Name: Cuneo Museum and Gardens
Brand: John B. Byrne
SKU: 9780738561868
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Cuneo Museum and Gardens

9780738561868

$24.99

In the early 20th century, prominent Chicago businessmen built luxurious manors south of Libertyville, settling into the lifestyle of Old World country squires. Their estates rivaled the affluent residential enclaves of the eastern establishment in size and opulence, but these midwestern palaces were surrounded by acres of fertile fields. Breeding world-class livestock and implementing state-of-the-art agricultural methods, they created showcase farms. After mid-century, as these gentlemen farmers retired and moved away, most of their properties were sold to developers and the mansions razed. Built for utility tycoon Samuel Insull in 1914, and left by printer John Cuneo Sr. to the family foundation in 1990, the Cuneo Museum, with its furnishings, art collections, and manicured grounds, preserves the grandeur of that earlier era.

Cover image for Cuneo Museum and Gardens, isbn: 9780738561868

The Dixie Highway in Illinois

9780738560021

$24.99

The Dixie Highway, once a main thoroughfare from Chicago to Miami, was part of an improved network of roads traversing the landscape of 10 states. A product of the Good Roads Movement of the early 20th century, construction on the highway in Illinois took place from 1916 to 1921. When completed in 1921, the Dixie Highway was the longest continuous paved road in the state. It ran through parts of Cook, Will, Kankakee, Iroquois, and Vermilion Counties, with service stations, roadside diners, and campgrounds sprouting up along the way. With over 200 vintage photographs, The Dixie Highway in Illinois takes readers on a tour from the Art Institute of Chicago, in the heart of the city on Michigan Avenue, to the Illinois state line east of Danville, exploring this historic highway and the communities it passes through.

Cover image for The Dixie Highway in Illinois, isbn: 9780738560021

Chicago Lawn/Marquette Manor

9780738519296

$24.99

The Marquette Park area on the southwest side of Chicago is comprised of two neighborhoods- Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor.

This book depicts the evolution of both neighborhoods with photographs and images of the earliest developments, buildings, and families-some of which have been professionally reproduced from original glass slides-beginning in 1876 with the arrival of John F. Eberhart, the ""Father of Chicago Lawn."" Due focus is paid to the common denominator and centerpiece of both communities-Marquette Park. Beginning with early photographs of this popular 323-acre park and golf course, Chicago Lawn/Marquette Manor takes the reader through its grand beginnings as ""the playground of the Southwest Side,"" and features activities throughout the years, including the racial strife it unfortunately acquired national notoriety for. The reader will have the opportunity to peek inside Amos Cravener's grocery store and H.E. Cain's pharmacy, c. 1900, as well as walk down 63rd Street when it was surrounded by prairie, watch as new buildings appear, and return when it is fully populated.

Cover image for Chicago Lawn/Marquette Manor, isbn: 9780738519296

Lake Villa Township, Illinois

9780738519029

$24.99

Initially an agrarian settlement isolated from Chicago, the introduction of the Wisconsin Central railroad in the 1880s fueled Lake Villa Township's rise as a resort haven for wealthy Chicagoans and as a hotbed for regional industry. At the center of this activity, the great Lehmann family of Chicago built many gentleman farms and mansions in the area, significantly affecting both township industry and residential life. Throughout the twentieth century, however, Lake Villa Township has gradually moved away from turn of the century industry and rail-based tourism, instead developing a quiet, small-town existence.

In recent decades, Lake Villa Township has once again found itself at the center of regional attention, this time as the Gateway to Metropolitan Chicago. As the growing suburban network of Chicago has reached the township, frenetic residential development has come against an older, rural way of life. This development has created a township at a crossroads: between the many identities of its past, and the uncertain road to the future, Lake Villa Township is again adding another fascinating chapter to its history.

Cover image for Lake Villa Township, Illinois, isbn: 9780738519029

Shelby County

9780738577975

$24.99

Shelby County has a rich and interesting history. Shelby County was created in 1827 and originally included almost all of Moultrie County, Pana, Assumption, and most of Praireton Township in Christian County. Today it is still one of the largest counties in Illinois. The county seat, Shelbyville, is historically linked to Abraham Lincoln, who made numerous visits to Shelby County during his circuit riding days. Early pioneers found abundant wildlife in the forests and prairies. In the 1840s, the pioneers began to break the prairie and found fertile soil. The arrival of the railroad spurred the rich agricultural history of the county that continues to this day. Samuel Moulton, state representative and U.S. congressman from Shelbyville, introduced the bill that established the Illinois Free Public School System. Chautauquas were presented at the Auditorium in Shelbyville, which still exists today, and at Lithia Springs. More than a dozen cities, towns, and villages combine to create a fascinating history of this county.

Cover image for Shelby County, isbn: 9780738577975

Libertyville

9780738540122

$24.99

This historic village along the upper Des Plaines River, originally called Vardin's Grove after the area's first settler, George Vardin, adopted the name of Libertyville in the early 1840s after serving two years as the county seat of the newly established Lake County. In the 1870s, businessman and state legislator Ansel Brainerd Cook built a porticoed mansion, the Cook House, in beautiful Libertyville. Other monuments to be seen in the pages of Libertyville are the estates built throughout the community, including those once owned by railroad and utility tycoon Samuel Insull. At one time, Insull owned 6,000 acres of land in the town. Scenes from business, industry, schools, and community fun through the decades complement historic images of the Lake County Fair and even a great train robbery from 1924, one of the largest ever in U.S. history.

Cover image for Libertyville, isbn: 9780738540122

The Wheaton Franciscan Heritage

9780738560465

$24.99

The Wheaton Franciscans were among many Catholic sisters who came to minister in this country in response to the needs of a growing immigrant population. This influx of pioneering women dedicated to serving God and their neighbor was a major factor in the development of health care, education, and other social services in the United States. This is the story of the Wheaton Franciscan sisters as they overcame misfortune and poverty in America to establish a variety of ministries, chief among them health care and housing. Today they constitute the American province of an international congregation founded by Mother Clara Pfaender in Germany in 1860 known as the Franciscan Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The first health care and housing ministries they founded continue to flourish as Wheaton Franciscan Services. The sisters also continue their service through their peace and justice activities as well as spiritual development ministries.

