Lena Park, Indiana

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]

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]

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]

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]