Wooden Sidewalks Hide Snaky Secrets
By Dan Anderson Local historian Ada Douglas Harmon once described the early wooden sidewalks in Glen Ellyn as a “…first-class rendezvous for snakes. When we walked along at night, the snakes would stick their heads up through the cracks and wiggle under our feet.” The wooden sidewalks along Main Street in the downtown area were […]
Prospect Park Renamed “Glen Ellyn” in 1894
The town adopted this name after Lake Glen Ellyn was built by Thomas E. Hill and the town became a resort community. “Ellyn” is the Welsh spelling of Ellen, the name of Hill’s wife. How many names has Glen Ellyn had over the years? Read the full story now.
The Great Fire of 1891
The summer of 1891 in Glen Ellyn was especially hot and dry. The drought persisted into autumn. John Elick, a local baker, had the job of lighting the kerosene street lamps along Main Street. On the evening of November 6, as he lit the lamp in front of his bakery, it slipped from his grasp […]
Murder on the Prairie Path
A more precise title would be “Murder Victim Under the Prairie Path.” In 1889, Carl Gentner, who worked as a cobbler out of his home on Duane Street, was sent to jail for 30 days for stealing coal from the Bathke-Newton lumber and coal yard. When he returned home from jail, he had reason to […]
Lake Ellyn is Born
The Village of Glen Ellyn owes a debt of gratitude to Thomas E. Hill and Seth Baker who envisioned building a lake in town and spearheaded a drive to collect funds to build it. In fact, the Village of Glen Ellyn owes its name to this lake. Lake Ellyn was created in the summer of […]
Danby Renamed “Prospect Park” in 1874
Danby’s name was changed to Prospect Park because the Village fathers thought it would improve the image of the town. (Danby had quite the reputation at that time.) Stacy’s Corners and Prospect Park both grew and gradually merged. How many names has Glen Ellyn had over the years? Read the full story now.
Newton Station Renamed “Danby”
Newton Station was renamed Danby by the new postmaster who had come from Danby, Vermont when he learned that there was another town in Illinois named Newton Station. How many names has Glen Ellyn had over the years? Read the full story now.
Stacy’s Corners Renamed “Newton Station”
This was the initial name for a new community that grew up a mile south of Stacy’s Corners after the railroad came through that area — what is today downtown Glen Ellyn. How many names has Glen Ellyn had over the years? Read the full story now.
Fish’s Corners Renamed “Stacy’s Corners” in 1846
The Stacy’s Corners name came into common usage when Moses and Joann Stacy built a popular stagecoach inn at the intersection where St. Charles Road meets Geneva Road and North Main Street. How many names has Glen Ellyn had over the years? Read the full story now.
Babcock’s Grove Renamed “Fish’s Corners”
Named for Daniel Fish who had a cabin near where three trails converged. Today, the trails are known as St. Charles Road, Geneva Road and Main Street. The little community was also called DuPage Center because of its location at the center of DuPage County. How many names has Glen Ellyn had over the years? […]
