A Little Piece of NWI History

"The past reminds us of timeless human truths and allows for the perpetuation of cultural traditions that can be nourishing; it contains examples of mistakes to avoid, preserves the memory of alternatives ways of doing things, and is the basis for self-understanding..."

~Bettine Drew

Winfield is a small town located in Lake County, Northwest Indiana. While its not known for its large population, the rapid growth they experienced led to its incorporation in 1993, "making it one the the newest towns in the country."

While more people are becoming aware of the existence of Winfield, not too many are familiar with a little town about 15 minutes outside of Winfield known as Leroy, Indiana.

Leroy was founded on December 11, 1875 by Thomas McClann. It is described as "One of Lake County's first Irish settlements" and is currently home to Stoney Run County Park.

Recently we went on a hunt to find some historical photographs to honor the tiny town of Leroy to put on display at our newest location. These certainly were not easy to find, but thanks to some valiant efforts and a little outside help...This is what we found.




The Adams Express.



Grain Elevator



Rae & Rumble Hardware

J.A. Batterman - Agricultural Implements

Main Street - Leroy, Indiana.

Nathaway Store

Beautiful Old Home

Leroy, Indiana Train Station

 If you have an additional photos to share or stories to tell, we would love for you to email them to use (click here to email) so we can continue to share and celebrate the great history of Northwest, Indiana.

3 Ways Bald Tires Can Impact Your Life

It's no secret that bald tires are bad news, but did you ever stop to think just how dramatically they can affect you, your family, and even other drivers?

1) Because they have very little or no tread depth, bald tires do not allow water to pass between treads. That means that cars with bald tires often hydroplane on wet roads; they actually ride on the surface of the water, and that renders the steering wheel useless, at least temporarily.

2) Bald tires are more prone to blowouts, and when a tire gives out - especially at high speeds - it can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Obviously, that can lead to a serious accident.

3) Because they don't grip the road nearly as well as newer models, bald tires can increase a vehicle's stopping distance. That can be especially serious on wet roads, in stop-and-go traffic, and wherever pedestrians are present.

According to a 2012 study by the Rubber Manufacturers of America, more than 13% of the vehicles on the road have bald tires. In other words, more than one in eight drivers is risking an accident, and maybe even their lives.

Don't take chances. Pull into any Levin Tire store and we'll check your tread depth and tire pressure for free. No appointment necessary. Please - do your part to keep our roads safe.