The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-05-19
WHITE
HOUSE, IS
IN ASHES
Famous Halfway House at
Forsyth Destroyed This
This Afternoon by Fire;
Big Structure One of His
toric Spots of the City.

A heap of ashes and ruins is all
that remains tonight of the once
notorious White House at Forsythe.
the big frame building and its con-
tents representing a value approx
mately of $4,000, having burned to
the ground this afternoon.
Fire, which had it's origin in a
room on the third floor, broke out at
1880 this afternoon and spread from
there quickly to the roof and the
third story and on down to the
foundation.
Fire department. No of Hammond,
No. of Robertsdale. the engine from
the Hammond Central station and the
Whiting fire department responded to
the alarm, but with only one water
plug to which TO attach the hose they
were practically helpless.
LEASED BY DICK SMITH.
| The White House. the Wolf Lake
Club House, as It was properly known,
was the property Of the oliver Forsythe
estate. but was occupied by Dick Smith
and his family of South Chicago, who
conducted the place. It was originally
built a club house for a Chicago club,
was surrounded by seventy five acres of
land, but Forsythe was compelled to
foreclose on mort gage which he held,
and in that wey 1t came into his possess
sion For a time he occupied himself,
and in those days and earlier it enjoyed
the distinction of being quite an exclu-
] sive place for Chicago people,
| CHANGE TO ROAD HOUSE.
Later, however. the place degener-
| ated into an ordinary road house, at
| which business was stimulated during
| the days of the Roby track. In ts later
| days, owing to the street car accommo-
| dations, and the growth of the sur
! rounding towns, the place became a re-
sort to which the attention of the po-
lice was called repeatedly. but lately
no unsavory rumors were heard.
The building and contents are said to
have been insured. Smith having ac-
cording to report, asked only few
ance on the household furniture from
Richard schaaf, Sr. He carried an in
surance of s2,S00. and asked for an in
crease to $4,000 to become effective as
soon as his s2,S00 policy should have
expired.
ONLY TWO HORSES FOR Use.
The fire demonstrated again that the
fire department is handicapped witt
only two horses to the steamer The
| protection of property demands tha
three horses be used on long run, ane
this demand is fully supported by any
humane society. AS 1t is now two horse.
compelled to haul four-ton steamer a
breakneck speed for five miles over a.
bad a stretch of road as there is in tn,
county. The property that might b,
saved by one quick run would easil,
pay for an additional horse on tn,
steamer
The building itself was insured 70
$4,000, which was carried by the II
Schrage Insurance agency of Whiting
, This amount, however. does not begin
to cover the actual loss in the destruc
ton of the building.
COULD SEE FLAMES.
Any one standing on the roof of ;
high building in the business distric
Souiu nay Z ooSi eio HditiSS oI the IRE d
: they leaped above the clouds of smoke
Hundreds of people rushed to tn
scene from all directions in street cars
automobiles and other vehicles. and
q was feared that the fire might destro
y the trolley wires on the street car line
Inasmuch as the White House wa
4 never much of paying proposition
: because of its size and expense in up
4 keep, it having had fortv rooms tn
s. probabilities are that If the place
: rebuilt that it will not be on so large
i scare.