Griffith History – Page 4 – Griffith History Museums

July 16, 2025June 29, 2026 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 this depot.”
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, 2025June 17, 2026 victoriavm Depot & Train Museums, EJ&E Interlocking Tower, Griffith Depot and Historical Park, Support the History Museums, Parks, & Rail-Cam

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, 2025June 17, 2026 victoriavm 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.