by Mary Trieschmann, WHS Executive Director The Winnetka Historical Society (WHS) turns 90 this year and what a journey it has had! In 1932, a small group of Winnetkans interested in preserving history decided to organize WHS. In its first year, founding member Frank Windes described the organization’s general mission: “Let us find out all […]

Originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2021 Gazette by Barbara Ferry In 1921, local women with a love for flowers, plants and an eye towards conservation, first organized a group that blossomed into the Winnetka Garden Club (WGC). Meetings were held in a member’s home, either preceded by lunch or followed by tea served from a […]

Originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2021 Gazette By Peter Butler If you are a baby boomer who grew up in Winnetka in the 1950s or 1960s, the family vacation may have been easier to fit into the summer plans than is the case today with heavily scheduled lifestyles. Whether you had a small family or […]

Originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2021 Gazette By Helen Weaver Ravinia Park has changed since its opening in August 1904 as “the most beautiful and complete amusement place in the west,” but the Ravinia of then and the Ravinia of now still have much in common. A.C. Frost, president of the Chicago & Milwaukee Electric […]

Originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2021 Gazette By Joan Evanich & Meagan McChesney This year, the stunning Italian villa-style home at 5 Indian Hill Road turns 100 years old. Throughout its long history, 5 Indian Hill has been home to several notable Winnetkans beginning with the original owner, Thomas H. McInnerney. Born in Iowa in […]

Historical research can be challenging, but the results can often be insightful, satisfying and, more than often, surprising. All of these sensations were experienced during the recent search conducted to find more information about the history of the house I grew up in, and those who lived in it prior to me in Winnetka. What […]

Originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2021 Gazette, by Holly Marihugh Our WHS theme this year was “Growing Up in Winnetka,” and the Molitor family embodies that theme. They joined our community in 1994, moving into a house on Scott Avenue in Hubbard Woods. All six members recall their favorite memories about the village and the […]

Originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2021 Gazette, by Duff Peterson. In a village justly proud of its schools, Winnetka has only one street named after a teacher, Dwyer Court, which runs between Elm and Oak. It’s one of our few one-way streets, and our only street without a single residence or business on it. It […]

Originally appeared in the Spring 2021 Gazette, by Helen Weaver The lake was accessible to the public by the power plant at Tower Road and an old lumber pier at Willow Road, but there were no formal public beaches until the Park District established Lake Front Park at the end of Maple Street by purchasing […]

By Joan Evanich  Originally appeared in the Spring 2021 Gazette  Children’s Theatre of Winnetka’s directors and some past CTW members have gone on to successful professional performing arts careers, including Beck Bennett (“SNL”), Mary Kate Schellhardt (“What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” “Apollo 13”), Broadway performer Betsy Morgan (“Little Mermaid,” “High Fidelity”) and many others who grace […]