What is the history of Elmhurst, Illinois?
Members of the Potawatomi IndiansPotawatomi Indian tribe, who settled along Salt Creek just south of where the city would develop, are the earliest known settlers of the Elmhurst area. Around 1836, European immigrants settled on tracts of land along the same creek. At what would become Elmhurst City Centre, a native of Ohio named Gerry Bates established a community on a tract of “treeless land” in 1842. The following year, Hill Cottage Tavern opened where St. Charles Road and Cottage Hill Avenue presently intersect. In 1845, the community was named land was officially named ‘Cottage Hill’ when a post office was established. Four years later the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad was given right-of-way through Cottage Hill giving farmerfarmers easier access to Chicago. The community changed its name to Elmhurst in 1869. From 1968-2000, one of the largest Chevrolet dealers in the country, Celozzi-Ettleson Chevrolet, was located at the corner of York and Illinois Route 38Roosevelt Roads. T
When growing up in Elmhurst in the 1950’s, I came across a large format, illustrated book on its history. At the time, I was under the impression that it had been published by the Elmhurst Press. Among other things, it described happenings during WWI. Local objections to participation in the war against Germany led to demonstrations and, eventually, derailing of troop trains, seizure of the post office, running up of the Germany flag and imposition of martial law. Current research shows no reference to these events. How is this so?
