Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (porkbeaks)

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 09:32:29 GMT

Is there such a thing as a benign troll? -pb

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Polish guy)

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 08:46:13 GMT

To all,

Remember, Gary, Indiana was first with the best Pizza ever, and now gone. Bring back the past.
What ever happened to the good old days?

Mike

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Polish guy)

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:31:29 GMT

To all,

Do you remember the old Gary, Indiana of the past. The city was over 250,000 people and is now down to under 100,000. We had the best Pizza around, several great places. Which one did you like best, and why? Where was it?

Mike

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Polish guy)

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 11:05:19 GMT

To all,

Great to go back to the old times of Gary, a once great city, with still some great people. Sosmeday it will make a comeback, when they get control of the crime.

Mike

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (msamhunter)

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 07:18:29 GMT

Miller is approx 5 miles from USX which is to the west and 5 miles from Bethlehem steel which is to the east. It is nice land, actually Indiana Dunes actually begins in Gary. Don't have an oil refinery, that's in Whiting. The city did just celebrate its 100 year anniversary last year, so it's not old. Founded in 1906 by U S Steel Corp and officially had folks moving in in 1909. Miller itself is rumored to be just a tad bit older than Gary proper but was annexed in 1919 or 1921 depending on the historian you ask.

quote:
Originally posted by danimal15

I used to work in Michigan City, commuting there from Chicago, so I passed through Gary many times. Never stopped there to try pizza, however. I will say that from what I can tell, Miller - "Miller Beach" as the real estate ads call it - is not a bad area. People actually buy vacation homes on the beach there, though I can't imagine why someone would want a beach home near all those steel mills and oil refineries. I guess it's a lot cheaper than Michiana or Beverly Shores.

One thing worth knowing about Gary, before claiming it had the first pizza in America, is how new this town is. I'm not even sure there was a "Gary" before about 1906. That was around the time the first steel mills were built there, and a company town called Gary was built to house the workers. I don't doubt that 30 years after that there were good pizza places in town, but realistically, it's unlikely there were any restaurants there at all in the first decade of the 20th century.

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (danimal15)

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 23:49:12 GMT

I used to work in Michigan City, commuting there from Chicago, so I passed through Gary many times. Never stopped there to try pizza, however. I will say that from what I can tell, Miller - "Miller Beach" as the real estate ads call it - is not a bad area. People actually buy vacation homes on the beach there, though I can't imagine why someone would want a beach home near all those steel mills and oil refineries. I guess it's a lot cheaper than Michiana or Beverly Shores.

One thing worth knowing about Gary, before claiming it had the first pizza in America, is how new this town is. I'm not even sure there was a "Gary" before about 1906. That was around the time the first steel mills were built there, and a company town called Gary was built to house the workers. I don't doubt that 30 years after that there were good pizza places in town, but realistically, it's unlikely there were any restaurants there at all in the first decade of the 20th century.

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Big Ugly Mich)

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 18:43:07 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by dholkYou've said before that the first American pizza started in Gary, Indiana. This must have been before 1905, when Lombardi's started in New York.

Is this the family that gave my favorite football team a coach named Vincent Thomas, who was an offensive coordinator for the New York Giants in the fifties, and coached at St. Catherine's High School in New York before that. I'm working on a book.

quote:
Originally posted by roossy90The peasants of Naples, Italy, who lived mostly off of bread and little else, were the first to add tomatoes to their focaccia bread rounds.

I'm told that Italians make pizza sauce out of everything from A to Z (Anchovy paste to Zucchini). I wonder why that didn't make it to the states?

