October Meeting
Oct
23
5:30 PM17:30

October Meeting

We are excited to announce that our monthly meetings will now be held at Calumet College in the Gallery on the second floor. We look forward to welcoming everyone to this new meeting space. Our meetings are free and open to everyone.

Join us for a talk by Brian Lowry on the “History of Calumet College.” Lowry has a long history with the Whiting-Robertsdale community and is currently serving as the Director of Grants & External Affairs at the college.

Now that our meetings are at Calumet College, what better way to get to know more about one of our important local institutions. The college offered the Regions first bachelor’s degrees and the original building for the college was donated by Standard Oil. Now it is busy continuing to grow and enhance its relationship with the community.

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November Meeting
Nov
20
12:00 PM12:00

November Meeting

We are excited to announce that our monthly meetings will now be held at Calumet College in the Gallery on the second floor. We look forward to welcoming everyone to this new meeting space. Our meetings are free and open to everyone.

Local lawyer and historian David Dabertin will be giving a talk about “The True Roots of Bluegrass,” focused on Bill Monroe’s connection to the area. Monroe is considered the “Father of Bluegrass” and he blended, “fiddle music and bagpipe sounds imported from the British Isles, African-American blues and holiness gospel, American Great Awakening hymnody, as well as hill country dance music and the thrilling new rhythms of hot jazz." to create a whole new genre of music that evolved over time.  The Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Festival is the longest-running bluegrass festival in the world held annually in Bean Blossom, Indiana. It was established in 1966 by Bill Monroe himself.

The talk is sure to bring the love of blue grass out to everyone who attends!

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January Meeting
Jan
22
12:00 PM12:00

January Meeting

Join us for our first meeting in 2026! Cathy Draeger-Williams, archaeologist at the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, will be giving a talk about the “Archaeology in Our Community.”

While much of what we have on display at the Whiting-Robertsdale History Center is from the 19th, 20th, and 21st Century, our Region’s history goes back long before settlers arrived and Standard Oil was first built. Join us to learn more about the deep history of our community.

As a reminder, our meetings are held at Calumet College on the 2nd floor gallery room.

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September Meeting
Sep
25
12:00 PM12:00

September Meeting

We are excited to announce that our monthly meetings will now be held at Calumet College in the Gallery on the second floor. We look forward to welcoming everyone to this new meeting space. Our meetings are free and open to everyone.

On Thursday, September 25 we will welcome Bruce Johnson for a “Hell’s Bellle” talk about infamous local serial killer Belle Gunness. Johnson is a board member of the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum .

While Gunness’s last known and most diabolical home was in LaPorte, records indicate that a dentist who worked out of the building that is now the Whiting-Robertsdale History Center was involved in the investigation.

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Ladies Tea
Apr
27
1:00 PM13:00

Ladies Tea

The Whiting Robertsdale Historical Society will hold  a Ladies Tea on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at the Whiting Knights of Columbus Hall located on the corner of 1120 – 119th Street. Teatime is 1 pm – 3 pm in the easily accessible hall which will be transformed for the afternoon.   

Ladies (and gents) are invited to gather for a lovely afternoon respite of finger sandwiches, desserts, and aromatic teas.  Attendees are invited to wear their very Sunday best.  And ladies, hats are strongly encouraged! 

Special items from the Historical Society’s collection will be on display, along with a unique collection of tea accessories.  Please bring your own teacup to use and share its history!  Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased online or at the Whiting-Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce.  All proceeds go to support the Historical Society and History Center.

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Groundhog Day Gala
Feb
1
6:00 PM18:00

Groundhog Day Gala

Dust off your top hat, grab your calendar and circle February 1, 2025 to save the date for the Second Annual Groundhog’s Day Gala at the Whiting Knights of Columbus Hall. The event will run from 6 pm — 11 pm.

Just like the first one, this fundraiser will be a “hole” lot of fun and include dinner, entertainment, and an open bar. All money raised will go towards supporting our new Whiting-Robertsdale History Museum opening in 2025.

Tickets for the Gala are on sale now. Grab them early because the first Gala was a sell out! Individual tickets are $100 and tables are $800 and include eight seats.

Tickets can be purchased by mailing a check to PO Box 592, Whiting, IN 46394 or online.

If you or your business would like to contribute an item for the silent auction or sponsor part of the festivities, please contact Gayle Kosalko at (219) 659-8129 or puccini99@aol.com.

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November Membership Meeting
Nov
21
12:00 PM12:00

November Membership Meeting

Join local writer and historian Joseph Pete, who will be talking about his latest book, Lost East Chicago and Indiana Harbor.

Program is held at the Whiting-Robertsdale History Center and everyone is welcome. Event is free, donations are appreciated. Refreshments are provided.

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October Meeting
Oct
24
5:30 PM17:30

October Meeting

A Night of History & Hauntings

This special after-hours meeting will feature presentations about the location’s history and the results from a series of paranormal investigations conducted in the building. The History Center of Whiting-Robertsdale has had reporting’s of strange occurrences in addition to a storied history. Be sure to join us as we cover all things historical and spooky about our new museum space. It's sure to be a scream!

Program is held at the Whiting-Robertsdale History Center and everyone is welcome. Event is free, donations are appreciated. Refreshments are provided.

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September Member Meeting
Sep
26
12:00 PM12:00

September Member Meeting

Everyone, start your engines at the Whiting-Robertsdale Historical Society’s first meeting, Thursday. Sept. 26 at noon as we host Stan Kalwasinski.  This racing historian and author will talk about that famous old one-mile dirt track that was once a Midwestern auto racing hot bed.

Program is held at the Whiting-Robertsdale History Center and everyone is welcome. Event is free, donations are appreciated. There are refreshments, Q&A time, and old racing photos to enjoy.

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