Sandybrook

Long before its development it was part of a series of portages used by early settlers and the underground railroad. Before them this land running along the west side of the river was commonly used by the Potawatomi and Miami Indians for travel and trade until they were forced out in the 1840s. Its trails ran one mile parallel but not next to the Saint Joseph River and Hurwich family farm. Many arrowheads, jewelry and artifacts left by Indians and early explorers to the Midwest can be found there now.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s its streets were laid and named after the small spring, brooks and shrubbery surrounding them. Sandybrook and its two sister neighborhoods Pioneer Heights and Forest Glenn (which are now connected) formed an Ideal place for families to live in the 1980s and 90’s as a result of being fed up to other alternative areas South Bend had to offer. Legacy families to the area such as the Bodner, Bogal, Foley, Hoffman, Knight, Latosinski, Luetscher, Merrill, Porter, Rucano, Snyder, Supercinski and Vida made much of its cornerstone and personality as a community. Most families belong to Corpus Christi, Lasalle and Saint Joseph’s High school. As the 1990s closed and the turning of the new Millennium came many families and younger generations moving out left behind once nicely painted houses with lush green yards.

Today with the turn of the economy, unemployment and debt Sandybrook faces almost certain destruction by threat of annexation and takeover of its surrounding nature lands by local government and stimulus money planned for industrial parks.