Edward C. Minas Department Store


 

    The Edward C. Minas Department Store, was located on the south side of East State Street (building on the left).  It was a locally owned retail establishment known for its quality household goods. For many years, the Hammond High School Madrigal Choir would be invited each Christmas to walk the aisles and sing Carols to Holiday shoppers. The store served Calumet area customers for nearly 100 years before changes in America's shopping habits and the decline of the downtown shopping district contributed to its demise.  The Minas Family was a strong community benefactor and was well respected by everyone.

This photo was taken in 1920, looking west toward Hohman Avenue. Across the street from Minas' was Millikan's, known for its vast selection of 45 rpm Rock 'n Roll records. You could actually take a record, go into a listening booth with your friends (as many as could fit into the telephone-sized container), and spin the record, playing it before you decided to buy it.  In the center of the picture on the left side of State Street just beyond the Minas store, was the Orpheum Theatre
 
  

 
   

   
    Here is a picture of the Edward C. Minas store (right) as you look east on State Street in Hammond. Across the street you can see the "Bijou Photoplays", an early title to "movies" which competed with vaudeville. If you look closely at the first image at the top of this page, you will see that the Bijou changed its sign from "Vaudeville" to "Photoplays." The white building on the left, behind the American flag, is the Hammond Federal Building, which housed the post office. (Image compliments of Bill Yodel)    
   


It was thought that remodeling the Minas building would help save it from demolition. The State Street Lofts was to be a housing project that would attract others to live in the downtown area. By this time, however, much of the city's downtown infrastructure was gone and living in downtown Hammond was not desirable.

    
   
   
    This is what remains of the Edward C. Minas establishment (looking south from State Street frontage)

You can see a step-by-step demolition of the building, by clicking the link below, then use your BACK key to return to this webpage.

See Minas Demolition