Cover image for The Wheaton Franciscan Heritage, isbn: 9780738560465

Taylor Street

9780738551074

$24.99

Take a tour of Taylor Street, the heart of Chicago’s Little Italy, with local historian and journalist Kathy Catrambone. A must-have for fans of Italian-American history.

Chicago's Near West Side was and is the city's most famous Italian enclave, earning it the title of Little Italy. Italian immigrants came to Chicago as early as the 1850s, before the massive waves of immigration from 1874 to 1920. They settled in small pockets throughout the city, but ultimately the heaviest concentration was on or near Taylor Street. At one point a third of all Chicago's Italian immigrants lived in the neighborhood. Some of their descendants remain, and although many have moved to the suburbs, their familial and emotional ties to the neighborhood cannot be broken.

Taylor Street: Chicago's Little Italy is a pictorial history from the late 19th century and early 20th century, from when Jane Addams and Mother Cabrini guided the Italians on the road to Americanization, through the area's vibrant decades, and to its sad story of urban renewal in the 1960s and its rebirth 25 years later.

Cover image for Taylor Street, isbn: 9780738551074

Grayslake and Avon Township

9780738550978

$24.99

Starting in 1836, permanent settlers came into the area to be known as Avon Township. They found fertile prairie, groves of virgin timber, and pristine lakes, and they broke the soil and tilled the ground to make a subsistance living. The coming of two railroads promoted the growth of villages and made it easy for city people to come and enjoy the recreational activities offered by the lakes. These people soon stayed, and the farmland began disappearing. Today Avon Township is home to several incorporated villages, the Lake County Fair, the
College of Lake County, and the University Center of Lake County.

Cover image for Grayslake and Avon Township, isbn: 9780738550978

Western Springs, Illinois

9780738519517

$24.99

Farming families from Germany and New York state were among the first settlers to trudge along the Native American trail-now Ogden Avenue-and build their homes on the fertile prairie land that became Western Springs, Illinois. The village, which was incorporated in 1886, was named for the mineral springs located near the local train depot. Through the medium of historic photographs, this book captures the evolution of Western Springs from the mid-1800s to the present day.

Today, the village's limestone and brick water tower, built in 1892, still stands as the centerpiece for many village events and celebrations. With nearly 200 vintage photos documenting the village's first century, including the first schools and churches, old-fashioned automobiles, and a photo of a young local woman who was one of only 305 female marines in World War I, this book brings to life the evolution of Western Springs from farming village to stately suburb.

Cover image for Western Springs, Illinois, isbn: 9780738519517

Wartime Decatur

9780738539973

$24.99

Decatur has a long history of patriotic service, both on and off the field of battle. Decatur volunteers participated in six major campaigns including the Black Hawk War (1832), the Mexican War (1846–1848), the Civil War (1861–1865), the Spanish-American War (1898), World War I (1917–1918), and World War II (1941–1945). Their record of distinguished service includes the presence of five generals and six Congressional Medal of Honor winners in the Civil War. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), the first national veterans' organization, was founded in Decatur immediately after the Civil War. In World War II, soldiers from Decatur served in North Africa, Italy, the Philippines, and Germany. Equally impressive, however, is the tradition of the Decatur Canteen, which served food to transient soldiers from the time of the Civil War onward. Local volunteers rolled bandages, collected food, and recycled bales of paper and heaps of scrap metal. Citizens planted victory gardens and bought war bonds and savings stamps. Wartime Decatur: 1832–1945 documents the vigorous wartime culture based on community involvement and a strong sense of patriotism.

Cover image for Wartime Decatur, isbn: 9780738539973

Glen Ellyn

9780738540153

$24.99

Take a fascinating journey through the history of Glen Ellyn, Illinois with more than 200 vintage photographs and anecdotes from the locals who experienced it.

Glen Ellyn took its name from a Victorian real estate development whose massive promotional campaigns brought this unusually beautiful village to the attention of city dwellers eager to move their families away from the grimy, coal-fired environs of Chicago.

The story begins with hardy New Englanders who felled trees to build log cabins, broke the virgin prairie sod, and trapped wild game in the marshlands that would become greater Chicago, continuing through the radical changes that came with the railroad and the Civil War.

From Potawatomi Indiansand pioneers to an important Underground Railroadstation; from a luxurious lakeside health resort with a fabulous grand hotel to one of Chicago's premier suburban communities, Glen Ellyn presents the village's rich history with evocative photographs from the collection of the Glen Ellyn Historical Society.

Cover image for Glen Ellyn, isbn: 9780738540153

Northlake

9780738590738

$24.99

Incorporated on July 19, 1949, with a population of 3,000, Northlake's name is derived from its two major thoroughfares: North Avenue and Lake Street. Prior to its founding, the area was best known for the Westward Ho Golf Club and Course, a premier golf course in the area. This land eventually became the site for Automatic Electric Company and Villa Scalabrini Home for the Aged (now called Villa Scalabrini Nursing and Rehabilitation Center), two symbols of Northlake's post–World War II boom. Many of the initial residents worked at a nearby defense plant as the nation was gripped by war. They had shell homes that needed work on the weekends to complete, and they did their own carpentry, plumbing, and wiring—truly representative of that hard-working generation. In many ways, Northlake's motto, City of Friendly People, rings as true today as it did in decades past. In many other ways, Northlake's motto should be City of Hard-Working People.

Cover image for Northlake, isbn: 9780738590738

Kankakee

9780738533384

$24.99

Kankakee became the county seat when Kankakee County was established in 1853. The largest city in the county, Kankakee embraced the railroad from its 19th-century beginning, becoming an important railroad hub in Illinois. The Kankakee County Historical Society has long worked to preserve the city's history and it celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2006, making it one of Illinois' oldest historical societies. The images in this book come from the society's large collection and they represent many slices of Kankakee life from 1853 to 1910.

Cover image for Kankakee, isbn: 9780738533384

Around Chillicothe, Illinois

9780738507255

$24.99

Underneath the brick and gravel of Second Street and beneath the soil of the surrounding farmland lies over a century and a half of Chillicothe, Hallock, and Medina township history. Although the founding families have passed on, their names and accomplishments still remain. These historic years
and the story of Chillicothe, Hallock, and Medina's
development are documented through over 200 vintage photographs in this new book in the Images of America series. The story of these three townships is not just a tale of one community, but is rather a chapter in the larger chronicle of 19th-century Midwestern settlement. This microcosm of heartland America documents the process by which frontier lands were settled, townships established, communities organized, and families raised.

