Page 20 - Demo

18With a progressive minister at the helm, this once magnificent house of worship had an inclusive congregation, counting both Blacks and Whites as parishioners. This was remarkable in a time%u2014the 1920s%u2014when most churches were sharply segregated. Not surprisingly, the church membership eventually grew to several thousand. However, by the 1970s, attendance was only a tenth of what it had been, and services ceased. For a while, another congregation took over the building. After a relatively short stay they, too, moved out. Then came a devastating fire in 1997, followed by a decade of rampant vandalism.A Gothic RuinHeading northwest one sunny morning, I involuntarily cringed in the passenger seat as we neared Gary%u2019s city limits. %u201cJohn, should we be going to Gary?%u201d I knew I was unfairly linking Gary with it former reputation, but still I wondered%u2026 %u201cSure, we%u2019ll be fine,%u201d came his quick and reassuring response.Logically, I knew the local crime rate had declined. I also knew Gary was making real progress at reinventing and reinvigorating itself after a near total collapse several decades earlier. An attractive lakeside stadium had been built, blocks of single-family housing were going up and, in 2008, it had been named a top city for jobs by Forbes Magazine.Minutes later, we were on Gary%u2019s main thoroughfare%u2014Broadway Street%u2014with its new concrete curbs and sidewalks, recently-installed street lights, and tree plantings. But, while Broadway itself looked fresh and updated, most of the facing buildings were badly rundown, with vacant lots abounding. There was just a smattering of storefront businesses still operating, with only a few parked cars, and even fewer pedestrians. The contrast between the impressive street improvements, and the forlorn commercial district, was jarring.Breaking my reverie, John turned left onto 6th Street, and pulled over to the curb. I looked up and gasped. Before us was a Gothic ruin of impressive size and presence. It was City Methodist Church (erected in 1925 as First Methodist), a once-beautiful limestone edifice. It had cost a staggering $650,000 to build, half of which was contributed by the city%u2019s founding company, U.S. Steel. With a towering belfry, large auditorium, multiple classrooms, inspiring leaded-glass windows, huge limestone columns, and oak-paneled sanctuary, it was a landmark all of Gary must have been proud of.First Methodist Church, 1925%u2014Gary, Lake Co. (686.10)