Lena Park is a place name in Wayne Township, Starke County, in the U.S. state of Indiana, which refers to a failed real estate development in the area in the early 20th century.
From 1909 to 1911, Lena Park was the site of a fraudulent real estate development which lured people to Indiana farmland about 60 miles from Chicago to sell them lots in what was promised to be a new manufacturing center similar to the success of Gary, Indiana. Though the scheme collapsed, some people did move to the area, to which the name "Lena Park" was still applied.[2][3][4]
October 1, 1909 advertisement for Lena Park in Chicago Polish-language newspaper Dziennik Chicagoski
The scheme included providing free train rides every weekend from Chicago to prospective buyers, many of whom were recent immigrants from eastern Europe. A train station was built just for the alleged prospective development.[5][6] The promoters claimed that a number of manufacturing companies would be opening in the development soon. Though the farmland was only worth perhaps $80 an acre, buyers were paying at a much higher price for small subdivided lots.[7][8]
Lena Park portions still extant on bottom right portion of 1925 Wayne Township map.
A glass factory did locate in the development, but it moved away to Michigan in July 1911.[9][10] The scheme completely collapsed by September 1911 when a receiver was appointed.[11] In February 1912, the auditor of the county issued an advertisement to sell 1,500 lots in Lena Park for delinquent taxes.[12]
Legacyedit
Some people did locate to the area, however, and the name "Lena Park" is occasionally still used to refer to the area. A 1929 newspaper report described it as a "settlement on the C. & O. railroad near North Judson, ten miles southwest of Knox. It was a promotion scheme backed by Chicago interests. The plan fell through and houses in the locality are occupied mostly by Chicago foreigners."[13][14] It appeared on maps for some time; a 1925 Wayne Township map still has "Lena Park" identified on it, but by 1949 a township map merely shows the remaining vestiges of Lena Park as "platted" sections of the township.[15][16]
^(15 September 1909). New Town Located? Starke County Democrat, p.1 (somewhat skeptical of the promoters' claims)
^ (21 October 1909). Lena Park Still Booming, Starke County Democrat ("The practical mind says that Lena Park will vanish into thin air and tax sales, in a few years at most...")
^(31 July 1911). "Fake Real Estate Schemes", Hammond Lake County Times
^(26 September 1912). Note, North Judson News ("L.F. Miller and son of Danville, Ill. have leased the old Lena Park cut glass building and is converting it into a storage warehouse for onions, cabbage, potatoes, and other produce.")
^(14 September 1911). H.C. Rogers has been appointed receiver for the Lena Park proposition ..., Starke County Democrat ("How many persons where duped into buying lots it is hard to say, but there are hundreds of them, mostly from Chicago.")
^(3 February 1912). Boom Town Thing of Past: Proposed Rival to Gary Falls, Tax Sales Being Ordered, Huntington Herald
^(28 March 1929) "Admits Murder But Says He Killed for Another", Logansport Press
^(27 September 2003). Second suspect in slaying to be sentenced Oct. 22, South Bend Tribune ("a hunter discovered Lovely's body in Bogus Ditch near Lena Park, southeast of North Judson")
^Wayne Township, North Judson, Teallowville, Major McFall (1949)
^Bowen's Indiana state atlas (1917) (Lena Park appears on Starke County map)
lena, park, indiana, lena, park, place, name, wayne, township, starke, county, state, indiana, which, refers, failed, real, estate, development, area, early, 20th, century, lena, parkshow, indianalena, parkshow, united, statescoordinates, 19444, 71750, 19444, . Lena Park is a place name in Wayne Township Starke County in the U S state of Indiana which refers to a failed real estate development in the area in the early 20th century Lena Park IndianaLena ParkShow map of IndianaLena ParkShow map of the United StatesCoordinates 41 11 40 N 86 43 03 W 41 19444 N 86 71750 W 41 19444 86 71750CountryUnited StatesStateIndianaCountyStarkeTownshipWayneElevation 1 712 ft 217 m Time zoneUTC 6 Central CST Summer DST UTC 5 CDT ZIP code46366Area code574GNIS feature ID446765History editFrom 1909 to 1911 Lena Park was the site of a fraudulent real estate development which lured people to Indiana farmland about 60 miles from Chicago to sell them lots in what was promised to be a new manufacturing center similar to the success of Gary Indiana Though the scheme collapsed some people did move to the area to which the name Lena Park was still applied 2 3 4 nbsp October 1 1909 advertisement for Lena Park in Chicago Polish language newspaper Dziennik Chicagoski The scheme included providing free train rides every weekend from Chicago to prospective buyers many of whom were recent immigrants from eastern Europe A train station was built just for the alleged prospective development 5 6 The promoters claimed that a number of manufacturing companies would be opening in the development soon Though the farmland was only worth perhaps 80 an acre buyers were paying at a much higher price for small subdivided lots 7 8 nbsp Lena Park portions still extant on bottom right portion of 1925 Wayne Township map A glass factory did locate in the development but it moved away to Michigan in July 1911 9 10 The scheme completely collapsed by September 1911 when a receiver was appointed 11 In February 1912 the auditor of the county issued an advertisement to sell 1 500 lots in Lena Park for delinquent taxes 12 Legacy editSome people did locate to the area however and the name Lena Park is occasionally still used to refer to the area A 1929 newspaper report described it as a settlement on the C amp O railroad near North Judson ten miles southwest of Knox It was a promotion scheme backed by Chicago interests The plan fell through and houses in the locality are occupied mostly by Chicago foreigners 13 14 It appeared on maps for some time a 1925 Wayne Township map still has Lena Park identified on it but by 1949 a township map merely shows the remaining vestiges of Lena Park as platted sections of the township 15 16 References edit US Board on Geographic Names United States Geological Survey October 25 2007 Retrieved 2016 11 06 The Great Lena Park Scam of 1909 Orangebean Retrieved 2022 08 16 Lena Park Indiana Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey Retrieved July 31 2017 31 July 1911 Fake Real Estate Schemes Lake County Times Wilkinson William Clayton Jr Memories of the Ku Klux Klan in One Indiana Town Indiana Magazine of History December 2006 History of Lena Park lenapark net archived at archive org 15 September 1909 New Town Located Starke County Democrat p 1 somewhat skeptical of the promoters claims 21 October 1909 Lena Park Still Booming Starke County Democrat The practical mind says that Lena Park will vanish into thin air and tax sales in a few years at most 31 July 1911 Fake Real Estate Schemes Hammond Lake County Times 26 September 1912 Note North Judson News L F Miller and son of Danville Ill have leased the old Lena Park cut glass building and is converting it into a storage warehouse for onions cabbage potatoes and other produce 14 September 1911 H C Rogers has been appointed receiver for the Lena Park proposition Starke County Democrat How many persons where duped into buying lots it is hard to say but there are hundreds of them mostly from Chicago 3 February 1912 Boom Town Thing of Past Proposed Rival to Gary Falls Tax Sales Being Ordered Huntington Herald 28 March 1929 Admits Murder But Says He Killed for Another Logansport Press 27 September 2003 Second suspect in slaying to be sentenced Oct 22 South Bend Tribune a hunter discovered Lovely s body in Bogus Ditch near Lena Park southeast of North Judson Wayne Township North Judson Teallowville Major McFall 1949 Bowen s Indiana state atlas 1917 Lena Park appears on Starke County map nbsp This Starke County Indiana location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lena Park Indiana amp oldid 1202530874, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
