Downtown Lake Forest

by Arcadia Publishing

Overview

See how Lake Forest's downtown and Central Business District have been the heart of the community for over 150 years.

Lake Forest is a picturesque city built on the shores of Lake Michigan and has been home to Chicago's capitalist families, who developed estates around beautiful Lake Forest College. For over 150 years, the Lake Forest Central Business District has been the heart of the community. Now, you can see for yourself why that is thanks to never-before published photographs from personal collections, the estate of Griffith, Grant and Lackie, the City of Lake Forest and others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738560434
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	09/21/2009
Series:	Then and Now
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

In Downtown Lake Forest, Susan L. Kelsey and Shirley M. Paddock have assembled never-before-published photographs from personal collections, the estate of Griffith, Grant and Lackie, the City of Lake Forest, and others.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Introduction ix

1 Early Lake Forest: 1857-1894 11

2 An Emerging City: 1895-1911 33

3 Historic Market Square: 1912-1917 53

4 A Special Place: 1918-2009 77

Bibliography 95

Editorial Reviews

Title: Kelsey, Paddock to hold a book signing for 'Downtown Lake Forest'

Author: Linda Blaser

Publisher: Lake Forester

Date: 10/8/09



Working side-by-side Susan Kelsey and Shirley Paddock wrote, " Downtown Lake Forest," a pictorial look at the businesses of Market Square and the stories behind them.



On Wednesday, the duo will work side-by-side again at a book signing to benefit to the Gorton Community Center and the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation.



The book signing is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Gorton, 400 E. Illinois, Lake Forest. Copies of can be purchased at the Lake Forest Bookstore, 680 N. Western.



The pictorial history book is part of the Arcadia Publishing "Then & Now" series and contains more than 200 images comparing the downtown's past to the growth that has led it to today's Market Square. Some of the photos have never been published before now.



Paddock believes anyone who lives in Lake Forest or owns a business there will enjoy reading about the history of the heart of the city.



"I think it will appeal to everybody. There's a little bit of everything in it: What the downtown used to look like and what it looks like today" and how it got to where it is now, Paddock said.



Kelsey, the city's economic development coordinator, worked with Paddock for over a year on the book, meeting at Paddock's house and going over her photos and notes to tell the story about Lake Forest businesses.



'Wonderful stories'

"When we got more into the research, it really became a story about the people behind the businesses," Kelsey said. "Lake Forest has some wonderful stories to tell about the dedication and commitment of some of our business owners. Many of these businesses are third- and fourth-generation businesses, like Helanders, The Lake Forest Shop, Kiddles, Wenban and, of course, the Lake Forester newspaper."



Local businesses had to adapt continually to meet the needs of the community.



"The earlier businesses really operated in a more closed system, where the plumbers, the tin smiths and the electricians worked on the nearby estates and Deer Path Inn," Kelsey said. "We even had a manufacturing company in Lake Forest that made mattresses for the Deer Path Inn."



The community then became more mobile which led to further adaptations.



"Helanders used to fix televisions and appliances. The early days of the Stentor and Lake Forester newspapers were the original Facebook of Lake Forest, providing social details about events in town," Kelsey said.



"Downtown Lake Forest" is available at area bookstores, independent retailers, online retailers or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublihsing.com.

From the Publisher