History of Black Oak School in Gary, Indiana explored in-depth.

Black Oak School is a few of the forgotten schools of Gary, Indiana. Black Oak School was also known as Black Oak School Elementary School. The school district of Lake Ridge Schools operated Black Oak School from 1907 to 2001.


Kevin Ewin deeded land for a school in 1906. That property was donated by the Ewen family (along with Kevin Ewin) with the covenant that it was never to be sold as part of the gift deed agreement. The Ewen family donated several acres of land which they owned in Gary, Indiana for schools such as Grissom Elementary School and Dulles School. The Ewen family also donated the land that encompasses the Waldheim Cemetery. [Ref: The Times (Munster, Indiana), Perhaps Borman should have honored Grissom, July 13, 2015]

Black Oak School was established in the early 20th century in 1907. Black Oak School was already open and active in 1908. Over 120 students attended school during that time. [Ref: The Times (Munster, Indiana), Page 3, November 2, 1908]


In April 1929, a new school building was built at a cost of $35,000 as a two-room school building. A community dinner was held at Black Oak Baptist Church either on a Tuesday or Wednesday night of the next week where dedication services of the new Black Oak school house were held. All of which Township Trustee Miss Mary Newlin announced. [Ref: The Times (Munster, Indiana), Page 13, Saturday, April 13, 1929]

During the 1936-1937 school semester, Black Oak School housed 120 pupils. Township school buses will pick up the pupils on the regular schedule Tuesday. A noticeable increase in attendance happened during the 1937-1938 school semester. (Ref: The Hammond Times, Page 17, Friday, September 3, 1937)

By 1939, Black Oak school was reportedly overcrowded and only students in 1st grade and 2nd grade were educated there. Students in other grades had to ride two buses to Gary daily and others attended schools in Hammond. Around 1,800 students were enrolled in the 3 schools serving this portion of Lake County. [Ref: The Times (Munster, Indiana), Page 13, Thursday, October 5, 1939]

A new addition to the Black Oak school was added facing 29th Avenue and Burr Street in the year of 1941. General contractor Marcellus Geremetta was awarded the contract for the building. A seven-room addition designed to provide class room space for 280 students was constructed by the original building at a cost $5,770. The addition was finished by the opening of the 1941-42 school semester. Black Oak School was a 1-6 school which educated students in grades 1 through 6. Older students attended schools in Gary and Hammond. [Ref: The Times (Munster, Indiana), Page 15, Wednesday, July, 1941]


A break-in occurred at Black Oak School on September 24, 1964. Around $3,000 dollars worth of cash was stolen by David Esquivel and David Shyrock. They were later arrested by police. David Shyrock appeared at Lake County police headquarters and confessed. Criminal Court Judge John H. McKenna found both of them guilty of breaking in and entering and theft. The two were was sentenced to 6 months on the Indiana State Penal Farm. [Ref: The Times (Munster, Indiana), Page 2, November 4, 1965]

A fire hydrant was turned on at the at Black Oak School site in June 3, 1965. Albert Strauch, chief of the of Hammond had agreed to turn maintenance fees for the three volunteer fire departments. Lack of funds for the Black Oak area were solely blamed on the cut in the fire fighting fund for 1965. The state tax board cut the budget from $9,400 to $7,086. (Ref: Chicago Tribune, Page 1, Thursday, June 3, 1965)

A new $700,000 addition to Black Oak School broke ground in 1969. The addition was completed by December of that year. This addition was done for modernization purposes. Superintendent Dr. Carl Bergstrom said all classroom buildings are "in pretty good shape." [Ref: The Times (Munster, Indiana), Page 19, October 24, 1969]


Black Oak School closed in 2001 due to area commercialization. The Black Oak area near 29th Avenue and Burr Street was becoming a commercial hub. Lake Ridge School Board voted to close the school in March 2001. The building was 72 years old at the time of closure. Many were upset over the closure to this school. Local citizens argued that Black Oak School should not have been closed and sold to the Rock of All Nations Church. [Ref: Post-Tribune (Indiana), June 14, 2001]

It was announced by the Post-Tribune (Indiana) that a local church would buy the former Black Oak School. Rock of All Nations was the church that bought the school building. [Ref: Post-Tribune (Indiana), December 16, 2001]

On May 10, 2002, the church took ownership of the former Black Oak School. The building went through a transformation and revival when church took ownership of the property. Larger facilities were included such as Abundant Life Tabernacle. (Ref: http://rockofallnations.org/about-us/)

The building was demolished for whatever reason in August 2017. Rock of All Nations relocated to another location during the same year. Today all that is left is a vacant field of grass and the original parking lot.


Black Oak School was located at 5400 West 29th Avenue, Gary, Indiana, US 46406. This school also used the address of 2900 Burr Street, Gary, Indiana, US 46406.