Gary's West Side: The Horace Mann Neighborhood (IN) (Images of America) [Paperback]

John C. Trafny (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 6, 2006

Though Gary was an industrial city founded by U.S. Steel, the Horace Mann neighborhood evolved into one of the most exclusive residential areas in northwest Indiana. Skilled craftsmen from the mills were able to live among doctors and lawyers as well as businessmen and supervisors from U.S. Steel. From the boom years of the 1920s through the 1960s, residents of diverse economic backgrounds sent their children to the same schools, prayed together in the same houses of worship, and shopped in GaryÂ's popular downtown. GaryÂ's West Side: The Horace Mann Neighborhood is a pictorial history spanning four generations of one of the Steel CityÂ's premier residential districts. Through archival photographs, family snapshots provided by former residents, and shared memories, the reader is taken on a nostalgic journey from the cityÂ's founding in 1906 through to the 21st century.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John C. Trafny was born in Gary, Indiana, and graduated from Emerson High School in 1968. A former steelworker, Trafny has taught social studies and the history of the Calumet region at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond, Indiana. He is also a guest lecturer at Purdue University-Calumet. His previous works for Arcadia include The Polish Community of Gary and GaryÂ's East Side.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (February 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738539880
• ISBN-13: 978-0738539881
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,702,982 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Was hoping for more about Horace Mann, August 12, 2006

By 

H. George (Michigan Bluff) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gary's West Side: The Horace Mann Neighborhood (IN) (Images of America) (Paperback)

I attended Horace Mann in the 50's and 60's and was elated to hear there was a book written specifically about the neighborhood in which I was born and raised. The book contains some very good pictures and numerous nostalgic recollections of my childhood. I even learned a few facts that I previously didn't know. My only criticism would be that I was hoping to find more detail regarding the actual neighborhoods and Horace Mann School itself, and a little less detail about Gary's industrial history, houses of worship and Holy Angels school. Many thanks, however, to Mr. Trafny for writing it...I bought a copy for myself and one for my brother!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars review of westside gary, September 16, 2008

By 

SOUL68 (MILLER) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gary's West Side: The Horace Mann Neighborhood (IN) (Images of America) (Paperback)

I READ THIS BOOK AND FOUND IT TO BE SOMEWHAT GENERIC IN IT'S DESCRIPTION OF THE HORACE MANN DISTRICT. IT'S SOMEWHAT FUNNY THAT A PERSON FROM EMERSON WOULD HAVE ANY CLUE TO WHAT THE WESTSIDE WAS REALLY LIKE. TOO MANY DETAILS WERE MISSING BY THE AUTHOR. TIVOLI TAP, SOKITS BAKERY, MACDONALD'S, THE WATER TOWER, THE LAGOON, EVERYTHING ABOUT BROADWAY, THE PANTRY, THE SUMMER CARNIVALS,JEFFERSON AND JACKSON PARKS,MANNBRIDGE,WISEWAY,A & P., ON AND ON; COULD LIST HUNDREDS MORE. AUTHOR SHOULD HAVE RESEARCHED MORE COMPETELY WITH ACUAL RESIDENTS OF THIS AREA. IF YOU LIKE GENERIC, THEN THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!!!