Cover image for Around Chillicothe, Illinois, isbn: 9780738507255

Greek-American Pioneer Women of Illinois

9780738508252

$24.99

Produced through the Greek Women’s University Club, this is a collection of the struggles and triumphs, the pathos and joy of five women who immigrated to the United States.

Greek women pioneers faced a difficult life when they arrived in the xenia (strange land) from the rural farms of Greece. They did not speak English, were bewildered by crowded Chicago and the alien culture, and unlike their male family, often did not have opportunity to work outside the home. Yet these brave, spirited women triumphed over adversity and embraced their adopted country to become exemplary citizens. Chronicling the stories of Georgia Bitzis Pooley, Presbytera Stella Christoulakis Petrakis, Theano Papazoglou Margaris, Venette Tomaras Askounes Ashford, and Senator Adeline J. Geo-Karis, this book showcases the life stories of immigrant pioneer women, their families, friends, and the emerging Greek-American community of Illinois.

Cover image for Greek-American Pioneer Women of Illinois, isbn: 9780738508252

Greenville and Bond County

9780738523163

$24.99

Founded in 1815, Greenville has evolved from a small farming community into a larger, modern town that today serves as the seat of Bond County. Greenville's town square, once the site of Civil War drills, political campaigns, and Depression-era protests, still draws in residents from Pocahontas, Mulberry Grove, and other surrounding villages. People come to shop, learn, and form bonds with their neighbors, just as they have done from the town's earliest days. This book provides a visual history of all the communities in Bond County.

Cover image for Greenville and Bond County, isbn: 9780738523163

Portage Park

9780738552293

$24.99

In Chicago, it has long been common knowledge that the neighborhoods have been overshadowed by the Loop's luster.

Portage Park is one of these hidden gems, offering up a wealth of history, culture, and art. As the site of a lesser-known Chicago Portage, the largest retail district outside the Loop at Six Corners, the visual backdrop of movies such as My Life and The Color of Money, and the spot where both Abraham Lincoln and John Dillinger legendarily stayed and the sister of the czar of Bulgaria prayed, this corner of Chicago has seen its share of glitz and glory. Discover Portage Park's architectural treasures, whether it is in its place as a part of Chicago's ""Bungalow Belt,"" its wealth of notable buildings spanning different genres and time periods, or its beautiful churches and grand movie palaces. An area diverse in culture, many peoples, beginning with Native Americans and going onto the Yankees, Irish, Scandinavians, eastern Europeans, and even a Tibetan lama, have made Portage Park their home, each adding their own unique contribution to the vibrant cultural landscape. The site of the largest concentration of Chicago's legendary Polish population, it is also the place where immigrants left the inner city's ethnic enclaves to take part in the American dream.

Cover image for Portage Park, isbn: 9780738552293

La Grange and La Grange Park

9780738502601

$24.99

La Grange was incorporated in 1879, and La Grange Park in 1892. Both areas were farmland before being developed as residential communities. Today, a large section of La Grange is a National Register Historic District, and this area is dominated by large Victorian and early-twentieth-century homes. In fact, the most striking feature of La Grange and La Grange Park is the well-preserved state of their vintage housing. Both villages have maintained a small-town look and feel that has attracted many families to the area. During World War I, the Marx Brothers, in order to avoid military service, bought a farm just south of the La Grange village limits. A biography of Groucho includes some humorous recollections of life on that farm. La Grange is also lucky enough to be home to three Frank Lloyd Wright houses. Outside of these well-known attributes of La Grange and La Grange Park, the authors also explore the history of the early settlers of the area and show how the residents lived, worked, played, worshiped, and attended school in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Through the use of over 200 vintage photographs from the La Grange Area Historical Society, individual residents, and community organizations, RoseAnna and Robert Mueller offer a glimpse of La Grange's old-fashioned streets that have made La Grange a popular setting for local television commercials and even the odd Hollywood film.

Cover image for La Grange and La Grange Park, isbn: 9780738502601

Joliet's Gerlach Barklow Calendar Company

9780738577265

$24.99

The Gerlach Barklow Company was organized in 1907. The construction of the factory building in Joliet began and was completed that same year. The prime movers in the organization of the company were Theodore R. Gerlach, Edward J. Barklow, and K. H. Gerlach. Over the next decade, the company quickly grew into one of the largest calendar and advertising companies in America. A leading employer in Joliet for several decades, the company sponsored many sports teams as well as an annual picnic for its employees. This book, through vintage photographs and calendar prints, offers a unique view of the Gerlach Barklow Company's rich history. It includes calendar prints from the many artists employed by Gerlach Barklow, photographs of the various departments that made up the factory, photographs of company-sponsored sports teams, Volland books, as well as examples of Rust Craft greeting cards.

Cover image for Joliet's Gerlach Barklow Calendar Company, isbn: 9780738577265

Baha'i Temple

9780738584218

$24.99

The story of the Baha’i House of Worship is one of how very few believers in a new faith built the “Great Bell” of the North Shore.

Sitting on the shores of Lake Michigan, just five miles north of Chicago, the Baha’i House of Worship’s story begins with the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. Inspired by news of the first Baha'i¬ Temple in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, members of the Chicago Baha'i¬ House of Spirituality drafted a petition in 1903 asking for permission to begin their own. Fifty years later, in 1953, a completed Baha'i¬ House of Worship was dedicated in Wilmette. With archival photographs, readers can see the complete timeline of the temple from the Great Depression and World War II years up to the present, including ongoing restoration projects preserving the beauty of the “Temple of Light.”

Cover image for Baha'i Temple, isbn: 9780738584218

Lake Forest Day

9780738552491

$24.99

The first Lake Forest Day in 1908 included a hot air balloon ascension, a cutest baby contest, a mind-reading dog, and a vaudeville show. Proceeds from this event, organized by the Lake Forest Woman's Club, funded the Contagious Hospital, which eventually merged into Lake Forest Hospital. American Legion Post 264 took over in 1921 and has maintained this extraordinary tradition ever since. This annual celebration has changed over the years to reflect local interests, national events, and even cultural shifts. With the advent of World War II, the themes became patriotic, such as "Home Defense," "Prelude to Victory," and "On to Tokyo." Lake Forest Day, held on the first Wednesday of August, continues to inspire civic pride. This book represents a fascinating look at Lake Forest in 1908 and the century thereafter, as parades, carnivals, and contests energized community spirit.

