Burdick: Where the Trains Once Stopped: The Story of a Railroad Town in Jackson Township, Porter County, Indiana

by Janet Brown Cubic

In the 1940s, the historic presidential railcar once used by Woodrow Wilson sat parked in a quiet clearing in Burdick, Indiana—a tiny railroad town that time nearly erased. If you are a Northwest Indiana history enthusiast, you have likely hit a wall searching for verified records of Porter County's forgotten hamlets. Burdick Where the Trains Once Stopped is a reflective local history and biography that reconstructs this Jackson Township community. Author Jan Cubic uses land deeds, census records, and personal journals to rescue the voices of the pioneers who lived along the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern line. Inside, you will - Eyewitness accounts of John Dillinger’s gang visits. - Researched profiles of foundational families, including the Andersons, the Simms family, and postmaster John M. Bendell. - The story of Rice Acres, Fish Creek, and the arrival of the presidential railcar Mayflower. This book is for Porter County residents and genealogists who want to bypass fragmented archives and map their own ancestral lines. You will walk away with a clear, verified connection to the pioneers who settled Jackson Township. Grab your copy today to begin exploring the ghost towns in your backyard.

169 pages, Paperback

Published August 3, 2026

Reviews

[Jeannette]

What a delightful little book. All the better because it was written by a friend of mine who I met when we worked at the local library together. Lots of memories and a few things you didn't know like buying a house from Sears Roebuck and having all the parts shipped to you on the train. It reminded me of Zero candy bars, which I love, but haven't had in years. Lots of memories for the author and lots of history for this part of the country. As I was reading this book I kept thinking of the book "Fried Green tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe." Lots of facts and interesting people who worked hard, had families and continued with life. Kudos to Janet!!! I call these types of books "down home" books.