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Hammond Indiana

Subject	Message	Replies
The Dunes Date: 05-27-2009 By: Paddy	With summer upon us, my mind turns to the Indiana Dunes, or the "Dunes" as we called them. One nice thing about going to Noll High School was having friends from all over Hammond, EC and Gary. We would meet at the Dunes to sun, swim and play while listening to the emerging music genre, rock and roll. I cherish the days. My last day at the Dunes was in the spring of 1959, just before graduation. I wish that I could remember my "steady" girlfriend's name at the time, but I cannot. What I do remember is that we went swimming - her with my class ring on her finger - and then waded back to the beach with her ring finger sans ring. Maybe it remains buried in the sands awaiting a dramatic reunion when someone spots this gemstone and tracks me down. More likely, someone found it long ago and pawned it for a few bucks. No matter. Even if I got it back, it wouldn't help me who I entrusted it to in the first place. If you want to see what the Dunes were like back in this old codger's day, rent the film titled "Four Friends."	21

Replies

Date	Member	Message
05-28-2009 ( Reply#: 3130 )	dilligaf717	I remember camping at the Dunes when I was in Boy Scouts in the late 60's. We used to go to a cabin in a special area there. I believe it was called Camp Nysaki or something like that. We hiked until we thought our legs were about to fall off. Climbed Mount Tom, went to the Big Blowout. All over the park. What great memories. I guess that is why I chose to live on the Gulf Coast here in Texas. That and no snow. LOL Jim Still runnin against the wind.
05-28-2009 ( Reply#: 3135 )	duane	Like Jim and Pat, I too had many experiences at the Dunes that are fondly remembered. We went there some times with my family when I was young. Later, when my brother got his driver's license (he was 4 years older than me)the two of us would frequently go there. We'd stop at the A&W in Gary (near Miller) and get a glass gallon of root beer, which we would throw in the Lake Michigan with a rope tied to the shore. We thought it would keep the pop cold, but of course, the lake was probably about 70 degrees! Of course in High School, the Dunes was a hangout and a place to go on dates, and the ONLY place to go the day after prom. I went to the dedication of the Dunes National Lakeshore in the early 1970's and saw Trish Nixon speak on how her father was bringing the parks to the people. I also had an experience not many people have had...I worked at the Dunes. In the summer of 1973 and 1974 I worked on the trail crew and the beach cleanup crew. This was no easy job, as many of you may remember the alewife die-off of those years. Each day we would go to the beach early (around 7AM) and rake dead alewives, dig a hole and push them in. So that when folks got to the beach, at least there weren't rotten stinking fish on the sand (but there were still lots of them floating in the water!) In 1976 after I graduated from Forestry school, I worked for about a year as a Park Ranger at the Dunes National Lakeshore. I also would do beach patrol, checking for underage drinkers (we'd make them pour it out on the sand) and for naked sunbathers up on the first dune. I actually had to convince young ladies to put their suits back on. Ah, what a tough job!! It was a fun time, but what I enjoyed most was working with school groups that would come to the park, especially the kindergarteners who were so fun and would draw pictures and send them to the "Ranger" as a thank you for their hike!
05-29-2009 ( Reply#: 3136 )	Alan Vandever	All this talk of the dunes, I thought I'd post one of my paintings from there. Maybe it'll bring back some memories. [IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/alanvandever/Dunesgrass72.jpg[/IMG]
05-29-2009 ( Reply#: 3137 )	Tom J	Whoa! Alan! You painted that???? I LOVE it! Nice work. Tom
05-29-2009 ( Reply#: 3138 )	Alan Vandever	Thanks, I have a few more from there, I'll post them as well if you like.
05-29-2009 ( Reply#: 3139 )	Alan Vandever	Just a couple more dunes paintings. [IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/alanvandever/StormyDunes72.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/alanvandever/Beached72.jpg[/IMG] These may bring back some memories.
05-29-2009 ( Reply#: 3140 )	Tom J	Alan, I'm not an art critic, but your paintings are beautiful as far as I am concerned. They really "take you there." You have captured the essence of the Dunes on canvas. Tom
05-29-2009 ( Reply#: 3141 )	wvcogs	Those are great. If there are more, how about posting them? Ken...
05-29-2009 ( Reply#: 3142 )	Alan Vandever	I do a lot of marine stuff but not all are of the dunes. I do have some reference shots I will post as soon as I can get them uploaded.
05-29-2009 ( Reply#: 3144 )	duane	Best artwork I have ever seen of the Dunes. You have captured the beauty and essence of the Dunes. I especially like the first picture, but all are great.
05-30-2009 ( Reply#: 3145 )	S C Jones	Alan, Beautiful work--water color? Thank you for sharing them.
05-30-2009 ( Reply#: 3151 )	Alan Vandever	Thanks for all the nice words. Yes, it's all watercolor.
05-31-2009 ( Reply#: 3154 )	Alan Vandever	OK, I got some time so I'm posting a few shots of the Indiana Dunes. Enjoy! [IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/alanvandever/DSC_7300.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/alanvandever/DSC_7251.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/alanvandever/DSC_7250.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o72/alanvandever/DSC_7262.jpg[/IMG]
05-31-2009 ( Reply#: 3157 )	duane	Alan, your artwork (both watercolor and photography) are just beautiful. I have never seen anyone capture the Dunes as you have. Have you done any shows? I truly believe that you should talk to Park managers (and the Save the Dunes Council) and have a showing of your work. It is truly breathtaking.
06-01-2009 ( Reply#: 3164 )	Alan Vandever	Duane, Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments. I will look into those things. Thanks again, Al.
06-01-2009 ( Reply#: 3165 )	FloridaKelly	Great pictures that bring back great memories. I haven't been to the Dunes in 25 years. Such a treasure. Thanks so much for sharing!! Kelly Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments. I will look into those things. Thanks again, Al. [/quote]
06-02-2009 ( Reply#: 3167 )	Bill Bucko	All of the artwork is highly competent, but DSC_7300 and DSC_7262 are more than that--they're MAGNIFICENT! In addition to the high level of technical skill, there's the clarity, the beautiful composition! They remind me of Caspar David Friedrich and Maxfield Parrish! THANK you! Bill Warren G. Harding Class of '63
06-02-2009 ( Reply#: 3168 )	wvcogs	Hey Alan, I hope you don't mind me saying this... If the rest of you guys are interested in seeing more of his fine paintings, just search for his name on Google. Ken...
06-03-2009 ( Reply#: 3169 )	Alan Vandever	I don't mind at all. Thank you all for all the nice comments.
06-03-2009 ( Reply#: 3170 )	Tom J	I checked 'em out. I really, really liked them. You have been blessed with a great talent, Alan. Tom
08-13-2009 ( Reply#: 3536 )	BobK	In the summer we like to take early evening rides on the motorcycle along the lakefront in the National Lakeshore. I wish they had the money to repave the streets. Bob [img]http://home.comcast.net/~rkekeis/Bob1.jpg[/img]