Fundraiser Held for Historic Black Settlement

Lyles Station's roots trace back to the 1840s when brothers Joshua and Sanford Lyles, both free African Americans, purchased land in southwestern Indiana. Officially named in 1886 to honor Joshua Lyles, the settlement grew into a thriving community. By the early 20th century, it boasted a population of around 800 residents, with its own post office, railroad station, school, and several businesses. The community's trajectory was drastically altered by the Great Flood of 1913, which inundated the area and led to a significant decline in population as residents sought opportunities elsewhere. Despite this, Lyles Station persisted and stands today as the last remaining of Indiana's early rural Black settlements. Its historical significance is recognized by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, where it is featured in an exhibit on Black rural communities. The Lyles Consolidated School, the focus of the recent fundraiser, was built in 1919 and served the community until it closed in 1958. After falling into near ruin, the Lyles Station Historic Preservation Corporation was formed in 1997 to restore the building. Now a living history museum, the schoolhouse aims to educate visitors about the daily life and contributions of this pioneer settlement. The fundraiser to support these ongoing educational and preservation efforts was held at the Toyota Events Center and featured a performance by comedian Damon Darling on his "Gotta Dollar Tour." Attendees also participated in a silent auction with a wide array of donated items, including NASCAR VIP passes and an Indiana Fever shirt autographed by Caitlin Clark. Preservation efforts like these have a documented economic benefit. Studies on heritage tourism in Indiana show that visitors to historic sites tend to stay longer and spend more, supporting thousands of jobs and contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy. For example, in Fort Wayne, heritage visitors spent over $313 million in 2024. Past fundraising and grants for Lyles Station have been directed toward crucial projects, including stabilizing the school building, expanding parking, and adding marketing and lighting to better accommodate visitors and school field trips. In November 2023, the organization received a $3,000 grant from the Gibson County Community Foundation. The Lyles Station Historic Preservation Corporation continues to host a variety of events throughout the year to support the museum, including a Farm to Table dinner and a corn maze in the fall. The organization's mission is to preserve the oral, written, and physical history of the settlement for future generations.