The Schrage Family Mansion

The Schrage Family Mansion. The Schrage Family. , The original Schrage family mansion is located at 2006 Schrage Avenue. Henry Schrage lived in this home with his wife, Carolina, and their six children. Henry was a naturalist, whose hobbies included beekeeping and birdwatching. He jokingly bragged that he was never stung by one of his bees because he knew them all by name., Henry was a quiet, kind, and gentle man. Every afternoon, after returning home from his family bank, Bank of Whiting, he would sit in his yard and tend to his beehives. Even during world war one, when food coupons were issued, Henry would purchase sugar for his bees to compensate for flowers that were not plentiful enough for the bees to feed upon., In the years following Henry's death, the Schrage Mansion was donated to Immaculate Conception Church, and served as the church rectory for decades., Since 1895, five generations of the Schrage family have owned and managed their family bank, now known as Centier. The family has a legacy of service to the City of Whiting, and has preserved this historic home and green space for the enjoyment of residents for generations to come., Whiting Loses Last Civil War Veteran , - With the passing of Henry Schrage, age 88, who died November 29, 1932, Whiting lost its last veteran of the Civil War; and this post of the American Legion lost one of its greatest friends. Among the battles that Mr. Schrage was in were Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, and Sherman's March to the Sea. , - Mr. Schrage was laid to rest in Oak Hill cemetery, in Hammond, December 2, with Whiting post conducting the Legion military funeral. , - Throughout the years, Whiting post had a staunch supporter in Mr. Schrage; a loyal friend who expressed his confidence in the organization from its very beginning. , - Whiting Post No. 80, extends its deepest sympathy to the bereaved family, and mourns with them in their loss., The Schrage Family , Walter E. Schrage, Sr. (1884 - 1941), was the youngest of six children belonging to Henry and Carolina Schrage. As a teller and cashier in his father's bank for many years, Walter was most comfortable in his role as a civic leader. His participation in many social clubs made him keenly aware of the needs in his community., An active member in the town of Whiting, Walter was a man of character and hard work, who was first publicly noticed when he served on the school board. One of his first projects was the development of the new high school in the Whiting-Robertsdale area. In 1913, after years of proving his leadership among his peers, Walter E. Schrage, Sr. was elected Mayor of Whiting on the Citizen's Ticket, an honor that he served for four consecutive terms., In 1917, Walter, Sr. assumed his role as President of the Bank, the same year it was incorporated as a State Chartered Bank. Serving double duties as Bank President and Mayor, Walter, Sr. was a beloved figure among the people. Known as "Whiting's Popular Mayor," he concentrated on improving the quality of life in his city., In 1941, upon the death of his father, Walter Sr., Wally became President of the Bank. He knew that the future of the bank depended on family ownership, and he was determined for the Bank of Whiting to remain family owned and operated. In order to better accommodate the changing needs of his clients, Wally remodeled the bank in 1960 and renamed it "First Bank of Whiting." The First Bank of Whiting continued to provide the same hometown banking, with updated modern facilities for the community of Whiting.