Adventures Between Time Zones - Hudson Lake (Part 2 of 3)
Continued from Part 1
Hudson Lake
One of the reasons why I like taking South Shore Line is that it reminds me of electricka trains I rode back in Russia. Chicagoland suburbs are closely clustered together, which almost makes them seem like one continuous mass. But once you get past Gary, the cities, towns and villages get more spaced out, the way they usually are in Russia. As a kid, I remember being at once awed and fascinated about leaving the city and getting off in what seemed like a world away.
There are several South Shore Line stations that bring back that feeling - but Hudson Lake station takes it to a whole new level. After racing through forests and farm fields at top speed for twenty minutes, the train comes to a stop near a lake, where tall trees tower above all the houses.
The Hudson Lake station has the smaller platform than any other station on the South Shore Line. It is barely enough to fit one train car. This picture really brings home just how small the platform is:
The station is one of the several "flag stops" throughout the system. The train will pass the station without stopping unless a passenger asks the conductor to stop or unless someone at the station presses a button that activates a strobe-light that would attract the conductor's attention. I've discovered that a strobe light will remain on for up to 15 minutes - sometimes, even longer.
Hudson Lake has been around for almost as long as Indiana has been a state. It developed around the eponymous lake, and residents earned the living off fishing.
During the 1920s, it became a popular resort for the wealthy Chicagoans (and residents of other, smaller cities). Boaters earned a pretty penny by taking the wealthy tourists around the lake. The Blue Lantern dance hall played host to parties that featured the than-risque Jazz music, and a nearby casino welcomed gamblers. And while the official history does not record it, the town probably played host to more than it's share of Prohibition-breaking activities.
But Hudson Lake fell into decline when the Great Depression hit. People still came, but not nearly as much as before. The casino was eventually torn down and the Blue Lantern was abandoned.
Today, Hudson Lake is primarily a vacation destination. People come to swim, boat, jet ski and fish in Hudson Lake. Apparently, some Chicagoans come here to ski during the winter. The town also plays host to Lakeside RV Resort, a summer outdoor campsite owned by something called "Encore." Spread across the several blocks near the station, it allows visitors to either rent a cabin or bring their own trailer. The resort provides power, water and a place to light a fire.
The resort has a common pool that's apparently heated - which explains why I saw a kid swimming in there even while the weather was chilly.
Behind the pool was what I think is supposed to be the resort's outdoor recreation area. The only other time I've been to Hudson Lake, the campsite kids were there singing karaoke. This time around, the recreational area was empty. Too bad.
I think the large building near the station was the resort's main office and a common area. I am saying "I think" because, aside from the "office" sign in the picture shot below, it wasn't clearly marked. I suppose I could have asked the people who sat in front of it, but I chickened out.
The resort owners took the old Blue Lantern building and reopened it as a banquet hall, which campers can reserve in advance for private events. The front section become Bobbie's Dock and Grille, a self-styled family restaurant that serves American style food. It is also a place where kids can buy candy and adults can buy coffee or tea to go. Apparently, you can also buy souvenirs behind the counter. It may also be a place where campers can rent boats, but don't quote me on that.
The resort also has its own newsletter. I really wish I could have grabbed it, but, by the time I got there, there were none left to take.
The only other time I was at Hudson Lake, I didn't get a chance to explore much beyond the resort. This time, I had six hours - three of which were reserved for Hudson Lake. So I went further up the Chicago Road (yes, it was really called that), curious to see what I would find.
Which included some nice vacation homes family homes:
An abandoned office building A former grocery store:
And even, interestingly enough, a recycling facility (Edit: which turned out to be Fire/Water restoration business - see comment below the entry):
To my amusement as a Chicago area resident, Hudson Lake had its own Lake Shore Drive, which just happened to cross the Chicago Drive:
Hudson Lake has its share of churches, which was understandable - the very first Americans to settle around Hudson Lake were missionaries who tried to convert the local Pottawatomie Indians. There was the Hudson Lake Mennonite Church:
Which had not one, but two signs - one of which was double-sided:
There was also the Hudson Lake Church of Christ. In sensitivity to its proximity to the Eastern time zone, the church sign specifically indicates that the services are held at 10:00 AM Central time
A sign on the door offered a sobering reminder of how important churches can be to the poor - and just how many people probably depend on this church's help.
While most Hudson Lake homes are relatively small, I ran into a few that were surprisingly large:
Some of which were abandoned:
Or just plain decaying:
I also noticed that many houses had recycling bins. We Chicagoans tend to assume that Indiana residents are culturally conservative about everything, including environmental issues. Sometimes, it's nice to be reminded that stereotypes are untrustworthy for a reason.
