Evanston IL Real Estate

Happy Saint Patricks Day !!!!

In Chicago we celebrate St. Patricks day in a unique way. We dye the Chicago River Green.

This tradition started 1962 when city pollution control workers used dye to trace illegal sewage discharge. They poured 100 pounds of dye in the river and this kept the river green for over a week.

Other facts about Irish immigrants in Chicago:

• Chicago emerged as the fourth largest city in America by 1860
• The first Chicago Irish immigrants worked as laborers in the stockyards , steel mills, and railroads.
• As Chicago became more ethnically diverse they became more interested in politics, government, especially the police force , fire departments and school system.
• Famous Chicago Irish include Mayor Richard J. Daley, “Honest John” Comisky (father of the White Sox)

 The other day, a person asked ” How did the North Shore get its Name?   I thought this was a good question and should be answered.

The North Shore represents a stretch of land along the lakefront due north of Chicago and it is made up of nine suburbs located between 13 and 35 miles from the Loop, the city of Chicago’s central business district. The largest community is Evanston and the smallest is Kenilworth. Most of the cities were incorporated between 1860 and 1870. Despite differences to each community the demographics have always reflected the wealth, education and social status of residents. Although many of the most elegant homes face  Lake Michigan this was not always the case. Prior to 1900 sewage poured into Lake Michigan and the spread of disease and polution were a problem. It wasn’t until the Army Corp of Engineers solved this problem by reversing the flow of the Chicago River and forced sewage to empty into the Mississippi that homes along the Lake Front became a more attractive choice. All nine towns that make up the North Shore owe their existance to the development of the Chicago and North Western Railroad in 1866. Chicago Mayor Walter S. Gurnee was president of the Railroad. Gurnee was an ambitious man and became very wealthy when he purchased most of the available land surrounding the railroad stations of Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park and Lake Bluff.

If you are interested in learning more history of Chicago I recommend reading ” North Shore Chicago”  Houses of the Lakefront Suburbs 1890-1940 by Stuart Cohen and Susan Benjamin.

When you think of Sheridan Road what comes to mind? Probably just some major street that runs along the beautiful lakefront. Well, did you know that Congress originally granted Sheridan Road to be used for military puposes during the Civil War? It was used as a road for the military from Fort Dearborn in Chicago to Fort Howard in Wisconsin. Sheridan Road received its named from a Civil War general, Philip Henry Sheridan. He started just as a U.S. Army Officer, but soon became an Union general. Though the battles were exhasting, he still managed to lead his men to many victories. He even protected Chicago after the Great Chicgao Fire in 1871. It was because of his success and leadership in the victories and his many services to Chicago that Sheridan Road was named to honor him. With this well-known road comes many attractions and places of interest such as the Calvary Cemetery, Northwestern University, the Baha’i Temple, Lake Forest College, Ravinia Festival, Plaza Del Lago Shopping Mall, and much more. All of these are great places and attractions, but there is one thing you shouldn’t forget and that is the gorgeous and massive homes.

This is Northwestern University Arch. Northwestern is known for its excellence in its graduate and professional programs. The J. L. Kellogg School of Management has been constantly ranked among the top five business schools in the world. The Medill School of Journalism is considered one of the top journalism schools, and its alumni are regular winners of the Pulitzer Prize.

Though there are six other Baha’i Temples in the world, the one that runs along Sheridan Road seems to be the most attractive along with the one in India. It contains nine sides and a dome. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains.

This is a 1914 Harold White home. It is a prairie style house.

This is a Rogers Park home on Sheridan Road. This is a Frank Lloyd Wright Home. Wright is a famous architect that was primarily known for his Prarie style design houses.

Judge Francis E. Clarke was the owner of this magnificent house.He went from being a teacher to a principal to being an incorporator of the First National Bank of Waukegan. This house went from having an Italianate style to having the Queen Anne style that was typical of the 1870s. This house was built by the Porter Brothers.