Cover image for Lake Forest Day, isbn: 9780738552491

Montgomery

9780738583013

$24.99

Montgomery was originally known as Graytown, named after founding father Daniel S. Gray. In the autumn of 1836, he moved his family from New York and built the first frame house in the village. His industrious nature produced in quick order a store, foundry, and reaper and header shop. Montgomery also had two stores and a stone depot for the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. A large cheese factory was built in 1874. From the early settlers who came for the prized farmland and the Fox River amenities to the present-day residents, the village of Montgomery continues to thrive and prosper as it celebrates its 175th anniversary in 2010.

Cover image for Montgomery, isbn: 9780738583013

Germantown

9780738582986

$24.99

Germantown is a unique community located 40 miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri. It has a single Catholic church as its center and a rich German heritage. This is a pictorial history of the settlement that grew out of a desire for worship. The first German settlers came to Shoal Creek in 1833 and worshipped in a small house that contained neither benches nor chairs and had a split oak bench supported by four props that served as the communion rail. In 1837, the German homesteaders bought several tracts of land and reserved the ground in the center as church property. Preparations for the present stone building took two years, and it was completed in 1854. At that time, St. Boniface Catholic Church was the largest church in the state of Illinois. It is still referred to as the mother church of Clinton County.

Cover image for Germantown, isbn: 9780738582986

Springfield

9780738520131

$24.99

Springfield: A Reflection in Photography is a photo album of Springfield scenes from the late 19th through the mid 20th centuries-a nostalgic look back at everyday life in the capital city. Local people are seen at work, at play and socializing. Iron workers, construction crews and munitions makers show us the gritty, tiring work of a community and emphasize the man and animal power once common in industry. There are social changes as well, like the coming of women to the workplace. Shirtwaisted ladies at the Illinois Watch Company and "Rosie the Riveter" on the production line during the war make their appearance. Aerial views of the downtown area present a century of change in Springfield. The evolution of transportation in the community is chronicled, from horse and buggy to the railroad to the automobile. Images of ladies cooking at Temple and crews preparing community garden plots showcase the city's volunteer service heritage. Commonplace images of life in Springfield, such as children at play, shopping, parades, and the first day of school, are all presented here. But the less common events are included as well: fires, the race riot, even a baptism at Lake Springfield. Together, these images tell the story of who we were, and perhaps more importantly, who we have become as a result. This book shows a community readers may know intimately, yet have never seen.

Cover image for Springfield, isbn: 9780738520131

Chicago's Monuments, Markers and Memorials

9780738520025

$24.99

Chicago is a city that is filled with history. In nearly every neighborhood monuments, markers, and memorials have been erected to commemorate this history. It is safe to say that Chicago has one of the richest collections of such commemorations to be found anywhere in the world. While many of these works were completed by local or virtually unknown artists, others were created by world renowned artists, architects, and sculptors, including Pablo Picasso, Lorado Taft, Louis Sullivan, and Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Whether they commemorate events like the Haymarket Riot, captains of industry like Marshall Field, sports heroes like Michael Jordan, or famous politicians like early Chicago mayor John Wentworth, each of Chicago's monuments, markers, and memorials has an interesting story to tell.

Cover image for Chicago's Monuments, Markers and Memorials, isbn: 9780738520025

West Lake Forest

9780738590813

$24.99

West Lake Forest has had a shifting boundary since the 1850s. By 1926, Lake Forest had grown to encompass the farm community of Everett, five miles southwest of the lakeside commuter suburb. Since then, Lake Forest has annexed most of the former farm and estate land west to the Tri-State Tollway (I-94). Now, West Lake Forest denotes an expansive, low-density suburban area of mostly newer housing and businesses. Its eastern limit is cited variously as the Skokie River, Route 41, and Waukegan Road. Within this area of pioneer farms, fox-hunt territory, estate district, and series of suburban neighborhoods are stories of new arrivals living the American Dream. This book attempts to share the stories of these pioneering men and women.

Cover image for West Lake Forest, isbn: 9780738590813

Bourbonnais

9780738540962

$24.99

The village name Bourbonnais is attributed to Fran§ois Bourbonnais. He was a 19th-century French Canadian fur trader who maintained a post in a grove of trees along the east bank of the Kankakee River. This location became known as Bourbonnais Grove. Noel LeVasseur, a former American Fur Company employee, bought two sections of land in the grove in 1834 and established a settlement of immigrant French Canadians. At first, the village was called variously La Point, La Ville, and Vasseurville. A post office named Bourbonnais Grove opened in 1838. The village was known as Bourbonnais Grove until 1875, when it was incorporated as Bourbonnais. By the 1860s, Bourbonnais Grove had 1,719 inhabitants, a blacksmith shop, livery stable, hotel, and a new church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Nativity and built of native limestone. The images in this book depicting life in Bourbonnais have been gathered from local private and museum collections.

Cover image for Bourbonnais, isbn: 9780738540962

Chicago Ridge

9781467111126

$24.99

Chicago Ridge has never lost its small-town feel, with generations of families building long-standing businesses and residents cultivating a sense of civic pride. Developed around Stony Creek and the Wabash Railroad and located 15 miles southwest of Chicago, Chicago Ridge acquired its name after eight trains of fill were used to build up the grounds of the Columbian Exposition, leaving a ridge in the landscape. Transformed into a feeder canal, Stony Creek proved alluring to settlers in the 1840s. With the expansion of the Wabash Railroad in 1882, German and Dutch immigrants established farms along the railway. The village incorporated in 1914 and benefited from the economic influence of a slot-machine factory and nearby racetrack. The 1950s arrived with an increase in population and the expansion of road networks. Residents joined civic organizations and stood behind one another, much as they do today.

