"Immigrant Stories" is the theme of the Lake County History Symposium, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home in Mettawa. The day will feature a series of presentations including ones on the Irish experience in Lake County, the Scots of Lake Forest, Polish pioneers, and Libertyville's own…
Lake County’s written history began when French traders and missionaries traveling through the region noted the place in their journals. In 1673, Father Jacques Marquette referred to the Des Plaines River as “the river of portage” and wrote of its tendency to flood its banks. This characteristic seems to be how the river got its…
In the previous Ansel B. Cook post, we followed Ansel B. Cook's rise in Chicago business and politics. While the 1870s were a high point in the life of Ansel B. Cook, the 1880s and 1890s would prove to have ups and downs, particularly in his personal life. In this post we will take a look at the significant…
In our last Ansel B. Cook post, we learned about Ansel B. Cook's youth in Haddam, CT, his training as a stone mason, and the family's move to Illinois in 1846. In today's post, we'll look at Ansel's success in Chicago's business and political worlds. In 1853, Ansel and Willard Cook (Ansel's father) secured the…
Cook Avenue, Cook Park, Cook Memorial Library, the Ansel B. Cook Home. Libertyville is full of things named Cook. Who is this Cook guy? Over the next few months (and several blog posts), we'll take a look at Ansel B. Cook and learn more about the man, his work, and his legacy. Ansel Brainerd Cook, circa…
Twice a year the Libertyville-Mundelein Historical Society publishes a newsletter for its members featuring society news, upcoming programs, and Libertyville history tidbits. The Fall 2016 issue featured an article about the 100th anniversary of the Liberty Barbershop, a Milwaukee Avenue institution, written by Historical Society member Barb Thill. Unfortunately, due to space limitations, Barb's article…
In 1880, Caleb Wright established a mercantile business, Wright & Sons, at the corner of First and Orchard (today's Church St.) with his sons, George A. and C. Frank Wright. The firm was conveniently located next to the brand new Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul railroad line which had just opened for passenger and freight…
It all started when a patron asked: "Why is there a West Rockland Road, an East Rockland Road, and another West Rockland Road?" Hmmm, that doesn't make much sense. Also, I could've sworn the street sign at the intersection of Rockland Road and St. Mary's said Old Rockland Road. A look at the maps and a…
In our March 23 post, "Man at washtub, wife votes: an election year retrospective," we learned about Clara Averill Colby, Libertyville resident and the first women to vote in the state of Illinois after the passing of the 1913 Illinois Municipal Voting Act granting Illinois women the right to vote for Presidential electors, all local offices not…
Next time you're at the Cook Park location of the Cook Memorial Public Library, wander downstairs and find the local history exhibit case. Featuring items from the Libertyville-Mundelein Historical Society collection, the exhibit refreshes three to four times a year. Previous exhibits have featured vintage toys, Berggren Trayner dishes, lusterware, and Christmas ornaments depicting Libertyville…
