Celebrate National Library Week by stopping in to learn more about library collections, services, and resources. Discover something new, ask questions, and check out your happy! No registration required; drop in anytime.
Historical aerial photographs are a great way to see how a place has changed over time. Start your time travel by using the following resources. Lake County Maps Online, https://maps.lakecountyil.gov/mapsonline/ Maintained by the Lake County Geographic Information System (GIS) Division, this site provides a wealth of property information including historical maps and aerial photographs.…
If you've looked through early Libertyville telephone books or browsed the newspapers, you may have come across some unfamiliar street names. Maybe you've searched Google Maps and they're not there. Here's a few long forgotten street names from the downtown area: Sprague Street (now East Cook Avenue) 1897 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4104lm.g019731897/?sp=1&r=-0.021,0.395,1.098,0.686,0 Sprague…
Milwaukee Avenue is the main drag through Libertyville and the center of Illinois' newest National Register Historic District. From Native American trail to a cruising strip between McDonald's on the north and the Dog 'n Suds on the south, Libertyville life has centered around this street. But there are a couple of specific historical events…
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the Allied Forces and Germany signed an armistice – an agreement to stop the fighting that had raged across Europe the past four years. That day, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of World War I. When the…
The Industrial News, a Chicago-based publication covering "financial, industrial, commercial, and building interests" devoted the August 14, 1909 issue to Libertyville. With the opening of the electric railroad line on the south end of the village in 1903, Libertyville had experienced a growth spurt. The publication's editors saw potential investment possibilities, both commercial and residential,…
The XXXIII Olympiad opened today in Paris, France. More than 500 U.S. athletes will join participants from over 200 countries competing in over 30 different sports (more if you count all the individual track and field events). Several athletes with northern Illinois connections will give it their all over the next two weeks of the…
Did you know that Libertyville has not always been Libertyville? That’s right! The town whose residents started the Cook Memorial Public Library District has been known by several other names. In the past, Vardin’s Grove, Independence Grove, and Burlington were all used in lieu of Libertyville. Also, one of these precursors (Burlington) briefly served as…
Mother Nature was at it again on February 18-19, 1908. In the worst snowstorm innearly 25 years, up to 13 inches of snow fell, winds gusted up to 48 miles per hour, andsnow drifts grew to 6-12 feet high . At Noon on Tuesday, February 18, just an inch and ahalf of snow had fallen…
Find out the who's who of national celebrities and historical figures that have made appearances in Libertyville through the years. Enjoy part two of the series. Mentioned in the Podcast: October 25, 1960 - Senator John F. Kennedy's Remarks at Liberty Mall, Libertyville, Illinois (YouTube) Local History page Catch every episode! Subscribe to the Cook…
