In 1853, a railroad survey by B. Dornblazer determined a course through present-day Lena. Samuel F. Dodds, who owned 80 acres (320,000 m2) of land in the area, purchased an additional tract of 80 acres (320,000 m2) on behalf of the railroad company and grading work was begun. Dodds owned a stone residence which still occupies Lot No. 1 on Lena Street, while Dr. F. Voightheld owned a log home (which has subsequently been demolished) near the train depot. At the time, these two buildings made up the extent of the town.
The town was originally shaped as a parallelogram covering twenty-six blocks for a total of 304 housing lots. During the summer of 1853, lots sold rapidly, commanding prices varying from $50 to $150 each. On New Year's Day 1854, track was laid, and railway cars began running between Freeport and Warren. The population began to grow, mostly with English and Irish residents. In 1854, there were about a dozen families in Lena.
During the summer of 1855, Reber & Cheney and Dodds erected a three-story brick building at the corner of Railroad and Schuyler streets. It was completed in the fall of 1856 at a cost of about $4,000. The building is still used by local businesses. The Panic of 1857 had little effect on the growth of the town, and rapid expansion continued through 1860.
As growth continued after the Civil War, the first town newspaper called the Lena Star was established in 1867, with Dodds as editor. During its first year, the newspaper reported a local fire and called for a town water pump. Several fires erupted through 1868, and J.M. Shannon (who took over as editor of the newspaper) continued calls for a pump.[1] The Lena Water Tower was finally established on May 15, 1868.
By 1870, Lena's population had reached 1,295 people and its social and business community continued to grow. The Lena Fire Department was established in 1869 and officially met for the first time in 1870. Despite the presence of the fire department and well, fires continued to plague Lena. During the early 1870s, structure fires consumed a warehouse, a stable, a rural school and several Lena houses. News of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was unsettling to the residents of Lena, and a fire of 1874 nearly destroyed the old railway depot and freight houses.[1]
A local opera house, constructed in 1879, was featured on the History Channel show American Pickers in February 2010. The Opera House, now reconstructed, was closed in 1938.[2]
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UPDATE: Lena, Illinois' F-4 Phantom Jet Making Long Trek Home
January 18, 2019 January 18, 2019 Freeport News Network 1 Comment
LENA, ILLINOIS — Day one and two of disassembling the F-4 Phantom Jet has begun, and according to the Northwest Illinois F-4
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Lena Illinois' F-4E Phantom II Jet Expected To Land In Lena By End of January
LENA , ILLINOIS — Good News for Northern Illinois residents. The F-4E Phantom II Jet that will become part of
CEDARVILLE CITIES DAKOTA DAVIS DINING ENTERTAINMENT FREEPORT GERMAN VALLEY LENA NEWS ORANGEVILLE PEARL CITY PLACES TO VISIT RIDOTT ROCK CITY WINSLOW
Enjoy All You Can Eat Breakfast, Brunch Buffet At Cimino's on Sunday
FREEPORT, ILLINOIS — Mark your calendar for Sunday's at Cimino's and stop in to enjoy their famous and delicious all
CEDARVILLE CITIES DAKOTA DAVIS EDUCATION FREEPORT GERMAN VALLEY LANARK LENA LIFE NEWS ORANGEVILLE PEARL CITY PUBLIC SERVICE RIDOTT ROCK CITY ROCKFORD SPECIAL REPORTS STOCKTON WINSLOW
Criminal Justice Scholarships Now Available Through Stephenson County Crime Stop
November 6, 2018 November 6, 2018 Freeport News Network 0 Comments
Stephenson County, Illinois — $500 scholarships are available for the spring 2019 semester at Highland Community College for Stephenson County
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Freeport Man Charged In Rock County Crash That Claims Life of Lena Man, Injures Freeport Man
September 24, 2018 September 24, 2018 Freeport News Network 0 Comments
Rock County — According to the Rock County Sheriff's Office a Freeport, Illinois man has been arrested for driving while
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Emergency Preparedness And Response Drill Planned For September 22
Lena, Illinois — The Lena Fire Protection District and organizations from your community will participate in a training exercise taking place on
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Highland Athletes Receive Academic All-American Recognition
August 8, 2018 Freeport News Network 0 Comments
Freeport, Illinois — The tradition of high quality student-athletes participating in Cougar athletic programs continued in 2017-2018. Twelve Highland Community
AGRICULTURE BUSINESS CITIES EDUCATION FREEPORT LENA NEWS SPECIAL REPORTS
Adkins Energy Donates To Highland Agriculture Program
July 24, 2018 Freeport News Network 0 Comments
Freeport, Illinois — The agriculture program at Highland Community College is the recipient of a $5,000 donation from Adkins Energy
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Plans In The Works To Bring A F-4 Phantom II Fighter Jet To Lena, Illinois
The city of Lena and all of Northwest Illinois could be the future home of a retired F-4 Phantom II Fighter Jet.
BUSINESS CEDARVILLE CITIES DAKOTA DAVIS FREEPORT GERMAN VALLEY LANARK LENA NEWS ORANGEVILLE PEARL CITY RIDOTT ROCK CITY SPECIAL REPORTS WINSLOW
Stephenson County Tourism Update – NewCo Chooses 'Greater Freeport Partnership' As Official Name
May 3, 2018 May 3, 2018 Freeport News Network 0 Comments
The board of "NewCo" has selected Greater Freeport Partnership as the name for the new organization, which is designed to promote economic development, tourism and business services to grow the Freeport and Stephenson County region.
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Stephenson County's Legendary 'Old-Time Drive In' Opens For The Season
April 17, 2018 April 17, 2018 Freeport News Network 0 Comments
Lena, Illinois — Long before the drive-thru was even thought of, drive-in diners in America were a popular hang out place and in full
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Citizens State Bank To Host Free Community Shred Day, April 28 in Lena
Lena, Illinois – Citizens State Bank is celebrating Community Banking Month and Money Smart Week (April 21 – 28) with
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The Coffee House In Lena, Illinois To Close Doors April 28th
April 6, 2018 April 6, 2018 Freeport News Network 0 Comments
Lena, Illinois — If you're in the mood for an old fashioned breakfast at old fashioned prices then you better
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City Leaders Discuss County Tourism and Promotion Dollars
Freeport, Illinois — City leaders discuss Tourism, Promotion and NewCo. dollars as it relates to the recent consolidation of the
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AJ's Lena Maid Meats Wins Best of Product Show Award at 2018 AAMP Convention
Lena, Illinois — The Illinois Association of Meat Processors held their annual convention and trade show at the Marriott Hotel &