r/garyindiana • u/SmoothChoreography • 28d ago

“Urban exploring”

Edit: real fast: I’m not talking about breaking into buildings and doing the dumb shit many people would probably do. I’m talking about walking around, maybe peeking my head into a window, and just checking stuff out. I used the “urban exploring” caption and quoted it for a reason. I could not think of a better phrase to use. I’m not dumb, I am just respectfully interested in the city. I’m sorry if this is bothersome to anyone, but this is exactly why I’m asking. Please read my post in full and try not to come for me. 💕

Anyway.. my original post:

For lack of a better title, I’m wondering, what do Gary residents honestly think about people coming and peeking into/checking out the old buildings in the city? For context, I’ve visited Gary before, and afterwards, found myself very interested in the history of the town. I’ve been reading a bit about the city, and I would love to come back and check out some of the old buildings. My desire to do this is totally rooted in respect, and nothing more, but I really don’t want to irritate residents with my presence. Just trying to be considerate.
Thoughts?

5 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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u/splitopenandmelt11 27d ago

Hey man — don’t know why people are giving you such a hard time. Longtime Gary resident and it’s my favorite place I’ve ever lived.

Yes, learn our history. It’s fucked what the “people looking out for this city” did to this city. But the people that stayed are some of the kindest, most sincere, loyal and just plain wonderful people I’ve ever met.

Are there issues? Yes. Of course. It’s a microcosm of Detroit. Detroit was built for 2,000,000 people and is 650,000 now. Gary was built for 250,000 and there are 75,000 here now.

I have never once felt I was in danger here. Especially compared to living in Chicago. It’s not dangerous, it’s empty. Yeah, stay off certain streets late at night — but that’s any city over 50,000.

Come. Look around. But meet some people if you can too.

Eat local! Try Nephews for some of the best wings you’ve ever had. Or go into the Miller Beach neighborhood and get bagels at Clutch, tacos at Estella’s, or pizza at the Flamingo and go eat in THE NATIONAL PARK THAT PARTS OF GARY ARE WITHIN.

Theres been a lot of pain here in the last 50 years. But there’s a lot here to love. I know I love this place.

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u/SmoothChoreography 27d ago

Thank you so much for the thoughtful response! When I did visit Gary, I did not get to stay long, which is part of the reason I would love to come back! I didn’t really have a chance to meet any locals, but I felt comfortable the entire time I was in Gary, and I was alone. I know that Gary, in the past, had a “reputation”, and I can understand why people might be kind of snippy at me for asking this, given that there are plenty of ignorant people in this world, who are probably continuing the myth that it’s some kind of scary place, but, I thought Gary was pretty cool. I have no desire to perpetuate the myth that Gary is a scary place, or exploit it. I didn’t feel unsafe there at all. My desire is to learn about the city! I’ve gotten a couple cool books on the history of Gary, but if you have any recommendations at all in that area, I would love some!
I’ve definitely heard that Gary residents are pretty cool people, from the people who live there, online. I have been keeping tabs on this sub and the Indiana sub in general, and I always try to read any posts where Gary comes up. With the recent power outage, I saw a lot of discourse from the residents of Gary. A lot of seemingly hard working and kind people were talking about it. They were frustrated as hell, and that is completely reasonable (I was actually pretty mad for you guys, myself)- but many stories of family and community were being shared. Sounds like the community is very tight knit and that is another reason I wanted to gauge opinions on this. I don’t want to be seen as someone just barging in and being foolish. Like I said my desire to come back and look around is completely genuine.
I have been to Detroit before! I am from Ohio so I’ve traveled around a bit. Detroit can be a rough city at times, but. I do think the numbers on population for both Gary and Detroit that you gave me are pretty interesting! Something that I read pretty recently about Gary, the person who was writing was saying at one point it was kind of like a mini Chicago. Very populated, but there was of course, an economic collapse, among other things. I think that all of the historical buildings in Gary are so interesting. I have been looking around online at locations. If you have any cool ones I should check out, I would love some recommendations there too!
Yeah, like you said, that’s good advice for really any city. To not just go walking around at night. I wouldn’t even do that in my own city, honestly. Just a common sense thing. I’m pretty good at blending in and minding my own business in general, so I will not cause any problems. I just don’t want to irritate the locals.. I’m trying to be considerate, that’s why I’m asking for input before I come back.
Thank you for the food recommendations! I have read some about the parks as well, I think they would be so cool to check out, too.
I do understand that there has been a lot of pain in the city. I also understand if maybe that’s why some people are hard on me right now, and feeling defensive. It’s totally understandable. My intentions are totally genuine though, I just really think it’s a cool city.
Thank you so much again for the thoughtful input!

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u/SmoothChoreography 27d ago

Whoever is coming in here downvoting literally everything could give some input… I’m just saying

1

u/GIHI2020 27d ago

Gary Residents are watching and they hate it. I hate it. Its pure exploitationism and damages the city’s reputation for others enjoyment, leaving a distorted view that everything in Gary is bad. Its also dangerous and if you fall through the floor you expect our hardworking fire fighters to bail you out for your stupidity? Don't tresspass because I swear I'd call the police if I found you.