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (msamhunter)

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 18:15:21 GMT

Oops it's Ono's (720 North Lake Street), never said it was by wells street beach, it is on north lake street right before lake street beach. It's a little hole in the wall, used to buy penny candy there. As far for me, Graduated from Lew Wallace, spent first two years of high school at Wirt. Born and raised in Miller on Birch Place. My family still lives in Gary. I remember as a kid I used to just walk and explore the whole city (not a smart thing to do) but nothing ever happened bad. For the most part, people are still friendly, if you don't bother them, they won't bother you.

quote:
Originally posted by Polish guy

msamhunter,

Last time you said, Uno's Pizza was on Lake Street, now you say it by Wells Street Beach, and that is some distance from Lake Street, East some way. I can't find it. Flamingo's Pizza is near the Beach Cafe, but it is not like the old one was. If you have a address for Uno's Pizza, please send it along.
Gary, like many other city's has had many problems. I was born and raised there, and left around 35 years ago, and moved to Valparaiso, for the better schools for my, now grown children, but get into Gary often, and would like to try Uno's Pizza. Do they have a set down place, or only to go? There was a Pizza place, many years ago, by the Lake, on the north end of Lake Street, on the west side of the street, could this be it?
You know Gary, how is this? Did you or Do you now, live in Gary?
I went to Emerson High, on the East side of Gary, on 7th. Ave. and Car. St.
Did you ever have the Great Flamingo's Pizza, at the Gary location, on West 5th. Ave. and Washington St.?

Mike

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Polish guy)

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 17:47:47 GMT

msamhunter,

Last time you said, Uno's Pizza was on Lake Street, now you say it by Wells Street Beach, and that is some distance from Lake Street, East some way. I can't find it. Flamingo's Pizza is near the Beach Cafe, but it is not like the old one was. If you have a address for Uno's Pizza, please send it along.
Gary, like many other city's has had many problems. I was born and raised there, and left around 35 years ago, and moved to Valparaiso, for the better schools for my, now grown children, but get into Gary often, and would like to try Uno's Pizza. Do they have a set down place, or only to go? There was a Pizza place, many years ago, by the Lake, on the north end of Lake Street, on the west side of the street, could this be it?
You know Gary, how is this? Did you or Do you now, live in Gary?
I went to Emerson High, on the East side of Gary, on 7th. Ave. and Car. St.
Did you ever have the Great Flamingo's Pizza, at the Gary location, on West 5th. Ave. and Washington St.?

Mike

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (msamhunter)

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 15:17:51 GMT

Granted Miller has a higher crime rate than when I lived there, but it is still a very nice area. They tore down the old Duneland Terrace Projects and converted the area into a mixed income neighborhood. It's actually very nice. Uno's Pizza is still on South Lake Street right before you hit the lake and Flamingos Pizza is next to Wells Street beach. There also used to be a Miller Pizza in Midtown but I figure it's closed down by now. The only bad thing associated with Miller is that it's a part of Gary which scares a lot of people. Believe it or not, the majority of Gary isn't bad, a lot of nice homes there which is why Miller Beach homes aren't as pricey as Odgen Dunes even though OD has a very shallow part of the lake. There are some very nice homes for sale in Miller as well as some 250K condos that they are trying to push right on Montgomery before Lake Shore Drive

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Polish guy)

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 20:44:30 GMT

Hi,

It is not just me. Today in talking with someone who I did not know. We started talking of Pizza, and they said the best ever, of the past, came from Gary, Indiana. Most old timers in the Midwest know this is the case. I love sometimes, living in the past.

Mike

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Polish guy)

Sun, 31 Dec 2006 15:52:37 GMT

Hi,

Miller Pizza is the only one left, that I know of on or near Lake St. in Miller section of Gary. Miller is still a high crime area, and I don't know if it has regrown and will work for this area. Many burnt out and boarded up homes, not many new ones, yes some new and large one, but still not a safe area, I am told. I have driven in this area, and don't know that I would want to move in yet. With this all, they have many great people living in this area.

