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Historic Structures of
East Chicago, Indiana
Religious Structures
Despite its name, East Chicago (pop. 33,892) is not a part of Chicago;
in fact, it is not even adjacent to Chicago. It is actually in
Indiana, several miles southeast of Chicago, separated from Chicago
and the Illinois-Indiana border by the city of Hammond.
A port city on Lake Michigan, East Chicago
is the site of blast furnaces, rolling mills, and oil refineries.
The construction of the Indiana Harbor ship Canal, as well as
the steel mills, attracted dozens of industries in the early
20th century. Recently, its economy has had to diversify due
to the closing or downsizing of several industrial plants.
Many foreign-born workers were attracted to
the city during its industrial expansion, drawn by the multitude
of low-skilled industrial jobs and the opportunity to build a
better life. Workers from Western and Eastern Europe, Ireland,
Germany, Greece and other countries flocked to the area. Later
they were joined by an influx of Mexican workers.
This diversity resulted in a marvelous collection
of ethnic churches, many exhibiting a Byzantine influence in
their design. East Chicago is the home of several important historic
religious and commercial structures, including the St. Nicholas
Romanian Catholic Church (1913), one of the city's oldest religious
structures.
We apologize for not having further details on some of these buildings.
If you have more information on any of the structures on this
page, please let us know. The email link is at left.
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East Chicago is truly a city of churches! Numerous steeples
are visible as soon as you come into East Chicago on Columbus
Dr. from Cline Ave. This is the Indiana Harbor district of East
Chicago.
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church (1912)
4013 Elm St.
Ethnic Revival
This building is in the Indiana Harbor district of
East Chicago.
Eastern Orthodox Churches are the major Christian churches
in Greece, Russia, eastern Europe, and western Asia. As a federation
of churches, they are united by common beliefs and traditions.
Individually, they are usually called by their national names,
such as the Greek Orthodox Church or the Russian Orthodox Church.
About 170 million people belong to the Eastern Orthodox Churches.
The canon of the Greek Orthodox Church is the same as that of
the Catholic Church, with five additional books. They are 1 and
2 Esdras, Prayer of Manasseh, Psalm 151, and 3 Maccabees.
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church (1912)
Front view
4013 Elm St.
Ethnic Revival
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St. Stanislaus Church
Has a Polish mass every Sunday; they also run a large
Catholic School on the property.
Church - Magoun St.
This quaint corner church displays a Russian cross. This cross
has two unequal horizontals set on the vertical member above
a small slanting bar. The top bar represents the title-board,
Inscribed 'INRI,' which Pilate ordered to be hung in mockery
over Christ's head on the Cross. 'INRI' in the Western tradition
are the Latin initials for "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the
Jews". The middle bar is, of course, that on which Christ's
hands were nailed, and he slanted bottom bar represents Christ's
feet.
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Iglesia Christiana Pentacostal
Corner of Baring and Chicago Streets
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Iglesia de Dios Pentacostal M.I.,
(Formerly 1st Congregational Church of East Chicago)
Neoclassical
145th & Magoun
1913
According to Funk & Waglalls New Encyclopedia,
"When revolutionary movements established republics in
France and America, the new governments adopted neoclassicism
as the style for their official art, by virtue of its association
with the democracy of ancient Greece."
Neoclassical is also the style for the nation's Capitol. Neoclassical
architecture is characterized by monumentality, strict use of
the orders, or arrangement of columns, and sparing use of ornamentation.
Neoclassism was last the phase of European classicism in the
late 18th and 19th centuries.
This handsome building projects a dignified presence.
St. Basil the Great Church
4316 Indianapolis Blvd.
Ethnic Revival
c. 1920
This building shows characteristics of the Byzantine style
of architecture. The name comes from the Byzantine Empire, especially
in the 5th and 6th centuries. This Eastern Roman empire brought
us the distinctive architectural style that features a dome carried
on pendentives over a square, incrustation with marble veneering,
and colored mosaics (note the mosiac over the doorway).
Penadenatives are the arched brick members that support a
dome over a square space, also seen above.
St. Mary's Parochial Elementary School
Interesting structure includes a newer addition, seen
at the front of the building, that features a large sculpture.
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St. Patrick's Church
Harbor section of East Chicago
This building is an example of the Vault style of architecture,
which communicates massiveness, stability and enclosure (a commonly-used
architectural style for banks). The effect is somewhat reminiscent
of the fortified complexes of ancient times. In some examples
of vault architecture, the character is inspired by Renaissance
Italy or 18th-century France.
Generally two to three stories high, the vault has a facade
penetrated by a large, tall and generally narrow central opening,
and occasionally smaller ones on either side.
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Assumption Church
Corner of 140th & Elm
Gothic Revival, 1916
Celebrating 75th Anniversary in 1997
This building is in the Indiana Harbor district of
East Chicago.
Gothic Revival was a popular 19th-century European
and American movement promoting restoration of Gothic style in
ecclesiastical and secular buildings. Notable examples are Sir
Charles Barry's Houses of Parliament (1840-60) in London and
James Renwick's Saint Patrick's Cathedral (1879) in New York
City. Gothic Revival is characterized by pointed arches and ribbed
vaulting, an arched structure of masonry forming a ceiling or
roof . This broad style of architecture stemmed from a movement
of the 18th and 19th centuries aimed at reviving the spirit and
forms of Gothic architecture.
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Holy Ghost Greek Church
4009 Fir St.
Renaissance Revival/Ethnic Heritage
c. 1925
Here is a quaint neighborhood church nestled between houses
on a quiet residential street. Notice how these Orthodox churches
are similar in general style to one another, but quite different
in details. Like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike.
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Rectory
St. Stanislaus Church
800 144th St.
This sturdy brick four-square house serves as rectory of St.
Stanislaus Church. Brick building in the Background is St. Stanislaus
School. Behind the Rectory and not visible in the picture is
the convent, where lived the many nuns who taught at the school.
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St. Mary's Catholic Church (steeple)
800 144th St.
According to a site visitor (whom we thank), a few
years ago the original church caught fire but was rebuilt. This
steeple now still sits atop the newly remodeled church.
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The following pictures and info were kindly
provided by Connie Lamka of the
Central Baptist Church:
Dedication Day was November 11, 1934, and in March
of the following year, the church incorporated and reorganized
the seventy four charter members, forming the Central Baptist
Church of East Chicago, Indiana.
The church has a long, rich history of serving its
East Chicago community with children's programs, door-to-door
soulwinning, and a food pantry. Visitors are encouraged to participate
in the spirited 11:00 a.m. worship service.
Photogrph taken February 11, 2007
Click here for a photo
of the sanctuary and a full history of the church.
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