Peter Youngman, our historian, has provided the following as a possible beginning:  

 Ogden's property is located east of Miller.  At the present time the site of the proposed resort is made up largely of sand and hills of the same composition.  Rocks and brush furnish the trimmings for the picture which has the lake for its background.  The scene naturally is picturesque.  Upon this latter feature Ogden is to depend for the natural attractiveness of the resort.

 Among the things he proposes to do are the following:  Construct a pier into the lake; induce the South Shore and the Lake Shore roads to build sidetracks to the heart of the resort; provide an artificial lake; fishing in Lake Michigan; build a hotel, establish picture theater, bathhouse, lay out driveways and provide other amusements.

 What were the earlier dreams referred to in the article?  A 1911 article took some moves to develop Miller as an opportunity to compare that town to Atlantic City (that being considered a compliment back then.)  But that ain't Porter County.  Inland Steel's purchases of West Beach in 1920 and Inland Marsh in 1921 were interpreted as signs that a new Gary would soon spring up there but a new steel mill could hardly be called "a mammoth amusement place," and that was years later than 1913 in any case.  The Duna Harbor¹ plan wasn't formulated until 1933.  An unnamed 1926 scheme was likewise too late to be relevant.  Even the Dunes City plan was not dreamed up until 1920.

 My interpretation is that that was a general reference to the old hopes for City West (now in the state park) or collateral development ideas during the stockyards "scam" or visions of the national park itself.  Some people had (and still have) some pretty strange ideas of appropriate development of a national park.  Then again, one of us might some day happen across another old newspaper article, which mentions yet another development scheme.

 It is interesting that the 1913 article's writer considers "sand" to refer to flat terrain, differentiating between "sand and hills of [sand]."  Likewise interesting is the fact that "rocks" and brush are the only other elements determined worthy of note.  I take it the rocks mentioned are the beach stones along the shore of Lake Michigan.

 Railroad spurs from the South Shore and Conrail (New York Central) into the heart of town sure would have made things different.  Was F. A. envisioning tracks just up to Kratz Field maybe or through cuts farther north into the dunes?  What was the "artificial lake" deal?  Was he planning on dredging out and perhaps lengthening the east end of shallow, marshy Lake Longinus (Long Lake) or was the idea to turn one of the intradunal ponds or other depressions farther north into a recreational "lake" more protected than Lake Michigan?

 The hotel proposition was the one concept (besides laying out roads and providing other amusements of course) which the actual later developers of Ogden Dunes also trumpeted (although Reck never did build one, either.)  A pier, a cinema, a bathhouse -- that would have been quite a different resort from the one we have today.

 All this raises the question, "Were Ogden Dunes' developers influenced by this scheme of Ogden himself a decade earlier?"  It seems likely, as they were Gary businessmen who should have heard of this original plan.

 Is this 1913 resort idea perhaps even why the later development was named Ogden Dunes, although no Ogden family member was involved?  Did the name "Ogden" already mean something to the average person?  Was Reck not telling the whole story when he later claimed that the name Ogden Dunes was simply chosen for its mellifluence?  That seems less likely, as I have never seen any other reference to this 1913 scheme besides this article, and all nature books and articles refer to the area of our future town as Wickliffe (variously spelled), for the name of the South Shore stop.
  --Peter Youngman

 The establishment and development of a large tract of land on Lake Michigan in which the sand dunes were left untouched, was the dream of Colin Mackensie, Gary Engineer. The piece of land on which he built his home in Lakeside Subdivision, was too small for this.

 East of Gary, some fifteen miles, was the beautiful large tract which was part of the Ogden Estate and the lawyers handling this property were located in Madison Wisconsin. Many had tried to purchase this land but no one had succeeded. In the fall of 1921 Colin Mackensie went to Madison and presented his ideas to the lawyers who were immediately interested and agreed to sell when Mackensie had proceeded with his plans for purchasing and development. Working along with Mackensie was Joseph A. Boo, a young engineer then employed by Mackensie Engineering Company.

 Enough was done by January 1923 that I, Harriet Mackensie, was persuaded to take my 6 month old daughter for a visit with cousins in Pittsburgh while Mackensie and his engineering crew moved to a cottage on the Ogden property and did the topographical survey of what was to be named Ogden Dunes. Mackensie and Boo were also responsible for naming all the beautiful winding streets, lanes and drives as they were added.

 One day during the exciting development of all necessary details Mackensie rode into Chicago on the South Shore and chanced to sit with Nelson Reck. In the course of their conversation, Mackensie chanced to mention that he and Joe Boo were looking for an older man to join them and Nelson immediately said he thought his father might be interested. Mackensie had known all the Reck Family while in engineering school at Cincinnati University. This led up to Mr. Reck joining the promotion group and eventually becoming president as neither Mackensie or Boo was ready to establish residence in Ogden Dunes. Mr. Reck was allowed to build his home on the lake and this home was headquarters for those engaged in selling lots.

 The purchase involves 513 acres of land extending one and one-half miles along the lake front and south to Dunes Highway almost a mile.  The reported consideration is $300,000, upon which a substantial payment has been made.  Improvements are contemplated that will make the total cost of what is intended to be a de luxe home section for beach residents well above the $500,000 mark.  [Yes, that was for the whole town, not just one lot.  The tract included southern Ogden Dunes, too, by the way, not just north of U.S. 12.]

 A business section is to be provided, beautiful winding drives, an 18-hole golf course, summer hotel and everything that goes with an ideal suburban home section on the lake.

 The tract will be divided into 1,100 to 1,200 building lots, so arranged and divided as to conform to the natural topography of the region, and more than one-half of these lots will afford a view of the lake.  [How different things were in those days, when people thought it actually desirable to live up on dunes or nestled in hollows, rather than to saw off or fill in lots to bring the homes in line with the street, just as in the cities people moved away from.]

