Chestertons history

In 1833, Jesse and Jane Morgan and their 7 children settled in the area southeast of the present town of Chesterton.

The community of Coffee Creek, named after a nearby stream, was settled in 1834 by the Thomas family.

The resulting fur trade was initially beneficial to both cultures, but ultimately disastrous for the Potawatomi who, after selling their land to the United States government, were forcibly removed from Indiana to the Kansas Territory in 1838.

Mercantile had previously bought the 34-strong chain of Humberts (founded in 1842) out of administration, along with 10 branches of its Farleys and Wellingtons chains in June of the same year for £3.16 million.

From founder, Charles Chesterton (1779-1849), to current chairman, Salah Mussa, Chestertons has remained as one of the most familiar and trusted names in property for well over 200 years.

In 1852 the town was platted with the name of Calumet.

In 1869 Calumet was incorporated as the Town of Chesterton, the name apparently derived from that of Westchester Township, in which it was located.

In 1870 the town’s name was changed to Chesterton because of the confusion caused by another town named Calumet on the same railroad line.

The incorporation failed in 1878, owing to an inadequate tax base.

By 1880 Chesterton was a well-established town with several small factories.

The Chesterton Tribune has been published continuously since 1884.

The Chesterton State Bank was founded in 1890 by George Morgan (son of Jesse Morgan) and Joseph C. Gardner.

Reincorporation occurred in 1899; this time planners were careful to take in sufficient territory to raise the necessary taxes.

The studio and study were built in 1922 and the main Arts and Crafts style house built in stages during the 1920s and 30s. It was not until 1909 that the Chestertons finally arrived in Beaconsfield and by this time GK was a well known writer.

In 1922 Chesterton left Canterbury for Rome.

1929: Chestertons is involved in the valuations of three famous Kensington High Street stores: Derry & Toms, Pontings and Barkers.

GK died in 1936 and is buried in Shepherds Lane Cemetery.

Through the efforts of Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois, and other interested groups, the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was established in 1966.

Chestertons has also played a major role in three industry institutions; the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the College of Estate Management and the Chartered Auctioneers & Estate Agents Institute, who merged with RICS in 1970.

Since 1980, business development has occurred largely at the junction of Indian Boundary Road and State Highway 49.

George Orwell borrowed the date 1984 from one of Chesterton's novels.

With a population of 10,488 in 2000, Chesterton is the largest town in Westchester Township.

2004 Mohammad Jafari-Fini loses control of Chesterton International due to the default on a loan by Phoenix Acquisitions, and this default sees Resurge plc who lent Phoenix £12.86 million for the acquisition of Chesterton take control of the company.

2005: Chesterton International is placed into receivership by Royal Bank of Scotland.

Despite a first year loss, results for 2006 showed a return to profit and saw the company adopt a new visual identity, commenced the refurbishment of its flagship Kensington branch, opened a new branch in Hampstead and invested in its IT systems and website.

2007 Arqaam, formerly CIC International, and part of the Saudi Arabian Commercial Investment Corporation sells its stake in Chesterton to Vincent Tchenquiz and Credit Mercantile Group.

2008 The company posted its third loss in four years, this years loss being the result of the Credit Crunch In December 2008, Mercantile purchase Vincent Tchenquiz's stake, giving them full ownership of Chesterton.

2009: Chestertons merges with Humberts (bringing together two of the longest established firms in the industry), the business is rebranded as Chesterton Humberts.

2014: The London and international business are officially rebranded as Chestertons, and the new brand is launched at Chestertons Polo in the Park.

2015: January - Chestertons, in conjunction with other estate agents, launched the OnTheMarket.com portal.

2018: Chestertons lists all of its properties on the largest UK property websites, including Rightmove, Zoopla, PrimeLocation.com and OnTheMarket.com

I’m the presidente of the Italian Chesterton Society, please follow my appeal.By Marco Sermarini (10/11/2019)

2020: February - Chestertons welcomes its first international franchisee based in Greece - Chestertons Ionian