In 1916, the property which later became known as Ludlow Park and Ehlers Park, along with other adjacent lake shore frontage was obtained from G.W. Patterson and his wife, Mary E. Patterson, for a total of $1,050.00. Ludlow Park is the homesite of Worthington's first settler, G.J. Hoffman who started a lakeshore orchard. The park is named in honor of Horace J. Ludlow, who purchased the Hoffman homestead in 1875 and developed the Okabena apple.