Related Records

1. 346 East Prospect Avenue - An Architectural and Historic Survey of the Camp Meeting Area of Lake Bluff that was completed in 1998. Additional information about the property is available at the Lake Bluff History Museum. 346 East Prospect Avenue Solomon Thatcher, Jr. house

   346 East Prospect Avenue

   Record Type: Photo

   
2. 508 Gurney Avenue 508 Gurney Avenue - 508 Gurney Avenue Also included are Multiple Listing Sheets (MLS).

   508 Gurney

   Record Type: Photo

   
3. Details on the Thatcher Family - Correspondence between Elmer Vliet and T. Reed Chunn Jr. regarding the history of the Thatcher family. Vliet refers to an article about General Ulysses S. Grant, which is also attached. 1912 obituary for Mrs. Gussie P. Thatcher, source unknown. 1917 obituary for David W. Thatcher, source unknown. Several charts showing the history of the Thatcher family during the 19th Century. Another, later correspondence between Vliet and Chunn Jr regarding the Thatchers. Includes more documentation of the Thatcher ancestry.

   Details on the Thatcher Family

   Record Type: Archive

   
4. Dr. James Dewey and Family - Originally from Massachusetts, Dr. James Richard Dewey arrived in Chicago in 1860, after living in Springfield, to teach Greek, Latin, and astronomy at Chicago's first high school called Central High School. He stayed at Central High School for 41 years. Within that time frame, the school expanded and created the West Division branch where Dr. Dewey finished his teaching career. Clara Thatcher was a student of Dr. Dewey. His first marriage with Eliza Jane produced five children, James Jr., Charles, Carrie, Grace, and Elbert. in 1880, Dr. Dewey built a summer cottage in Lake Bluff at 535 Prospect. Elbert recalls his teenager summers in Lake Bluff managing the bath houses. Dr. Dewey's first wife passed away in 1900 and in 1905, at age 76, he married Grace Hickman, age 46. They moved into the Summer cottage after the wedding. Unfortunately, Grace Dewey died from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1912. Dr. James Dewey passed away in 1918. Elbert Dewey moved his family into his fathers cottage after earning his M.D. Eventually, in 1923 he sold the cottage to Rev. Nelson Hall and moved to 538 Center Ave. The original Summer cottage was razed in the 1960s. Short biography of Dr. James Dewey and his son, Elbert Dewey. Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association bill for summer cottage improvements totalling $896. Memorial booklet for Grace Hickman Dewey, Dr. James Dewey's second wife who died in 1912. Service given at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. Springfield English and Classical Institute Catalogue for 1857-1858 where Dr. James Dewey is listed as school principle and French instructor. Family register including children and grandchildren of Dr. Dewey and Eliza Jane Dewey. Compilation of newspaper clippings scanned onto three pages - obituaries, wedding announcements, and retirement announcements. Scanned copy of an October 6, 1901 Chicago Record Herald article about Dr. James Dewey's respected retirement. Scanned copy of a black and white photograph of friends posing in front of Solomon's Pool. Elmer's notes taken from Grace Hickman Dewey's memorial booklet. Copy of Mabel Dewey's obituary printed in the Chicago Tribune in 1962. Wife of Elbert Dewey, she was the founder of the Girl Scouts in Lake Bluff and a member of the Lake Bluff school board. Dr. Elbert Dewey's obituary. Who was the son of Dr. James Richard Dewey and an oculist. Copy of a 1905 Joliet Evening Herald Newspaper article about Dr. James Dewey's wedding to his young bride.

   Dr. James Dewey and Family

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. Solomon Thatcher - Correspondence between Elmer Vliet and various relations of Solomon Thatcher, Jr. about the history of the Thatcher family, in particular Lake Bluff and River Forest. Letters to Anne Thatcher Cram about Camp Meeting days in Lake Bluff; genealogy of the Thacher family Vliet's letters between Jim Getz, and Mr. Chunn. The letters were written between 1973 and 1978, when Vliet was gathering information for his book Lake Bluff : The First Hundred Years A Xerox copy of two articles the Thatcher's in River Forest. Vliet's typed notes : Thoughts on the Thatcher family. Elmer was clarifying the Thatcher line, as well as handwritten notes. Solomon Thatcher, Jr. (1833 - 1894), purchased land in Lake Bluff from the Gurnee heirs and from Ben Cloes for the future Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association. According to Vliet's book, Thatcher wrote of his desire "to create a resort where 'during the heater term people might rest from the tumult and excitement of city life. . . '" The Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association (LBCMA) was formed in 1875, with Thatcher as its president. Also a Xerox four page Centennial River Forest program from 1936. A Xerox Second Annual Report for the LBCMA. Two postcards: One to Elmer Vliet from Anne Cram and another to Janet Nelson from Alma Koppedraijer, author of the monograph, Dwelling for Solomon Thatcher, Jr. An unpaged monograph by Alma Koppedraijer about the history of the Solomon Thatcher, Jr. house on 518 Keystone Avenue River Forest, Illinois and family history and genealogy. Koppedraijer says Thatcher was directly involved in the establishment of the first River Forest Methodist church in 1871. He was a real estate developer and in 1875 became president of LBCMA. The monograph shows photos and drawings of the Keystone Ave home. A 4.5 x 6 illustrated color program, from The River Forest Literary Society dated November 23, 1883. Thatcher was the treasurer. A small brochure for The River Forest Literary Society, May 22, 1885

   Solomon Thatcher family

   Record Type: Archive