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It was the year 1904, and the country was again ready to re-elect former "Rough Rider" Teddy Roosevelt to another four-year term in the White House.

The Panama Canal was underway and the nation was growing, opening opportunities for those who would dare to dream and turn their hard work into reality. For Thomas J. Armstrong, it was a new position as head keeper of the Michigan City Light Station. This new title offers a glimpse into Michigan City maritime history, from the storm of 1913 that left the lighthouse practically buried in ice, to the capsizing of the Eastland on its way to Michigan City, one of the worst marine disasters in the history of the Great Lakes. The light would guide mariners until its relocation to the Michigan City Lighthouse Museum in 1980, where it is on display today.Michigan City Lighthouse is a collection of over 200 vintage photographs and postcards dated from 1909 through 1920, taken by lighthouse keepers Fred Dykeman, Thomas Martin, and Thomas Armstrong.

In 1908, the Aurora Business Mens Association decided to bring a celebration to its sleepy river town. Little did these men realize that the Aurora Farmers Fair would bring their community together for the next 100 years. During the 1909 fall festival, Second and Main Streets were blocked off and lined with farm exhibits and storefronts were decorated. There were over 700 entries and 12,000 people attended. Every year merchants and manufacturers parade, and contestants are selected from area schools to compete for a place in the royal court that presides over the festivities. Class reunions and family homecomings are held around the event, and schoolchildren are released early to participate in a bicycle and pet parade. In 1959, the Aurora Business Mens Association ceded management and sponsorship of the fair to the Aurora Lions Club, and in 1969, the Lions Club purchased a beautiful old building from the Aurora Casket Company to house exhibits. Sadly, in 1998, arson destroyed the fair building, and years' worth of fair history was lost. This book has been created, in part, in an effort to regain a portion of the collection that was lost.