The Guest House and the Club House

In 1922, Dr. William A. Wirt, founder of the Gary, lN school system, dreamt of a community of homes with spacious lots to preserve the natural beauty of the dunes. He obtained a 99 year lease on a 585 acre tract of land on Lake Michigan with 9,000 year old sand dunes. Dr. Wirt assigned this lease to a newly formed Dune Acres, lN in 1923, finalized in '1926.

The corporation built the clubhouse and a guesthouse with 12 rooms w/ baths to attract people to Dune Acres for a social life and to buy lots. The South Shore was running and US 12 was paved, making the town accessible. The clubhouse was completed in 1926 in the Adirondack style and open year round along with the guest house. Dinners were served on the first floor, dances were held on the second floor and shuffleboard was played on the third floor. Then the depression hit. The corporation was spending money on a water system, roads and street lights and needed to sell the clubhouse. The Town purchased it. lt was then open from April to October. ln 1933 the street lights were turned off to save money and never used again. Soon after, WWll slowed progress even more. ln 1946, the buildings were no longer used, the guest house being demolished in 1951.

Mrs. George Bennet and Mrs. Luther Swygert had an idea to use the clubhouse. They formed a Social Committee to plan and hold community parties there. The women in town would meet in the spring, volunteer to chair a party, publish a calendar with all residents assigned to a party. This format is still in place today and continues to evolve. Friendships are formed while working together on the party and the gatherings bring the community together.

In the late 80's it became apparent the building needed major repair. The recently formed Dune Acres Civic improvement Foundation, lnc. and the Town worked together to raise funds for restoration. We had a successful "Adopt-a-Window" campaign. windows, doors and rotten logs were replaced. The Social Committee paid for a new kitchen. A "Work Day" was held in Oct. 1991. Residents washed all interior logs, all windows and floors, pulled weeds, trimmed trees and stocked the kitchen. The brass markers on the window sills indicate the adoptee. The renovated clubhouse was inaugurated with "A Holiday Concert by Candlelight",the first of a series of holiday benefits for the Foundation.

In 1999, the northeast patio was laid and double doors were added. ln 2004, the Social Committee purchased new kitchen cabinets. ln 2008, an extensive log restoration took place after intensive research into the latest technology in preservation along with a new entryway, preserving the integrity of the building. A new front door was installed in 2010. The town has installed a sprinkler system and an all new electrical system. The foundation has purchased lighting and furniture in keeping with 1920 Adirondack decor.

ln addition to parties, residents are entitled to rent the clubhouse for private functions. The clubhouse became a National Historic Landmark on Jan, 25, 2007. Dr. Wright's vision of 1923 continues as townspeople take great pride in this asset to our community.