332 Comments for City Methodist Church (Gary)

Okay. I think I'll cry now. (Sob!)

The church did not have a school. The rooms above the storefronts which were connected to the north of the church proper did serve as the first home for what became Indiana University Northwest.
The was designed to serve the needs of the city as well as their own congregation. It featured the gym, a 975 seat auditorium which had a seperate entrance and was used by many groups for musical shows, lectures, and plays put on by community theater groups. Below the sanctuary was a huge dining room and a full commercial kitchen.

love the photos

NBC nightly news just had a news story about the conditions of Gary today, and a news anchor had actually spoken from within the chapel here. It was very open, the place has practically no walls left. It was surprising that he was even in here. I don't think City Methodist has long left either way, if someone doesn't tear it down, it may just fall down. I normally vote to let nature take its course but i'm afraid it may be to dangerous for a place like this. What a beautiful place it was and still is even in ruins. shame the place has gone to waste.

I stumbled onto this site today and just spent a few hours absolutely captivated looking through your pictures. What would it have been like to walk down some of these halls? Sat on the manicured lawns? I wonder what happiness and fun took place in some of them, and in others I don't think I would care to know at all, the sorrow would be too great. Such grand places, such eerie places, some now so ominous, imposing almost dead. Yet you bring them to life. Sad and fascinating at the same time. I came back to this one picture because it is my favorite out of all of them. Light gently washing in, as if it is breathing life back into these old walls and cold halls. If only for a moment. You do wonderful work, and through your eyes I have seen and been to places I would never get to go. So thank you Motts. I look forward to more adventures!

comforting but unsettling at the same time...

I would expect that the blinds were there to block direct sunlight from getting in people's eyes at certain times of day, much like many restaurants do these days.

For an in-depth look at the City of Gary; past, present & future, check out the offerings on a web site created/maintained by one born and raised in the "Steel City."

http://GDYNets.WebNG.com/gary.htm
<a href="http://GDYNets.WebNG.com/gary.htm">Steel City</a>

I've had the opportunity to goto this church in its devastating despair.. It was once so beautiful I've been told..though the journey of being it was dangerous, some of the stairs were collapsing and the ceilings are caving in.

So peaceful. This place seems so at rest.

Just breathtaking

Still quite beautiful

Windows here are gorgeous. You can tell this place was once very grand.

I am hoping to travel to this location next month for photo shoots. I am hoping it goes well!

Churches leave the most beautiful ruins, just look at the abbeys that were abandoned in England after the reformation. Sometimes it is hard to say which is more beautiful the intact churches or the ruins.