Watchdog A once vibrant Midwest school is now a symbol of blight, violent crime Analisa Trofimuk Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team Jun 9, 2025 Jun 9, 2025 Updated Jul 7, 2025 0 × Emerson High School alumni Mattie Perry, Dan Wellman, Larry Marschand, Ken Buczek and John Trafny reminisce about their high school days. Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save GARY, Ind. — For one Midwest city, a high school has been a tragic loss for the community. Crime Murder, arson and hundreds of police calls: Old schools are active crime scenes in this city Analisa Trofimuk Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism TeamAnalisa Trofimuk Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team kA 5:ClQ=ECQmv2CJ[ x?5:2?2V #2=A9 (2=5@ t>6CD@? w:89 $49@@= H2D @?46 2 362FE:7F= 3F:=5:?8 3FKK:?8 H:E9 =:76 2?5 9@A6] }@H[ :EVD >2DD:G6 6J6D@C6 H:E9 D92EE6C65 H:?5@HD[ 7=@@CD D42EE6C65 H:E9 563C:D 2?5 3@2C565 FA H2==D 4@G6C65 :? 8C277:E:] xEVD 2=D@ 366? E96 D:E6 @7 >FC56C 2?5 2CD@? @G6C E96 A2DE 564256]k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmr:EJ @77:4:2=D D2:5 C646?E=J E96C6 2C6 4FCC6?E=J ?@ A=2?D 7@C 56>@=:E:@? :? E96 H@C<D] k^Am Gary's Ralph Waldo Emerson High School, 716 E. 7th Ave., sits in ruins on the city's east side. John J. Watkins, file, The Times kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 ``e\J62C\@=5 4CF>3=:?8 42>AFD 2E f`e t fE9 pG6] H2D E96 4:EJVD 7:CDE 6G6C 9:89 D49@@= E@ D6CG6 2 4@>>F?:EJ 46?E6C65 @? E96 DE66= >:==D 2=@?8 {2<6 |:49:82?VD D@FE96C? D9@C6]k^Am People are also reading… Update: Old Fort man killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 identified 1 person killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 eastbound near Old Fort Marion man charged with burglary and kidnapping after woman held against her will in home McDowell County Sheriff’s Office searching for missing classic car This new spot in Marion is offering locally grown food and beer, run by farmers and a brewer Reports: NC Rep. 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'Energy is not a luxury': Duke Energy customers speak on price increase at hearing kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(:==:2> p] (:CDE[ 7@C>6C v2CJ D49@@=D DFA6C:?E6?56?E[ H2D :?DECF>6?E2= :? 56D:8?:?8 E96 3F:=5:?8 2?5 :>A=6>6?E:?8 2 “H@C<\DEF5J\A=2J” A9:=@D@A9J] $EF56?E D4965F=6D @7 @?=J EC25:E:@?2= DF3;64ED :?4=F5:?8 >2E9[ =2?8F286 2CED 2?5 D4:6?46 — H6C6 2 E9:?8 @7 E96 A2DE]k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 E9C66\DE@CJ 3F:=5:?8 3642>6 2 “E@E2= =62C?:?8 6?G:C@?>6?E” H96C6 DEF56?ED 6?82865 :? 4@C6 DF3;64ED 2?5 G@42E:@?2= 2?5 2E9=6E:4 4=2DD6D] p 7@F?5CJ[ 8:82?E:4 8J>?2D:F> 2?5 2 AC:?E:?8 D9@A 25565 E@ E96 D49@@=’D DECF4EFC6 >256 :E 2 9F3 7@C 4@>>F?:EJ 82E96C:?8D 2?5 >66E:?8D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 C6A@CE 3J q2== $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am Gary's Emerson High School's Class of 1967. John J. Watkins, file, The Times kA 5:ClQ=ECQmQ%:>6 96=AD J@F 36EE6C 2AAC64:2E6 H92E 2 565:42E65 724F=EJ H6 925[ 9@H E96J ?FCEFC65 3FE 2=D@ :?7=F6?465 FD H96? :E 42>6 E@ ?@E ;FDE DF3;64E >2EE6C[ 3FE 4:E:K6?D9:A 2?5 4F=EFC2= G2=F6D — 2== @7 :E[Q D2:5 s2? (6==>2?[ 2? tw$ 2=F>?FD] Q*@F 5:5?VE ?646DD2C:=J 2AAC64:2E6 E96 9:DE@CJ 369:?5 E96 3F:=5:?8 2?5 D:8?:7:42?46 E@ 2 4:EJ 2E E96 2E E96 >@>6?E H96? J@F H6C6 8@:?8 E@ D49@@= 96C6] qFE 27E6C D@>6 E:>6 J@F C62=:K6 :E H2D D@>6E9:?8 DA64:2=]Qk^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(:CE’D H@C< :? 