But really, it shouldn't be surprising - Hudson Lake residents are surrounded by nature, be it the lake itself or the forests and ponds that surround it. If anyone is sensitive to how much damage human beings can do to nature, it would probably be them.
Speaking of which, I would be amiss if I didn't mention the beaches. They kind of reminded me of what I'd find in Russia - small and uncultivated. A sign warns that the beaches are only open to the locals. I am not sure how often that rule is actually enforced, but it does give locals a convenient excuse to throw out any visitors they don't like.
With fishing and boating playing such a significant role in the town's life, it is not surprising that most of the shore is riddled with docks.
I noticed that most of those docks did not connect to the shore, but then I realized there is a reason for that. The docks are private, owned by the locals, who wouldn't want just anyone to reach their boats. They keep the connecting parts in their yards - if they want to use their boats, they simply bring the connecting parts down.
Speaking of which, there are plenty of homes along the lake. They are not usually quite as fancy as what you'd find at Beverly Shores, but most people who live or rent here aren't that rich.
There was also this place - I was not really sure if it was an apartment of a big house:
At Hudson Lake, people drive quite fast - which is why I was pleased to notice a sign at one of the side streets
There were also plenty of bikers - by which I mean people who drove motorcycles, people who used bicycles and even a guy who had a hipster-style moped.
I originally hoped that I would be able to circle around the entire lake, but an hour and a half after I arrived, I realized that it wasn't going to be feasible. So I went back to Chicago Drive and back to the station. I took a brief detour outside Hudson Lake, only to find huge farm fields as far as the eyes could see.
I did spot something that perked my interest - a house those owner was flying an American and British flags.
I went to get lunch Bobbie's Dock and Grille to get lunch. The woman at the counter had none of the fake pleasantness you'd find in so many American establishments, but she warmed up to me after I expressed enthusiasm for the cooking (and all the times I said "please" and "thank you" probably didn't hurt). I ordered a "Dockburger," which arrived on a generous plate of fries. The food was really typical Americana, but as my brother once put it, there is a certain charm to eating burgers and fries that were actually hand-made.
After a paid for lunch, I continued on to the next phase of my trip - New Carlisle.
Hudson Lake
One of the reasons why I like taking South Shore Line is that it reminds me of electricka trains I rode back in Russia. Chicagoland suburbs are closely clustered together, which almost makes them seem like one continuous mass. But once you get past Gary, the cities, towns and villages get more spaced out, the way they usually are in Russia. As a kid, I remember being at once awed and fascinated about leaving the city and getting off in what seemed like a world away.
There are several South Shore Line stations that bring back that feeling - but Hudson Lake station takes it to a whole new level. After racing through forests and farm fields at top speed for twenty minutes, the train comes to a stop near a lake, where tall trees tower above all the houses.
The Hudson Lake station has the smaller platform than any other station on the South Shore Line. It is barely enough to fit one train car. This picture really brings home just how small the platform is:
The station is one of the several "flag stops" throughout the system. The train will pass the station without stopping unless a passenger asks the conductor to stop or unless someone at the station presses a button that activates a strobe-light that would attract the conductor's attention. I've discovered that a strobe light will remain on for up to 15 minutes - sometimes, even longer.
Hudson Lake has been around for almost as long as Indiana has been a state. It developed around the eponymous lake, and residents earned the living off fishing.
During the 1920s, it became a popular resort for the wealthy Chicagoans (and residents of other, smaller cities). Boaters earned a pretty penny by taking the wealthy tourists around the lake. The Blue Lantern dance hall played host to parties that featured the than-risque Jazz music, and a nearby casino welcomed gamblers. And while the official history does not record it, the town probably played host to more than it's share of Prohibition-breaking activities.
But Hudson Lake fell into decline when the Great Depression hit. People still came, but not nearly as much as before. The casino was eventually torn down and the Blue Lantern was abandoned.
Today, Hudson Lake is primarily a vacation destination. People come to swim, boat, jet ski and fish in Hudson Lake. Apparently, some Chicagoans come here to ski during the winter. The town also plays host to Lakeside RV Resort, a summer outdoor campsite owned by something called "Encore." Spread across the several blocks near the station, it allows visitors to either rent a cabin or bring their own trailer. The resort provides power, water and a place to light a fire.
The resort has a common pool that's apparently heated - which explains why I saw a kid swimming in there even while the weather was chilly.
