Name: Chicago in the Great Depression
Brand: James R. Schonauer
SKU: 9781467113335
Price: 17.49 USD
Availability: InStock

Chicago in the Great Depression

9781467113335

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Carl Sandburg called Chicago the "City of the Big Shoulders," and those shoulders withstood the stock market crash of 1929. Chicagoans rallied to collect funds to celebrate the centennial of the city's incorporation in 1833. A Century of Progress International Exposition, held in 1933 and 1934, brought jobs and businesses to Chicago and cheered people with the prospect of new technology and the promising face of the future. Neighborhood churches and community organizations helped each other, and the Great Migration brought new arrivals from the American South. Together, these factors helped to hasten the end of Prohibition and the fall of notorious gangsters like Al Capone and John Dillinger. Jazz rolled in, with Chicagoans dancing along to the tunes of the big bands. Even if pocketbooks were bare, souls were full of hope.

Des Plaines

9780738594477

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In the 1830s, settlers established a community of farms along the Des Plaines River, initially naming the town Rand for the influential pioneer Socrates Rand. In the 1850s, the Chicago and North Western Railway ran tracks from Chicago to Cary, Illinois, building a station at the Des Plaines River to provide water for steam engines. The station was named Des Plaines, and the community incorporated as Des Plaines in 1869. In addition to providing the community's name, the railroad brought prosperity. Visitors from Chicago flocked to Des Plaines to fish and swim in the river. Businesses sprang up to cater to the tourists and new residents, campers congregated at the Methodist campgrounds, and bands played at Northwestern Park. In turn, farms supplied Chicago with produce and flowers. Des Plaines was nicknamed the "City of Roses" when area greenhouses produced more than one million of the flowers annually. After World War II, houses sprouted in place of farms, and the population burgeoned, turning Des Plaines into the modern suburb it is today.

Antioch

9780738550657

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Antioch is a unique small town at the border between Illinois and Wisconsin. Its rich history and strong family values have supported the village since the first families arrived in the early 1800s. In 1983, a group of dedicated people decided the history of Antioch was slipping away and started the Lakes Region Historical Society. Since that time the community has responded with thousands of artifacts and pictures of early Antioch. From the humble beginnings in log cabins along the shores of Loon Lake to the active community of today, the pictures lead one back in time. Antioch blossomed during the 1890s and early 1900s when the Chicago area discovered the beauty of the lakes in the region.
Resorts opened everywhere, almost overnight it seemed, and crowds flooded the area. Most came on the train; others came in the new horseless carriages. The village of Antioch expands way beyond its legal limits. The surrounding area depends on the village for much of its needs. The lakes still thrive today because of the workings of the little town. Although the population is only in the thousands, the unincorporated area swells that number to double its size.

Route 66 in Chicago

9780738551388

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It winds from Chicago to L.A."--so says Nat "King" Cole's classic hit "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66." Beginning in 1926, Route 66 was the only U.S. highway
providing a direct connection between the Windy City and the City of Angels; thus, it is no wonder that Route 66 would become the metaphor of the American
journey. The crescent-shaped route from the shore of Lake Michigan to the southern Pacific Coast followed a corridor blazed by Native American footpaths,
pioneer waterways, and transcontinental railroads. As the frontier moved across the Great Plains to the ocean, Chicago was the point of embarkation for people emigrating from the east, and it was the marketplace for the products harvested in the west. During the golden age of the car culture, Chicago was where people started their California trips as they took "the highway that's the best."

The Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway

9780738550572

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In 1884, the Joliet, Aurora and Northern Railroad was formed to connect the growing industrial cities of Joliet and Aurora. This system evolved into the
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway. By 1893, it encircled Chicago from Waukegan, via Joliet, to Porter, Indiana. The railroad developed into a prosperous subsidiary of U.S. Steel at the beginning of the 20th century. It primarily served the steel
mills and facilities of its parent company and as a bridge route between the many Chicago railroads it crossed. It has also been an industry innovator. It was one of the first Class 1 railroads to completely convert to diesel locomotive power in 1949 and the first in the world to install an automatic, electrically operated car retarder yard in 1952. Today it is the same prosperous railroad it was over 120 years ago, serving the rail transportation needs of its online customers and as an even more important bridge route for the region's railroads.

