Judith Tometczak - Haunted Crown Point, Indiana

Published by Haunted America

A Division of The History Press

Charleston, SC

www.historypress.net

Copyright 2017 by Judith Tometczak

All rights reserved

Uncredited images are in the public domain.

First published 2017

e-book edition 2017

ISBN 978.1.43966.267.0

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017940926

print edition ISBN 978.1.46713.691.4

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

For my grandson, Tyler Joshua Michael Crandall,
who loves for me to tell him scary stories.

They say that shadows of deceased ghosts Do haunt the houses and the graves about. Of such whose lifes lamp when untimely out, Delighting still in their forsaken hosts.

Joshua Sylvester

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

With the composition of my first book, Ive come to realize just how much is dedication and how much is inspiration. I was given the opportunity to merge two of my passions in life, history and the supernatural, and present them in such a way to both intrigue and terrify the reader.

I was sincerely delighted to find out how much the citizens of Crown Point love their city and are eager to share their memories, experiences and secrets. Having undertaken this project has caused me to reflect on how many wonderful people have touched my life to make it possible, for without them, these pages would be blank.

My grandmother Mary Kasprzycki told me my first ghost story when I was about five years old. We used to walk along a stretch of property in Hegewisch, Illinois, that was never developed. All that was left of the project was broken and uneven concrete sidewalks. It was our favorite place, where she shared tales of local legends and restless spirits. I looked forward every Sunday to our special time together at the place she called crooked sidewalk.

I am tremendously grateful for the constant encouragement and guidance of my two daughters, Pamela and Lisa.

Beginning with my favorite landmark in town, I found myself in the office of Martha Wheeler, president of the Lake Court House Foundation, on a cold afternoon in November. I received not only motivation from her but also an enormous amount of information about the Grand Old Lady. Her exuberance and affection for Crown Point, as well as the historic Crown Point Courthouse, truly make her a regal matriarch.

The Indiana Room at the Crown Point Library was my second home for almost a year while I rifled through pamphlets, searched hundreds of newspaper archives and unshelved almost all of Crown Points historical books. My gratitude to Jeanene Letcher and Laurie McDermott in the reference department for their untiring assistance.

Four astute teachers who are members of the Crown Point High School Alumni Association took the time to meet with me and give me the insight I needed to write my chapter on the haunted high school. Thanks to Bud Bowman, Marion Kellum, George Tachtiris and Dick Gordon.

Many thanks to the owner of the house on Ruffle Shirt Hill for sharing her home and her intriguing experiences with me.

Lake County historian Bruce L. Woods supplied me with valuable firsthand information regarding Crown Point, as well as remarkable photographs.

Memories are priceless. They transport us to a time and place in our past, encouraging us to recall events filled with emotions. I truly appreciate the memories of all of you who were kind enough to share them with me.

Finally, thanks to my husband, Dave, who burned the midnight oil with me and never let the lamp go out.

CHAPTER 1

THE GRAND OLD LADY

As you travel south from Route 30 on Taft Street, one of the first things you will encounter on your journey to the quaint town of Crown Point, Indiana, is the welcome sign. It reads Welcome to Crown Point: Hub of Lake County. It is given that title because of its location, surrounded by Merrillville to the north, Winfield to the east, Cedar Lake to the southwest, St. John to the west and unincorporated Schererville to the northwest. It is at this point that Taft is renamed Main Street, a benevolent name bestowed upon hundreds of streets across our nation. This street does, however, warrant that title, because as you make your way farther down the road, you are greeted by the oh so regal Crown Point Courthouse. She stands tall and proud, surrounded by quaint antique shops, specialty shops and numerous businesses, in the very center of town, known as the Square.

Confirming her position as the foundation of Lake County, the courthouse, fondly named the Grand Old Lady, depicts the architecture of the Victorian period, which made for a most interesting combination of Romanesque and Georgian styles. Soaring toward the sky are her triple regal towers. Center stage is the clock tower that has kept track of time since 1878, never missing a minute. Flanking the clock tower are two sister towers that complement her and appear as if they are guarding the citizens of Crown Point, who go about their daily routines far below.

The history of this admirable structure and the land on which she stands dates back to the last day of October in 1834, when Solon Robinson emerged from a thicket of woods and gazed upon miles and miles of open land. What he imagined as an opportunity of wealth and accomplishment became just that and eventually led to the creation of Lake County and the founding of Crown Point. Never before occupied by the white man, this vast expanse of prairie was quite secluded. Neighboring this region were many Potawatomi Indians who had not yet settled into reservations. Robinson and his wife, Mariah Evans, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and their two children, Josephine and Solon Oscar, claimed the land of Crown Point and established their homestead on the northwest corner of what is now the Crown Point Square. It became known as Robinsons Prairie. They soon opened their residence to aid travelers and many soon-to-become settlers, newly arrived.

The year 1837 was a busy one for Solon and his brother, Milo. They opened a store well stocked with supplies, used for trade with both the Indians and the settlers, their best customers being the Potawatomis. One of Robinsons priorities was setting land aside specifically to be used as a public square, and it was on this land that he soon constructed a small log cabin. This two-story structure cost him $500 to build and served as the very first courthouse. Even as early as 1834, the Square, then called the Courthouse Yard, was a favorite place for the townspeople to gather and children to play. Often you could hear their young voices crying out with joy and excitement as they engaged in a raucous game of hide-and-seek. In 1868, this small area, now known as Crown Point, became a recognized community due to its continuous increase in population and businesses.

By 1849, the log cabin courthouse had outlived its usefulness, and a second courthouse was constructed on the north side of the town square at a cost of $10,000. Besides being the courthouse, the new building also housed the sheriffs office and a single jail cell in the basement.