On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the Allied Forces and Germany signed an armistice – an agreement to stop the fighting that had raged across Europe the past four years. That day, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of World War I. When the…
The Industrial News, a Chicago-based publication covering "financial, industrial, commercial, and building interests" devoted the August 14, 1909 issue to Libertyville. With the opening of the electric railroad line on the south end of the village in 1903, Libertyville had experienced a growth spurt. The publication's editors saw potential investment possibilities, both commercial and residential,…
The XXXIII Olympiad opened today in Paris, France. More than 500 U.S. athletes will join participants from over 200 countries competing in over 30 different sports (more if you count all the individual track and field events). Several athletes with northern Illinois connections will give it their all over the next two weeks of the…
On June 12, 1924, one hundred years ago today, the largest train robbery in U.S. history happened just a few miles east of Libertyville. The Newton brothers and associates stole more than two million dollars in securities and cash. The plan seemed flawless. But all the culprits were captured, tried, and sentenced in just under…
Mother Nature was at it again on February 18-19, 1908. In the worst snowstorm innearly 25 years, up to 13 inches of snow fell, winds gusted up to 48 miles per hour, andsnow drifts grew to 6-12 feet high . At Noon on Tuesday, February 18, just an inch and ahalf of snow had fallen…
Find out the who's who of national celebrities and historical figures that have made appearances in Libertyville through the years. Enjoy part two of the series. Mentioned in the Podcast: October 25, 1960 - Senator John F. Kennedy's Remarks at Liberty Mall, Libertyville, Illinois (YouTube) Local History page Catch every episode! Subscribe to the Cook…
Santa Claus arrives in 2015. Copyright Bob Leavitt. Each year Libertyville residents gather in Cook Park for the holiday tree lighting the Friday night after Thanksgiving. Santa’s arrival by fire truck is the highlight of the evening for children of all ages. But in the late 1940s Santa arrived by another mode of transportation –…
Ten years ago this month, the Cook Memorial Public Library launched The Past is Present blog to help patrons learn about local history within our library district. We are proud to have shared over 120 posts and podcasts during the past decade. Thanks to the librarians who have researched and written posts on a variety…
It's possible that the biggest race ever held at the One Mile track was not a horse race, but an automobile race. The event took place in August 1913 and made headlines in the the Lake County Independent: "Biggest Race Carnival of Year at Libertyville,” “Speed Kings of Country to Race at Libertyville” and “World’s…
In the 1890s and early 1900s, rising population in the Chicago made the countryside more appealing. Chicago business leaders looked to rural areas within commuting distance of the city to build country homes for their families and indulge their passion for farm pursuits, including raising horses. Chicago restauranteur John R. Thompson and railroad executive J.W.…
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