Starved Rock State Park

9780738551364

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Starved Rock State Park is located midway between Ottawa and LaSalle. The park has more than 2,630 acres that include 18 beautiful canyons and waterfalls. One of the largest Native American encampments, the Grand Village of the Kaskaskia was located near Starved Rock. Fr. Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet are believed to be the first white men to have set eyes upon the rock. Ren©-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, built Fort St. Louis on the rock. Legend has it that a band of Illinois Indians starved to death while seeking refuge from its enemies on the rock, hence the name Starved Rock. Starved Rock State Park has remained virtually
unchanged through the years as its history is told through the author's vintage postcards.

Belleville

9780738533339

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By legislative decree, the planned community of Belleville began in 1814 as the new county seat on the site of George Blair's farm, in proximity to no major crossroads or rivers. This book chronicles Belleville's remarkable--if not phenomenal--rise to become the "Capitol of Southern Illinois," a feat celebrated to no small degree by proud residents on the occasion of Belleville's centennial celebration. Much of what contributed to Belleville's 19th-century rise to prominence in politics and its economic growth in agribusiness, mining, banking, manufacturing, and retail sectors are illustrated here. This collection of photographs shows some of the many reasons why modern-day Bellevillian's retain pride in the city's history and continue their efforts to preserve it.

Belvidere and Boone County

9781467114189

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Although Boone County is one of the smallest counties in Illinois, it is rich in larger-than-life stories that grew from its prairies, forests, and streams. Its history includes a king of the hobos, a huge wheel of cheese, and a business leader who manufactured some of the best sewing machines and bicycles ever built in the United States. From the 1830s to the 1940s, Boone County rode booms and busts while steadily growing and attracting new residents with diverse backgrounds. To understand today's Boone County, it is necessary to look to the past. Images of America: Belvidere and Boone County focuses on the first 100 years of the community's history. Readers can learn about how the popular county fair got started, look at historic images of the county's first pioneers, and take a nostalgic trip back to the days of swimming at Marshall Beach.

Arlington Park Racetrack

9781467128797

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Born of one man's dream and built on 1,001 acres northwest of metropolitan Chicago, Arlington Park had its inaugural run in 1927 and celebrated its 90th season in 2017. Innovative and forward-thinking, Arlington set the standard of excellence during the glory days of racing. The famed racetrack survived a devastating fire in 1985, reopening four years later to worldwide acclaim. Over the decades, Arlington has played host to some of the most famous horses, jockeys, trainers, and owners in the sport of kings. Arlington is also home to the world's first million-dollar race--the renowned Arlington Million--and is the only Windy City racetrack to have hosted the Breeders' Cup Championships.

Starved Rock State Park

9780738519906

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Visitors to Starved Rock State Park are often struck by the grandeur of its rustic lodge. They marvel at its massive fireplace and hand-hewn logs. Yet few realize that this structure is a tangible reminder of the Civilian Conservation Corps, which in the 1930s provided work for young men left unemployed by the Great Depression. Starved Rock Lodge was one of the biggest projects of the "CCC boys" along the Illinois and Michigan Canal, but it was far from the only one. Working as a team and living in camps from Willow Springs to La Salle-Peru, they built facilities that transformed the old canal into what became the I&M Canal State Trail (1974) and the nation's first National Heritage Corridor (1984). President Franklin D. Roosevelt's nation-wide program preserved the landscape from the ravages of soil erosion, flooding, and deforestation. In the process, the young men built beautiful parks, buildings, and shelters that we use and admire today.

Chicago's Englewood Neighborhood

9780738520438

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Once known as Junction Grove, the rich history of Englewood began in the mid-1800s as the area quickly developed into a rail and commerce crossroads.

