The public is invited to join Westchester Township History Museum staff in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first panoramic photograph of downtown Chesterton. Line the sidewalks along the intersection of Calumet and Broadway as Dan Bruhn takes a new panoramic photo from the northwest corner of Thomas Centennial Park on Friday, August 9, at 3 p.m. and become a part of history.
Refreshments will be served afterwards at the Library Service Center, 100 W. Indiana Avenue, Chesterton, where the 1913 photograph will be displayed.
The historic panoramic photograph, donated to the museum by the Chesterton Tribune, is a black and white photo which was taken at 4pm on August 9, 1913. It shows the downtown intersection of Calumet and Broadway from the railroad crossing on Calumet to the intersection of Second and Broadway. Horse drawn carriages, vintage automobiles, and numerous townsfolk and business people also appear in the photograph.
The display at the Service Center will include 2007 photographs of the same downtown buildings as the 1913 photo. Information about panoramic photographs and about Harry Bortz, the photographer who took the 1913 photo, is included in the display, as is a 1912 Sanborn map of the downtown area. Attendees will see additional photos and information about the businesses shown in the 1913 photograph and will have the opportunity to play a game using a magnifying glass to find a variety of items in the photo.
Copies of the 1913 panoramic photograph will be available for purchase at the Service Center during the program, and are also be available in the museum store.
Westchester Township History Museum, a free educational and cultural service of Westchester Public Library, is housed in the Brown Mansion at 700 W. Porter Ave., Chesterton. The museum is open to the public Wednesday-Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Groups may make reservations for tours by calling the museum at 983-9715.