(La Porte, IN) - The La Porte County Historical Society will be presenting its annual awards for the “Historians of the Year.”

 

The program is scheduled September 19th at 7:00 P.M. at the Historical Society Museum at 2405 Indiana Avenue in La Porte.

 

There will be five honorees.

 

The individual “Historian of the Year” will be Gloria Arndt, who has spent many years doing research not only on family genealogy, but has helped many others with their own family histories.

 

She has worked with other genealogists on researching and compiling listings of more than 85 La Porte County cemeteries, in addition to having written several books on Michigan City and La Porte County history.

 

The “Historian of the Past” is Jasper Packard, who was a local superintendent of schools, Civil War General, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, newspaper editor, and author of the first book of the history of La Porte County for the U.S. Centennial in 1876.

 

The historical organization being honored is the Michigan City Historical Society, founded in 1927. In 1965, Michigan City leased the old lighthouse to the organization for use as a museum. After 8 years of restoration, the Michigan City Historical Society opened their new home to the public in 1973 as the Old Lighthouse Museum.

 

Two county businesses will also be recognized for their many years of continuous service and beyond.

 

Fenker’s Furniture will be honored for 120 years of their family-owned business in La Porte. Fred Fenker started Fenker’s Finer Furniture in 1903, and after moving to several locations in downtown La Porte, opened its own newly-built store in 1925.

Horizon Bank is being recognized for 150 years of service in La Porte County. The bank was chartered as the First National Bank of Michigan City in 1873 and has been at its present location since 1920.

 

The event is open to the general public with refreshment to follow the presentations.