Before 1850, the area was an oak forest with dense swamp land, but the railroad would change things forever. Several of the railroad lines crossed at what became known as Junction Grove, but in 1868, the name would change to Englewood; in 1889, Englewood became part of the city of Chicago. With its four railroad stations, Englewood has long been a transportation hub of the southwest side. This easy access helped to make Englewood one of the largest outlying business districts in the country for much of the first half of the 20th century, but the quality of life in Englewood has dropped dramatically since. Now a struggling urban area, known as Chicago's murder capital, it is also nevertheless known for its grassroots organizations and strong sense of community, on the forefront of revival.Chicago's Englewood Neighborhood: At the Junctionexplores the history of the people, places, commerce, and community that have created this ever-dynamic neighborhood.

Channahon and Minooka

9781467110112

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The villages of Channahon and Minooka sit side by side, with Channahon in Will and Grundy Counties and Minooka in Will, Grundy, and Kendall Counties. Channahon was settled to take advantage of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and Minooka was formed around a number of railroads. It was the canal that helped shape Channahon in both positive and negative ways. The town first incorporated in the early 1900s. After a car plunged into the canal while crossing a bridge that collapsed, the owners of the vehicle sued the village. In order to protect its assets, the village unincorporated and then reincorporated in 1962. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, later known only as the Rock-Island Line, ran through Minooka from Chicago to Ottawa. The town's original name, Summit, was given because the line reached its highest point there until the 1920s when the tracks were lowered.

Historic Sears, Roebuck and Co. Catalog Plant

9780738539775

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Located on the site of the original Sears Tower, the historic Sears, Roebuck and Company catalog plant is one of the nation's most unique landmarks. Representing American ingenuity at its best, Richard Sears and Julius Rosenwald combined technology, commerce, and social science with bricks and mortar to build "the World's Largest Store" on Chicago's West Side. Completed in 1906, the plant housed nearly every conceivable product of the time: clothing, jewelry, furniture, appliances, tools, and more. The complex employed 20,000 people, and merchandise orders were processed and delivered by rail--within the same day. During the first two decades of the 20th century, almost half of America's families shopped the over 300 million catalogs published in that era. WLS (World's Largest Store) Radio broadcasted the Gene Autrey show from the top of the tower, and the first Sears retail store opened here on Homan Avenue and Arthington Street. In 1974, Sears moved to the current Sears Tower. Thanks to many individuals who fought to save these architecturally and historically important treasures, the administration building, the original Sears Tower, the catalog press-laboratory building, and the powerhouse remain today. There are currently plans for redeveloping these buildings into housing, office, and retail space. A new Homan Square Community Center stands on the site of the merchandise building.

Historic Sears, Roebuck and Co. Catalog Plant

Waukegan, Illinois

9780738508368

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Waukegan, Illinois has a long history, with a rich and varied heritage. Countless individuals, businesses, and organizations have contributed to that heritage, and continue today to contribute to the legacy of this community. One of Waukegan's most notable citizens was Jack Benny. Throughout his long career he regularly cited his hometown and its influence on him, and he often contributed to the city with his many appearances. But he wasn't the only person to bring fame to Waukegan. Edward Amet's motion picture projector and Johnson's outboard motors made Waukegan memorable in the minds of millions. And Louise Dekoven Bowen's generosity is a source of pride to its residents.

Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemeteries

9780738540177

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From the heartbreak of dozens of families burying their children after the notorious Our Lady of Angels School Fire to the serenity of a grieving mother, who six years after the death of her daughter finds her wedding-clad body in peaceful repose; from the lawlessness of the bootleg era, punctuated by such ignominious figures as Al Capone and Dean O'Banion, to the patriotic triumph of one of the flag bearers of Iwo Jima, Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemeteries have provided the final chapter in the colorful lives and tragic events that have marked the city of Chicago for the last century. It denotes the final resting place of the churches' bishops and cardinals as well as the city's beloved parents, grandparents, and children. Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemeteries offers a unique glimpse into the history of Chicago during a time that saw massive immigration, rising industrialization, two world wars, and numerous tragedies, by chronicling the lives and stories behind the individuals who are interred there.

Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemeteries

Chicago Trolleys

9781467126816

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Before the rise of automobiles, where new trolley car lines were built, people, businesses, and neighborhoods followed, and trolleys quickly helped Chicago become a world-class city.

