Valparaiso in Porter County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

To Honor William and Blanche Schleman

William and Blanche Schleman Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Daniel Barriball, April 19, 2025

1. William and Blanche Schleman Marker

Inscription.
This tablet is erected in recognition of two of Valparaiso's forward-looking and community minded citizens.

In 1921 the real estate company of which William Schleman was president bought the farm land which is now Forest Park. Through his foresight and vision this beautiful home area was planned and developed.

In 1947 William and Blanche Schleman gave the Forest Park Golf Course and the land adjoining it on the south to the Valparaiso Park District as a permanent park and recreation area to be used and enjoyed by all the citizens of the community.

Erected 1952 by Valparaiso Park Board.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1947.

Location. 41° 28.839′ N, 87° 4.229′ W. Marker is in Valparaiso, Indiana, in Porter County. It is at the intersection of Harrison Boulevard and Del Vista Drive, on the right when traveling west on Harrison Boulevard. This marker is on a small triangle of land bounded by Harrison Boulevard and Del Vista Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 568 Harrison Blvd, Valparaiso IN 46385, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: History of Ogden Botanical Gardens (approx.

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¼ mile away); Michael O'Connor Family (approx. ¼ mile away); Heritage Lutheran Church (approx. 0.8 miles away); Central Triangle (approx. 0.9 miles away); Byron Smith III Sports Complex (approx. 0.9 miles away); History of Flounder (approx. one mile away); Corner of Washington and Jefferson Streets (approx. one mile away); The Lincoln Highway (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Valparaiso.

More about this marker. Traffic on Harrison Boulevard can be quite heavy. Please use caution when visiting this marker.

Also see . . . Herbert Schleman, Biography. Porter County INGenWeb Project Though the title says Herbert Schlemen, it is really about William and Blanche Schleman and their children.

However, the real interest of Mr. Schleman lay in land development and from the new office on Washington and Jefferson Street, he opened Mcintyre Court Subdivision, City View Addition, the Pines on U.S. 12 near Michigan City, and then the great pride, Forest Park, a subdivision of many wooded
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, April 19, 2025

2. William and Blanche Schleman Marker
home sites surrounding a 7-hole golf course, gradually expanded to 9. The course was eventually given by Mr. and Mrs. Schleman to Valparaiso as a Municipal Golf Course.

(Submitted on April 19, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. This page has been viewed 113 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2025, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.