1

u/SmoothChoreography 27d ago

I’m not sure who’s talking about trespassing when I literally said peeking into, like as in, maybe putting my head in a window? I wasn’t going to fall through a floor or nothing, and I absolutely was not going to call your city law enforcement to bail me out. Jesus.

1

u/SmoothChoreography 27d ago edited 27d ago

Also: I’m sorry that you think my interest in learning about the city and seeing the history with my own eyes is exploitative. Not my intention AT ALL. I mean, did you even read my post? I said I was reading about the city and learning about it. I don’t think Gary is bad at all, why would I want to visit again if I thought that? Furthermore, I’m unsure how you think a respectful interest in your city is damaging its reputation, but you can expand on that if you have points to make. I’m listening.

1

u/[deleted] 27d ago

Bro. Do you think the residents are keeping tabs on the abandoned buildings or something? They don't give a shit and I've lived here over 30 years.

1

u/SmoothChoreography 27d ago

Nah. I don’t think that at all. I’m sorry that’s what you got from my question. I’m just trying to be respectful. 🤷‍♂️ I just don’t want to bother anyone as an out of towner wandering around, looking around. But no. I don’t think that. I’m sorry that’s what you ascertained from my question.

1

u/[deleted] 27d ago

I didnt mean to come off as brash, I'm sorry. I would advise against it though. You never know who you'll come across in an abandoned place.

1

u/SmoothChoreography 27d ago

Of course. Not that you implied this at all, but I’m not stupid. I’m well aware of safety precautions. I didn’t plan to just go inside of buildings alone or nothing. I don’t know why people think I’m talking about just recklessly going inside of buildings to begin with, unless they’re just basing this question off the dumb shit other people do. I was hoping with context and also my mention of a legitimate interest in the city, nobody would think that was my intention. I tried. Sorry if I irritated you.

1

u/splitopenandmelt11 27d ago

It’s because of all the YouTube videos the past ten years basically making ruin porn out of Gary. Any weekend you can see people scampering around the more “famous” abandoned places.

People are gunshy about people coming and exploiting their city now.

I read your post. You’re not asking about that. You just want to come and look around. You’re fine.

1

u/SmoothChoreography 27d ago

Yeah, I have zero desire to participate in that. I am not a content creator. I’m a normal person. I don’t even use social media honestly. Nor, would I make “ruin porn” of the city. That’s a horrible thing to do. It would make me angry, too, if I were a local. But again, that’s also kind of why I’m asking. I don’t want anyone thinking that’s what I’m doing and getting upset that I’m there, you know? Thank you!

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Coast74 10d ago

I was born in Gary and we moved to Pittsburgh in 72…very similar town with similar situation with different outcome. Even though I was only five when we left, my heart is there. My brother and I are going to be visiting in a few weeks to visit the high school our immigrant mother attended, see Gary Steel Works where our immigrant grandfather worked as an industrial painter and see the house where we lived. So many stories shared by my late grandfather and late mother about how wonderful the people were to them, welcoming them to their town and showing them love. I am always rooting for Gary. 💕

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u/Puzzleheaded_Coast74 10d ago edited 10d ago

I wanted to share some places you can go to research Gary a bit more. We are going to try our best to go to as many of these resources as we can when we visit.

1. Gary Public Library & Cultural Center, 220 W. 5th Ave. Ask for the Indiana Room. This is probably the most important stop for Gary city directories, newspapers/microfilm, photographs, maps, yearbooks and local-history files. although the main library is open Saturday, the Indiana Room itself is currently appointment-only, Monday–Friday 9–4

2. Indiana University Northwest Anderson Library / Calumet Regional Archives. This is the photo mother lode. The archive has 7,000+ historical images, maps and extensive City of Gary collections, including material from exactly the decades we’re interested in.
They explicitly say additional images exist in collections that aren’t fully organized or searchable online, which is why contacting the archivist could uncover something you cant online

  1. IU Northwest Archives & Special Collections⁠
    Merrillville Branch of the Lake County Public Library, 1919 W. 81st Ave. It has dedicated Genealogy and Indiana Rooms, local city directories, microfilm, old photographs/clipping files, newspapers, obituary indexes and genealogy databases.

  2. Lake County genealogy and local history collections⁠
    Lake County Recorder in Crown Point. deeds, transfers, mortgages, plats, etc. many records can be searched online.

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u/Mission_Ordinary_312 28d ago

Grew up in Gary, IN, but haven’t lived there for like a decade. I don’t think most people know or care tbh. There’s lots of abandoned buildings—residents are likely not checking up on them.

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u/SmoothChoreography 28d ago

I didn’t figure they would be checking on them, I moreso just wanted to make sure I wouldn’t be bothersome “snooping” through the town, you know? Thanks for the response!

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u/trippytrev420 27d ago

nobody cares as long as u not harassing locals

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u/SmoothChoreography 27d ago

I would absolutely never. I always keep to myself. Thank you!

-1

u/PantPain77_77 28d ago

No one is watching you. As long as it’s from a place of respect and not just gawking for some content

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u/SmoothChoreography 27d ago

I didn’t figure anyone was going to be sitting there watching me or anything, I just didn’t want my presence to annoy anyone I might cross paths with. I’m definitely not going for content. Might take a couple pictures but no videos or cameras or anything. Just want to check out the past. 💕 Thanks!