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Calumet Beginnings: Ancient Shorelines and Settlements at the South End of Lake Michigan
The landscape of the Calumet, an area that sits astride the Indiana–Illinois state line at the southern end of Lake Michigan was shaped by the glaciers that withdrew toward the end of the last ice age―about 45,000 years ago. In the years since, many natural forces, including wind, running water, and the waves of Lake Michigan, have continued to shape the land. The lake's modern and ancient shorelines have served as Indian trails, stagecoach routes, highways, and sites that have evolved into many of the cities, towns, and villages of the Calumet area. People have also left their mark on the Indians built mounds; farmers filled in wetlands; governments commissioned ditches and canals to drain marshes and change the direction of rivers; sand was hauled from where it was plentiful to where it was needed for urban and industrial growth. These thousands of years of weather and movements of peoples have given the Calumet region its distinct climate and appeal.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 5, 2019
I had to read this for my Indiana history class. I learned quite a few things about Northern Indiana that I had no idea about. I may re-read this at a later date so I can read the couple of chapters that we skipped. I do recommend it, it has many things about how Indian was settled and why when it came to the northern areas.
October 28, 2025
This was fascinating, and told in a way that is accessible to non-experts. Amazing research, and absolutely love that the author tells the reader where, today, they can still see remnants of the ancient past in northwest Indiana. Anyone from "the region" all the way to Michigan City, will love this tightly and efficiently written history of the area.
December 16, 2024
History and geography of the south suburbs
January 28, 2016
As this book details the very specific history of the area at the southern tip of Lake Michigan--with particular emphasis on its geologic history from the Ice Age onwards--it will admittedly have a very limited audience. But at I grew up there, I enjoyed it.
The author, whose family not only has long roots in the area but who also was a middle- and high-school science teacher, particularly excels in describing the legacy of the Ice Age glaciers. And probably because he was used to teaching disinterested adolescents, he makes that history simple to understand without lading it full of technicality and jargon.
Unfortunately, being more of a scientist than a historian, his narrative becomes rather dull when human beings enter the scene. Whereas the glaciers produced drama, the humans don't have much life to them. We get a lot of recitation about who became postmaster where and when, and what churches were founded where and when, but these are simply catalogues of facts, not true history. Take simply one community, the major city of the area: Gary, Indiana. Anyone who grew up there knows that Gary came into being in 1906 when US Steel decided to build its premier steel plants there. Certainly there must have been drama in that, e.g. the politics that made it happen, the disruption caused by those already resident there. There is barely a hint of any conflict. Furthermore, the young Gary became the site of some progressive experimentation, especially in education. The schools were showcases of a sort. What brought that about? We get not a word.
Perhaps these details were beyond the purpose of the book. But precisely because the opening chapters of the book concerning geologic history were done so well, the remaining chapters were a disappointment.
The author, whose family not only has long roots in the area but who also was a middle- and high-school science teacher, particularly excels in describing the legacy of the Ice Age glaciers. And probably because he was used to teaching disinterested adolescents, he makes that history simple to understand without lading it full of technicality and jargon.
Unfortunately, being more of a scientist than a historian, his narrative becomes rather dull when human beings enter the scene. Whereas the glaciers produced drama, the humans don't have much life to them. We get a lot of recitation about who became postmaster where and when, and what churches were founded where and when, but these are simply catalogues of facts, not true history. Take simply one community, the major city of the area: Gary, Indiana. Anyone who grew up there knows that Gary came into being in 1906 when US Steel decided to build its premier steel plants there. Certainly there must have been drama in that, e.g. the politics that made it happen, the disruption caused by those already resident there. There is barely a hint of any conflict. Furthermore, the young Gary became the site of some progressive experimentation, especially in education. The schools were showcases of a sort. What brought that about? We get not a word.
Perhaps these details were beyond the purpose of the book. But precisely because the opening chapters of the book concerning geologic history were done so well, the remaining chapters were a disappointment.
December 26, 2015
Dr. Schoon presents the history of the Calumet Region of Indiana (i.e., Northwest Indiana) by focusing his effort on the "history of place" over time. Thus, the reader is introduced to places in the Calumet Region and their historical development.
Intermixed with history is a geological history of the region that, in part, defined the area's frontier development.
The book reminded much of a historical gazetteer, where one learns about why a village popped up where it did and how it developed. Current and former residents of the Calumet Region would likely find Dr. Schoon book to be a fascinating read.
My only significant criticism of the book is that it seemed somewhat cursory in its presentation. Given Dr. Schoon's access to the primary historical archive in the subject area, I expected there to be much more detail, illustrations, facts, figures, photographs, etc. Perhaps his editor(s) or publisher limited the scope of the his project. If that's the case, then it is unfortunate since Dr. Schoon's writing style makes the book very easy and entertaining to read.
Intermixed with history is a geological history of the region that, in part, defined the area's frontier development.
The book reminded much of a historical gazetteer, where one learns about why a village popped up where it did and how it developed. Current and former residents of the Calumet Region would likely find Dr. Schoon book to be a fascinating read.
My only significant criticism of the book is that it seemed somewhat cursory in its presentation. Given Dr. Schoon's access to the primary historical archive in the subject area, I expected there to be much more detail, illustrations, facts, figures, photographs, etc. Perhaps his editor(s) or publisher limited the scope of the his project. If that's the case, then it is unfortunate since Dr. Schoon's writing style makes the book very easy and entertaining to read.
November 28, 2007
The first geologic history portion was very interesting and lead up nicely to the regional and individual community histories, which were fairly basic, sometimes repetitive, and felt incomplete. A geology and geography story of the area can be extrapolated into a fascinating and useful story that helps explain the region today.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews