Evanston Chamber History
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Evanston Business Evanston, with its close proximity to Chicago, has been a prime location for business for more than a century. But it takes more than desirable real estate to make business succeed. As the Evanston Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 100th anniversary, this display looks at Evanston business and its role in our community. Through challenges and opportunities, Evanston’s businessmen and businesswomen have dedicated themselves—along with residents and visitors—to build a thriving community. We invite you to learn more the evolution of business, the partners who support business growth and the pioneers who weren’t limited because of race or sex. And as we look at the story of Evanston business, we invite you to join us as we prepare for the next century! A special thank you to Grace Lehner at the Evanston History Center and Dino Robinson at Shorefront Legacy Center. The downtown The Centennial Fountain, July 4, 1876 Fountain Square in the 1940s A new granite cenotaph, 1949 Downtown businesses Gen. Douglas MacArthur, 1951 The 1912 replica fountain (now located in the Merrick Rose Garden) Images: Courtesy of Evanston History Center In 1876, with America’s centennial festivities underway, Located in the heart of Evanston, it grew quickly to Evanston celebrated not with fireworks, but with welcome downtown businesses along Davis Street, and waterworks—its Centennial Fountain. At its dedication, it Orrington and Sherman avenues. was lauded as a symbol of “temperance and sobriety.” As the fountain has changed—or even disappeared—so For more than 140 years, it has hosted numerous water too has the surrounding commercial district. But it has features, including the 1912 replica fountain currently in remained Evanston’s cultural center and a focal point of the Merrick Rose Garden. Evanston business and social life. It’s really more of a triangle. And where’s the fountain? 1876 1926 1949 In the midst of America’s 100th birthday, cities across the country look Evanston’s War Memorial Committee is seeking a memorial to honor those A reconfigured downtown includes a large granite fountain and cenotaph for ways to commemorate the event. Evanston raises funds for a two-tier killed in The Great War. Wanting a central site, Fountain Square stands out commemorating Evanston’s war dead. It is dedicated on Armistice Day. Two fountain adorned with water birds. During his July 4 dedication, Edward as the perfect location, but the fountain will have to move. Again, residents years later Gen. Douglas MacArthur visits the war memorial and places a Taylor highlights Evanston’s and Northwestern’s spirit by recognizing water defend their 50-year-old downtown gathering spot by lighting a spectacular wreath at the base of the flagpole. as a symbol of temperance. holiday tree which outshines all others in the five-year tradition. 1976 1893 1937–41 Fountain Square’s fountain is upgraded with new water features. The war The last decade of the 19th Century brought streetcars to the streets of Once again, the fountain is identified as a contributor to the accidents to memorial is replaced with new columns that commemorate Evanston’s war downtown Evanston intermingled with horse traffic. When the Chicago pedestrians and autos. Many ideas are generated, and finally one is selected casualties from the Civil War through Vietnam. Surface Lines electric streetcars were introduced in 1893, the congestion and approved. became a headache for city leaders. The original fountain was moved and replaced with a replica funded by the City. 2019 1946 After years of neglect and worn infrastructure, Fountain Square, or Veterans’ After securing victory in Europe and the Pacific, America sees an Memorial Plaza as it was renamed in 2003, and its environs are re-imagined 1915 unprecedented boom with more families able to purchase autos. With again. Unveiled in May, the new plaza features a zero-depth fountain with By 1915 automobiles have joined the congestion in downtown. Aldermen increased traffic clogging downtown, the fountain finally succumbs to the water jets, a glass wall listing the names of Evanston soldiers killed in war are asked to consider “improvements” to meet the challenges of streetcars, pressure it’s faced for decades. For the first time in 70 years, Fountain and an open gathering space on the south side of Davis Street. pedestrians and autos. The need for increased parking and safety are cited, Square is without its namesake feature. and the fountain is in the way. Evanston residents are not willing to sacrifice their beloved fountain. Sources: The Birth and Rebirth of Fountain Square, Still