Local organization works to preserve Indiana Black historical sites

A local organization wants to see two Indiana Black historical sites remain visible for future generations.

Urban Legacy Land Initiatives, or ULLI, plans to focus on Indiana Avenue and Fox Lake vacation resort in Angola. The resort was built in 1928 for African-Americans who were not allowed to vacation at white resorts. ULLI President Claudia Polley explained the group’s mission. 

“ULLI came from the idea of making sure that nothing more would be lost of the Black history of the people and the place; and actually moving towards the future of what the greater Indiana Avenue should be,” Polley said.

She said empty parking lots along Indiana Avenue could give rise to new projects in the future.

“What we'd like to see is wonderful new development, but new development that gives a nod to what the past was like here,” Polley said. “The Black entrepreneurs that were all up and down Indiana Avenue are still here, they just are not properly remembered.”

The Mellon Foundation and Lilly Endowment have awarded a $1.6 million grant for Indiana Avenue preservation and land development.