Cover image for Chicago Ridge, isbn: 9781467111126

Yorkville

9781467113113

$24.99

Yorkville's population has boomed in recent decades, but its most defining landmarks today would be familiar to its earliest settlers. Earl Adams built the area's first log cabin in 1833, near the prominent hill that is the site of Kendall County's historic courthouse, which early residents fought to rebuild after a devastating fire in 1887. Similarly, the Fox River and Blackberry Creek supported the community's early commerce, from the sawmill John Schneider built in the 1830s to the state's only man-made white-water course. Yorkville often fostered leaders who believed in making big contributions. Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican speaker of the US House of Representatives, taught sociology, economics, and speech at Yorkville High School from 1965 to 1980. Glen D. Palmer oversaw the state's first game farm before serving as the state's conservation director from 1953 to 1961. Robert Mitchler, a Navy veteran who served as a state senator from 1964 to 1981, flew a large American flag day and night in his front yard off of Route 34.

Cover image for Yorkville, isbn: 9781467113113

Lake Zurich

9780738583051

$24.99

Lake Zurich, a northwest suburb of Chicago, includes a beloved body of water that shares its name and has served as its heart. But the lake did not always bear the same moniker. First known as Cedar Lake because of its many surrounding cedar trees, Lake Zurich was renamed by early settler Seth Paine, who thought its beauty resembled the well-known lake in Switzerland. Early on, visitors from Chicago and beyond journeyed by horse and buggy to relax by Lake Zurich's banks, fish and boat on its sparkling waters, and vacation in summer cottages that dotted its shores. But it has been the people of Lake Zurich who have kept its heart pumping. The celebration of their achievements is apparent throughout town. Parks are named after businessmen and local leaders like Fred Blau and Henry Hank Paulus. Schools' names highlight educators like May Whitney and Spencer Loomis. Lake Zurich's legacy will continue through its lake and the people who have loved it.

Cover image for Lake Zurich, isbn: 9780738583051

Giant City State Park

9780738584188

$24.99

Anyone wanting to understand how Giant City State Park in rural Makanda earned its name need only hike on the Giant City Nature Trail. Here they walk through the park's namesake rock formations, carved 20,000 years ago by the melting waters of a Pleistocene glacier that stopped a mere 1.5 miles from the park. Yet it wasn't until 1933 to 1941, when the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) operated its three work camps, that man blazed his most notable trail in the park's history. The CCC's work since then has been enjoyed by millions of park visitors to its stone picnic shelters, trails throughout the park, and the massive Giant City Lodge.

Cover image for Giant City State Park, isbn: 9780738584188

Chicago's South Side Irish Parade

9780738577227

$24.99

Considered to be one of the largest neighborhood-based St. Patrick's Day parades outside Dublin, Chicago's South Side Irish Parade began quite modestly, with 17 children under the age of 10 marching twice around the block.

Dubbing themselves the ""Wee Ones of Washtenaw and Talman,"" the founders of this great parade marched with homemade signs, costumes, and a baby buggy while neighbors and family members cheered them on. Over the next 31 years, the parade grew into an annual event, attracting hundreds of thousands who came to celebrate Irish heritage with family and friends. In 2009, Pres. Barack Obama encouraged Taoiseach Brian Cowen of Ireland to visit the parade, calling it ""one of the great events in America.""

Cover image for Chicago's South Side Irish Parade, isbn: 9780738577227

Chippiannock Cemetery

9780738577418

$24.99

Built on a ridge named for the great Native American spirit Manitou, Chippiannock Cemetery has honored the dead of Rock Island County for over 150 years. Chippiannock, which means village of the dead in the Sauk and Fox languages, is truly a village. People from all walks of life are buried in the majestic rolling grounds. From railroad and lumber barons to blacksmiths and riverboat captains, here one will find the people who made this land along the Mississippi River thrive. Upon stepping through the gates of Chippiannock, one finds memorials to the dead, ranging from artistic and stately to simple or humble. Each stone tells a story-whether it is a cenotaph in honor of Civil War major general John Buford or the two Dimick children who passed away on the same day in 1878 of diphtheria. Today Chippiannock remains an active, living cemetery, beloved by locals and considered a jewel of the Quad Cities.

Cover image for Chippiannock Cemetery, isbn: 9780738577418

A View From Chicago's City Hall

9780738563732

$24.99

A View from City Hall: Mid-Century to Millennium offers readers a richly detailed, visual road map of Chicago as viewed from the mayor's office in City Hall. Within these pages are emblematic images of Chicago evolving from blue-ribbon Mayor Martin Kennelly's 1947–1955 administration through his successors, including the city's first and second black mayors, the city's first female mayor, the city's first non-Irish mayor since 1933, and finally, the Daley double, Richard J. and Richard M. Witness the excitement as City Hall rolls out the welcome wagon for traveling kings and queens, dignitaries, and counts, as well as figures of great historic import, including Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, Mikhail Gorbachev, Bishop Tutu, and Frank Sinatra. View rare scenes of the builder mayor tradition and the construction of such architectural triumphs as the Sears Tower, which was then the world's-tallest building. With over 200 photographs
accompanied by informative captions, this volume highlights a variety of Chicago's ethnic festivals, parades, and political campaigns, skillfully bringing each scene to life.

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West Ridge

9780738561509

$24.99

While West Ridge residents often disagree about what to call their neighborhood--West Rogers Park to some, North Town to others--the people of this north side community share a common commitment to the American dream. Drawn by inexpensive land 10 miles north of the burgeoning city of Chicago, European immigrants settled here in the 1830s along the high grounds west of a glacial ridge known today as Ridge Boulevard. Dubbed "Cabbage Heads" by their Rogers Park neighbors, the citizens of West Ridge boldly incorporated as a village in 1890, remaining independent until its 1893 annexation to Chicago. Over time, West Ridge blossomed from sparsely populated farmland into a dynamic neighborhood with Devon Avenue at its core. Now home to one of the Midwest's largest Jewish communities, a hub of Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi culture, and a haven for newcomers from Russia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, West Ridge remains a port of entry for immigrants and a place where cultures coalesce. In West Ridge, one can play bridge or cricket, worship at mass or the mosque, eat kosher or curry--all within a few city blocks.

