In addition to the lazy summer days on the beach, I was involved in various activities organized within Ogden Dunes.  At an early age my brothers and sisters and I learned to swim at Mrs. Fantone's pool on Ski Hill Road.  When we got older, we attended more advanced swimming lessons at Dr. Wilson's in Miller.  Aleta and Alise Froman taught gymnastic lessons at their home on Ski Hill Road.  I remember going twice a week with Lisa Compton, Kristen Kurtz, Karen Hibbs and Delphine Mattison practicing cartwheels, splits and at times working on the parallel bars.  We all looked up to the Froman girls since they were on the Portage High School Gymnastics team which at the time was equivalent to the Olympic Team in our eyes.  In addition to soccer practice and tennis lessons, I remember attending German language lessons with a small group of friends.  The lessons were informal and took place at each of our homes once a week.  I can still vaguely recall some of the German words and numbers which I learned that summer so they must have been somewhat instructive despite my early age.  One summer my friends and I took art classes at Happy Jan's Farm in Valparaiso where we learned to water paint and spent hours working with various mediums.

When school started in the fall my sisters and I were involved in Brownies and Girl Scout troops in the Dunes.  We spent weekends trying to earn badges to fill our sashes doing "good deeds", working on arts and crafts activities and planting trees.  I specifically remember selling Girl Scout cookies which came easily as everyone loved thin mints and bought extra boxes for their freezer.  Who could resist a box of cookies from a girl in a green dress and hat?

When I was in high school it soon became apparent that it was no longer acceptable to spend the day lounging on the beach so I took a summer job working for Tom Tittle at Burns Harbor Radio on Stage Coach Road.  As a marine operator, I handled ship-to-shore radio traffic patching boaters through to online telephone calls.  On rainy days the job was slow with little boating traffic.  On sunny days, when l most wanted to be on the beach with my friends, the job was hectic with boaters standing by waiting on the air in queue to place a call.  Occasionally the job proved especially exciting when I was able to aid the Coast Guard in rescue operations by passing  along information regarding the location of boats by way of radio.  In addition to the pleasure boat traffic, I occasionally put through international calls for foreign ships coming in through the Port of Indiana.  With my modest role, I enjoyed taking part in the "communication highway" on the gateway to the Great Lakes.

 On  summer evenings we played games such as "Kick the Can", "Flash Light Tag" or built bon fires on the beach.  In early Spring smelt fishing was a popular sport.  I can remember seeing bon fires lining the shore and people wandering through the icy water in tall rubber waiters.  We cooked what few fish we caught in a beer batter over the fire.  If it were your first time smelt fishing, you had to bite the head off a live fish before you could join the group.  In retrospect, an anthropologist would have found a wealth of research examining the dynamics of these primitive gatherings.

In the winter we spent weekends skating on Long Lake and Polliwog Pond.  We also built snow forts and igloos as there was much snow during the winters.  Suicide dune was a popular spot for tobogganing.  At night we would organize midnight x-country skiing expeditions through the National Park with the moonlight lighting the way through the snow.

Since my childhood I have found that the natural beauty of the Dunes serves as a magnet,
attracting me back and refreshing me in all seasons.

On November 17, 1998 the Lions Club of Ogden Dunes celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Attached is a brief summary of how the club was formed and what the first couple of years of activities consisted of.  During the past 40 years we continued many of the projects and activities that served our town, our surrounding community, and world wide Lions International which exerts tremendous influence for national welfare, peace, and human progress, socially, culturally, and economically.

Lions Clubs are non-political and non-sectarian service organizations composed of the community's leading business and professional men.  Membership is by invitation only.

The purpose of a Lions Club is more than good fellowship and social club life.  It is to recognize community needs and develop means of meeting them, either through its own effort or in cooperation with other agencies.

We as Lions are proud to have served and participate in the many activities in our town, our surrounding community, and Lions international during the past forty years.

SINCE THIS IS OUR 40TH ANNIVERSARY I THOUGHT YOU MAY LIKE TO KNOW HOW OUR LION'S CLUB WAS BORN AND ALSO ABOUT SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES OF OUR FIRST YEAR AS I REMEMBER IT.

