Johnny Depp has gone from Crown Point. An acclaimed movie star attracts crowds. We are all prone to celebrity fetishes. Will this carry over to the notorious gangster he depicted?
Ten years ago the Lake County Convention and Visitor Bureau spent $417,500 to purchase the Dillinger Museum from a Nashville, Ind., operator and make it the centerpiece of the new western entrance into Indiana in a building designed beautifully by Valparaiso architect Chuck Bone.
The museum showed a net loss of $112,461 in 2001 when it was closed by a lawsuit filed by Jeffrey Scalf, a distant relative of Dillinger claiming personality rights plus damages.
Now with the Crown Point Jail and Sheriff's House appearing in the movie based on the book "Public Enemies," Speros Batistatos, CEO of the bureau, wants to turn the loss into a gain by selling the museum to Crown Point to be housed in the Old Jail property.
In July 2003, Scalf had offered to buy the collection back for $100,000 less $70,000 damages with a further loss to the tourist bureau. The bureau countered Scalf's offer with a $250,000 proposal that went nowhere. According to The Times of Oct. 26, 2003, "Board members said they felt gypped."
Thwarted, the never-say-die Batistatos made a deal with Scalf that, according to Times columnist Mark Kiesling, was "sealed by agreement of both parties." I am puzzled by this since it is taxpayers money that is involved.
For gangsters buffs, it seems reasonable to capitalize on Dillinger's connection to the town and jail where he made his escape. However, Dan Rohaley, spokesman for the Old Jail Board, "The foundation has always thought to never glorify a criminal. However, we can't deny the history of Crown Point includes the Dillinger chapter. Strangely we have never been approached."
The Methodist Church used to occupy the corner next to the jail. I recall Joyce Bailey telling me that in the hot summer, the church and the jail windows were open and Sunday worshippers always knew the menu of jail inmates by the odors that drifted through the open windows.
Personally this writer has felt the entrance to Indiana for tourists should feature the best face of Indiana. History, culture or its prowess in sports: Johnny Wooden, Glenn Robinson, Bryce Drew are a few names that come to mind.
As for the Dillinger Museum, send it to the Indiana Museum in Indianapolis for whatever price and eat the losses. After all, it has historic value. The celebration of Indiana has to be something better than a murdering gangster. He fooled Indiana once with a wooden gun. Why compound the error?
Amen until next Wednesday.
The opinions in this column are solely those of the writer. Wolf is a retired minister and lives in Valparaiso. Write to him c/o The Times, 1111 Glendale Blvd., Valparaiso, IN