Mike of Valparaiso

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (msamhunter)

Sun, 31 Dec 2006 07:48:40 GMT

Don't know how I found this site, but it was some very interesting reading with regards to pizza and Gary. I remember Flamingos Pizza back when they had the Glen Park location. Surprisingly I was never a fan of it. Now the two other pizza places unique to the area are Miller Pizza Station (the best) and Pizzeria Uno's (not the chain establishment) both on Lake Street in Miller. Miller Pizza is right on the north end and Uno's is right before you hit lake street beach. Uno's has been around since the 40's if I'm not mistaken in the same little white house it's always been in.

And for the one who asked if going to miller is safe, for the most part yes, you have half million dollar homes over there where flamingos is located.

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Polish guy)

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 22:40:53 GMT

Would someone please tell me how to make this Polish Pizza.

Mike

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Big Ugly Mich)

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 11:37:13 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Polish guy
Says who?

Anyway for sure in all the midwest.

Until you remember Pizzeria Uno, on the corner of Wabash and Ohio in Beautiful Downtown Chicago. They've been serving Chicago Style Pizza (like a deep dish, only there's more good stuff than crust. Can you imagine John Travolta struttin' down the street eating a slice of Chicago Style? That's why disco died so quickly, and good riddance!) since 1946, and were serving their inferior (to Chicago Style), New York Style thin stuff long before that. That may not be the first, either, just the first I can give you off the top of my head

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Polish guy)

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 10:57:46 GMT

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THE PIZZA LOVERS OUT THERE

Mike

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (roossy90)

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 15:37:55 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Jimeats
[br

Now lets let this thread die the ugly death it deserves. Chow Jim

Hear Hear.. I second that motion!
** Obviously, no one has anything constructive to offer. Is the Op related to someone I dare not mention?
Maybe it should be moved to the "Regional Forum"-Where shall I eat?

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Polish guy)

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 12:46:43 GMT

Jimeats,

WHY?

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Jimeats)

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 06:50:06 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Polish guy

YES YES YES

Yes! After almost 200 posts by the above poster I think we have been had or "Smoked" as they say. The Roadfood community is to be applauded for their good sence of refraining from posting ugly replys to this thread. Now lets let this thread die the ugly death it deserves. Chow Jim

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (ScreenBear)

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 00:24:28 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Davydd

quote:
Originally posted by wanderingjew

quote:
Originally posted by ScreenBear

In case you're interested, The Church Brewery In Pittsburgh has a potato pierogi pizza. Unfortunately, the execution isn't as good as the idea. I know what would make it great.

The Bear

There were actually numerous places in Pittsburgh that made Pierogi Pizzas. Come to think about it there are many places here in Rhode Island that make Linguica Pizza's.

Maybe the execution isn't that good but I do enjoy the Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh. It is just a fun interesting and great experience. I went there three times when we had two of our children coincidentally landing and living in Pittsburgh. They have since spread to Massachusetts and Virginia so doubt we will get back there.

Davydd,
Just to clarify. I've been to The Church Brew Works several times and also enjoy the atmosphere. I've also enjoyed several of the entrees over the last couple of years, such as the Buffalo meat loaf. Of course, I think the menu could use a sprucing up at this point.

Who knows? Maybe putting a Breaded Fried Pork Tenderloin sandwich on a menu that's getting a bit tired would do the trick.

That said, it's the pierogi pizza, in my estimation, that's poorly executed. It's a good idea, and a different rendition could make it a true signature dish.
The Bear

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (David_NYC)

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 22:57:54 GMT

To Polish Guy:

Here is the first entry of a thread you started on February 11th, 2006:

QUOTE:
Many years back I can remember reading that when Pizza first came to the U.S.A. it was in two cities, somewhere in New York, and the other in Gary, Indiana.

Does anyone, along with me, remember this.

Fill me in.

This was great Pizza, but that was in the past, and kids today will never know.
UNQUOTE

Now, this thread has been kicking around since November 8th. So far, no one has been able to corraborate the statement that Gary was the second or fifth or tenth city in America to have a pizzeria. In fact, I doubt anyone ever compiled a list of when each of the top 10,000 local entities in the US got their first place that made pizza.

