Documentation

Volume 2 of Chicago's Century of Progress magazine about the world's fair of 1933

"In 1874, Ezra Eggleston bought much of the land that is now downtown Mount Prospect and began to plan a village. He named the town after its position on the highest elevation in Cook County and in anticipation of the prospects awaiting future residents. However, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the Panic on 1873 combined to makes sales of new land difficult. Ezra sold his interest in the town, but soon after, people began to build stores and houses. By the 1900s, the area was flourishing. In 1917, Mount Prospect was incorporated. The 20th century has continued to bring great changes and development to the area as it evolved from a modest village to a major suburban community."

"First Published in 1939, 'The WPA Guide to Illinois' captures more vividly than any other guide both Chicago's quick pulse and the richly varied character of the rest of the state. Thirties Chicago, birthplace of the skyscraper, had just played host to the dazzling Century of Progress Exposition; the Board of Trade was the city's tallest building; and State Street was said to be the most brilliantly lighted street in the world. The stunning residences of the Gold Coast along Lake Shore Drive offered the city's most concentrated display of wealth, while on the South Side hundreds of freight cars rattled into the stock yards each night with their noisy cargo of livestock."

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 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."

"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 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."

"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 subsistence 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."

According to a 2003 survey by the Young Women's Action Team (YWAT)a positive call to action was issued in December 2005, "We reached out to men and women [young and old] across Chicago to participate in a Citywide Day of Action against Street Harassment on May 4th 2006. The YWAT wanted everyone to hear the message that "The Streets Belong to All of Us." We hoped that at least 100 different "actions", individual and collective, would take place across Chicago on May 4th. We surpassed our goal with over 140 actions." And this magazine documents those actions that took place May 4, 2006.

"Following the signing of the treaty of 1833, which required that Potawatomi tribes relocate west of the Mississippi, European settlers began to arrive in the area now called Glenview. Primarily of English and German origin, they established farms 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 moved from the north via rail. By 1872, the Chicago, Milwukee, St. Paiul 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 - Glenview."

"The Treaty of Prairie du Chein, which relocated the Potawatomi Indians and other local tribes west of the Mississippi River, created opportunities for settlement along the Des Plaines River. Several families began to farm on land that they purchased from Claude La Framboise, Alexander Robinson, and the State of Illinois. The totality of this land extended from Irving Park Road to Grand Avenue and the west to Mannheim Road. The confluence of the first two railroads constructed in this area after the Civil War attracted a developer named Lesser Franklin. The German immigrant purchased and subdivided four farms and subsequently began the configuration of a village. Franklin Park was incorporated in 1892. The succeeding 50 years, showcased by two world wars and the Great Depression, shaped this town into the fourth-largest industrial community in Illinois, a title it holds to this day."

"Elgin has always been full of pride and creativity, with a willingness to reinvent itself when called upon to do so. This spirit and commitment is still alive today. With over 200 historioc photographs from the Elgin Area Historical Society, authors Jim and Wynette Edwards invite you to join them on a fascinating journey into Elgin's past."