Gurgling After All These Years, Victoria Scott, Evanston Roundtable, Nov. 16, 2017 100TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION EVANSTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBERSHIP CONNECTING COMMUNITY COMMERCE Neighborhood businesses Roslyn Ter VILLAGE OF WILMETTE Sheridan Pl Isabella St ISABELLA ST ISABELLA ST Lakeside Ct GLENVIEW RD SHERIDAN RD CRAWFORD AVE Cli ord St Prairie Ave Bernard Pl Otto Ln Thayer St Jenks St Marcy Av Thayer St Thayer St Ingleside Pl Garrison Ave Garrison Thayer St Woodbine Ave Hampton Pky Hampton Euclid Park Pl Hurd Ave Lincolnwood Dr Park Pl Ave Broadway Stewart Ave Meadowlark Ln Park Pl Asbury Ave Monticello Pl Park Pl RIDGE AVE GROSS POINT RD Ingleside Pk Poplar Ave Livingston St Ewing Ave Ewing Reese Ave Bryant Ave Walnut Ave Walnut Hillside Ln Girard Ave Highland Ave Highland Lawndale Ave Hartzell St Chancellor St Chancellor St Clinton Pl Hartzell St NorthShore Princeton Ave Livingston St Hospital Hillside Rd CENTRAL ST CENTRAL ST 2 CENTRAL ST Culver Milburn Pk 2 Harrison St Harrison Rosalie St Ridge Ter Milburn St Greeley Ave Princeton Ave Wellington Ct Wellington Eastwood Ave Ashland Ave Jackson Ave Bennett Ave Elm Av Lincoln St GREEN BAY RD Harrison St LINCOLN ST Colfax Pl RD SHERIDAN McDANIEL AVE McDANIEL Colfax St Marcy Ave Colfax Ter Colfax Colfax St Wesley Av Colfax St Lawndale Ave Cowper Ave Ridgeway Ave Ridgeway Hastings Ave Prospect Ave Dartmouth Pl Grant St Dartmouth Pl Campus Dr Campus Grant St Noyes Ct Grey Ave Pioneer Rd Grant St NOYES ST 4 Noyes St Tech Dr Calvin AVE PARK CENTRAL Noyes St Cir Normandy Pl Leonard Pl Haven St Northwestern University Ga ield Pl Hayes St Payne St Ewing Ave Ewing Forestview Rd Forestview Lincolnwood Dr Payne St McCORMICK BLVD 3 Arbor Ln Payne St Bridge St Garrett Pl CRAWFORD AVE Sherman Ave Trinity Ct Ave Orrington Payne St R I D G E A V E Maple Ave Knox Bennett Ave Simpson St Simpson St Cir Simpson St Hamlin St Library Pl Northwestern Pl Leon Pl SIMPSON ST Woodland Rd Pratt Ct McDANIEL AVE Ashland Ave Foster St Hawthorne Ln Foster St E L G I N R D Martha Ln Garnett Pl Foster St 5 Campus Dr Campus Grey Ave Jackson Ave Dewey Ave Darrow Ave Brown Ave EMERSON ST East Railroad Ave EMERSON ST Elgin Rd University Pl Oak Av Wade Ct Arts Circle Dr Lyons St Lemar Ave Laurel Ave Hartrey Ave Clark St Lyons St Clark St Lyons St Grey Ave Brown Ave Hovland Ct SHERIDAN RD DODGE AVE DODGE Like many cities, Evanston has a large, Wesley Ave R I D G E A V E 5 Benson Ave Leland Ave C H U R C H S T CHURCH ST 1 Davis St Sherman Ave LAKE central downtown business district and D A V I S S T MICHIGAN Elinor Pl Ashland Ave Evanston Township Hinman Ave High School Grove St ASBURY AVE St Mar Judson Ave Grove St Forest Ave McDaniel Ave smaller business districts that bring McCORMICK BLVD k’ Fowler Ave Pitner Ave s Ct Oak Ave Maple Ave Lake St CHICAGO AVE services, retail and entertainment to Lake St Lake St Greenwood St Darrow Ave Greenwood St Grey Ave Brown Ave Greenwood St Sherman Pl Thelin Ct Dryden Pl NORTH SHORE CHANNEL Wesley Ave DEMPSTER ST residential neighborhoods. DEMPSTER ST Burnham Pl Wilder St Cro Ln Forest Ave Judson Ave Judson Hinman Ave Crain St Lake Shore Blvd Crain St Oak Ave Although the types of businesses may 6 Hamilton St RD SHERIDAN Hartrey Ave Maple Ave Sherman Ave Elmwood Ave Greenleaf St Dewey Ave Greenleaf St Darrow Ave Fowler Ave Pitner Ave Michigan Ave Michigan Greenleaf St Forest Ave R I D G E A V E have changed over the past century, McDaniel Ave Nathaniel Pl 7 Lee St Lee St Lee St Florence Ave Edgemere Ct Ashland Ave Wesley Ave each district is unique and reflects the AVE DODGE Bradley Pl Ridge Ct ASBURY AVE MAIN ST MAIN ST Washington St Washington St character of the surrounding area. VILLAGE OF SKOKIE Elmwood Ave Grey Ave Brown Ave Kedzie St Madison St Hinman Ave Michigan Ave Washington St RD SHERIDAN Judson Ave Forest Ave Madison Pl Wesley Ave Monroe St Dewey Ave Some districts include scores of Custer Ave Cleveland St Cleveland St Reba Pl Pitner Ave Keeney St Seward St Seward St businesses—others have just a dozen Seward St Sheridan Sq Keeney St Keeney St Barton Ave South Blvd Grey Ave South Blvd Hartrey Ave Warren St South Blvd OAKTON ST CHICAGO AVE or so. Regardless of their size or what OAKTON ST Callan Ave OAKTON ST SHERIDAN RD Austin St R I D G E A V E Kirk St Sherman Ave Hull Ter they offer, the neighborhood business St Francis 9 Hospital Custer Ave Mulford St DODGE AVE DODGE Wesley Ave Ashland Ave Florence Ave Darrow Ave Dewey Ave Mulford St Harvard Ter districts are integral to the overall Mulford St Case St Case Pl The business district boundaries are not oicial and Autobarn Pl Brummel St Brummel St are for illustration purposes only.