A Taste of Home | Ball Bearings Magazine | Volume 13 Issue 1

Page 18

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Life by Lakeshore Miller Beach businesses find new life as the Indiana Dunes go national. By Shannon McCloskey

M

y family comes from the southside of Chicago, but the Region is my home. Many from northwest Indiana say they’re from Chicago, but fail to mention the unique experiences and people who exist within the Region. For my family and me, Lake Michigan has always just been there. I remember taking field trips to the Dunes and massive beach parties on the last day of school. This body of water and its coarse sand hold an abundance of memories for me, and the view of the city from the beach cannot be beaten. The Indiana Dunes is a special place, and so are the people who call that area home. Miller Beach, resting on the southernmost tip of Lake Michigan, is a neighborhood of Gary, Ind. that acts as its own unincorporated city. The community is 35 miles from the Chicago Loop and includes its own train stop to get to the heart of the city. Since the Indiana Dunes and the Indiana National Lakeshore were named a national park in 2019, Miller has become the first stop on the trail. Miller embodies what it’s like to find a home in water-side communities. According to the Miller Historical Society, the 20th century was when Miller Beach blossomed as the lakefront potential was finally recognized. The city of Gary annexed Miller in 1918 to make it an individual community based on tourism. Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on ballbearingsmag.com in Fall 2020.

16 | BallBearingsMag.com | Fall 2021


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