Indiana Historical Markers in La Porte County

Indiana Historical Markers
in
La Porte County
Historical markers play an important role in preserving our heritage.
They reflect pieces of history that might otherwise be lost.

View facing West
View facing East The Rumely Companies
Location: northwest corner of Lincolnway and Madison Streets, La Porte

Dedicated: March 15, 2003

View facing West
THE RUMELY COMPANIES
Meinrad Rumely (1823-1904), a German immigrant, founded a blacksmith shop here in 1853, which grew into a dominant company through reorganizations and acquisitions,
Rumely companies in La Porte benefited from available rail transportation plus German and later Polish immigrant laborers. Products included a wide variety of agricultural
machines.

View facing East
THE RUMELY COMPANIES
Rumely's prizewinnng thresher later became one of the earliest powered by steam. Thousands of OilPull tractors sold worldwide 1910-1930. Rumely companies were
at the forefront of mechanization of American and world agriculture and had significant impact on La Porte. Allis-Chalmers acquired the firm 1931 and closed La Porte plant 1983.

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Front View Back View La Porte's Carnegie Library
Location: southwest corner of Indiana and Maple Avenues, La Porte

Dedicated: June 5, 2002

Front View
La Porte's first public library was established 1896. La Porte City School Board was awarded $27,500 Carnegie grant 1916; by 1919 local support had been secured to meet grant requirements. Architect Wilson B. Parker designed the Neo-Classical style structure. Library opened in 1920 with 30,000 volumes.

Back View
Renovation and expansion designed by architect William Koster; building dedicated 1991. Original 1920 section retained. Library has played a major role in community's development. One of the 1,679 libraries built in the U.S. with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Indiana built more Carnegie libraries than any other state.

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Front View Back View La Porte County Circuit Court House
Location: Michigan Avenue/Lincolnway corner of the Court House lawn, La Porte

Dedicated: May 24, 2001

Front View
County formed by Indiana General Assembly and La Porte selected county seat 1832. Three courthouses built on this site: first 1833, second 1847-1848. Present courthouse constructed 1892-1894 of Lake Superior Red Sandstone; designed by Brentwood S. Tolan of Fort Wayne in Richardsonian Romasesque Style. Incorporates cornerstone from 1848 courthouse.

Back View
Features include open-arched central tower, stained glass window transoms, wood paneling, and gilded friezes. Goddess of Justice stained glass graces courtroom. Tower has 272 piece glass skylight; gargoyles decorate exterior. Included in Downtown La Porte Historic District, listed in National Register of Historic Places 1983.

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Front View Back View facing Indiana Territory Boundary Line
Location: Lawn of Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant
Pine Lake Ave., La Porte

Dedicated: April 29, 1999

Front View
Northwest Territory formed 1787:
Indiana Territory formed 1800.
Admission of Ohio 1803 and formation of Michigan Territory 1805 established Indiana Territory's northern boundary at southern tip of Lake Michigan.
When Indiana became a state in 1816, Congress moved
boundary ten miles north giving Indiana part of Lake Michigan.

Back View
Northern boundary of Indiana Territory established at southern tip of Lake Michigan when Michigan Territory formed in 1805.

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Camp Anderson
Location: East Michigan Blvd. and Carroll Ave.
Michigan City
Dedicated: November 16, 1996
One of three Civil War training camps in La Porte County.
Site is one fourth mile west.
Named for Colonel Edward Anderson.
Used 1863-1864 to train Indiana Union volunteers of the 127th, 128th, and 129th regiments.

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Chicago-New York
Electric Air Line Railroad
Location: County Road 250 South and State Road 39
La Porte
Dedicated: September 23, 1995
Proposed in 1905 as a 742 mile, straight line, high speed route, without crossings; estimated ten hours travel time at a cost of ten dollars.
Just under twenty miles, between LaPorte and Chesterton, were constructed, 1906-1911.

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Civil War Camps
Location: State Highway 2 West and Colfax Ave.
La Porte
Dedicated: September 21, 1963
Two Civil War training camps: Colfax and Jackson, were located near La Porte.
The 9th and 29th Indiana Volunteer Infantry regiments were organized and trained here.

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Old Lighthouse
Location: Lawn of Lighthouse Museum
Michigan City
Originally dedicated: 1966
Replaced: Memorial Day, 1983
Original inscription: Built on the water's edge, 1858 by the United States Government. One of the first lights on the Great Lakes. Harriet E. Colfax was the tender from 1853 to 1904. Remodeled 1904, electrified 1933, discontinued 1960. (The 1853 date was in error as well as the date of discontinuance)

Revised inscription: This lighthouse built in 1858 replaced 1837 lighthouse built at water's edge. Remodeled in 1904. Light placed at end of pier. Seven keepers and fourteen assistant keepers served here 1837-1940.

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Indiana Historical Markers Searchable Database

Information about Indiana markers can be searched by county, and/or by words in the marker inscription, title, and marker locations fields.

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