july donations

Rosalie Mack donated these unusual irons to the museum in July. The blue iron has a reservoir on it for "white gas" and was made by Coleman. It used an actual flame inside the iron for heat. The other is a flatiron dubbed "Best-On-Earth" by the maker. Such irons were heated directly on top of the kitchen stove (usually wood or coal-burning.) The detachable wood handle protected the user's hand from the heat. (CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE)

   Visitors registering at the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum during the month of July 2010 totaled 780, coming from 14 Indiana counties, 26 states, Australia, Canada, Denmark, England, Germany, and Sweden. Groups touring the museum included the King of the Road tour company from Woodridge, IL. The third annual Old Car Show was featured on Saturday, July 31.

   Donations in July:

   — Circa 1975 wedding dress of Patrice La Hance, 1951 wedding dress of Gertrude Shermak, Patty Marsicek;

   — “Middle of the Road Band” record album, Jody Schoff;

   — Internal flame clothes iron, “Best on Earth” flatiron, Rosalie Mack;

   — Embroidered child’s bibs, infant’s bloomers, handmade doll’s blouse, tatted edge handkerchiefs, all from the Wills home on Johnson Road, Erna Ellis;

   — Kingsbury High School letter sweaters, basketball uniform and red blazer, all belonged to Wesley Kessler c. 1964, Michael Kessler;

   — 1911 wedding dress that belonged to Mary Ruth Shireman, mother of Ruth Wooden of LaPorte, 1911 man’s wedding tuxedo, 1930s wedding veil, photo of 1911 Shireman wedding, several mid-1950s photographs from LaPorte Central Junior High School, assorted archival information, diplomas, class reunion programs, advertising blotters, etc., Jan Wooden;

   — Archival information and photographs, Michele Barber, John and Helen Bradley; Don Bowman;

   — Donated computer service work, Alltech Computer Corner;

   — Door prizes for the 2010 Old Car Show, Advance Auto Parts, Pine Ford, Apex Muffler & Brake, Owens Motor Supply, Awesome Car Wash Michigan City, Auto Zone Michigan City, Main Muffler, Ridge Auto Supply, Jiffy Lube Michigan City, Valvoline Instant Oil Change, Chris’s Car Care Center, Midas Auto Service Experts, Tire Barn, Advance Auto Parts Michigan City, Apex Muffler Michigan City, Ridge Auto Michigan City, Mrs. Lynn Shelby;

   — Donation of supplies for auto show, Lewis Bakeries;

   — Books and magazines for the sale table, Jennifer Juszkiewicz.

Submitted by James Rodgers, curator, LaPorte County Historical Society Museum (www.laportecountyhistory.org)