150 Years of Winnetka History

1832	An Act of Congress establishes the Green Bay Trail as an official post road from Fort Dearborn, Chicago to Fort Howard, Wisconsin. The 500- mile roundtrip journey takes one month on foot to complete in winter.
c. 1836	Simon Doyle builds a log cabin near present-day Centennial Park. Winnetka's first wedding takes place in the cabin when Michael Welch marries Elizabeth Ouilmette. The cabin is razed in 1902.
1836	Erastus Patterson and his family travel from Vermont in a wagon and settle in Winnetka. The family builds a cabin and tavern for Green Bay Trail passengers on the grounds of present-day Lloyd Park. John Garland buys the tavern in 1847 and runs it for 10 years. It is torn down in 1859.
1836	Stagecoach service on the Green Bay Trail begins.
1836	North Shore pioneer, Alexander McDaniel, travels north from Chicago in fall 1836 to view a pre-emption claim along the Green Bay Trail on the grounds of the present-day Indian Hill Club.  He returns in the spring to purchase the land and build a "bachelor's hall" which he uses as a pioneer hotel.  Around the same time, the Schmidt family moves from Koblenz, Germany and eventually settles in McDaniel's 1830s log house.  They raise 10 children there.
c. 1837	Wendell and Margaret Alles immigrate from Germany and accept a U.S. land grant for a large tract of land in Winnetka. Descendents of the Alles family sell 87 acres c. 1916 for the creation of Indian Hill Club. In 1936, they sell the remaining land for the building of Saints Faith, Hope, and Charity Church.
1843	John Happ, an immigrant from Trier, Germany, opens Winnetka's first blacksmith shop near the present-day southwest corner of Maple and Elm Streets.
1847	John Garland purchases the Patterson Tavern (see 1836) and operates it for 10 years. The tavern is used for church services on weekends.
1850	The population of Winnetka is 100.
1854	Charles Peck, in conjunction with friend Walter S. Gurnee, president of the Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad Co., creates the original subdivision of Winnetka. Sarah Peck, Charles' wife, names the newly platted village "Winnetka" after a Native American phrase meaning "beautiful land" she read in a book. The source of this phrase has never been discovered.
1854	The Chicago & Milwaukee Railroad Co. comes through Winnetka for the first time.
c. 1855	The Kinney Store, Winnetka's first grocery store, is established on the present-day southwest corner of Oak and Linden Streets.
1855	R.M. Graves opens Winnetka's first general store on the present-day northwest corner of Elm Street and Green Bay Road.
1856	Sarah Peck (see 1854, Peck) organizes a private school in a home on the northwest corner of Elm Street and Sheridan Road. It is the first school in Winnetka.
1857	The "Lakeside" (now Hubbard Woods) train station opens.
1858	Kate Dwyer is born in Winnetka. As a child, she lives at the present-day site of Dwyer Park (Birch Street between Elm and Oak Streets). Dwyer has a 48+ year teaching career in Winnetka. She dies in 1933.
1859	The first public school, District #2, is built near the southeast corner of Elm and Maple Streets (on the present-day Village Green) with private funds. It is a one-room structure that holds 25 students. Kate Dwyer (see 1858) is one of the students.
1859	The Patterson Tavern (see 1836) is torn down.
1860	On September 8, the sidewheel steamer Lady Elgin is struck by the schooner Augusta on Lake Michigan off the coast of Highland Park. 103 passengers survive. The survivors that reach land in Winnetka are treated in houses along the shore that are turned into makeshift hospitals.
c. 1867	The Unitarians and Universalists organize "The Liberal Christian Association."
1869	John Garland (see 1847) builds the first church in Winnetka in memory of his wife Suzannah. The church, situated on the current site of Christ Church, is open to all denominations. In 1876, Garland gives the church and land to the Episcopalians in honor of his fourth wife, Juliette. In 1903, the church is moved board by board to a west Elm Street lot. The current Christ Church is built in 1904.
1869	Winnetka is incorporated as a village with a population of 450. Artemas Carter is the first village president.
1869	Charles Peck (see 1854) donates the Village Green to Winnetka for "park purposes" with the stipulation that no structure can be built on it.
1870	Academy Hall and an accompanying dormitory are built at Green Bay Road and Ash Street. Over the years, Academy Hall is home to a school, the public library, village government, and fire department. It is razed in 1964 to make room for the Public Safety building.
1871	The Great Chicago Fire brings many families to Winnetka.
1874	The Winnetka Congregational Church is established. Members gather in the vacated one-room Unitarian church at Cherry and Maple Streets.
1875	Robert Moth moves the small frame building on the northwest corner of Elm Street and Green Bay Road (see 1855, R.M. Graves) slightly north to build in its place a larger brick store that carries groceries, dry goods, hardware, and feed. Thirteen year old Max Meyer begins working at the store.
1876	John Garland gives his church and grounds (see 1869, John Garland) to the Episcopalians in honor of his fourth wife, Juliette.
1880	The population of Winnetka is 584.
1880	Kerosene streetlights are introduced in Winnetka.
c. 1880	Wooden sidewalks are laid in parts of Winnetka.
