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Wilmette: A Village in the ForestCover ShowsMarsh and MireShore GrowthWilmVeOL. XtXXtVI, NO. 20e LifeBig ProblemsPublished weekly by LLOTD HOLLISTEB INC., 1232-36 Central Avenue, Wilmette, Illinoisin 100 Yearsof CommunityCharles C. Henderson,Entered as second-class matter March 8. 1912. at the postFirst Railroad Missed bothNoted Architect, Civicoffice at WUmette, Illinois, under the act of March 3, 1879.Gross Point and LakeLeader, Is ArtistFIVE CENTS A COPY$2.50 A YEARShore SettlementsCharles C. Henderson, 1630 For-September 18, 1947By James D. W. Klineest avenue, noted architect andEditors Note: James D. W. Kline,long-time Wilmette civic leader,531 Eighth street, has for years beendrewPart II: Historical Section the cover for this historicmaking a careful collection of Wil-issue.mette historical items. The followingMrarticle is one of two contributed to. Hendersons pictorial mapthis issue, and Mr. Kline has, in ad-shows how the "Gross Point" areadition, supplied much of the informa-(everythingtion contained in this volume. In the north of Chicago as farWomans Club Foundedfollowing article he traces the earlyas Lake county and east of thedevelopment of the community.north branch of the Chicago riverwas called Gross Point then) ap-Lake Michigan served as thepeared a century ago to the earlyIn Villages 19th Yeargreat waterway of transportationsettlers: farmers coming from Ger-northward from Chicago to thosemany to make their new homesMiss Law Founded Groupsettlements which provided safealong the ridge; the first commut-harbors1 for vessels. Intermediatein 1891; Mrs. Herbert G.ers migrating from Chicago to buildpoints were dependent upon thetheir suburban homes beside theLeonard First Presidentstage coach for passenger and maillake shore.service and upon freighting by plod-Theding oxen pr horse-drawn vehicles artist himself is a keen stu-The Womans club of Wilmette,dentuntil the advent of the railroad. of Wilmette history, and was awhich celebrated its 55th anniver-member of the commission whichsary on November 6, 1946, had itsPioneer railroads were inclineddrew up the first Wilmette villageinception when the village was into seek the most direct course ofplan, adopted in 1922.its 19th year.least resistance between points ofIndians Had LeftMiss Ida I. Law, who lived withgreatest economic importance. MoreThethan one prairie settlement, by- eight children of Antoine andher sister, Miss Anna E. Law, inArchangepassed by the railroad, saved itself Ouilmette in 1847 had justtheir home at the southeast cornerreceivedfrom stagnation by wheeling its permission from the Unitedof Forest avenue and Twelfth street,Statessmall dwellings down to the right government to sell the oldoriginated the idea of having areservationof way to set up store and smithy. John Westerfield waswomans club in Wilmette.shortlybeside the track. to acquire his farm site inShe said: "My idea was to bringthe eastern part of the community.The development of the originaltogether all the women socially,The old Green Bay trail wanderedwithVillage of Wilmette presented dif- some common interest thatnorth from Chicago through Evans-wouldficulties not so easily overcome. unite them in such a way aston over what are now Clark street* * #to help one another, and at the sameand Ridge avenue, and followed thetime be uplifting by cultivating theirlake shore in Wilmette.WWeshteenr the Chicago and Northn railway was putSomminds into activity and to think ofe maps show the trail extend-the vital questions of the day."through to Waukegan in 1854,ing beside the lake as far north asGarlandthe line ran midway betweens tavern in Winnetka, nearIn November, 1891, about 20 wom-wherthe settlement along the lakee Christ church now stands onen attended the first meeting whichshore and the early Gross PointSheridan road. Others, and Mr.was held in the Law home. Mrs.Hendersovillage about two miles west.n has followed these, haveHerbert G. Leonard, bride of theNeither community benefittedthe trail swinging farther west.Methodist minister, was the firstdirectly. The interests of thePath in Clearingpresident of the group. Mrs. Leon-Gross Point settlers was agri-Remnantsard, a newcomer to the village, had of the old trail to thisGOODcultural and had developed to a CITIZEN Louis K. Gill-daybeen dean of a womans college can be seen near Sheridan road,whersonstate of commercial importance., first president of the Wil-eprevious to her marriage. trees were once cleared tomakmetteThe low land eastward to the park district, and one ofe a path through the woods.