The L. Fish Furnature Building (Originally Greenwald Brothers) - This building, is used by the Spanish Depatment of First Baptist Church. Currently, the Spanish Ministry is renovating the top floor. Also, a Filipino Sunday school class has been started in the basement.
The American Trust & Savings Bank - This former bank, is a recent (as of 10-17-2001) purchase by First Baptist, in preparation to relocate some of their Sunday school classes. An interesting fact: this bank was used as part of the set for an episode of the CBS TV show, Early Edition.
The Odd Fellows Building -This is, yet again, a new purchase by First Baptist. This will hold Bro. Bob Hooker's Sweetheart Couples' class (formerly taught by Dr. Jeff Owens) as well as the deaf department. It was discovered that it contains its own radio station facilities, so our new radio station will be located there.
The DAV Building (Formerly Sears and Roebuck) - This(as of 2-24-2002) is now the home of the High School I and Singles departments.
The Former Gerins' Building (Formerly a SINGER sewing machine store - Can you notice the creative name change??) - It just so happened that on the day that I drove out to Hammond to take some pictures for this website (2-19-2002), that this store was being torn down. Might I also add that this was at 9:30 in the morning! Again, this will be part of the site of the new auditorium.
The Minas Department Store - Yet another recent purchase by First Baptist, it, has been torn down to make way for the new auditorium. Also, the city has taken the facade to use in a future building project. Recently (As of 9-26-02), cranes are being used to dig up what's left of the foundation. Until I get my pictures uploaded, check out hammondindiana.com's Page on the Demolition. Just click here.
The Henderson Building - This building, built in 1885 was the oldest in Downtown Hammond. At one time, this was was the display department of the Minas' store. Now, it is unsafe to use. First Baptist has purchased it, to make room for the new auditorium. The city had said that they would pay for the demolition crew to remove the facade of the building, for future use in a new building project. However, when I surveyed the rubble left (as of the week of 4-8-2002) after the demolition, I could still see the Indiana limestone left over, so I suppose that Hammond didn't want it after all.
The Liberty House - This building was also part of the Minas' department stores. Until recently, it served as a women's shelter, which is run by one of our church members. It also served as Sunday School space for our singles department. It was torn down (as of 4-2-2002), so that we can build the new auditorium.
The Former Sweethearts' Couples Class (formerly the Stolz Drug Store) - This building used to house Dr. Jeff Owens's Sweethearts' Couples Class and the Deaf Department. It was last used on Sunday, February 24, 2002. Less than three weeks later (3-12-2002), it was torn down to make way for the new auditorium.
The Old Barelli's Store (Recently known as "Gallery 463") - This storefront served temporarily (as of 3-3-2002) as the location of Bro. Owens's Sunday School class until the Odd Fellows Building is ready for them. The church has plans to turn this into a Christian bookstore, yet nothing can be done until both First Baptist and the current owner come to an agreement on the sale. Also, I should point out, in the first picture, the left wall is obscured by the old wall of the former Milliken's Sporting Goods Store, which is now one of our parking lots.