40 YEARS AND ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO I WANTED TO JOIN A SERVICE CLUB IN OUR AREA AND THE ONLY ONE I KNEW OF WAS THE MILLER OPTIMIST.  I ASKED ONE OF OUR MANAGERS ABOUT THE OPTIMIST AND LOW AND BEHOLD HE JUST HAPPENED TO BE THE DISTRICT GOVERNOR OF OUR LION'S DISTRICT.  OF COURSE HE DIDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT THE OPTIMIST AND PROCEEDED TO TELL ME WHY OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE OUR OWN SERVICE CLUB.  NEEDLESS TO SAY HE TALKED ME INTO HELPING HIM ORGANIZE OUR LION'S CLUB.

I PICKED A DATE AND TIME (Sept.1958) AND MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH VOGEL'S FLAME RESTAURANT FOR A MEETING ROOM.  FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS I CALLED EVERY HOME IN OGDEN DUNES AND INVITED THE MAN OF THE HOUSE TO ATTEND THE MEETING THAT WOULD INFORM US ON THE BENIFITS OF LIONISM IN OUR COMMUNITY.  ABOUT 50 SAID THEY WOULD ATTEND.

ABOUT 25-30 ATTENDED TO HEAR GOVERNOR HERBIE HERBST, STATE SECRETARY ERIC PURCHASE, AND ZONE CHAIRMAN PHIL LOCK SR.  TELL US ABOUT LIONISM.  I DID NOT KNOW THAT THEIR INTENTION WAS TO SIGN UPMEMBERS THAT EVENING AND BEFORE I KNEW IT WE HAD AN OGDEN DUNES LIONS CLUB AFTER SIGNING UP 21 MEMBERS.

NOW THAT WE HAD A LION'S CLUB WE NEEDED A PRESIDENT AND OTHER OFFICERS.  JUST AS IN ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION THE INDIVIDUAL WHO PRESENTS A SUGGESTION IS AUTOMATICALLY MADE CHAIRMAN OF THAT COMMITTEE.  SO I WAS NOMINATED AND ELECTED PRESIDENT SERVING THE REMAINDER OF 1958 AND 1959.

WE THEN MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH VOGEL'S (LOCATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 20 AND COUNTY LINE ROAD) TO HOLD OUR DINNER MEETINGS THERE ON THE 2ND AND 4TH MONDAYS OF EACH MONTH.  DINNER AND THE USE OF THE MEETING ROOM COST ABOUT $1.75/PERSON INCLUDING TIP.

FROM THIS POINT ON - UNTIL CHARTER NITE AND WITH THE HELP OF OUR SPONSORING CLUB (PORTAGE LIONS CLUB) AND ZONE CHAIRMAN PHIL LOCK WE WERE BUSY PLANNING FOR THE PRESENTATION OF OUR CHARTER WHICH WAS HELD AT VOGEL'S FLAME ON FEBRUARY 23RD WITH OVER 200 IN ATTENDANCE.  WE WERE SERVED PRIME RIB.

BECAUSE OF THE HARD WORK BY OUR CHAIRMAN JAKE RIDINGER IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.  THE PORTAGE LIONS CLUB PRESENTED US WITH THE BELL AND GAVEL THAT WE USE TODAY - THE GARY LIONS CLUB GAVE US THE ORIGINAL BANNER - THE STATE SECRETARY, ERIC PURCHASE PRESENTED US WITH THE ROAD SIGN.  THE CHARTER WAS PRESENTED TO THE 30 CHARTER MEMBERS BY DISTRICT GOVERNOR HERBIE HERBST.

OUR MEETINGS WERE CONDUCTED PRETTY MUCH AS THEY ARE TODAY -

1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
2. SINGING "MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE"
3.  PRAYER
4. WE PASSED OUT SONG BOOKS AND WE SANG 3 OR 4 SONGS
5. THE TAILTWISTER DID HIS THING AND THEN WE ATE DINNER
6. DISCUSSION
7. THEN OUR PROGRAM - WE ALWAYS HAD A PROGRAM

EVERY OTHER MEETING WAS CONSIDERED A BUSINESS MEETING.  ON OCCASION WE HAD A SPECIAL FUN NITE SUCH AS HAWAIIN SHIRT NITE WHERE THE LOUDEST SHIRT WON A PRIZE.