 The development of the project will be handled by the Ogden Dunes company, of which Mr. Reck is the active head.  The subdivision will be known as "Ogden Dunes," and the lake drive through it will be a continuation of the East Shore drive east from Miller beach.  [It sure would be interesting to know whether connecting Ogden Dunes with Miller was actually contemplated (back at this early stage) or "continuation" did not mean continuous or the reporter got things wrong.]

 All titles to the property will be guaranteed by the Chicago Title and Trust company, which will issue a policy to each purchaser in the section, guaranteeing title.  [Does anyone still have one of these policies, which this society could run off a copy of for our collection?]

 The new Dunes Highway intersects the southeastern corner of the property at Wycliffe station.  This is also a regular stop of the South Shore electric and the Dune Park station of the New York Central is just one mile east.  [Yes, you could board the equivalent of Amtrak trains only a mile away.]

 The property comprises the balance of the holdings of the Ogden and Chamberlain estates and never has been broken up into small holdings.  [Ogden Dunes, Inc., later bought the northwestern forty acres of town from the Chamberlains.]  It retains all its natural beauty and in the opinion of many is the best wooded tract on the lake front.  [George Brennan did not agree in The Wonders of the Dunes.]  It is well covered with growths of oak, ash, cedar, white and yellow pine, undisturbed by fires.  [Fires used to sweep through the Ogden Dunes area and the rest of the dunes.  Presumably this line simply meant that the trees had not all burned up.]  There are several groves of more than 500 white and yellow pines which never have been disturbed.  [Which woods are specifically being referred to?  Were they really still undisturbed?  Will we ever know the details of lumbering within Ogden Dunes?]

 Along the southern boundary and just north of Dunes Highway 120 acres are reserved for an 18-hole golf course.  Locations in other parts of the tract also are reserved for a business center and for a hotel site.

 The roads and paths in the section will follow the natural contour and will give ready and direct access by automobile to any home.

 The restricted feature has been given most careful consideration.  To accomplish this in a manner which will make the restrictions permanent no lots will be sold in fee simple.  Every conveyance will be by long-term lease and each lease will carry with it a full membership in the golf course.  All leases expire April 30, 2022.  [This lease idea, apparently similar to what was tried in Dune Acres, was not actually implemented here.  When was the idea thrown out?]

 When all the lots are leased all reversionary interests in parks, roadways, playgrounds, beaches and business centers, including the reversionary interests in the leased properties, will be conveyed to the golf club.  [There was no incorporated town of Ogden Dunes yet, when this was planned.  Nor was there an Ogden Dunes Home Association, the modern equivalent of this golf club.]  There will be only as many memberships in the golf club as there are separate leaseholds, and as each lessee is ipso facto a voting member of the golf club, he or his ultimate heirs, will eventually control the fee.

 The idea of combining a long-term lease with a membership in a central controlling body for the purpose of perpetuating restrictions is a new idea in real estate in this country.  [Which of you readers will investigate this for us?  How about one of you real estate agents?  This society could sure use some help in researching topics such as this.  Did this lease idea sweep the nation?  When and why did it lose favor?]  The plan, it is said, insures to each individual owner the kind of community which he most desires and which he as an owner in fee could not have.

 Control of this property was obtained early last fall by Samuel H. Reck, Colin C. Mackenzie and Joseph A. Boo, all of Gary.  Other Gary parties have become interested since.  [Who does that refer to?  Does anyone know?  What happened to the old Ogden Dunes, Inc., papers anyway?]

 Mr. Reck was one of the organizers of the Rockford Country club of Rockford, Ill., one of the early golf clubs of the middle west, and was its president for several years, during which time the links were developed.  Later he was a member of the Hyde Park Country club of Cincinnati, O., during the period when the club was being developed.  [Here is another line of research we would like one or two of you to look into.  Could our golfing members see if any information about Samuel Reck can be found at these country clubs?  We could sure use your help.]  His previous experience gives him knowledge of the needs and requirements of a good golf course.  [For some unexplained reason, Ogden Dunes never got its golf course.]

 Colin S. Mackenzie is the well-known surveyor of Gary and has laid out several beach subdivisions.  [It would be nice to have some details.]

 Joseph A. Boo has been actively connected with the sale of dunes real estate for several years.  [Is that all there is to know about Joe Boo, the mystery man of Ogden Dunes?]

The Hour Glass George Svihla, Editor A. Muntean, Ass't. Ed. 762-5184 763-4989 G.svihla@worldnet.att.net Ammuntean@worldnet.att.net Historical Society Officers Naomi Svihla, President Susan Clouser, Vice President Mary Simons, Treasurer Jane Sutton, Secretary George Svihla, Curator Peter Youngman, Historian Trustees Susan Clouser Gene Miller Constance Richter John Skafish Courtney Van Lopik - Don Kurtz Naomi Svihla  George Svihla Jane Sutton Tom Tittle Peter Youngman  Anne Muntean Ann Sampson

Memberships:

Life memberships and contributions beyond the membership level amount go into an endowment fund.

Historical Society of Ogden Dunes, Inc.
115 Hillcrest Road - 101
Ogden Dunes, IN 46368-1001

OPEN HOUSE at HOUR GLASS
Third Sunday of the Month
1:30 to 4:30 p.m. or by appointment
219-762-5184

e-mail	Hour Glass	H.S.O.D.	MEMBER of the POD

Return to top of page.

This page is at https://members.tripod.com/~Ogden_Dunes/newsltr/7/hg7-6.html.

Web-published 31st August, 1999. Updated 26th March, 2003.