Chicago's extensive transit system first started in 1859, when horsecars ran on rails in city streets, cable cars and electric streetcars following soon after, but once trolleys appeared on the scene, Chicago metaphorically exploded. At its peak, Chicago had over 3,000 streetcars and 1,000 miles of track--the largest such system in the world. By the 1930s, there were also streamlined trolleys and trolley buses on rubber tires. Some parts of Chicago's famous "L" system also used trolley wire instead of a third rail. Trolley cars once took people from the Loop to such faraway places as Aurora, Elgin, Milwaukee, and South Bend. Though seemingly-outdated in the 21st century, there are still a few trolleys running today for anyone who prefers to take the scenic route.

Schaumburg’s Woodfield Mall

9780738551029

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Woodfield Mall opened on September 9, 1971. Built in the village of Schaumburg, Woodfield Mall was a major factor in the rise of that city and all of Chicago's northwest suburbs. At the time of Schaumburg's incorporation in 1956, approximately 130 people lived in the area. The mall opened with 59 stores on that fateful day in 1971, and actor Vincent Price served as master of ceremonies. By 1973, Woodfield Mall had grown to nearly 190 stores, and at 1.9 million square feet of retail, it was the largest mall in America at the time. Retailers and corporations began to flock to the area, and many top companies now call Schaumburg home, existing in the shadows of Woodfield Mall. Today Schaumburg holds a population of over 75,000 residents, and Woodfield Mall brings 27 million visitors per year to its 2.7 million square feet of shopping space, making it the number one visitor destination in Illinois. New stores continually reshape the shopping experience in this place where society and commerce collide.

19th Century Baseball in Chicago

9780738531816

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The Chicago area today hosts two of the most historic major league franchises and half a dozen minor or independent league teams. Baseball's roots run deep in the Windy City. Indeed, it was Chicago businessman William "I'd rather be a lamp-post in Chicago than a millionaire in any other city" Hulbert, who, according to baseball lore, staged the coup that in 1876 would put the National League on the map. The Chicago White Stockings (now ironically called the Cubs) were one of eight charter members, winning the inaugural NL Championship with such legendary names as A.G. Spalding, "Cap" Anson, and Roscoe Barnes.

But The National Pastime arrived in Chicago well before the 1876 season, as is proven in this fascinating new book, 19th Century Baseball in Chicago, illustrated with over 150 vintage images.Any local fan of the modern game-whether the action takes place at the "Friendly Confines," 35th & Shields, or the cozy setting of a minor league ballpark out in Kane or suburban Cook County-will enjoy the wealth of information offered in 19th Century Baseball in Chicago.

Lake Forest

9780738507934

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Lake Forest: Estates, People, and Culture is the first book-scaled historical survey entirely focused on this notable Chicago North Shore suburb in a generation, offering a newly visual approach to the community's unique early past. Many of the nearly 200 images have never been published, having been newly discovered in local archives and family collections. From the Civil War to World War I especially, this community of millionaires flourished, giving rise to a diverse whole town-within-a-town whose local industry comprised the estates and their owners. West Lake Forest had been settled by Irish-descendant farmers after 1836, but by 1857 a new sort of community had sprung up further east, between the then-new railroad line along the lake and the shore. It was a wooded, naturalistic, anti-urban suburb, centered on education and faith, established by New England descendant Chicago Presbyterians, and businessmen with their families.

Made in Chicago

9781467103077

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For much of the 20th century, the Chicagoland area was a manufacturing mecca due to its central geographic location and ready access to rail and water transportation. The city and suburbs mass-produced a wide range of products, including appliances, bicycles, electronics, furniture, globes, pianos, pinball machines, radios, railroad cars, sporting goods, telephones, televisions, typewriters, tools, toys, tractors, and watches. This book traces the origins of manufacturing in Chicago and explores the city's proud history of making steel and shaping metal. It also provides extensive coverage of the golden age of manufacturing in the region, including Chicago's unique contribution to the arsenal of democracy during World War II. The nostalgic journey includes stops at famous Chicago companies from the past, such as Bell & Howell, International Harvester, Pullman, Schwinn, Stewart Warner, Sunbeam, Western Electric, and Zenith.

