U. S. Coal & Coke Company Gary No.2 community
In 1902 and with a massive workforce, construction began simultaneously on the communities where the No.1, No.2 and No.3 mines were being developed. The Gary No.2 community was located between and bordered No.1 (Wilcoe) and No.3 (Main Gary). With the heart of the community being situated within a few hundred yards of Main Gary, it did not have a company store or post office. Therefore, it wasn't given a community name other than "number two".
As seen in neighborhood photos, the coal company was intent on having communities kept in a neat and attractive condition. They did this in part by having a competition in each of the twelve communities for the best vegetable garden and the neatest and best kept yard. For those who could not afford seeds, the coal company supplied them. In August each year, independent outside judges were brought in by the coal company and they used a scorecard point system in judging the vegetable gardens and yards. The first-place winners in the garden and yard contest in each community were awarded a $10 prize and $5 for second place. Today, $10 may sound a bit trivial but $10 in 1920 would be equivalent to $150 in today's money. These contest gave residents the incentive to keep their property neat and the winners got the coveted bragging rights for getting first place.
By the 1930's, the coal company began referring to its No.2 mine as Alpheus but the community itself never assumed this name.
Today, much of the No.2 community is gone and the majority of the remaining homes are in the Wall Street neighborhood. And if you ask a resident in this community today where they live, they will likely say Gary number two.
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