ALCOHOL BEVERAGES WERE NOT PERMITTED IN THE MEETING ROOM.

ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETINGS WERE IN THE 75-80% RANGE

OUR FIRST FUND RAISER WAS A LIGHT BULB SALE HEADED UP BY ROY BAKER AND SKIP DORMAN.  WE PACKED ABOUT 8 ASSORTED LIGHT BULBS IN A BROWN BAG AND SOLD THEM AT THE ENTRANCE FOR $1.00. WE MADE A LITTLE OVER $200.

OUR FIRST GIFT OF CHARITY WAS USING PART OF THE $200 RAISED TO PURCHASE A PAIR OF GLASSES FOR A YOUNG PORTAGE GIRL WHOSE FAMILY WAS DESTITUTE.

OUR FIRST LARGE COMMUNITY PROJECT WAS DEVELOPING KRATZ FIELD.  THE HOME ASSOCIATION SUPPLIED THE MONEY AND WE SUPPLIED THE LABOR.  I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE AREA LOOKED LIKE.  THE OUTFIELD AREA WAS NOTHING BUT SAND.  JOHN ZEHNER HAULED IN MANY TRUCK LOADS OF BLACK DIRT AND SKIP DORMAN SPRED THE DIRT WITH HIS ROAD GRADER.  WE HAND RAKED THE DIRT - PLANTED THE SEED AND AFTER THE GRASS GREW - WE CUT IT.  WE LATER ADDED A SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

SOME OF OUR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES DURING THE FIRST YEAR WERE;

1. WE ASSISTED THE AMERICAN LEGION WITH THE MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONIES.  WE ALSO ENTERED A FLOAT IN THE PARADE.  THE THEME WAS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR SPACE PROGRAM AT THE TIME.  WE WELDED 3 - 55 GALLON OIL DRUMS TOGETHER - PUT A CONE ON TOP OF THEM - SET IT UP IN A VERTICAL POSITION ON A LOW BOY TRAILER AND DECORATED IT RED, WHITE, AND BLUE.  WE HAD SOME PROBLEMS GETTING IT UNDER THE WIRES BUT WE MADE IT AND ALL THE KIDS THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT.

2. WE PUT ON PROBABLY THE FIRST SUPER BOWL PARTY EVER HELD IN THE COUNTRY.  THEY WERE CALLED CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES THEN.  THE GAME TELEVISED WAS THE BEARS AGAINST THE GIANTS ON A SNOW AND ICEY FIELD SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THE GAME.  THE GAME WAS BLACKED OUT IN CHICAGO SO WE HAD TO RECEIVE THE PICTURE FROM SOUTH BEND.  IT TOOK A LOT OF ENERGY AND EXPERIMENTING TO GET A DECENT PICTURE.  MAYBE YOU CAN CORNER TOM AND HE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT ALL THE FUN AND DIFFICULTIES WE HAD PUTTING THE GAME ON.

3. WE STARTED THE EASTER EGG HUNT - I THINK THE ADULTS HAVE MORE FUN AT THIS THAN THE KIDS.

4. WE HELD A HALLOWEEN PARTY AT THE FIREHOUSE WITH PRIZES GIVEN FOR THE BEST THREE COSTUMES.  EVEN HAD LIVE MUSIC.

5. WE HELD AN ICE CREAM SOCIAL.

6. WE FORMED A BELL RINGERS GROUP - WE PURCHASED A SUITCASE FULL OF BELLS AND PRACTICED IN JOE PERRI'S BASEMENT.  THE GROUP CONSISTED OF BOB MARSHALL, CARL LUNDQUIST, ALLEN BUCHANAN, CHARLIE SMUTNEY, JOE PERRI, AND MYSELF.  AFTER PRACTICING FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND NOT LEARNING A SONG WE GAVE IT UP.  WE JUST WEREN'T COORDINATED.  WITH A BELL IN EACH HAND - THE RIGHT HAND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE LEFT HAND WAS DOING.  I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BELLS.