Behind the pool was what I think is supposed to be the resort's outdoor recreation area. The only other time I've been to Hudson Lake, the campsite kids were there singing karaoke. This time around, the recreational area was empty. Too bad.
I think the large building near the station was the resort's main office and a common area. I am saying "I think" because, aside from the "office" sign in the picture shot below, it wasn't clearly marked. I suppose I could have asked the people who sat in front of it, but I chickened out.
The resort owners took the old Blue Lantern building and reopened it as a banquet hall, which campers can reserve in advance for private events. The front section become Bobbie's Dock and Grille, a self-styled family restaurant that serves American style food. It is also a place where kids can buy candy and adults can buy coffee or tea to go. Apparently, you can also buy souvenirs behind the counter. It may also be a place where campers can rent boats, but don't quote me on that.
The resort also has its own newsletter. I really wish I could have grabbed it, but, by the time I got there, there were none left to take.
The only other time I was at Hudson Lake, I didn't get a chance to explore much beyond the resort. This time, I had six hours - three of which were reserved for Hudson Lake. So I went further up the Chicago Road (yes, it was really called that), curious to see what I would find.
Which included some nice vacation homes family homes:
An abandoned office building A former grocery store:
And even, interestingly enough, a recycling facility (Edit: which turned out to be Fire/Water restoration business - see comment below the entry):
To my amusement as a Chicago area resident, Hudson Lake had its own Lake Shore Drive, which just happened to cross the Chicago Drive:
Hudson Lake has its share of churches, which was understandable - the very first Americans to settle around Hudson Lake were missionaries who tried to convert the local Pottawatomie Indians. There was the Hudson Lake Mennonite Church:
Which had not one, but two signs - one of which was double-sided:
There was also the Hudson Lake Church of Christ. In sensitivity to its proximity to the Eastern time zone, the church sign specifically indicates that the services are held at 10:00 AM Central time
A sign on the door offered a sobering reminder of how important churches can be to the poor - and just how many people probably depend on this church's help.
While most Hudson Lake homes are relatively small, I ran into a few that were surprisingly large:
Some of which were abandoned:
Or just plain decaying:
I also noticed that many houses had recycling bins. We Chicagoans tend to assume that Indiana residents are culturally conservative about everything, including environmental issues. Sometimes, it's nice to be reminded that stereotypes are untrustworthy for a reason.
But really, it shouldn't be surprising - Hudson Lake residents are surrounded by nature, be it the lake itself or the forests and ponds that surround it. If anyone is sensitive to how much damage human beings can do to nature, it would probably be them.
Speaking of which, I would be amiss if I didn't mention the beaches. They kind of reminded me of what I'd find in Russia - small and uncultivated. A sign warns that the beaches are only open to the locals. I am not sure how often that rule is actually enforced, but it does give locals a convenient excuse to throw out any visitors they don't like.
With fishing and boating playing such a significant role in the town's life, it is not surprising that most of the shore is riddled with docks.
I noticed that most of those docks did not connect to the shore, but then I realized there is a reason for that. The docks are private, owned by the locals, who wouldn't want just anyone to reach their boats. They keep the connecting parts in their yards - if they want to use their boats, they simply bring the connecting parts down.
Speaking of which, there are plenty of homes along the lake. They are not usually quite as fancy as what you'd find at Beverly Shores, but most people who live or rent here aren't that rich.
There was also this place - I was not really sure if it was an apartment of a big house:
At Hudson Lake, people drive quite fast - which is why I was pleased to notice a sign at one of the side streets
There were also plenty of bikers - by which I mean people who drove motorcycles, people who used bicycles and even a guy who had a hipster-style moped.
I originally hoped that I would be able to circle around the entire lake, but an hour and a half after I arrived, I realized that it wasn't going to be feasible. So I went back to Chicago Drive and back to the station. I took a brief detour outside Hudson Lake, only to find huge farm fields as far as the eyes could see.
I did spot something that perked my interest - a house those owner was flying an American and British flags.
I went to get lunch Bobbie's Dock and Grille to get lunch. The woman at the counter had none of the fake pleasantness you'd find in so many American establishments, but she warmed up to me after I expressed enthusiasm for the cooking (and all the times I said "please" and "thank you" probably didn't hurt). I ordered a "Dockburger," which arrived on a generous plate of fries. The food was really typical Americana, but as my brother once put it, there is a certain charm to eating burgers and fries that were actually hand-made.
After a paid for lunch, I continued on to the next phase of my trip - New Carlisle.