Palatine Centennial Book: History of Palatine, Cook County, Illinois

The publication of this book is part of the Palatine's observance of its Centennial. It was 100 years ago that the Village of Palatine came into being when the railroad pin-pointed a station stop in the center of Palatine township.

This Centennial Book tells the story of the township and the growth of the village from farmland to a young city of 6,500 inhabitants.

The Centennial celebration is being planned as this book goes to press and includes a six day event with many features. They include a Centennial Ball with music by Dick Jurgens, a big parade on Sunday with many bands and floats, a pageant telling the story of Palatine, the dedication of Palatine's new swimming pool, homecoming receptions, pet parade, a Queen contest and the annual Lions-Legion carnival.

The publication of this Centennial Book is a Memorial to the early settlers who had a part in the birth of Palatine and helped it grow down through the years.

 

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I — Beginning of Palatine

Deer Grove 7
Englishman's Grove 13
Plum Grove 15
Highland Grove 18
Voters Name Township 19
CHAPTER II
Founders Own Story 21
Arrival of Railroad 22
Early Streets, Roads 23
Early Palatine Industries 25
Story of Village Organizations 27
CHAPTER III — Civic Growth
Establishment of Schools 31
Palatine High School 33
Palatine Library 35
Volunteer Fire Department 37
Cemeteries 38
Churches 39
CHAPTER IV — War Services
Civil War 45
World War I 46
World War II 47
CHAPTER V
Personalities, Past and Present 49
CHAPTER VI — Way Back When
Way Back When 57
P. L. Z & W. 61
Fires and Railroad Wrecks 62
From Newspaper Microfilms 63
Palatine Enterprise 66
CHAPTER — Organizations
Organizations 67
CHAPTER VIII
Businessmen of 1955

 

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More than a century ago, the territory comprising Palatine Township in the northwest part of Cook County, was largely prairie; dotted with several prominent groves: Deer Grove, in the northwest part of the township, which is now a county forest preserve; Englishman's Grove, Plum Grove, and Highland Grove.

The gently-rolling countryside and the cool shade of wooded groves seemed like home to the newcomers who had left green hills and fertile river valleys to begin this adventure in the west. The stretches of soil showed such promise that neighbors and relatives "back east" were sent for; and the cleared sections began to make a pattern on the prairie.

Little settlements grew up in the four wooded areas of the township. The first chapters in this Centennial book tell the stories of their settlement and short sketches of some of the families.