The boys of Crown Point MYF with their church model. 1953
My friend Jerry sent me the above picture. It was taken in the Spring of 1953 when I was eleven years old. The picture shows the boys in our MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) with a model of the new church building that was then being proposed for our congregation. We built the model using blue prints the architect of the proposed building had drawn up.
In those pre-Politically Correct days, the boys and girls of MYF had different activities. The little girl to the right in the picture is the daughter of Mr. Neidigh, our advisor. The picture was taken in Mr. Neidigh’s home, where we did most of the work on the model.
Our church building at that time was next door to the Lake County Jail in Crown Point, Indiana. A wall separated the church from the jail, but prisoners on the top floor of the jail could look out of their windows and see people entering or leaving the church. Usually the prisoners just looked (we kids looked back) but the situation did give rise to funny feelings every once in a while.
The Lake County Jail was rather famous (or infamous) in that part of the country. John Dillinger, the notorious bank robber, escaped from our jail using a ‘pistol’ he carved out of wood and blackened with shoe polish. Lake County had a woman sheriff at the time of Dillinger’s escape — I’m not sure there has been another woman sheriff since!
The last time I was back in Crown Point the old jail was being remodeled into a museum. The new church building is still there, several blocks down the street from the old jail. The model was destroyed by fire several years ago.
Incidently, Mr. Neidigh is standing on the left in the picture and Jerry is in the back in the middle. I’m standing in the back between the two of them.
Tags: Crown Point, model, MYF
Senior Moments 
January 5, 2009 at 4:16 am |
George: It’s nice to look back to the memories of days gone by. Betsy told on you in her blog. I’d say you are a romantic fellow and the falls is perfect.
January 5, 2009 at 6:05 am |
How wonderful for this to be sent to you. I love history along with photos. I did family tree research for years. Every photo was a treasure. I even have all my Grandfathers drivers license from WV.
January 5, 2009 at 9:31 am |
Grammy, Betsy has done quite a bit of family history and has several letters from her great-grandmother, which she treasures.
January 5, 2009 at 9:52 am |
Showing your age, just a little. I remember MYF changing to UMYF, but I do not remember being separate from the boys. We were all together in UMYF. I still belong to a Methodist church. Do you?
January 5, 2009 at 2:21 pm |
Leedra, I joined the Episcopal Church about 25 years ago. I’ll confess that I’ve also managed to subvert Betsy as well.
January 5, 2009 at 11:15 am |
This was an interesting post George! Great history! I bet it did give an odd feeling to know inmates watched you as you entered the church. How unusual that the two buildings were connected by a single wall.
January 5, 2009 at 12:58 pm |
I ask myself that question whenever I look at old photos too. MYF brings back wonderful memories for me …
I’m delighted you found me at Small Reflections. I’ve not yet figured out how to get your WordPress blog to recognize my Blogger ID, but I noticed you added yourself to my favorites, so I’m hoping you still know where those blogs are ;–)
Have a great day.
Hugs and blessings,
January 5, 2009 at 1:35 pm |
You must treasure these photos – loved hearing the history!
January 5, 2009 at 1:46 pm |
Isn’t it great going back over old photos and walking down memory lane? I always think it’s amazing that when you look back at being that young, you never felt that young. And when you look at current photos and see you’re not that young you think, I don’t feel that old.
🙂
January 5, 2009 at 2:19 pm |
2sweetnsaxy, I’m with you — I may be surprised that I was once that young, but I don’t feel all that old now. How could I possibly be a ‘senior citizen’?
January 5, 2009 at 3:07 pm |
Thank you for sharing the photo and such an interesting picture. Hope you have a great afternoon.
January 5, 2009 at 4:58 pm |
I’ve inherited all the family photo albums and am in the process of scanning in and editing them. It’s lovely to look back. How lucky you are to be sent the photo..
January 5, 2009 at 5:15 pm |
I bet this picture brought back a ton of memories for you! I enjoyed hearing the tale behind it.
January 5, 2009 at 6:19 pm |
Sounds like good memories.
January 5, 2009 at 7:34 pm |
always nice to look at old photos, and relive those memories.
Gill in Canada
January 5, 2009 at 8:20 pm |
Looks like a bunch of mischievous boys to me. 🙂 Oh, to be young again and know what I know now. 🙂
January 5, 2009 at 11:56 pm |
Nice to get a photo…I wasn’t born till 56…and I can’t believe it sometimes except when I try to do something physical…like getting out of the car..LOL..
January 6, 2009 at 12:32 am |
Oh, I love this post! *wide smile*
MommyWizdom
January 6, 2009 at 9:17 am |
Tootie, I keep hoping (for Betsy’s sake) that we get some snow. It doesn’t look too hopeful now.