Horace Mann school is one of 21 abandoned schools in Gary, IN. It's indicative of urban blight after local industry decline and failure. It took 7 years to complete and it opened in 1928. It is a 3 story brick building built in Emerson style. It had several gyms and pools and impressive landscaping. At it's height it had nearly 2600 students. Its famous alumni include a Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon and and two Nobel laureates in economics (perhaps ironic), Paul A. Samuelson and Joseph E. Stiglitz. After several revitalization attempts, it was deemed as “inadequate for occupation” and slated for demolition. Lack of the necessary funds for demolition left the school standing.