1882	Max Meyer and Frank Gage purchase R. Moth's general store on the northwest corner of Elm Street and Green Bay Road (see 1875). Shortly after, Meyer becomes the sole owner.
1884	James L. Willson, village president for 7 years, and his wife are murdered in their home on Maple Street. The crime is never solved.
1884	The Winnetka Public Library is established.
1887	Reverend Quincy Dowd organizes the first Fourth of July celebration in Winnetka.
1890	The Winnetka Town Meeting is organized by Reverend Quincy Dowd with assistance from Henry Demarest Lloyd, a village resident and renowned socialist and reformer. Twenty five years later, it becomes the Caucus System.
1892	The Winnetka Board of Education is formed.
1892	Columbia School for grades 1 - 3 is built on the southwest corner of Tower Road and Burr. The school is later renamed Lakeside School.
1893	A 119' brick tower is built at the east end of Tower Road above the water works. It is designed as a storage tank to hold 46,000 gallons of water. Over the decades, the Water Tower becomes a Winnetka landmark. It is torn down in 1972 when high pressure pumps are built.
1894	Max Meyer (see 1882) opens Winnetka's first bank in the back of his general store. Called the "Bank of M.K. Meyer," it moves shortly afterwards to its own building immediately to the west of the store on Elm Street.
1894	The first macadam streets are paved in Winnetka.
1895	The Winnetka Village Improvement Association is formed.
1896	Resident James Pugh owns the first automobile in Winnetka.
1897	Sacred Heart Parish is formed and its first modest church is built.
1899	Horace Mann School is built by Winnetka resident and architect William Otis on the current site of the post office. The elementary school is razed in 1940 when Crow Island School is constructed.
1899	The Chicago & Milwaukee Electric Railroad Company, later named the North Shore Line, makes its first run in August.
1900	The population of Winnetka is 1883.
1900	The Municipal Electric Utility plant is built on the lakefront. It joins the water works at the foot of Tower Road (see 1893).
1900	Local phone service is installed.
1901	New Trier Township High School, designed by Norman S. Patten, opens. The tower section of the original building is demolished in 1954 and a new addition is dedicated in 1957.
1902	Sacred Heart School opens with 56 pupils. The school building adjoins the east side of the church. In 1952, a new school replaces this building.
1902	The Winnetka Congregational Church's Woman's Society holds a rummage sale netting $138. This event foreshadows the success of the annual rummage sale.
1903	The original Christ Church building (see 1869, John Garland) is moved board by board to the northeast corner of Elm and Birch Streets. It is used by the first Scandinavian Evangelical Church, known as the Winnetka Bible Church after 1937. Over the next several decades, the Winnetka Bible Church acquires adjoining properties and adds on to its building.
1904	The Christ Church standing today is built by Mr. and Mrs. William M. Hoyt in memory of their daughter Emily and 3 grandchildren who died in the Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago.
1904	The Winnetka Park District is formed.
1907	The Chicago & Northwestern Railway changes its station name from Lakeside to Hubbard Woods (see 1857).
1908	The Winnetka Woman's Club is formed.
1908	The original Sacred Heart Church (see 1897) is razed in order to build a larger church.
1909	Reverend J.W.F. Davies becomes the director of religious education for the Winnetka Congregational Church, and originates the idea of the Winnetka Community House.
1910	A two-story, red brick Winnetka Public Library is built on the site of the current library in memory of Henry Demarest Lloyd (see 1890) and Jessie Bross Lloyd by their children. It is replaced by the current building in 1957.
1910	The population of Winnetka is 3,168.
1911	The Winnetka Community House is dedicated (see 1909).
1913	Greeley School opens for grades K - 5. Named after resident Samuel S. Greeley, the elementary school is designed by William Otis and Edwin Clark, two Winnetka residents and architects.
1913	A fire damages Max Meyer's general store and bank (see 1882 and 1894, Max Meyer). Meyer decides to concentrate on banking and a new limestone bank building is constructed on the northwest corner of Elm Street and Green Bay Road. The bank is called "Bank of M.K. Meyer."
1914	Mrs. J.W.F. Davies (see 1909) forms the Winnetka Neighborhood Circles to encourage community spirit.
1915	Hubbard Woods School, originally named Skokie School, is designed by Perkins, Fellow, & Hamilton. Its name changes to Hubbard Woods School in 1922 when Skokie School is completed.
1915	With the completion of Hubbard Woods School, Columbia School (see 1892) closes.
1915	The Village Caucus System is adopted by Winnetka.
1916	The Alles family (see c. 1837) sells 87 acres of its land for the creation of Indian Hill Club.
1917	The Bank of M.K. Meyer (see 1913) becomes the Winnetka Trust & Savings Bank.
1917	The 63-member Winnetka Planning Commission is appointed by the Village Council to make suggestions for a comprehensive plan of village development. In 1921, the Plan of Winnetka is published.
1917	Anita Willets Burnham pays $25 for the Schmidt log house (see 1836) and pays $100 to have it moved from its site to its current location on Tower Road.
