Belle Gunness Program at La Porte County Historical Society
La Porte’s own favorite Lady Bluebeard, Belle Gunness, is once again the hot topic of a program being presented at the La Porte County Historical Society Museum. On Friday, November 10th beginning at 7 PM, Judge William Boklund will be presenting the facts of this notorious killer that lived among the citizens of La Porte a little over a hundred years ago.
This event is a Membership Drive for the Historical Society. Therefore, instead of regular admission, those attending will be joining the Historical Society at a cost of only $15 per individual! This entitles members to receive entry to the museum for all of 2018 at no extra cost. There are also other levels at an additional fee with more perks- such as 10 per cent off gift shop items. This is a good time to become a member for the first time, or to renew your yearly membership. Think Christmas! Memberships make great gifts.
Judge Boklund is a lifelong resident of La Porte, growing up next door to Ray Lamphere’s younger sister Cora and a block away from the store where Sheriff Smutzer’s son worked as a butcher. Ray and Sheriff Smutzer both figure greatly in the Gunness horrors. Judge Boklund has been a member of the bar of Indiana for 40 years and a trial judge for 21 years. He taught law classes at PNC part time for 30 years. He has also been a member of the faculty of the Indiana Judicial Conference.
The presentation is an examination of what happened during the first days following the Gunness home fire. This includes the link to Chicago’s investigation of her behavior while living in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, the development of the state’s theory of the case, the handling of evidence, including the human remains found on the property, and the interaction of the main players in the case during the first days after the fire. It is expected to be an eye-opening evening; if you didn’t know the real facts of the case before this, you will after this presentation.
Doors will open at 6 PM, to allow time to fill out membership forms before the presentation at 7 PM. Belle-type refreshments will be available in the meeting room of the museum. The program will be presented on the lower level.
The Museum is located at 2405 Indiana Avenue (US#35) at the south entrance to La Porte and is handicapped accessible. Normal hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Date and Time
Friday Nov 10, 2017
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM CST
Novemer 10
7:00 p.m.
Location
La Porte County Historical Society
Fees/Admission
$15- This is a membership drive for the Historical Society, at this price you will be joining as a member.