Founded by Anson Taylor in 1835 as Taylorsport, the town of Glencoe would not receive its current name until 1869 when it was incorporated with a grand total of 26 homes. Since then, the small farm town has grown into one of Chicago’s most storied suburbs with a current population of more than 8,700. Some noted residents include the late Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Archibald MacLeish, TV star Fred Savage and ex-Bear Mike Tomczak.
Jan. 5, 1932: Central School remained closed after Christmas break while a committee of citizens sought to raise enough money to reopen it. (Tribune archive photo / Chicago Tribune)
June 8, 1927: Major General Abel Davis and President of the University of Chicago Max Mason were keynote speakers at the dedication ceremony of the new Glencoe Auditorium, which cost $200,000 to build. (Tribune archive photo / Chicago Tribune)
Feb. 22, 1940: Glencoe Park District workmen relocate a 60-foot elm tree from a school yard to its new home at Central School. (Tribune archive photo / Chicago Tribune)
Advertisement
Sept. 22, 1949: Glencoe Public Library eight years after it opened. The library moved three times before finding a permanent home in 1941 at 320 Park Ave. (Russell V. Hamm / Chicago Tribune)
July 3, 1957: A view of the Hazel Avenue entrance of the new town hall, built to house the village fire and police departments. (Fred Giese / Chicago Tribune)
Oct. 18, 1963: Gracefully arched concrete “fan vaults” rise amid steel scaffolding on the site of the new temple of North Shore Congregation Israel. (Tribune archive photo / Chicago Tribune)
Oct. 12, 1968: Eight-year-old Gail Bernhardt of Winnetka takes a romp through the undeveloped plot of land slated to become the Chicago Botanic Garden. (Tribune archive photo / Chicago Tribune)
Advertisement
Oct. 24, 1971: A visiting family enjoys the scenic setting of man-made lakes and green rolling hills on the 300-acre plot to be developed into the Chicago Botanic Garden. (Michael Budrys / Chicago Tribune)
April 3, 1972: One of the portable classrooms at South School. Once filled with busy pupils, this photo shows the empty classroom being used for gym. (Alton Kaste / Chicago Tribune)
Sept. 12, 1977: Officer Terry Weppler (left) also serves as a fireman when needed. On the right is full-time fireman Robert Martell. (Ron Bailey / Chicago Tribune)
May 26, 1979: An aerial shot of the Botanic Garden. The main building is the education center and the connecting buildings with triangular roofs are greenhouses. (Karen Engstrom / Chicago Tribune)
Advertisement
Jan. 6, 1981: Glencoe police officers (from left) John Cegielski, Floyd Mohr and Steve List inventory items recovered from two students. (Walter Neal / Chicago Tribune)
Aug. 23, 1982: Women dressed in traditional Japanese clothing admire the Botanic Garden’s Japanese garden. (Tribune archive photo / Chicago Tribune)
Dec. 6, 1985: A 47-year-old Colorado blue spruce goes out in a blaze of holiday glory at the Botanic Gardens’ Christmas celebration in Glencoe. (Chris Walker and Don Casper / Chicago Tribune)
Aug. 25, 1989: Firefighters turn their hoses on a blaze that damaged shops and medical offices in downtown Glencoe. Engine companies from several communities assisted in fighting the fire. (Walter Kale / Chicago Tribune)
Advertisement
June 23, 1990: In an attempt to promote the downtown area, Glencoe’s Chamber of Commerce offers free valet parking to would-be shoppers on Saturdays. (Walter Kale / Chicago Tribune)
Dec. 15, 1991: Pat Anderson looks at Japanese puppets with her granddaughter Jessica (right) and Becky Pyzyna at an exhibit hosted by the Chicago Botanic Garden. (Matt Marton / Chicago Tribune)