Historical Images of Porter County

View of Grandstand Structure at the Mineral Springs Race Course
Porter, Indiana

Date: 1913
Source Type: Postcard
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Kruxo
Postmark: June 3, 1913, Hobart, Indiana
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: This real photo postcard contains no caption on the front. However, the grandstand structure and fencing in the photograph are identical to other known photographs of the Mineral Springs horse racing track in Porter, Indiana. It is believed that the dirt road on the left side of the photograph is present day Babcock Road (County Road 200 West), looking north from present day US Highway 20, which would mean that this photograph was taken looking north to slight northeast. The track was located in the west one-half of the southwest quarter of Section 34. Armanis F. Knotts developed property along the Little Calumet River with summer cottages that included mineral springs. He named his resort Knotts Mineral Springs. Knotts also bottled the water from the springs, branded with the resort's name, and sold it to guests at his resort and in Chesterton. Knotts expanded his investment in the area to include horse racing, when in 1912 he organized the Racing Foundation Corporation of America, which was more commonly referred to as the Mineral Springs Jockey Club. The state of Indiana permanently closed the race track in 1913 since it violated state gambling laws. Historical information concerning the Mineral Springs Horse Racing Track can be found in the following New York Times article titled "Indiana Soldiers Seize a Race Track; With Fixed Bayonets Prevent Racing at Mineral Springs and Drive Away Spectators," published on page 10 of the Wednesday, October 23, 1912, issue.

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Image and related text prepared by Steven R. Shook