Elmhurst Group history

In 1842 Gerry Bates arrived from Ohio and staked claim to a treeless tract of land in what was to become the center of Elmhurst, the land along Salt Creek already having been occupied.

Gerry Bates, referred to as Elmhurst's founder, brought a sense of community to the area when his Hill Cottage Tavern opened in 1843 as inn, stage stop, and local gathering place.

In 1845 the community was officially named Cottage Hill, after the tavern.

In 1849 the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad arrived, and the community was officially named Cottage Hill, after the tavern.

In 1850 York Township was created, so named because of the large number of settlers in the area originally from New York.

In 1857 a new school, a two-story structure, was built on Church Street just west of York.

In 1862 the first Protestant congregation was formed by Thomas Bryan, who was an Episcopalian lay reader.

Jedediah H. Lathrop, Bryan’s brother-in-law, built “Huntington” on the south side of St Charles west of Cottage Hill in 1864.

In 1867 Henry W. King, a clothing manufacturer, moved into “Clover Lawn.” The following year Seth Wadhams, an ice manufacturer, came to Cottage Hill and built “White Birch” on land that is now Wilder Park.

In 1868 Lathrop, with the aid of Wadhams and others, had a large number of elms planted along Cottage Hill.

The German Evangelical Synod of the Northwest established a proseminary in 1871, which later became Elmhurst College.

Immanuel Lutheran School, Elmhurst’s first parochial school, was constructed in 1879, at Larch and Third streets.

Elmhurst was incorporated in 1882, serving not only these wealthy estate owners, but also farmers, local businessmen, and owners of area industries.

In 1883 Adolph Hammerschmidt and Henry Assman founded Elmhurst-Chicago Stone Company near the village's western limits to quarry dolomite limestone.

Hagans had a large residence, called “Villa Virginia,” built for himself (1886-90) at the corner of what is now Hagans Avenue and St Charles Road.

The Cottage Hill School (later renamed Hawthorne School), a two-story brick structure located at Cottage Hill and Arthur, was completed in 1888, providing both elementary and secondary classes.

To aid expansion, additional land was annexed in 1892 — a parcel east of York between North Avenue and Lake Street and an area west of York between the Chicago and Northwestern tracks and St Charles Road.

In 1893 the first sewers were laid, and a volunteer fire department established.

In 1894 the Elmhurst News, the village’s first weekly newspaper, started publication.

The first Roman Catholic school, Immaculate Conception, was opened in 1899.

In Elmhurst’s last decade as a village, a street numbering plan was adopted (1900), and several major streets were renamed.

Q: Do you know anything about the architect who designed the Mahler Block in downtown Elmhurst? A: The Mahler Block at 124-126 W Park Avenue (pictured in slideshow above), was designed by Oak Park architect H. G. Fiddelke and built circa 1902.

Built for Gottfried Weber circa 1906 in a Queen Anne style, this commercial block retains many original features.

In 1907 the Cherry Farm subdivision, laid out by John R Case, Jr., was opened south of St Charles and east of York.

In 1910 a city council form of government was adopted.

In 1911 F. W. M. Hammerschmidt, co-owner of Hammerschmidt & Franzen’s Grain, Fuel, Coal, Ice and Lumber Company, was elected mayor.

The Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad had a stop at Spring Road, and the area was annexed to the City of Elmhurst in 1915.

By 1917, growth of the business led to the building of a separate dairy facility at 135 E First Street and expansion became necessary within five years.

He held office until 1919.

Elmhurst shares the agricultural roots of its DuPage neighbors, but also served as an elegant center for great estate owners during the late nineteenth century and was DuPage's largest city in the 1920s.

York Street became the first street to be paved, in 1921.

In 1925 a police department, consisting of a chief and a motorcycle officer, was organized.

Closely associated with the city’s growth during this period was the Elmhurst Booster’s Club, which became the Chamber of Commerce in 1926.

The Elmhurst Press (August 19, 1927) featured an article about the economic and physical growth in the Spring Road area, noting nearly $3 million in construction of homes and commercial properties.

The 1928 Elmhurst City Directory listed 22 businesses in the two blocks of Spring Road north and south of the railroad.

The boom began to bust following the financial crash of 1929, and the Great Depression enveloped the nation.

By 1930 the bustling community had grown so that York Street, where his home was located, became too noisy for his creative efforts.

To distribute aid to the needy, the Elmhurst Welfare Relief Committee was established by the city in 1932.

After the repeal of the 18th amendment in 1933, liquor was added to the merchandise and the store was called Chipain Fruit and Liquor Store.

On the bottom it says: "Midwest China Company, Elmhurst, Ill." Could you provide any information on the company? A: The Midwest China Company opened at 355-357 N. York Street in September 1936.

Q: Can you tell me when the Elmhurst Sears store was built and when it closed? A: Sears opened a retail store on the northwest corner of York and Second Streets in 1937.

To provide a long-range development plan for the city, the Elmhurst Plan Commission was created in 1946.

Q: When did Hamburger Heaven open? A: Hamburger Heaven, 281 N. York, opened in May 1948.

Q: My parents disagree about the name of a bar that used to be where the Arena is currently (2015) located. It remained there until it moved to a new building across the street at 536 S. York Street in 1951.

The city-manager form of government was adopted in 1953.

Do you know the name of it? A: It may have been High-Low Foods, which was at that location and opened in 1954.

Q: What is the history of the Elm Roller Skating Rink? A: Elm Roller Skating Rink opened at 375 W Roosevelt Road at Route 83 in 1956.

Do you have any information on this? A: The Elmhurst Press had an advertisement for Wilson Crain’s Stop and Sock Driving Range one block west of York and Lake in July 1957.

A: Stevens Steakhouse, 476 N. York Street, opened circa 1958 on the southwest corner of York and Lake Streets.

In 1960 a large, million-dollar facility was constructed on First Street.

Q: When did Ollswang's department store (which was located just south of the train station) close? A: Ollswang's Department Store was sold on October 20, 1961 to Mid-States Department Stores of Milwaukee.

To attract industry to the city, the Elmhurst Industrial Park was created by the annexation of 600 acres stretching north to Grand Avenue in 1962.

Hammerschmidt and Franzen 1963

After being at 107 Adelaide Street and 118 S. York Street, the book shop moved to 112 W. Park Avenue on January 1, 1972.

In November 1979 the Loading Zone opened a German Gasthaus (pub), later known as Inge’s Gasthaus and Restaurant.

The census of 1980 revealed that the population had dropped to 44,276, a decline of 12%. It was the first decrease in the city’s history, but not an uncommon occurrence for the time among older communities.

The Cottage Hill Restaurant closed circa 1982.

In 1986 the Jewel Store, located at 1058 S York, wanted to relocate one block north to the 5-acre shopping center at York and Butterfield, where there would be room to build a Jewel-Osco rather than just the supermarket.

The plan was approved, the shopping plaza was rebuilt and Jewel-Osco had its grand opening in July 1987.