CHESTERTON | In celebration of Dune Acres' 85th anniversary, the Westchester Township History Museum has installed a temporary exhibit chronicling the history of the town. The museum, which is an educational service of Westchester Public Library, is open free of charge, 1 n 5 p.m. Wednesday n Sunday in the historic Brown Mansion at 700 W. Porter Ave.

Area residents who missed the opening reception of the new exhibit are invited to join guest curator and Dune Acres resident Mary Chuman for cookies and conversation about the temporary exhibit of Dune Acres from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 8. Visitors will have the chance to view the exhibit, which traces the lakeside town's history through photographs, news clippings, artifacts and more. Refreshments will be served.

Dune Acres was incorporated as a town in 1923 with a population of sixteen. Incorporators were Gary Public School Superintendent William A. Wirt; Gary city planner Colonel Arthur P. Melton; realtor Harry Hall; banker C.R. Kuss and attorney C.V. Ridgely. The purpose of the incorporation was to develop an upscale community on the shores of Lake Michigan in the Indiana Dunes.

Growth of the town was brisk until the Depression and World War II. Growth slowed and the town became more like a summer colony. After the war, however, Dune Acres began to move to a year-round community. By the 1980's, it was a well-established municipality. Today, Dune Acres is a quiet residential community of about 165 homes that has managed to retain its "summer resort" feel.

For more information call the museum at (219) 983-9715.

-For The Times