General History Archives - Historical Society of Ogden Dunes

Life on the Lake: Early Stories of Ogden Dunes
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Life on the Lake: Early Stories of Ogden Dunes

To celebrate our town's centennial, we have a special collection of personal histories shared by early residents who helped make our community the special place it is today. During our presentation in February 2025, we honored our late George Svihla, whose concept for this effort helped launch this book, Life on the Lake: Early Stories of Ogden Dunes. Copies are available for purchase at the Historical Society of Ogden Dunes from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sundays during our open houses. Can't make it to an open house? Write a check and place it in the HSOD [...]

Life on the Lake: Early Stories of Ogden DunesJenny Brown2025-09-16T12:04:22-05:00

New Book: “The Battle to Save the Beach” by Dr. Richard Meister

Dick Meister's book on the "Battle to Save the Beach" is expected to be published in time for the Holidays. We are asking a donation of $5 if you are a member and cost of $10 if you are a non-member. Just leave your information in the locked box (just west of the town hall) or mail your request to HSOD, 115 Hillcrest Road, Ogden Dunes, In 46368. Once the copies are published, we will get then to you. If you know some one who is interested in becoming a member, with a complete membership [...]

New Book: “The Battle to Save the Beach” by Dr. Richard MeisterRichard Meister2020-12-04T12:18:44-06:00

Tragedy in the Dunes: Historical Note

Tragedy in the Dunes: Historical Note Saturday, August 27, 1938 On a warm Saturday night in August in Ogden Dunes a group of high school and college students had planned their last summer outing before most returned to their homes or colleges. This group, informally organized, called themselves the ‘rafters’. Earlier that summer they had built a raft which they used for diving or sun bathing, thus their name. Throughout the summer they also organized many group activities, including scavenger hunts and trips to Miller or Chesterton. They decided that the last activity would be [...]

Tragedy in the Dunes: Historical NoteRichard Meister2019-02-14T11:26:49-06:00

1930: Port Williams

Ogden Dunes and the Planned City of Port Williams By Dick Meister In the 2010 donation to the Historical Society of the papers of the late Joseph Thomas, an Ogden Dunes resident, journalist and editor for the Gary Post-Tribune, by his daughter (see September 2010 issue of The Hour Glass Newsletter) was a large plat map of the proposed city of Port Williams to be located just east of Burns Ditch and south of Dunes Highway (U.S. 12). Port Williams was to be another Gary and is a precursor of Burns Harbor and the Port [...]

1930: Port WilliamsRichard Meister2018-08-02T21:01:59-05:00