Joliet

9780738540429

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In vivid historical images and rare archival documents, see for yourself how Joliet became a quintessential American City.

Joliet once was a lush prairie bordered with scenic bluffs along the Des Plaines River. In the late 19th century, settlers and a large influx of Eastern European immigrants arrived, transforming the area into a bustling industrial community of steel, limestone, manufacturing, and transportation. In the 20th century, Joliet transformed itself from an industrial hub to a destination of entertainment and tourism. Tourism thrives as people visit the National Hot Rod Association drag strip, NASCAR track, two casinos, the JackHammers minor-league baseball team and baseball stadium, a water park, the historical museum, and library. Joliet depicts the rich cultural heritage impressed on the city and shows how the people lived and worked together, earning Joliet the title of All-American City in 1955 by the National Municipal League and Look magazine.

Wheaton

9780738540351

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Where will you find C. S. Lewis's wardrobe, J. R. R. Tolkien's desk, Malcolm Muggeridge's typewriter, Madame Blavatsky's tiara, the bones of a hulking mastodon, Billy Graham's traveling pulpit, and Tyndale House, publishers ofthe best-selling Left Behind series?

Where will you find students, mystics, theologians, doctors, authors, actors, and musicians living in harmony? In Wheaton. Located 26 miles west of Chicago, the ""All America City"" boasts excellent schools, exquisite old homes, safe streets, and fine museums. Though Horace Greeley is credited with uttering the immortal ""Go west, young man!"" the sentiment had been acted upon much earlier by questing pioneers, many of whom halted in the middle plains, sensing terrific potentialin the rich black soil of Illinois. Among these were Warren and Jesse Wheaton and Erastus Gary from Pomfret, Connecticut. Seeking suitable land for farming, they settled and constructed a mill. From there they built cabins and harvested spring crops. Soon there was a village of a few hundred, connected by train to the farthest reaches of the nation. Now there is a city of 55,000 residents.

Loyola University Chicago

9781467105590

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For the past 150 years, since its founding in 1870 as St. Ignatius College, Loyola University Chicago has served and educated both the immigrant and established residents of Chicago, excelling in providing a comprehensive liberal arts education. One of the largest Jesuit universities in the United States, Loyola Chicago offers over 80 undergraduate and 170 graduate and professional programs in the humanities, sciences, medicine, nursing, social work, law, business, and communications on four campuses--three in Chicago and one in Rome, Italy. Now in its second century of service, and with an enrollment of over 17,000 students and 150,000 alumni, half of whom live in Chicago, Loyola continues its mission of preparing people to lead extraordinary lives.

LaSalle County

9780738541051

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LaSalle County was first discovered by Native Americans and then the explorers Fr. Jacques Marquette, Louis Joliet, and Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. The Illinois and Fox Rivers sweep through, winding around lush forested areas. LaSalle County boasts many natural resources: there are open rich farmlands, and valuable rock formations in the region are now part of four state parks. The county's many towns collect a diverse history, from Native Americans, including Potawatomi, Fox, and Ottawa, to early explorers and Abraham Lincoln to one small town that quietly helped in World War II by building the landing ship tank. Rich deposits of coal and St. Peter sandstone attracted industry and the building of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. LaSalle County has grown and been shaped by the people and events that have made this country great. This varied history is shown through vintage photographs from private collections, museums, historical societies, and libraries.

Berwyn

9780738533971

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Berwyn, a suburb of Chicago, saw rapid expansion in the 1920s and traces its roots back to the 19th century, representing the American Dream.

Eight miles west of downtown Chicago sits a suburb with a rich, vibrant history. Berwyn began in the 19th century as two separate communities with vast stretches of marshland and farmland between. By the early 1900s, this booming municipality successfully kept industry at bay while remaining a strictly residential development. As thousands of bungalows were constructed in the 1920s, the ""City of Homes,"" as it was known, became the fastest-growing community in the United States. For many generations, the suburb has attracted hard-working people who take pride in their homes and exemplify the fulfillment of the American Dream.

