It’s time to recognize women who played basketball over the last 46 years. Read More
Tag: history
Mr. Gierkey – 50 years with Staiger Hardware
Mr. William Gierkey began work at Staiger Hardware Store in Michigan City, Indiana on August 7, 1897. By August 7, 1946, he was still working there as a clerk and deliveryman. In fact, two co-workers had been there 40+ years–Staiger must’ve treated their employees well.
Because the photograph was taken with a film camera, the photo negative was there that day at 613 Franklin Street, greeted William Gierkey, captured his moment forever, and it is still with us today. Read More
Sixty Years and Counting- A record that stands alone
In 2016, I interviewed Don Larsen for the 60th anniversary of the only World Series perfect game that he pitched. Here is the story.
October 8, 1956. A 27-year-old pitcher born in Michigan City, Indiana, crossed the chalked white line of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York City, and took the mound against the Brooklyn Dodgers in game 5 of the World Series. Larsen was surprised to be there. Read More
Car Crash – Pecha Kucha presentation
https://www.pechakucha.org/cities/st-joseph/presentations/car-crash-a-photo-book
It’s not all about the twisted metal. It’s about the exploration. These scenes captured a bygone era. The photos captured the human spirit. There is art in everyday life. Learn more from my Pecha Kucha presentation I delivered in St. Joseph, Michigan, about my photobook, “Car Crash: Historic photographs 1937-1948.”
If you’re interested in buying a copy of the book, send an email to mwerner97@gmail.com.
The Patch Players – Basketball was a respite from life’s daily injustice
Dave Greer and I sat in his basement drinking coffee. Behind him was a wall covered with trophies: bowling trophies won by his wife, Vivian, his son and daughter’s awards from Rogers High School, a color silhouette of Greer in a basketball uniform. The largest one recognized Greer as an outstanding scholar-athlete at Elston High School.
Greer remembered the night he became the first area player to shoot a jump shot in a varsity basketball game. It was 1953 and many people considered a one-handed jump shot showboating. It was an away game at an all-white school.
“They called me all kind of negative names,” Greer said. “They called me everything but God. We were the only black thing in there,” referring to himself and teammates Bill Wright and Braelon Donaldson. “The word — never heard it so many times in one day.” Read More
Stillwell’s Mightiest Viking
Look around and you will find amazing stories everywhere, tucked away, hoping to be discovered. Sometimes the stories require searching to flesh them out. Such was the case of a glass photo negative discovered in a box. The player wearing number eleven was Leon Antrim. Leon grew up in Stillwell, Indiana. He and his teammate, Clarence Spier, were photographed in the LaPorte Civic Auditorium on March 5, 1937. But, why? Read More