The extraordinary ladies of the Duneland Garden Club have traded in their green thumbs for (probably) paint-stained trousers and sweatshirts, to give the bandstand in Thomas Centennial Park a (much-needed) fresh coat of paint.
With paint and supplies provided by the Chesterton Park Department, Garden Club Vice-President Janet Williams, Secretary Karen Davis, Treasurer Annmarie Riley, and members Theresa Buehler, Gail Murawski, and Barb Ravesa converged on the bandstand this morning, Wednesday, Oct. 19, to begin the task of scraping the old flaking paint.
“It’s the centennial anniversary of the construction of the bandstand and we thought it would be a nice birthday present to give this 100-year-old beauty in our beloved Thomas Centennial Park some tender loving care,” Murawski said. “Happy 100th Birthday!”
The bandstand was built in July 1924 under the supervision of Joseph Ameling with funds contributed by Downtown merchants, and a Hammond band performed the first concert in it on Wednesday, July 16, of that year.
“The work has so far progressed that the band will be able to use it tonight,” The Chesterton Tribune reported. “The stand is built on modern plans. It is octagon in shape, 24 feet across it. The roof has a one-quarter pitch and will be covered with first quality asphalt shingles. A flag pole is to be erected from the center about 50 feet from the ground. The lower part is to be enclosed with lattice work and a neat railing will enclose the main platform.”
Reviews of that first concert were favorable, as The Trib reported in the following week’s edition. “The band concert in Railroad Park last Wednesday evening drew an unusually large crowd. The program was well selected and well rendered. The band made their first appearance on the new bandstand and appreciated the change. If the size of the crowd continues to increase, steps will have to be taken to provide more parking space for automobiles and seats for those who do not have machines.”
“Once again, the Duneland Garden Club is demonstrating its deep commitment to our community with another service project in Thomas Centennial Park,” Park Superintendent Tyler McLead said. “Long ago the Garden Club dedicated itself to landscaping and planting the park in the spring, and summer after summer it’s the most vibrant and colorful corner of Chesterton. Now the Garden Club’s members are freshening the bandstand like they do the flower beds and doing what they do best: Giving back to Chesterton and to Duneland. They’re generous with their time and their energy, they’re one of the best resources the Park Department has, and I’m truly grateful to them.”
McLead did note that the Park Board authorized him at its last meeting to pursue a 50/50 grant from the Lake Michigan Coastal Program to perform a comprehensive renovation of the bandstand, including replacement of the roof, fascia, and soffit; repairs to the structural columns; replacement of the stairs and handrails leading to the stage; installation of built-in benches for seating on the stage; electrical improvements with an LED system; and painting the entire structure.