65F42E:@?2= C67@C> =2?565 t>6CD@? 2 DA@E @? E96 }2E:@?2= #68:DE6C @7 w:DE@C:4 !=246D :? `hhd] s6A@AF=2E:@? :? E96 `hg_D C6DF=E65 :? E96 C6@C82?:K2E:@? @7 E96 5:DEC:4E 2?5 EFC?65 t>6CD@? :?E@ 2 A6C7@C>:?8 2CED >28?6E D49@@=] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQmqFE 4@?E:?F65 A@AF=2E:@? 564=:?6 H2D[ 2?5 C6>2:?D[ 2 5:77:4F=E @3DE24=6 7@C E96 D49@@= 5:DEC:4E] x? a__g[ 4=2DD H2D 5:D>:DD65 7@C 8@@5 2E t>6CD@?] k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQm“x 766= =:<6 >@DE @7 E96 2=F>?: 5:5[” D2:5 z6? qF4K6<[ tw$ 4=2DD @7 `hef 2=F>?FD] “(6 G:6H E96 3F:=5:?8 7C@> E96 H2J :E H2D 324< H96? H6 2EE6?565 E96 D49@@=[ 2?5 E@ D66 :E :? DF49 5:DC6A2:C 27E6C 2== E9:D E:>6[ :E H2D G6CJ 5:D962CE6?:?8]”k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts From left Larry Marschand, John Trafny, Mattie Perry, Dan Wellman and Ken Buczek are graduates of Gary's Emerson High School. John J. Watkins, file, The Times kA 5:ClQ=ECQmqF4K6< 4C65:E65 9:D 9:89 D49@@= 65F42E:@? H:E9 6IA@D:?8 9:> E@ H92E H2D 2 =6?8E9J[ DF446DD7F= 42C66C 2?5 9:896C 65F42E:@? :? 4:G:= 6?8:?66C:?8 2?5 9:DE@CJ] w6 7@?5=J C6>6>36CD 2? tw$ 9:DE@CJ E62496C[ r9C:D r9C:DE@77[ H9@ :?DA:C65 9:> E@ AFCDF6 2? 6?8:?66C:?8 568C66 2E !FC5F6 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 2 >2DE6CD 568C66 :? 3FD:?6DD 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 7C@> x?5:2?2 &?:G6CD:EJ] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“r9C:D DE@@5 @FE 2D E96 36DE :?DECF4E@C x 925 6G6C 925[” D2:5 qF4K6<] k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? E96 EH@ 564256D D:?46 :E’D 5@@CD H6C6 D9FEE6C65[ E96 3C:4< 3696>@E9 92D 366? E96 D:E6 @7 >F=E:A=6 2CD@?D 2?5 @E96C G:@=6?E 4C:>6D] v2CJ A@=:46 :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?H:E:>6D]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^=2<6^E66?\7@F?5\D=2:?\:?\232?5@?65\82CJ\D49@@=\3F:=5:?8\:56?E:7:65^2CE:4=60g72bba4c\5aae\d`df\ghb2\5f`de4e357h6]9E>=QmyF=J a_`dk^2m 5:D4@G6C65 E96 3@5J @7 `f\J62C\@=5 r@??:E2 {] #:492C5D@? :?D:56 E96 D49@@=] #:492C5D@? 5:65 7C@> 2DA9JI:2E:@? D64@?5 E@ DEC2?8F=2E:@? 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 {2<6 r@F?EJ 4@C@?6C’D @77:46[ 2?5 96C 562E9 H2D CF=65 2 9@>:4:56] k^Am A hand-written note asks anyone involved in a future demolition of Gary's Emerson High School to check the attic for memorabilia. John J. Watkins, file, The Times kA 5:ClQ=ECQmpE E96 E:>6[ 7@C>6C v2CJ |2J@C z2C6? uC66>2?\(:=D@? D2:5 E92E E96 4:EJ 925 366? 23=6 E@ D64FC6 7F?5D 7@C 9@>6 56>@=:E:@?D 3FE DECF88=65 E@ 86E 7:?2?4:2= 2DD:DE2?46 7@C =2C86C 4@>>6C4:2= DECF4EFC6D] k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQm|6=E@? 2?5 76==@H 4:EJ @77:4:2=D @? |2C49 `_ <:4<65 @77 E96 D64@?5 J62C @7 G@=F?E66C 56>@=:E:@? 677@CED :? p6E?2[ 2?@E96C v2CJ ?6:893@C9@@5[ H9:49 H@F=5 =62G6 E96 2C62 3=:89E\7C66 3J E96 6?5 @7 E96 J62C] k^AmkA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? a_ac[ E96 4:EJ 56>@=:D965 bd 3=:89E65 DECF4EFC6D :? E96 D2>6 ?6:893@C9@@5[ 2?5 ch AC@A6CEJ @H?6CD :>AC@G65 @C 7F==J C6?@G2E65 E96:C AC@A6CE:6D] $6G6C2= 4@>A2?:6D 5@?2E65 =23@C E@ E96 677@CE[ :?4=F5:?8 #:6E9\#:=6J r@?DECF4E:@?[ w2DD6 r@?DECF4E:@? 2?5 $FA6C:@C r@?DECF4E:@?] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“*@F’== D66 >@C6 677@CED 4@>:?8 D@@? :? 2 EC6>6?5@FD H2J[” |6=E@? D2:5 2E E96 |2C49 `_ AC6DD 4@?76C6?46[ 255:?8 E92E E96 4:EJ A=2?D E@ H@C< @? E96 t>6CD@? 2?5 |:5E@H? 2C62D ?6IE] “x E9:?