Harlem Township in Winnebago County

9781467104432

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Harlem Township was once the home of early settlers from areas like Harlem, New York, and Argyllshire, Scotland. These settlers' legacy lives on in the names of local landmarks and places like Argyle Presbyterian Church, Harlem High School, Harlem Road, and Harlem Community Center. Much of the area known as Harlem Township was once called Low Bottom by Native American Indians. The area was also referred to as North Park until incorporation in 1981. North Park was once an area dotted by cottage-style homes located on the picturesque valley of the Rock River. Rock Cut State Park draws millions of people from all over the state and offers camping, hiking trails, walking paths, sailing, fishing, and occasionally special events. Nearby Rockford Speedway has been home to the National Short Track Championships since 1966 and is currently one of only two NASCAR-sanctioned tracks in Illinois. The area now known as Machesney Park played an important role in pioneer aviation with what would become the original Rockford Airport, later renamed Machesney Airport. Harlem Township offers up vibrant living for those who crave a little bit of everything all in one place.

Lockport, Illinois

9780738565521

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This new addition to the Images of America series
traces the history of Lockport, Illinois, from the
height of its canal activity in the late 1860s to its
decline as the lifeblood of the town in the early
20th century. Lockport's story is revealed here in
over 200 vintage photographs that trace the town's
progress from its early days through the 1970s, when
the canal reappeared as a recreational and tourist attraction. In Lockport, Illinois: The Old Canal Town, author John Lamb offers a rare glimpse into the lives of Lockport's founding fathers, as well as an in-depth look at the Demings family, whose fortunes and livelihoods depict the economic and cultural trends followed by many of Lockport's families. Lamb narrates this collection with an insightful text, providing many little-known facts about the town, the people, and the events that have shaped the history of this fascinating canal town.

Joliet

9780738551951

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In 1673, Louis Jolliet and Fr. Jacques Marquette were the first Europeans to explore the Mississippi and the Illinois River valleys. Their explorations took them through what is now Joliet. Founded in 1834 as Juliet, the settlement's future was shaped by several important developments. The Des Plaines River provided an early waterway, and its power gave rise to mills and manufacturing. Native limestone rock beds helped build a 19th-century city, while Joliet quarries employed thousands of men. From the opening of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1848, to the building of the Illinois Central and Rock Island Railroads in the 1850s, to the intersecting of the Lincoln Highway and Route 66 in the 20th century, Joliet became an important hub between rural towns in Will and Grundy Counties and Chicago. Over 200 vintage postcards of Joliet reveal a unique city with a sense of community pride.

Irish American Heritage Center

9780738582887

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In 1976, a small group of Irish Americans was looking for a permanent place to celebrate and share its heritage and culture. After many fundraisers and Irish Family Days, they purchased an abandoned, graffiti-covered building on the northwest side of Chicago. Over the past 25 years, a crew of passionate volunteers has transformed the derelict structure into a premier institution. Through dance, music, festivals, language, history, and art, the Irish American Heritage Center delivers on its mission as a nonprofit organization enhancing the lives of every member and the community. But for the vision of those original dreamers, and the blood, sweat, and tears of the thousands of volunteers, it would not exist.

Rock Island Arsenal

9781467112703

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In July 1862, Pres. Abraham Lincoln signed legislation to create Rock Island Arsenal, envisioning a supply and maintenance facility. After the Civil War, Rock Island became home to a great national arsenal. It made everything soldiers needed and supplied saddles, rifles, canteens, haversacks, artillery, tanks, and ammunition to the Army on the frontier and around the world. Rock Island Arsenal, located on an island in the Mississippi River, has long been the center of the local Illinois-Iowa community and the largest employer in the area. Beginning as a modest wooden fort, the arsenal grew to become the largest public-works project of the 19th century, the home of a National Historic Landmark, and the host of numerous historical events. Rock Island Arsenal still bustles as a center of Army logistics and is critical to sustaining the nation's armed forces in peace and war.

Rockford

9780738532639

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With a collection of nearly 240 vintage postcards, Rockford: 1920 and Beyond captures this dynamic, ever-changing era.