* * *new railroad, without drainageThthe early members of the highe route indicated by Mr. Hen-A committee of three was ap-schooand at times, being under water,l board of education, had,derson follows the Indian markerpointed at this first meeting todwas impassable.trees, and it is possible that theoutline a course of reading.GreeWuirlimnge tttehe 39 years he lived in, a record of distin-n Bay trail used by the whiteThe members took turns read-maguished civic achievement.nFrom the lake shore westward to was not that known to theing from these books and aIndians.critic was appointed each weekNeitheAthe railroad a dense forest inter- native of Ohio, and a patentvened. This area also was withoutr of the roads describedto record all mispronouncedattorney by profession, Mr. Gillsonabove was passable in all kindswords. One club day each monthmovedrainage, at times soggy, and ind to Wilmette in 1903. Fiveomany localities inundated duringf weather. Often travelers wouldwas given to the reading of orig-years later when the park districthave to detour at Garlands taverninal papers by members.waperiods of continued rains.s established, Mr. Gillson wasand strike south along the Gross* * *chosenNeither settlement benefitted di- president, and continued inPoint ridge, through the big woods,Threctly by the coming of the rail-e name of the reading circlethat capacity until his retirementand join the Little Fort (i.e. Wau-waroad and further development pre-s changed to "The Womans Clubin 1934.kegan) trail.of Wilmettesented the challenge of a financial" in September, 1892. TheDrainagIn 1909 he was elected to the highproblems.e Attemptob.iect of the club was, "Readingschool board and remained a mem-The Big Ditch was an early, andand Discussing History, Literature,berA committee was appointed by of that body until 1921. It wasnot too successful, attempt to drainandHenry A. Dingee of New York to Art, and to promote as a Clubduring his period of service on thethe lowlands near the lake. Whenrepresent him in the purchase ofthe moral, intellectual, and socialboard that the high school acquiredthe sanitary district built its Northcultureland adjacent to and on either side of its members."a large amount of surrounding va-Shore channel from the north branchof the railroad right-of-way. WhenoServingcant land. The property purchased with the president, Mrs.f the Chicago river to Lake Michi-ganHerberat that time has since been used forthis had been accomplished to hist G. Leonard, were Miss Ida, about 40 years ago, it followednsatisfaction he re-appointed a com-generallyI. Law, vice-president, and Miss the route of the Big Ditch.Mewr buildings and athletic fields.. Gillson is generally given creditmAnotheJanie Furman, secretary-treasurer.r drainage project was thefor the foresight to buy the landWittee in 1868 consisting of Henry. Blodgett of Waukegan, Alex-Kenilworth ditch, built in 1852,During the Worlds Fair of 1893,before the Indian Hill section be-ander McDaniel, Laura N. Kline3,which still flows (through pipes incommittees were appointed to studycame heavily residential.and Obadiah Huse to act in agree-some places) through that commun-special departments at the fair, asMrment with him in the development. Gillson died at the age of 90ity. Of course, it didnt get the namewell as to attend the daily sessionsinof the village. The land was to be 1942.of Kenilworth until that village wasof the Congress of Women duringsubdivided and platted into smallfounded and named 40 years later.the week of may 15, 1893.ACOMMERCIALlots and parcels suitable for resi- GROUP trail connected the area along*dence and business purposes, put * *Active predecessor association ofthe north branch with Gross PointOnupon the market, and sold with ase general observation ofthe chambers of commerce of theandlittle delay as possible. Wilmette in those days. Itthis meeting: "The more fem-township was the New Trier Com-now bears the names of Glenview(Continued on page 120)inine a woman was, the moremercial association, which flour-(Continued on page 114)(Continued on page 117)ished for several years.See footnotes page 120