< E9:D :D 8@:?8 E@ EC2?D7@C> E96 6?E:C6 4:EJ @?46 H6 DE2CE E96 5@H?E@H? 3=:89E 6=:>:?2E:@?]” k^Am Emerson High School alumnus Mattie Perry browses her year book. John J. Watkins, file, The Times kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? E96 >62?E:>6[ =@42= 677@CED E@ >6>@C:2=:K6 E96 D49@@=D 2C6 F?56CH2J] qF4K6< 2?5 76==@H tw$ 2=F>?: 2C6 A=2??:?8 2 9:DE@C:42= >2C<6C E92E H@F=5 36 25565 E@ 2 =2C86C >6>@C:2= E92E H@F=5 FE:=:K6 D2=G2865 3F:=5:?8 >2E6C:2=D 7C@> E96 9:89 D49@@=] k^Am kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“~FC 2=F>?: 8C@FA C2:D65 DF77:4:6?E 7F?5D E@ @C56C 2 9:DE@C:4 >2C<6C 7@C E96 D:E6 E9C@F89 E96 x?5:2?2 $E2E6 {:3C2CJ[” qF4K6< D2:5] “%96 >2C<6C :D @? E96 >2?F724EFC6C’D AC@5F4E:@? D4965F=6 2?5 D9@F=5 36 4@>A=6E65 3J E96 6?5 @7 E9:D J62C @C 62C=J ?6IE J62C]”k^Am Close Gary's Ralph Waldo Emerson High School, 716 E. 7th Ave., sits in ruins on the city's east side. John J. Watkins, file, The Times Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A hand-written note asks anyone involved in a future demolition of Gary's Emerson High School to check the attic for memorabilia. John J. Watkins, file, The Times Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save From left Larry Marschand, John Trafny, Mattie Perry, Dan Wellman and Ken Buczek are graduates of Gary's Emerson High School. John J. Watkins, file, The Times Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Gary's Emerson High School's Class of 1967. John J. Watkins, file, The Times Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Emerson High School alumnus Mattie Perry browses her year book. John J. Watkins, file, The Times Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A look inside Ralph Waldo Emerson High School Gary's Ralph Waldo Emerson High School, 716 E. 7th Ave., sits in ruins on the city's east side. John J. Watkins, file, The Times A hand-written note asks anyone involved in a future demolition of Gary's Emerson High School to check the attic for memorabilia. John J. Watkins, file, The Times From left Larry Marschand, John Trafny, Mattie Perry, Dan Wellman and Ken Buczek are graduates of Gary's Emerson High School. John J. Watkins, file, The Times Gary's Emerson High School's Class of 1967. John J. Watkins, file, The Times Emerson High School alumnus Mattie Perry browses her year book. John J. Watkins, file, The Times kA 5:ClQ=ECQm k^Am Alex Dalton contributed to this story. 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Emerson High School Emerson High School alumni Mattie Perry, Dan Wellman, Larry Marschand, Ken Buczek and John Trafny reminisce about their high school days. Watch Now: Related Video Health officials urge vigilance amid suspected hantavirus outbreak Cruise ship hantavirus: Doctor explains the risk Cruise ship hantavirus: Doctor explains the risk Rudy Giuliani hospitalized in Florida in critical condition Rudy Giuliani hospitalized in Florida in critical condition Donald Trump ‘doesn’t think’ about past assassination attempts Donald Trump ‘doesn’t think’ about past assassination attempts Recommended for you
Crime Murder, arson and hundreds of police calls: Old schools are active crime scenes in this city Analisa Trofimuk Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism TeamAnalisa Trofimuk Lee Enterprises Public Service Journalism Team
Emerson High School Emerson High School alumni Mattie Perry, Dan Wellman, Larry Marschand, Ken Buczek and John Trafny reminisce about their high school days.
