Indiana Landmarks is selling Gary’s Illinois Bell Telephone Building in preparation for relocating its Northwest Field Office to a Mid-Century Modern landmark in Valparaiso. The Nelson Algren Museum of Miller Beach and the Miller Beach Arts and Creative District, Inc., have agreed to purchase the 1928 building.

The Algren Museum, a long-time partner with Indiana Landmarks, houses an extensive collection of artifacts in the lower level of the telephone building connected to Chicago writer Nelson Algren, who lived in Miller Beach for many years. Miller Beach Arts and Creative District, Inc., is a community development corporation focused on leveraging the arts to support revitalization of Gary’s Lake Street corridor.

Proceeds from the sale will support a new partnership between Indiana Landmarks and Valparaiso University to preserve a standout mid-century landmark. This spring, Indiana Landmarks will begin rehabilitating the university’s Linwood House as part of a leasing agreement to use the site as its Northwest Field Office, which serves as a base of operations for preservation efforts in Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper, and White counties.

“This move continues Indiana Landmarks’ practice of investing in important community landmarks for use as regional offices around the state,” said Indiana Landmarks President Marsh Davis. “The partnership with Valparaiso University presents an exciting opportunity to highlight an architecturally significant property and expand our outreach by hosting public programs in the space.”

Built in 1959 to serve as a home for Valparaiso University President Dr. O.P. Kretzmann, Linwood House was designed by architect Charles E. Stade. Influenced by the Prairie-style aesthetic made popular by Frank Lloyd Wright and the Modernist principles of Le Corbusier, Stade incorporated horizontal sheathing, bands of large windows, stained glass, and elongated bricks matching other campus buildings he designed in the so-called “Valpo style,” including the 1959 Chapel of the Resurrection.

Linwood House continued to be home to university presidents through the 1970s and later served as office space. After the university vacated the house in 2024, faculty approached Indiana Landmarks about reuse possibilities to ensure the house’s preservation.

“In leasing Linwood House to Indiana Landmarks, Valparaiso University has confidence that the significant architectural features of this campus landmark will be protected and its legacy of use as a community gathering space will continue,” says Mark Volpatti, senior vice president for finance and administration at Valparaiso University.

Established in 2004, Indiana Landmarks’ Northwest Field Office previously operated out of historic buildings in Hammond, Hobart and Gary.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Blake Swihart, Director, Indiana Landmarks Northwest Field Office, 219-947-2657, bswihart@indianalandmarks.org

Mindi Woolman, Director of Marketing and Communications, Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534, mwoolman@indianalandmarks.org

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Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, strengthens connections to our diverse heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. For more information on the not-for-profit organization, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.