Merrillville Kicks off 50th Year Celebration with First of 3 Planned Events

The Town of Merrillville celebrated its first of three planned events on Saturday, May 22nd, to commemorate the Town’s 50th anniversary this December. The town incorporated December 30th, 1971. The first event was to celebrate the first couple decades of Merrillville’s inception and was held at the very first Town Hall at 13 West 73rd Avenue. The old high school was turned into the first town hall with two floors of office space for Planning and Building, Town Administrator, Town Council, the first Clerk-Treasurer’s office, and the Police Department with communication room for those first 13 police officers.
Merrillville residents toured the Ross Township Museum on Saturday, May 22, 2021 celebrating Merrillville's birthday year!
The event also offered free tours of the building which is now the Ross Township Historical Society who operates the two-story building as a museum loaded with memorabilia from when Merrillville was even a town!
Ross Township Historical Society members were present to answer questions about the many displays in the old two-story first Town Hall of Merrillville. It was first a school many decades ago.
Over 200 residents came to the event that sponsored lunch and other refreshments for all who attended. There was a large signature board that will travel to other celebration locations and will eventually be on display in either the current Municipal Building at 78th and Broadway, or at the new Dean and Barbara White Community Center on 66th and Broadway.
From left to right, Merrillville Police Chief Luther Cuttino, Merrillville Town Councilman Jeff Minchuk and Council President Rick Bella enjoy the day at the Merrillville 50th Birthday Celebration kick-off event on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at the Ross Township Museum.
The next event is planned for August 14th and will be held at Town Hall (Merrillville Municipal Complex). I’ll post details once those are complete. For now, save the date! We might have a building open-house, food, and entertainment. This event is to celebrate the next couple decades of our Town’s history. I will be part of that celebration since I served on the Town Council in the past, from 1991 through 2003! Twelve years before coming back to serve you all again last year in 2020. It has been my honor to be part of our towns great history and I love the way we have grown over the years.
Merrillville's first ever Town Manager, Tom Keilman with wife Kim stopped by to see his old office upstairs in the old Town Hall. Tom started in 1993 and helped move Merrillville into the new Municipal Complex which was the former Tepe's Catalog Showroom store at 78th & Broadway.
I embrace our diversity and believe it helps for the town in which we enjoy today! Plan to stop by on August 14th to say hello, meet your elected leaders, department heads, and see some fun history about your town!
Fairly new to town, new Merrillville residents stopped by to learn more about their new town. They moved here from Illinois and love their new community!
Merrillville School Board member Delena Thomas (Distrct 2) speaks with Merrillville Town Council President Rick Bella at the Happy Birthday Merrillville celebration on May 22. Over 200 residents came to tour the museum and share in refreshments provided by the town.

You may view all of the photographs captured during the event by using the link listed below.

Click here to see photos: http://bellaphotographs.smugmug.com/Events/Happy-50th-Birthday-Merrillville-/

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for August 14th for our 2nd event to be held at Town Hall at 7820 Broadway. Details to come! 

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