This was the house of Thomas Knotts, Gary’s first mayor, who served in that capacity from 1909-13. He was also the first head of government of any sort in Gary, leading Gary’s town board from 1906-09, as well as being Gary’s first postmaster. Knotts, whose brother Armanis was also a significant figure in Lake County’s development, was the only Democrat to serve as Gary’s mayor until the 1930s.