The History of The Big Guy: La Porte's Iconic Santa
Driving around downtown La Porte during the holiday season is like any other town - lights lit up on trees, holiday decorations up and down the main street. What La Porte has that many others don't is a historic Santa statue that has been a part of their community for decades. With Santa now up and waving to drivers down on Lincolnway, we decided to get a little history on this iconic landmark.
Bobby Kennedy @ La Porte, Ind.: A Tribute to Fern Eddy Schultz
Getty Images stock footage of Democratic New York Sen. and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy campaigning in front of the historic La Porte County Courthouse at La Porte, Ind., May 6, 1968.
On Feb. 7, 2011, I contacted La Porte historian, author and researcher Fern Eddy Schultz as part of my research for a book on Kennedy's remarkable relationships with non-white peoples.
ID AND CONTEXT
Since I live in Highland Park, Mich., I asked for, and was blessed to receive, her expert assistance in positively identifying and contextualizing first one, then three more photos of Kennedy's second and final visit to La Porte the day before he won Indiana's presidential primary, including one by Magnum photographer Burt Glinn, which was only dated 1968 and located in a small Midwest town:
She later identified a La Porte County sheriff who is seen escorting Kennedy's motorcade as it inched its way down Lincoln Way in one of the photos. Sporting his department's signature wide-brimmed hat with a star above its band, his name is Gary Cooper (not the actor).
It happens that I ... know Gary and his wife, Joyce, who was postmistress at the Union Mills post office (she is now retired as is Gary), she wrote me in a March 30, 2011, email letter.
(Fern might know for sure, but it appears that Officer Cooper is looking towards the camera at lower left at the beginning of the video.)
LEADS AND BACKGROUND
She also carefully studied photos of Kennedy's courthouse rally and kindly provided possible leads on the few African Americans in the crowd and helpful background on a local band -- Dave Curtis' the Bare Facts:
They were together most of the time the members were in high school (La Porte High School). The 'Wes' who signed one of the comment letters [on musician and author Jason Bitner's blog] is Wes England and he was a member of the group, she wrote on Feb. 14, 2011.
Fern quickly became my guide to all things La Porte, and my friend.
COURTHOUSE
It is because of her patient and expert tutelage that I was able to readily recognize the Michigan Avenue side of the courthouse when I chanced upon this stock footage, which was dated January 01, 1968 (meaning that Getty only knew the year) and broadly located it in the United States:
THANX, FERN!
I regret that I only belatedly learned about the dedication of the Fern Eddy Schultz Research Library in the La Porte County Historical Society Museum on March 21, 2017:
It would've been my distinct honor to finally visit the city that she's made so fascinating to me so that I could've personally thanked her for all that she did for my work. In lieu of that, I pray that she'll accept this video tribute as a small token of my boundless appreciation and esteem.
Those who would like to learn more about the important work of the historical society should visit its Web site:
Paul Lee
A LaPorte County Christmas, A Portait in Light
LaPorte County lies in the northwest corner of Indiana right on Lake Michigan. It is the second largest county in area in the state of Indiana and as such, is very difficult to cover every corner of the county. These images have been collected from the last two Christmases and I look forward to continuing to find new houses to photograph over the next several years to expand this project but for right now. Join me in my Christmas journey around my home, LaPorte County Indiana
Go, Fight! at LaPorte, IN
LaPorte County Town Hall on Race, Justice, Community, and Policing.
Recent acts of violence across our nation have sparked important conversations in our communities about race and policing. At the urging of President Barack Obama, The City of Gary, the Urban League of Northwest Indiana and Lakeshore Public Media will answer the call to come together to address these major issues that have become “topics of concern” for everyone. We continue our discussion in the Region at Michigan City High School featuring our panel of experts: John Espar Prosecuting Attorney for La Porte County, Erika Stallworth Executive Director of the La Porte County Juvenile Services Center, Kevin McElmurry ACLU board member and Sociology Professor at Indiana University Northwest, Wesley Scully of the La Porte County NAACP, Ron Meer the Mayor of Michigan City, and Julie Smith Assistant Chief of the La Porte Police Department.
Taped on April 11th, 2017
Original air date: April 12th, 2017
I knew my Grandma from the Civil War | Northwest Indiana History
It’s early morning at the Northwest Indiana farm in Rolling Prairie. A chill is in the air and it’s getting brisk as Ken Williams is starting to wrap-up work for the season. We small talk outside the apple barn and Ken points to another small barn in the distance, telling me that’s where the first house was built on the Williams property by his Grandpa around 1850. My mind is buzzing as I realize I’m in the presence of something pretty special. We wander out into the orchard, Ken’s putzing around and I ask him if he know his Grandma and Grampa? He tells me that he didn’t know his Grandfather because he contracted a food borne illness from eating military food from the Civil War and died shortly after. But he knew his grandma well, and spent many hours with her in that house with the dirt floor reminiscing and learning about farming. I asked Ken.. who was born in 1918, when he got electricity? he said “Didn’t see electricity out here until 1933.” Wow! what an amazing journey this man has had I thought, no electricity or running water for many of his early years. The sun comes out and Ken decides to pick more apples. He funs with me a bit and wonders if by telling me all this stuff I’ll go into business for myself and run him out of business? Never happen I tell him...I’m 55 and way to old to start climbing ladders. Here’s another clip and bit of sage advice from a third generation apple orchard farmer Ken Williams 95 years young.
Rick Erwin Media spent an entire season with Ken, watching him pick apples while passing through with a camera learning about the real meaning of life. This is from an excerpt from Rick Erwin’s, Your Town Story documentary “Looking For Apple Ken.” Enjoy! For more info about Rick Erwin Media and how REM can visit your town; Go to
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Fern Eddy Schultz Interview (Part 1)
An interview with LaPorte County Historian and LaPorte Genealogist of
the Year, Fern Eddy Schultz, about the history of local cemeteries.
Valparaiso Town Hall on Race, Justice, Community, and Policing
Recent acts of violence across our nation have sparked important conversations in our communities about race and policing. At the urging of President Barack Obama, The City of Gary, the Urban League of Northwest Indiana and Lakeshore Public Media will answer the call to come together to address these major issues that have become “topics of concern” for everyone. We continue our discussion in the Region at Valparaiso University with Porter County Sheriff David Reynolds, Activist Christina Hearne, Professor Emeritus of Law Ivan Bodenstiner, Mayor Jon Costas, Dean of Valparaiso University School of Law Andrea Lyon, and Pastor David Ashley Sr. of Redeemed Fellowship Ministries.
Taped on November 28th, 2016
Original air date: November 29th, 2016