You have a couple of problems here. First, most of the people that ate at the earliest pizzerias in Gary are now dead. I think Gary also experienced "white flight" - correct me if I am wrong about this. I was in the service with a guy from Gary. I talked with him a year after we both got out of the service. He told me he bought a farm a long distance away from Gary. If anyone reading this forum had parents in Gary, the topic of good pizzerias in Gary would not come up because - who cares - you are not living in Gary anymore. Internet search engines are not pulling up anthing about the history of pizza in Gary.

Now, what I am about to suggest does require you to access personal safety concerns. However, Gary has three library systems, and I guess, as a legal resident of Indiana, they would assist you. Here is an article describing them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libraries_of_Gary,_Indiana
Of particular interest is the Indiana Room at the Gary main library. If you are looking for obscure data from 40 or 50 years ago, you still need to go to a library and perform research. So, if you are seeking to document when pizza was first available in Gary, you would have to go through old newspapers and books on or about Gary.

Unfortunately, this website is a dry well on this subject.

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Polish guy)

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 13:24:55 GMT

Like many cities, Gary has some problems, but I and many others wish that it will once again become the great place it was in the past. Good things take time, but the City of Gary, still has many fine people.

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (roossy90)

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 20:05:08 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by David_NYC

Funny how the City of Gary, Indiana's list of historical sites doesn't mention anything having to do with pizza:
The Mayor of Gary has a tough job facing him, but somehow I don't think he is Polish:
http://www.gary.in.us/mayor.asp

NO DOUBT

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (David_NYC)

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 18:27:11 GMT

Funny how the City of Gary, Indiana's list of historical sites doesn't mention anything having to do with pizza:
http://www.gary.in.us/visit_hist.asp
They are trying to get people to visit Gary. I'm sure they would be promoting the fact that they were the first with pizza:
http://www.gary.in.us/visitgary.asp
Perhaps they would have even built a replica of the first pizzeria.

The Mayor of Gary has a tough job facing him, but somehow I don't think he is Polish:
http://www.gary.in.us/mayor.asp

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Big Sausage)

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 12:54:36 GMT

Lot's of good memories about Gary Indiana. But the best memory was seeing it in my rear view mirror as I drove away 15 years ago. It became a blighted slum and continues to be one of the top homicide city's in the nation. If you went there for a good pizza make sure you have a armed guard with you. Damm shame things like that has to happen to any city !

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Polish guy)

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 12:35:17 GMT

Pizza war Chicago & New York Vs. Gary, Indiana

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (dholk)

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 20:42:51 GMT

Come on, there's no conspiracy here. Pizza was invented in Gary, IN. All other pizza in the world is a pathetic attempt to mimic it and is doomed to failure. That's common knowledge :)

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (roossy90)

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 20:17:27 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by NebGuy

No Ted, not your imagination. I was thinking the same thing. How many times does the OP keep reviving a thread? To each their own i guess.

Maybe the OP is not who he wants us to think he is......The OP is in Indiana according to the profile listing.
Maybe its the mayor of Gary.

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Polish guy)

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 16:28:56 GMT

Do they ship?

RE: Gary, Indiana was first with Pizza (Davydd)

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 19:52:04 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by wanderingjew

quote:
Originally posted by ScreenBear

In case you're interested, The Church Brewery In Pittsburgh has a potato pierogi pizza. Unfortunately, the execution isn't as good as the idea. I know what would make it great.

The Bear

There were actually numerous places in Pittsburgh that made Pierogi Pizzas. Come to think about it there are many places here in Rhode Island that make Linguica Pizza's.

Maybe the execution isn't that good but I do enjoy the Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh. It is just a fun interesting and great experience. I went there three times when we had two of our children coincidentally landing and living in Pittsburgh. They have since spread to Massachusetts and Virginia so doubt we will get back there.