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St. James Trade School and Brother James Court

9780738578118

$24.99

Helping orphaned and disadvantaged boys get a chance at a better life was the mission of Brother James, founder of the Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross, a German Catholic Order that sent Brothers to the United States in 1924. To that end, St. James Trade School was established in Springfield, Illinois, in 1928. Two years later, the first group of apprentices was admitted; they and hundreds who followed them through 1972 went on to become certified mechanics, carpenters, and electricians among other valuable trades. High school diplomas were earned beginning in 1948. In 1975, Brother James Court (BJC) opened with a brand new building specifically designed as a residential intermediate care facility. BJC provides both residency and advocacy for developmentally disabled men. Providing the highest quality care, consistent with the spirit and principles of the Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross, programs at BJC meet residents' needs and allow them to live happily at BJC for as long as they need.

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Old Irving Park

9781467110549

$24.99

Old Irving Park is indeed a crown jewel among Chicago neighborhoods. Located on the city's north side, it is peaceful and family oriented with a suburban-like charm. It has many handsomely restored older homes with distinctive architectural styles. Old Irving Park was the birthplace of Irving Park, a quaint suburb established in 1869 that was annexed by Chicago in 1889. It has a rich history with over a century of memories. Stately churches sit on quiet street corners exuding a neighborly spirit. Various churches and schools have held centennial celebrations, and old, majestic trees line every street. It has seen many changes but is still a thriving community with character, nice homes, and a legacy of civic-minded individuals and organizations.

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Bethalto

9781467110570

$24.99

The village of Bethalto is perched upon the edge of the rolling Illinois prairie. Low green hills and picturesque farms frame this attractive community of nearly 10,000 residents. The peaceful setting and relaxed lifestyle make Bethalto an ideal place to raise a family, yet its close proximity to the St. Louis metropolitan area makes it impossible to exhaust the tremendous variety of nearby cultural opportunities and entertainment. Bethalto is home to the St. Louis Regional Airport, a beautiful arboretum, an extensive public library, a community senior citizen center, and several parks with walking paths, fishing lakes, children's playgrounds, pavilions, and ample green space. Additionally, a municipal swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, a skateboard park, a soccer field, a newly remodeled basketball court, and a number of baseball diamonds provide activities for more than 2,000 youths. In Images of America: Bethalto, readers will discover people, businesses, organizations, and events that contributed to the village becoming one of the fastest-growing communities in Madison County.

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Lincolnshire

9780738591964

$24.99

Although the village of Lincolnshire has only been in existence since 1957, the historic communities from which it was created have been around for much longer. This thriving suburban area, born of humble beginnings, is now home to more than 700,000 residents. It was first settled in 1833 by a stalwart veteran of the War of 1812, who alone forged a path into the virgin wilderness. Aided by the local Potawatomi, Capt. Daniel Wright unknowingly became the originator of not only Vernon Township, but of an entire county. The towns of Half Day, Prairie View, and Aptakisic were soon forged by a group of hearty New Englanders who all possessed the same pioneering spirit that enabled them to survive and thrive in their newfound home. Come and discover the cradle of Lake County—come and discover Lincolnshire.

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Wood River

9780738523439

$24.99

Since the mid-1700s, Native Americans, pioneers, farmers, and entrepreneurs have made their home in the fertile plains and valleys of the Mississippi River Bend. However, it wasn't until Standard Oil opened its first refinery in 1908 that the towns of Wood River, Roxana, South Roxana, and Hartford were established. Essentially communities of refinery workers and their families, the towns thrived for decades as an influx of refineries brought more work to the area. This collection of images hearkens back to a time when there were more taverns than churches in Wood River, company homes lined the streets of Roxana, and a shoe factory made its home in Hartford.

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Fort Sheridan

9780738533643

$24.99

Amid Chicago's North Shore communities is a national landmark—the former U.S. Army Base at Fort Sheridan (1887-1993). Fort Sheridan was created out of the civil and labor unrest following the Chicago Fire of 1871, the great Railway Strike of 1877, and the Haymarket Riot of 1886. These events produced an atmosphere of insecurity, prompting Chicago's wealthiest businessmen—North Shore residents and members of the Commercial Club of Chicago—to levy their influence with the federal government in establishing an army presence in their backyards. Fort Sheridan is a place rich in the traditions of the U.S. cavalry and artillery, of training camps, and the Women's Army Corps. This illustrated history explores the many aspects of Fort Sheridan and takes the reader on a journey through military life.

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Plano

9780738594040

$24.99

Plano's founders, Marcus Steward and John F. Hollister, along with their families, settled in Kendall County in 1838. Hollister selected the town's name from the Latin planus, signifying flat or plane. With the invention of the first successful harvester in 1861, Plano earned the title of Birthplace of the Harvester and established the town as a leading manufacturer of farm implements. It continued to attract a variety of factories, most notably Plano Molding Company, creator of the first plastic tackle boxes. Under the leadership of Joseph Smith III, the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints established its national headquarters in Plano. Its original stone church is a landmark, as is the world-famous Farnsworth House, designed by influential architect Mies Van Der Rohe.

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St. Mark United Methodist Church

9781467103282

$24.99

Three important events occurred in Chicago in the landmark year of 1893. First was the Chicago World's Fair, second was the founding of Sears Roebuck and Co., and third was the establishment of St. Mark Methodist Episcopal Church, initially located in a storefront on State Street in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. After 125 years, only St. Mark Church is alive and flourishing. Rev. S.C. Goosley was invited to come to Chicago for the purpose of developing a Methodist presence in the African American community. In 1907, St. Mark moved to Fiftieth Street and Wabash Avenue, and the congregation worshipped there until 1959. The church moved to its present location on Chicago's far South Side. Being the largest African American United Methodist congregation in the region, St. Mark parishioners humbly stand on the strong shoulders of their ancestors as they spread the word of the healing gospel to the community.

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Around Shabbona

9780738588674

$24.99

Nestled on the southern edge of the timber, the town that Shabbona would become grew rapidly but then slowed by not having a railroad. John Ray, John Palm, and Charles Stevens made an agreement with F.E. Hinckley, president of the Chicago & Iowa Railroad, for the purpose of locating the depot and suitable sidetracks in exchange for eight acres of land. John Palm generously gave the undivided one-half interest in 40 acres of land for a village plat besides giving the right-of-way through 160 acres to the railroad company. His gift to the railroad was double that of any other individual and was the means of inducing others to give. He also gave away a number of lots to encourage the growth and settlement of the village.

