A hidden Time Capsule of history had been uncovered. Inside the box was a piece of folded tar infused construction paper with items wrapped carefully inside. The contents were a small silk 48 Star American Flag, which was carefully wrapped around several paper documents including a
Memorandum, speech, Deed, and newspaper articles for the day, all placed behind the last stone that was laid in the lodge’s foundation.
It was an unexpected find by a contractor with Berglund Construction, within Indiana Dunes National Park’s historic Good Fellow Lodge. On the afternoon of September 23, 2024, as rehabilitation work funded through the Great American Outdoors Act was underway, a heavily oxidized and sealed copper box was discovered in foundation of the lodge,
The Memorandum from the Illinois Steel Company Welfare Association of Gary, Indiana reads in part: On this day, January 18, 1941, at 2:30 P.M., Mr. E. Earl Moore, Vice President in charge of Industrial Relations, Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., laid in place the last stone
forming the foundation wall of the Administration Building at the Gary Works Good Fellow Club Youth Camp and in so doing sealed in the wall the container in which this document and other mementos of the occasion are found.
In the year of our Lord 1940 under the inspiration and guidance of Mr. Moore the Illinois Steel Company Welfare Association, with the sponsorship of the Gary Works Good Fellow Club, acquired the property and initiated the construction of this Youth Camp for the purpose of promoting the health, welfare and happiness of the children of the employees of Carnegie-Illinois Steel Company’s Gary Works and of such other children in the community as may be accommodated from time to time by the camp facilities. The building in the wall of which this memorandum is found, is the first permanent building to be erected for the camp.
Carnegie Steel Company was sold in 1901 to U.S. Steel, a newly formed organization set up by J. P. Morgan. The name of the subsidiary company was changed to the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Company in 1936.
Indiana Dunes National Park plans to put the items on display in the near future. For more information on Indiana Dunes National Park, call 219-395-1882, visit their website, download the official National Park Service app, or view their Facebook page.
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Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
