Glen Ellyn

Images of America: Illinois

by Russ Ward, Glen Ellyn Historical Society

Glen Ellyn took its name from a Victorian real estate development whose massive promotional campaigns brought this unusually beautiful village to the attention of city dwellers eager to move their families away from the grimy, coal-fired environs of Chicago. Its story begins with hardy New Englanders who felled trees to build log cabins, broke the virgin prairie sod, and trapped wild game in the marshlands that would become greater Chicago, continuing through the radical changes that came with the railroad and the Civil War. From Potawatomi Indians and pioneers to an important Underground Railway station; from a luxurious lakeside health resort with a fabulous grand hotel to one of Chicago's premier suburban communities, Glen Ellyn presents the village's rich history with evocative photographs from the collection of the Glen Ellyn Historical Society.

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 2006

Reviews

[Corlyn Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my home town. I enjoyed reading about the growth of this beautiful city. This book is a wonderful expression of it's history. Enjoyed it very much.

Thank you for the opportunity to learn the history of my home town. I recommend this to anyone who grew up there and has since left.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really well put together. I have read a few of these Images of America books, and this one stands out as one of the best. It could be a bias from having gone to high school in Glen Ellyn and spending a lot of time in the town, but the book made it all familiar again. The pictures were fantastic and the history was very detailed. Excellent book!