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Lyons

9780738540405

$24.99

Despite its modest size, the village of Lyons has played a key role in the growth of nearby Chicago. In 1673, French explorers Fr. Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet learned of a Native American portage route connecting the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan, and that path helped make Lyons an important stop for fur traders and other businessmen throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1834, the town boasted just a saw mill, three houses, and a tavern, but by the 1830s and 1840s, with the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, Lyons became a boomtown that attracted waves of immigrants from Poland and Germany. Its numerous taverns and outdoor picnics—known as skillies—attracted visitors from throughout the
area, who also came to sites like the Cream City Amusement Park and the Hofmann Tower, now a national historic landmark. Lyons, featuring many archival photographs never previously published, explores the town's rich history from its early exploration to the present day.

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Scots of Chicago's North Shore

9781467104302

$24.99

Scots helped found Lake Forest, and hundreds of native-born Scots settled there.

The Scottish influence is evident in town names along Chicago’s North Shore like Glencoe, Bannockburn, Milburn, and Dundee.The Keith family theater chain became RKO Studios with Scots-born J.J.Murdock as president.James Simpson was CEO of Marshall Field and Company and oversaw the building of the Merchandise Mart.After Simpson, a series of Scots ran Fields: John McKinlay, James McKinsey, and Hughston McBain.Scots partnered to form Carson Pirie & Scott.They also founded Douglas and Stuart Oats, which became Quaker Oats.Hugh Robertson was president of the Zenith Corporation, and the Armour family operated one of the largest meatpacking companies in the world.Only slightly smaller was Wilson Meats, which later spun off Wilson Sporting Goods.This book tells the story of these Scots and many others.

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Hudson

9780738583419

$24.99

The village of Hudson greets visitors with signs stating, Pride of the Prairie. The first settlers arrived in Hudson Township in 1829, settling near a Potawatomi Indian village about 1 mile west of where Hudson now stands. The boulder identifying the last stand of the Potawatomi village in McLean County was placed near the village's origin in 1920. The boyhood home of the famous author and philosopher Elbert Hubbard, built in 1857, still stands at Broadway and Walnut Streets. Constructed in 1929, the man-made Lake Bloomington offers both residential and recreation areas. The Evergreen Lake area includes a county park with camping, picnic areas, and a beach. In Hudson, readers will catch glimpses of these things and more: the past 175 years of people, agriculture, organizations, churches, and schools—all built on the strong foundation of the early settlers.

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Godfrey

9781467110693

$24.99

Capt. Benjamin Godfrey founded Monticello, which later became Godfrey, after he settled in present-day Godfrey Township in 1834. The rolling hills and genteel settlers, including E.A. Riehl and Charles Lock, reminded him of his native New England. The region's first families set the tone for what would become the village of Godfrey, which today is a sylvan community of growth and innovation. Benjamin Godfrey founded Monticello Female Seminary, the first such institution in the West, and it became the centerpiece of the town. The original buildings, now a part of Lewis and Clark Community College, remain the village's most distinctive landmarks. The Godfrey region also served as a vital link in transportation, with interstate steamboats and railroads. Today, Godfrey is a growing bedroom community along a new Illinois highway extension. Godfrey also preserves its magnificent bluffs along the Mississippi River through the Great Rivers Land Trust and other similar organizations, parks, preserves, and green space.

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Trailside Museum

9781467113410

$24.99

On October 8, 1930, Charles Cap Sauers, general superintendent of the Cook County Forest Preserve District, wrote a letter to Alfred M. Bailey, director of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, about an idea he had. He proposed developing several nature study museums with the support of Bailey and the Academy of Sciences. Bailey eagerly wrote to Sauers that he had the Academy's full cooperation. By 1932, the Trailside Museum of Natural History was opened in River Forest, Illinois, the first of its kind in the Midwest. Several curators would come and go, but one in particular, Virginia Moe, dedicated more than 50 years of her life to the museum, animals, and people of Cook County. This is truly her story.

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German Chicago Revisited

9780738518640

$24.99

German Chicago Revisited follows the photographic study which began in German Chicago: The Danube Swabians and the American Aid Societies. With this latest title in the Images of America series, historian and photographer Raymond Lohne crafts another volume about a group of American citizens who preserve their rich heritage with unwavering effort.

This book will give readers a glimpse into the life of a close-knit and highly active community, revealing groups like the Kerneir Pleasure Club, the American Aid Society, and the Society of the Danube Swabians. The German musical life of the city is featured, as is the Karneval season and other year-round festivities and celebrations of the Deutsch-Americans of Chicago and its suburbs.

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Bensenville

9781467129305

$23.99

Bensenville is more than just an immediate neighbor of O'Hare International Airport. Taking its name from the German town of Bensen, it was established by a group of devout Lutherans. When it was incorporated in 1884, Bensenville was already a vibrant community of hardworking dairy farmers. Settlers first arrived in the mid-1830s; the growth of the dairy industry was a response to demand for dairy products at Chicago markets. The railroad brought these products into the city but also brought a demand for more laborers, which introduced a more diverse population, including many Mexican families. O'Hare dramatically impacted the village, wiping part of it off the map, but Bensenville is coming back. Since 1960, the Bensenville Park District has afforded locals with recreational opportunities ranging from a golf course to a water park. The Bensenville Park District is also in charge of the preservation of Fischer Farm, a museum on the site of one of the area's oldest remaining homesteads that hosts educational programming, reenactments, and festivals.

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Central Michigan Avenue

9780738520247

$24.99

Today Chicago's Central Michigan Avenue is a busy commercial and cultural center situated on the beautiful lakefront. Easy access to office buildings, major cultural attractions, and parks makes it one of the premier tourist destinations in the city. This book traces the history of the avenue from the 1860s to the present day. Once a genteel residential neighborhood, Central Michigan Avenue was reborn after the 1871 Chicago fire. Over time a street wall of buildings took shape on the west side of the street. The east side of the avenue was designed to remain open to green parkland and water. In this book more than 180 photographs document the fascinating history of Chicago's front yard.

