Black History Month: Beck's Lake — circa 1920s to present day

Throughout the month of February, The Tribune is publishing daily facts about South Bend's Black history. Follow the series at www.southbendtribune.com.

Located on the city’s west side, Beck’s Lake was once a natural water feature so clean that the city considered using it as a source of drinking water. As more factories moved nearby, and more African American families moved from the South to the North for jobs at those factories, the environmental landscape changed radically. Despite this, generations of residents around “The Lake” built strong community ties that continue to this day. Residents still challenge local and federal government entities to ensure the safety of neighborhood families by removing the toxic chemicals dumped there over many decades during the first half of the 20th century.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend Black history facts