Gary, Indiana is known for three things: steel, its evolution into a promising young city into a virtual modern day ghost town, and the home of the Jackson family. Ever since the death of Michael Jackson on Thursday, well-wishers and mourners have been paying tribute to the Jackson home, a tiny house at the corner of Jackson and Jackson Family. The street is barricaded and police sit around, chatting idly with visitors as they leave letters, stuffed animals, drawings, and other gifts.I happened down that way on Sunday, mostly out of curiosity since I was visiting Chicago and have never actually been in that part of the country. The town itself holds a certain amount of fascination: theaters, schools, entire blocks of shops have been shut down, boarded up, and left to return to the earth. And of course, there's the Jackson house. As much as I was a fan of Michael's, I was as interested just to witness what kind of tribute people were paying to him, since I'm on vacation and missing the madness on Hollywood Boulevard.
Most of the crowd near the house was somber, placing candles and cards and taking pictures. Nearby, people stood in cheerful groups, talking amongst each other. Teens strolled around peddling handmade memorial shirts, while a family claiming to be cousins with Jackson held autographed pictures of him while posing for pictures and taking questions. There was no sign of the uncle who is said to currently reside in the house: most likely the crowd has driven him away for the time being. Misspelled signs declaring their eternal love and thanks to the pop king were hung in the windows. A gentleman stopped to talk with me and mentioned his sister was born the same day as Michael, in the same hospital, same room. Who knew if it was true, but when I asked what his sister thought of all this, he looked sad and told me she'd died ten years before. A tearful woman kissed bags of skittles and m&ms before tossing them down by some candles.
Below are some pictures from the home. I felt bad, I totally should have brought a super soaker to leave for him.
The above photo is from an abandoned theater. According to my friend, the sign has read Jackson Five Tonight for years.
Little girls walking away from the house. Each one carefully placed a note wedged by stuffed animals.
The street corner by the house.
Possible Jackson family members.
A front view of the house.
Fan art
A fan looks on.