Rockford's economic boom of the early twentieth century continued into the Roaring Twenties, when Rockford's newly-erected skyscrapers symbolized the city's ""sky's the limit"" ambitions. But the good times came to a crashing halt with the arrival of the Great Depression in October 1929. With its longstanding blue collar industrial roots, Rockford would enjoy renewed and even greater prosperity as it readily capitalized on the World War II war effort and the post-war economic boom years. With a collection of nearly 240 vintage postcards, Rockford: 1920 and Beyond captures this dynamic, ever-changing era as Rockford transformed into ""Illinois' Second City."" Inside, see now-familiar skyscrapers like the Rockford News Tower, Talcott Building, and Faust Hotel enliven Rockford's downtown skyline. Take a nostalgic trip to the Blackhawk Park Zoo and the Central Park and Kiddieland amusement parks. Watch post-war ""car culture"" change the face of the city with its drive-ins, shopping centers, and expressways. Witness the World War II revival of Rockford's storied Camp Grant. See the famed Wagon Wheel Resort in its high-flying, star-studded Hollywood heydays. Marvel at the destructive power of Rockford's deadly ""Cyclone of '28.""

Will County

9780738560632

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Later that same year, workers broke ground for the nearly 100-mile-long Illinois and Michigan Canal between the Illinois and Chicago Rivers. The opening of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and the movement of industry away from Chicago caused manufacturers to turn their attention to Will. As the county's population grew, the unincorporated area between Joliet and Chicago's southern suburbs continued to shrink. The transportation ties linking Chicago with the communities of Will County--traces, paths, wagon roads, canals, rail lines, plank roads, and highways--helped create an expanding metropolitan region. The early history and unique growth of Will County is showcased in this book. Over 200 vintage postcards provide an interesting glimpse into the social, material, and cultural history of Will County in the early 20th century.

Glenview

9780738551906

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Following the signing of the treaty of 1833, which required that local Potawatomi tribes relocate west of the Mississippi River, European settlers began to arrive in the area now called Glenview. Primarily of English and German origin, they established farms and trading posts. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 had a profound effect on the hamlet. Lumber from the forests of Wisconsin used to rebuild the city was moved from the north via rail. By 1872, the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad laid the first set of tracks from Wisconsin to Chicago; the line brought prosperity to local residents. In 1899, the village was incorporated. The first mayor, Hugh Burnham, a nephew of Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, is credited with its name--Glen View. The community evolved into a mosaic of truck farms, major industry, small businesses, country clubs, polo fields, entrepreneurs, and colorful characters. Glenview maintained its ambiance as a "village of homes and gardens" until the latter years of the 20th century.

Lithuanian Chicago

9780738598543

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Today, there are more than 100,000 Lithuanians in Chicago, making the city home to the greatest concentration of Lithuanians outside of the country itself.

Their presence in Chicago began in 1834 and drastically increased during the 20th century as immigrants and their descendants sought work in the stockyards and other industries. Lithuanians in Chicago were dedicated to celebrating and preserving their unique culture, evident in its churches, schools, museums, and community centers in neighborhoods such as Bridgeport and Marquette Park. They also maintained ties to the homeland and played an important role in Lithuania's struggles for independence throughout the 20th century. Many prominent Lithuanian Americans are from the "City of the Big Shoulders," including football great Dick Butkus, actor John C. Reilly, and director Robert Zemeckis. The former president of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, was a resident of Chicagoland for nearly 50 years.

Lombard's Lilac Time

9780738578040

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Lombard has been called the "Lilac Village" since the late 1920s when William R. Plum, affectionately known as the "Colonel," bestowed his world-renowned lilac collection to the village for use as its first public park. Colonel Plum's 2.5-acre estate was known as Lilacia and began in 1911 after a trip to the Lemoine Lilac Gardens in France. By the time Plum passed away in 1927, he had amassed over 200 varieties of lilacs and had the largest collection of French hybrids in the world. Jens Jensen, the famous landscape architect, designed a public space out of Plum's lilac collection with winding paths of native limestone, tulips by the thousands, and a lily pond in the park. The first community-wide Lilac Festival was held in May of 1930, unveiling Jensen's Lilacia and including a Lilac Queen and Court, a pageant, parade, and wide variety of events and festivities celebrating the village's new park.