Portage Community Historical Society 
The Events
News
2013 WAS A BIG YEAR FOR THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. It marked the 25th Anniversary of the group's founding. Thanks to everyone who made it great! In 2018 we will be celebrating 30 years!
Don't forget to come out for the HISTORICAL FESTIVAL ON JUNE 24th, 2017, AT COUNTRYSIDE PARK from 10-4! There will be lots to see and enjoy. We'll have grilled food, dessert, music, vendors, antique cars, hayrides, kids games, fishing derby, watermelon-eating contest, silent auction, museum displays, and more!
Festival News
Here's a sampling of pictures from festivals past!
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you someone who would be interested in volunteering to work at either the house or museum? Do you have friends or relatives who might like to volunteer, too? Please call the Society during museum hours at 762-8349 to help us keep these historical buildings open to the public.
Renovation News
As you know, restoration of the Trager Farmstead was finished fall 2006. Tuesday, Nov. 28, was the Open House. Mayor Doug Olson, Rep. Duane Cheney, several local councilmembers, reporters, and supporters from the community were there for the ribbon cutting ceremony. A special thanks to the Rowzies for loaning a whole bedroom set for the large upstairs bedroom. It was a nice turn out. Take a look at a few pictures!
Trager Farmhouse
Al Goin presenting Mayor Olson with a plaque in appreciation for his support
The ribbon cutting ceremony
Log Cabin News
Through the hard work and diligence of Clement Khan, Al Goin, Carl Fisher, and several others in the Historical Society, the Parks Dept., and the City, the Historical Society had won the bid for a historic log cabin for the Countryside Park. It is a Linden Family Swedish structure from the 1860s that was located in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. It was then moved to Countryside Park.
Unfortunately, the Society wasn't able to acquire the money or resources needed to restore this very unique cabin to the standards of the National Register of Historic Places. A new home has been found with the Kankakee Valley Historical Society where it will probably become part of the Collier Lodge site. Work is ongoing there to restore it.
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Created by Donna Smith for the Portage Community Historical Society
First Posted Oct. 19, 2005. Last Updated May 20, 2017.
Please e-mail me with comments, problems, or suggestions.