On Friday, June 19th, I backtracked a few miles from Hammond, Illinois, to Gary, Indiana. I had passed it the night before, but it was too late, and I was determined to get to the hotel. I am glad I waited; a morning stop made more sense.
Of all the places I saw, Gary was the only one I felt I wasn’t supposed to see. Its history is well known: it was built around the steel mill, and once it left, the city spiraled. From a population of 180K to somewhere near 60K now. I only stayed in the downtown area, which you can see was beautiful, and really still is; it is there. What I did not see were people, but street lights at every corner. I waited at the lights every time I turned, but there was no traffic. The occasional car, mostly police, would pass me.
I was approached by an elderly gentleman who walked up behind me while I was using the film camera. He said, “Are you scared?” He motioned to my 4Runner, implying it did “not belong here.” I knew he meant me, not the car, but the car was a better way to say it. I agreed with him. Being on day 2 and not yet in the groove, he beat me to the next question with an answer before I even asked. “Don’t take my photo,” he said, and never stopped walking. Another day in, and I would have engaged him more, tried to learn more, and attempted to turn that no into a photo. I regret not doing it.
I took more photos here, and I am glad I edited this city first – it made me realize there are images from this trip I will not be sharing online… yet. I will be having a show/exhibit of the trip, and some deserve to be seen large and in person the first time they get viewed. Gary set that standard, the ‘hold for later’ photos have leaders.
Notre Dame is working to revitalize downtown, and grants and other funds are being invested in the city. I ended up going down a rabbit hole on this info, and it is fascinating. Looks like the daycare is enrolling, though I challenge how inviting it is considering the surroundings. My only editorial comment would be: could you imagine the attention a gorgeous downtown like Wellesley, MA, would attract if it were in this state of disarray? I think it would rival the attention now given to the reflecting pool in DC. I don’t think there would be a need for a mural that says ‘Things Take A Long Time.’
Day Two.
tr/trp
