Indiana widow’s 20-year land fight helped preserve Lake Michigan dunes

 Drusilla Carr, an unschooled Indiana widow, spent more than two decades defending her claim to 120 acres along Lake Michigan. As Gary expanded and the lakeshore became valuable, she fought repeated legal battles against attempts to acquire the land. Decades after her death, part of her former property was included in a 212-acre donation that became protected land within Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Drusilla Carr, an unschooled Indiana widow, spent more than two decades defending her claim to 120 acres along Lake Michigan. As Gary expanded and the lakeshore became valuable, she fought repeated legal battles against attempts to acquire the land. Decades after her death, part of her former property was included in a 212-acre donation that became protected land within Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.