1917	The Winnetka public golf course opens. The original layout, designed by W.H. Langford, is a 2,455-yard, nine-hole course. One year later, the Park District adds 9 more holes.
1919	North Shore Country Day School is founded. Perry Dunlap Smith is the first headmaster.
1919	Carleton Washburne becomes Superintendant of the Winnetka Public Schools. He holds this position until 1943.
1920	The population of Winnetka is 6,694.
1920	Hadley School for the Blind is established.
1920	Carleton Washburne (see 1919) and Winnetka resident Theodore Hinton develop the idea for the first jungle gym.
1921	The Winnetka Planning Commission (see 1917, Planning Commission) publishes the "Plan of Winnetka," a comprehensive plan of village development.
1922	The Skokie School, one of the first junior high schools in the country, is dedicated. The school, designed by Perkins, Fellows & Hamilton, is built entirely by private donations.
1923	The Winnetka Chamber of Commerce is established.
1924	The Winnetka Rotary Club is established.
1924	The First Church of Christ, Scientist is founded in Winnetka. Meetings are held in the Masonic Temple on east Elm Street until 1941, when the current church, designed by S.S. Beman, is dedicated.
1925	Village Hall is completed. The architect is Winnetka resident Edwin Clark.
1927	The marble cenotaph honoring the war dead is designed by Samuel Otis and placed on the Village Green.
1927	The Evangelical Mission Covenant Church is organized. It later becomes Winnetka Covenant Church.
1928	The present Sacred Heart Church is built (see 1908).
1929	Christ Church builds the Parish House on Maple and Oak Streets.
1930	A fire destroys much of the Winnetka Community House.
1930	The population of Winnetka is 12,219.
1931	The Dushkin School of Music is founded by David and Dorothy Dushkin. Its name changes several times over the decades and is now known as the Music Institute of Chicago.
1932	The Winnetka Historical Society is founded to collect, preserve, and present artifacts representing Winnetka and to increase public knowledge about the community.
1932	The Winnetka Congregational Church turns over the ownership of the Winnetka Community House to the community.
1932	Part of the Winnetka Community House is rebuilt after the 1930 fire.
1933	The Skokie Lagoons project, initiated by Secretary of the Interior and Winnetka resident Harold Ickes, begins. One thousand men from the Civilian Conservation Corps. (CCC) devote ten years to the creation of 7 lagoons, 5 dams, and 2 drainage ditches.
1936	Saints Faith, Hope, and Charity Parish is formed. From 1936 - 39, services are held in New Trier's auditorium. In 1939, a church, convent, and school are constructed on land purchased from the Alles family (see c. 1837).
1936	The Winnetka Congregational Church on Pine Street is dedicated.
1937	The First Scandinavian Evangelical Church (see 1903) changes its name to the Winnetka Bible Church.
1938	The project of lowering the railroad tracks below street level in Winnetka begins. The result of more than thirty deaths at railroad crossings, the track depression project is completed in 1943.
1939	Saints Faith, Hope, and Charity dedicates its church, convent, and school (see 1936, Saints Faith, Hope, and Charity).
1939-40	Crow Island School is designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen, in association with Perkins, Wheeler & Will.
1940	The population of Winnetka is 12,605.
1940	Horace Mann School (see 1899) is razed to make way for a village parking lot and post office.
1941	The First Church of Christ, Scientist (see 1924, Church) dedicates its church at Ridge Avenue and Cherry Street. The church is designed by S.S. Beman.
1950	The population of Winnetka is 12,105.
1952	A new building for Sacred Heart School is completed (see 1902).
1954	The original New Trier High School tower is demolished (see 1901) and replaced with a larger and more modern construction.
1954	The Winnetka Presbyterian Church is formed. Members meet for services in Skokie School until 1960.
1955	The North Shore line (see 1899) is discontinued.
1957	Hadley School for the Blind (see 1920) moves into its current building.
1957	The North Shore Senior Center is formed.
1957	The Winnetka Congregational Church withdraws its Congregational connection to become an unaffiliated "community church."
1957	The current Winnetka Public Library (see 1910) is built.
1959	The current post office building is completed.
1960	The population of Winnetka is 13,405.
1960	The Winnetka Presbyterian Church (see 1954) builds its own church at the corner of Willow and Hibbard Roads.
1960	The Winnetka Historical Society (see 1932) moves to the Winnetka Public Library.
1962	The A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center is dedicated.
1964	Winnetka Trust & Savings Bank razes its limestone building (see 1913) and builds the brick structure standing today on the northwest corner of Elm Street and Green Bay Road.
1964	Winnetka's new public safety building is dedicated (see 1870).
1964	The Winnetka Bible Church (see 1903) dedicates its current building on west Elm Street.
1965	New Trier West opens.
1965	Martin Luther King speaks at the Village Green.
1969	Washburne Junior High School is designed by Perkins and Will.
1969	Winnetka celebrates its Centennial.
1970	The population of Winnetka is 14,100.
1970	Winnetka Trust & Savings Bank is renamed the Winnetka Bank.
1972	The Water Tower (see 1893) is torn down.
1976	The Henry Demarest Lloyd house on Sheridan Road is designated a national historic landmark.