffith Historical Society Board Members Martha Gatlin, Karen Kulinski, Belinda Stark, and Ken Karlstedt, Sr. attended Cedar Lake Historical Association’s Afternoon at the Lake. They were there with other volunteers and professionals from Calumet area historical organizations to participate in a “Preserving History Networking Seminar” .
Thank you to everyone for sharing your knowledge and insight with us!
Thanks again, to photographer Max Crosby, for filling our Depot Museum and Historical Park with his incredible photos of magic moments on the rails. We loved your dynamic images and the amazing turnout you brought with you.
Thank you to Griffith Daisy Troop 15620, Cub Scout Pack 622, and Boy Scout Troop 623 for providing refreshments!
It was a wonderful weekend!
Check out more of Max’s work:
https://youtube.com/@peremarquette1223?si=3VYUDQFa2D7fRJnt
An Appeal to Griffith Historical Society, Inc. Members,
Every now and then an opportunity arises where we can contribute to the education of young students in Griffith. We have that moment this coming September.
All Griffith third-grade students since 2022 participate in a week-long Historical Society activity entitled, The ElmerJ Program, which provides historical information about our town as part of the school’s Social Studies curriculum.
The students see/hear an in-class PowerPoint presentation about the founding of Griffith, complete with photos and maps. This is followed by a school bus trip to our Historical Park, where each class receives a guided tour of our Depot, railcars and Tower.
While the presentation and tours are done at no cost by Historical Society members, there is a fee for the bus and for the two paperback books pertaining to Griffith history that are part of the program.
Last year, 8 classes — 161 third graders — participated, and the school anticipates a similar number this year. The cost last year for the book and the bus came to $7, but these costs may rise some this year.
To make sure that no student misses out on learning about their town, we are trying to fund the cost for all students through extra donations from our Members.
If you’d like to help, please, can you send a donation to:
Griffith Historical Society, Inc.
201 N. Griffith Blvd. #3
Griffith, IN. 46319
Or through our online donation link (click here).
Thank you,
Martha Gatlin, Director
Read about last year’s field trip here.
Come down to the Griffith Historical Park to view a special photography display, “Moving Freight Along the Great Lakes”, from 1 to 4 p.m., on June 15th and 16th.
The work showcases the railroads of the Great Lakes Region in action, moving freight forward to destinations all over the country.
Max Crosby, the photographer, has loved trains for longer than he can remember, and is passionate about capturing magic moments on the rails. He is talented, knowledgeable and has a wonderful eye for new and fresh compositions.
The photographs, a sample shown below, will be displayed colorfully and dynamically, along with descriptions throughout our iconic sleeper car. Guests can linger, experiencing trains, history, and pondering what it REALLY takes to move freight among the Great Lakes.
Our Grand Trunk Western Depot will be open, as well as our Road Caboose and Tower (which is celebrating its 100th birthday!)
Griffith Daisy Troop 15620 will have cookies and lemonade for sale on Saturday.
On both weekend days, Cub Scout Pack 622 and Boy Scout Troop 623, will be on hand selling hot dogs and chips, and pop on Sunday. Picnic tables will be available.
Griffith History Museums 