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Onarga

9780738560601

$24.99

How Onarga received its name remains a mystery. Realists believe Illinois Central Railroad land commissioner John Calhoun combined two or three consonants and added the necessary vowels to invent a nice-sounding town name. Many prairie towns in the 1850s, with the arrival of the railroads, received their names by this method. Romantics believe Onarga was named for a young Native American girl, Princess Onarga, daughter of an Iroquois Indian chief. Prior to the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad, Native Americans controlled this part of Illinois, and among the roving tribes that crisscrossed the grand prairie were the powerful Iroquois. Legend says that when a name was proposed for the new town on the railroad, none better than Onarga was given. This mystery may never be solved, but the realists and romantics agree to disagree--agreeing foremost on celebrating and preserving the rich history of Onarga.

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Springfield's Sculptures, Monuments, and Plaques

9780738551654

$24.99

Springfield is the capital of Illinois and the home of Abraham Lincoln and Vachel Lindsay. The city is filled with history, and that fact is reflected in the many sculptures, monuments, and plaques that have been commissioned to commemorate this history. The city contains more than 14 statues and busts of Abraham Lincoln. Famous sculptors have created 17 statues inside the state capitol alone, and 13 more statues and sculptures are located on the capitol grounds. The state's Capital Development Board sponsors the Art-in-Architecture program and provides funding for newly commissioned sculptures in state-funded public buildings. Several major American sculptors are represented in the many works, including Leonard Volk, Leonard Crunelle, Larkin Mead, Fred Torrey, and James Earl Fraser. Works of contemporary artists such as Michael Dunbar, Richard Hunt, and Preston Jackson are also present. Oak Ridge Cemetery contains four war memorials and Abraham Lincoln's tomb. Each of the sculptures, monuments, and plaques has a story to tell and helps to make Springfield's history come alive.

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North Aurora

9780738541082

$24.99

North Aurora: 1834–1940 is a quintessential study of what happened when settlers arrived in the Midwest in the 1830s. The village's location on the Fox River provided plentiful trees and waterpower for sawmills. Soon other mills, smelting works, a packing plant, a door-sash-blind factory, and a creamery all came to town. The village's railroad enabled its Boswell Cheese Factory to ship cream cheese to England in 1877. By 1922, North Aurora had a huge entertainment complex, a popular racetrack, and a hotel. Today the village is growing rapidly but still maintains its rural atmosphere.

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Genoa and Kingston

9780738584478

$24.99

In 1835, while Charles Darwin aboard the HMS Beagle was exploring the Galapagos Islands, the northern Illinois municipalities of Genoa and Kingston were being settled. Pioneers arrived via the historic Chicago-Galena stagecoach trail. Thomas Matteson, a Revolutionary War soldier from Ohio, and his family traveled in three covered wagons and became Genoa's first settlers. Genoa was incorporated as a village in 1876 and as a city in 1911. Kingston became a village in 1886. In addition to sharing a boundary, the municipalities share the Genoa-Kingston Fire Department, Genoa-Kingston Middle School, and Genoa-Kingston High School. During the Civil War, 109 men from Genoa and 105 men from Kingston, roughly a tenth of the population of each municipality at that time, enlisted in the Union Army. Men and women from Genoa and Kingston have continued to serve in the U.S. military from World Wars I and II to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Douglas/Grand Boulevard

9780738518558

$24.99

The history of Chicago can be told through its neighborhoods, and perhaps none is more telling than Douglas/Grand Boulevard on the city's south side. The future site of the neighborhood remained a sparsely settled prairie until the early 1850s, when Stephen A. Douglas purchased a large tract of land and began developing a residential subdivision for the wealthy. Douglas/Grand Boulevard: A Chicago Neighborhood explores the development of this distinctive community and the many obstacles its residents encountered. Originally a predominately white neighborhood, Douglas/Grand Boulevard became an African-American community during the Great Migration when thousands of Southern blacks moved north seeking greater opportunities. After the 1919 Race Riot, an increasing number of white residents moved away from the neighborhood, and the community became a national model of black achievement.

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Bloomingdale

9780738551982

$24.99

This photographic journal traces Bloomingdale's development chronologically from its earliest days through its sesquicentennial celebration. The area claimed in 1833 by the Meacham brothers, who traveled from the east in search of land and opportunities, encompassed parts of present-day Roselle, Medinah, and Cloverdale. The Meacham brothers and those who followed formed an agricultural community that thrived in its location on a major thoroughfare, the Chicago Galena Highway. Retail was an important part of Bloomingdale by the time the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad came through the northern part of Bloomingdale Township in 1873. Largely "Smalltown, USA" for a number of years, Bloomingdale came into its own in the mid-1970s with an explosion of population, business, and prosperity.

Cover image for Bloomingdale, isbn: 9780738551982

Arabs of Chicagoland

9780738534176

$24.99

Arabs first settled in Chicagoland in the mid-19th century, when immigrants from all parts of the world were flowing steadily into the U.S. As tensions in the Arab world flared, immigration increased—the first to arrive were Lebanese Christians, followed by Muslim Palestinians. Today, there are more than 250,000 Arabs in the Chicago area, with equal numbers of Christians and Muslims. A part of the fabric of Chicago, Arabs serve in many roles, from business leaders to elected officials to judges, doctors, engineers, journalists, and more. In the wake of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Arab Americans have come under great scrutiny and have suffered much misunderstanding. Now, this book, which explores their integral role in Chicagoland's growth, is especially important.

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The Trout Valley Hertz Estate, and Curtiss Farm

9780738561608

$24.99

John D. Hertz, of rental car fame, discovered Trout Valley (then a part of unincorporated McHenry County) in the 1920s.

He built a mansion, barns, and polo grounds on the banks of the Fox River, calling his new country estate Leona Farms. Famous landscape architect Jens Jensen designed its scenic landscape, fishing streams, and ponds. Here Hertz raised racehorses, including two Kentucky Derby winners, and hosted Gatsby-like parties for the rich and famous, including Myrna Loy, Will Rogers, and Walt Disney. Eleanor Roosevelt was once a guest too. In 1943, Hertz sold his estate to Otto Schnering, of Baby Ruth and Butterfinger fame, who transformed the grounds from a lush playground to the headquarters of a 10,000-acre farming operation. Old-timers still remember Schnering's six-pony hitch carrying joy-filled passengers down Main Street, the state-of-the-art livestock arena, and the trophy-winning cattle raised at Curtiss Farm.