File:Katherine House of Christian Fellowship, circa 1920 - Indiana Harbor, Indiana (52391272487).jpg

KATHERINE HOUSE, IND. HARBOR, IND

Production Date: Circa 1920 Source Type: Postcard Printer, Publisher, Photographer: possibly P. L. Huckins Postmark: None Collection: Steven R. Shook Remark: Katherine House of Christian Fellowship, named in honor of Mrs. Katherine Westpahl of Chicago, is located at the southeast corner of the intersection of 138th Street and Deodar Street in East Chicago [Indiana Harbor], Lake County, Indiana. It was constructed as a "twin building" of the Baptist Settlement House located in nearby Hammond. The building still stands [2022] and currently houses Ministero Torre Fuerte. The building to the immediate right of Katherine House no longer exists.

Katherine House, established in 1919, essentially served as a community building where various social services and charity work were provided to community members. A baby clinic, established to lower infant mortality, was one such social service provided by Katherine House, which appears evident by the strollers visible in this postcard photograph. The building also served as a meeting place for a large variety of organizations.

One source states that "Its [Katherine House] purpose was to create a place where people, especially foreign born, could find friendly counsel, guidance, and worthwhile educational and recreational facilities. East Chicago in 1919, as now [1947], was in need of a neighborhood center to curb delinquency by furnishing people a clean wholesome environment. The project was made possible through the financial support of the Indiana Baptist Convention and the Women's Baptist Missionary Society. Upon the founding of the East Chicago Community Chest, Katherine House became one of its beneficiaries, receiving part of its support from this source. Although Katherine House received its impetus from Baptist sources, it has been operated on a non-sectarian basis. It conducts religious services as part of its diversified program, but these services are wholly on a non-sectarian basis. Its Board of Directors has included people of many religious beliefs and three of the presidents of Katherine House in recent years have been, in order, a Baptist, a Catholic, and a Methodist."

This building was later used as to house the Katherine House Boys & Girls Club of the City of East Chicago.

Sources: Bolton, Floyd B., John P. Fox, James P. Petronella, and Lillian Sowerby. 1947. East Chicago: A Historical Description. East Chicago, Indiana: East Chicago Public Schools. 112 p. [see p. 65]

The Lake County Times, Hammond, Lake County, Indiana; September 13,1919; Volume 8, Number 32, Page 7, Column 3. Column titled "Concert for Katherine House is Postponed."

The Lake County Times, Hammond, Lake County, Indiana; September 20,1919; Volume 8, Number 33, Page 6, Column 2. Column titled "Katherine House to be Dedicated."

The Lake County Times, Hammond, Lake County, Indiana; January 20, 1920; Volume 9, Number 172, Page 2, Column 5. Column titled "Organize Central Body to Care for All Charity Work."