ART SMITH WAS OUR FIRST ACTIVE MEMBER TO PASS AWAY.  I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU MAY HAVE KNOWN HIM BUT HE WAS A VERY KIND GENTLEMAN AROUND 40 - MARRIED WITH A FAMILY - HE WAS JUST PROMOTED TO SUPERINTENDENT AT (I BELEFVE YOUNGSTOWN SHEET AND TUBE).  HE AND 3 OF HIS FRIENDS WENT ON A HUNTING TRIP TO COLORADO AND WHILE DRIVING THROUGH COLORADO THEIR VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON - KILLING ALL OF THEM INSTANTLY.

AS YOU MAY KNOW THERE ARE ONLY 2 CHARTER MEMBERS STILL ACTIVE IN THE LIONS CLUB.  THAT IS TOM TITTLE AND MYSELF.  TOM TITTLE WENT TO THE SERVICE SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING A MEMBER AND SERVED IN GERMANY.  WHILE IN GERMANY TOM ATTENDED MANY LION'S MEETINGS AND MADE MANY FRIENDS.  WHEN TOM AND I VISITED GERMANY ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS WE HAD VERY ENJOYABLE DINNERS WITH A FEW OF THEM.  I THINK TOM AND I CAN VERIFY THAT LIONS INTERNATIONAL WORKS.

I ENJOYED MY 40 YEARS IN LIONISM.  I SERVED AS ZONE CHAIRMAN AND THEN DEPUTY GOVERNOR WHERE MY WIFE AND I MET MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE.

WE AND ALL THE RESIDENTS OF OGDEN DUNES SHOULD BE PROUD OF OUR LION'S CLUB.  IT HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY WELL DURING THE PAST 40 YEARS AND I AM SURE IT WILL SERVE THE COMMUNITY JUST AS WELL OR EVEN BETTER DURING THE COMING YEARS.  THE STATE SECRETARY, ERIC PURCHASE, TOLD ME THAT HE FELT THE CLUB WOULD NOT LAST 5 YEARS, BUT HERE WE ARE 40 YEARS LATER AND MANY - MANY MORE YEARS TO COME.

The Hour Glass George Svihla, Editor 762-5184 gsvihla@delphi.com Historical Society Officers Naomi Svihla, President Susan Clouser, Vice President [Mary Simons], Treasurer Jane Sutton, Secretary George Svihla, Curator Peter Youngman, Historian Trustees Susan Clouser Gene Miller Constance Richter John Skafish Courtney Van Lopik - Don Kurtz Naomi Svihla  George Svihla Jane Sutton Tom Tittle Peter Youngman  Anne Muntean Ann Sampson

PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS At our Annual Meeting Sunday February 21, 1999 there were three new trustees installed: Mary Simons --who is to become treasurer. 3 year term Ann Sampson 3 year term Anne Muntean To fill out deceased Margaret Benningers 3 year term. Don Kurtz and Courtney Van Lopik will try to share a 50/50 trusteeship. We are trying to plan for restoration of the grounds surrounding the HOUR GLASS MUSEUM by removing exotic plants and planting native species, especially WILDFLOWERS. Anyone interested in helping with this project please call us.      Naomi Svihla

Memberships:

Life memberships and contributions beyond the membership level amount go into an endowment fund.
Dues, except Life, are to be paid annually PREFERABLY, IN JANUARY, and are good for the calendar year, BUT MUST BE PAID BY JULY 1.

Historical Society of Ogden Dunes, Inc.
115 Hillcrest Road - 101
Ogden Dunes, IN 46368-1001

OPEN HOUSE at HOUR GLASS
Third Sunday of the Month
1:30 to 4:00 PM
or by appointment. 762-5184

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slightly altered and reposted 19th February, 2003.