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1 of 1977 Elmer Vliet

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Name	Vliet, Elmer
Born	1/22/1897
Birthplace	Joliet, IL
Titles & honors	Elmer Vliet sserved as Lake Bluff Village Trustee 1930-1935, Village President 1935-1937. President of LB Park District 1937-1939. Lake Bluff School Disrict 65 Board 1946-1949, LFHS District 121 Board of Ed 1949-1952. Lake Bluff Zoning Board of Appeals 1937 -1979. Carthage College Board of Directors 1960-1968. First President of LF/LB Historical Society 1973-1975
Father	Richard Vliet
Mother	Loretta Elva Bennett b.April 19, 1865
Education	University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana class of 1918
Occupation	Hired in 1919 as Research Chemist at Abbott Laboratories in Ravenswood. Abbott later moved to North Chicago. Elected Vice President and Scientific Administrator in 1952 and Chairman of theBoard 1959 -1962.
Spouse	Mabel L. Vliet, , Dorothy Anderson Vliet b. 10/16/1903 d. 12/16/1988
Children	Verna Bailey, Northa Edwards
Notes	Moved to Lake Bluff in 1927. Lake Bluff historian Elmer Vliet was employed by Dr. Abbott in 1919 as a chemist, one of Dr. Abbott's first employees. He came to Lake Bluff in 1927 when Abbott labs move into North Chicago. He and his wife, Mabel, built the home at 401 E. Prospect Avenue when Elmer retired.

Related Records

1. A black and white photo of Mrs. Elmer Viet and her daughter Northa Vliet outside the A. K. Stearns home, June 1939.

   Stearn's House June 1939

   Record Type: Photo

   
2. Bus load of girls on the Bemida

   Photo 2037

   Record Type: Photo

   
3. Painting of Elmer Vliet

   Elmer Vliet

   Record Type: Photo

   
4. The Lake Forester - LAKE BLUFF IN DEBT IN 1929, IS IN GOOD FINANCIAL SHAPE NOW the village of Lake Bluff, which was harassed by debt 'back in 1929,' today is free from current debts, has no tax anticipation warrants outstanding, is on a cash basis and pays its employees promptly ... the article goes on to list several village improvements. Matthew Atkinson of Scranton Avenue, highway commissioner for Shields Township, was elected first vice-president of Illinois State Association of Township Officers.

   The Lake Forester

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. 401 East Prospect - 401 East Prospect Avenue Vliet home, with Elmer and Doris in the front of the house.

   Slide #328 401 East Prospect

   Record Type: Photo

   
6. 401 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. 401 East Prospect Avenue Elmer Vliet house

   401 East Prospect Avenue

   Record Type: Photo

   
7. 407 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. 407 East Prospect Avenue Also included are Multiple Listing Sheets (MLS)

   407 East Prospect Avenue

   Record Type: Photo

   
8. Abbott Pharmagraph, Apr 1946 - April 1946 issue of the Abbott Pharmagraph, Abbott Laboratories' employees' magazine. Has photos of several people, including Elmer Vliet on page 4.

   Abbott Pharmagraph, Apr 1946

   Record Type: Archive

   
9. Advertisement for the Progressive Party - Advertisement for the Progressive Party Shows Nominees for the positions of Village Trustee and Village Clerk. Also advertises all the things that the Progressive Party has accomplished in the town. Included is a special Liquor Referendum

   Doc 2568

   Record Type: Archive

   
10. Advertisements for The Progressive Party - Advertisements for The Progressive Party - Election Day April 19, 1932 Advertisements talk about Village Income and Expenses, Taxes, the Nominees for Village Trustee and Clerk, and the Publicity Committee for the Progressive Party

    Doc 2565

    Record Type: Archive

    
11. A letter from neighbors supporting Robert McClory - A letter from neighbors supporting Robert McClory : Elmer Vliet, J. Howard Wood, Allen Kuhlman, Raymond Lewis, Allan Percy, and Charles Ruhl. Also a Commendation from the Lake County Bar Association to McClory, dated July 8, 1988. Robert McClory (1908-1988) served as a US Congressman for 10 terms from 1962-76 and was a key figure in the Watergate impeachment proceeding against Richard Nixon. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1928 and from Chicago–Kent College of Law in 1932. He practiced law in state and federal courts in Cook County and Lake County. From 1933–1937 he served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. In Lake Bluff McClory lived on Prospect Avenue, was a long-time Boy Scout leader of Lake Bluff troop 42 and served as village attorney. (LBHM website)

    A letter from neighbors supporting Robert McClory

    Record Type: Archive

    
12. A letter to Dorothy and Elmer Vliet - A letter to Dorothy and Elmer Vliet from The Lake Bluff National Bank of Lake Bluff from President J. R. Shoulberg thanking them for being a member of the bank and reporting that the bank has almost $2,000,000 (two million dollars) in assets in the first year of operation. The First National Bank of Lake Bluff opened April 15, 1965 in a leased building at 30 East Scranton Avenue and moved to 120 East Scranton Avenue in 1972. This building later served as the location of Northern Trust Bank and PNC Bank, before it was demolished in June, 2025.

    A letter to Dorothy and Elmer Vliet

    Record Type: Archive

    
13. A letter to Elmer Vliet from J. R. Soulberg - A letter to Elmer Vliet from J. R. Soulberg, president of The First National Bank of Lake Forest, thanking Vliet for his interest opening a National Bank in Lake Bluff. Attached to the letter is a second letter signed by W. Eugene Danneberg of Mid-West National Bank of Lake Forest (located at 1811 Sheridan Road, North Chicago), stating the need for an additional banking facility in Lake Forest. The second letter describes the capitalization structure and stock sales for the new bank. The First National Bank of Lake Bluff opened April 15, 1965 in a leased building at 30 East Scranton Avenue and moved to 120 East Scranton Avenue in 1972. This building later served as the location of Northern Trust Bank and PNC Bank, before it was demolished in June, 2025.

    Record Type: Archive

    
14. A letter to Lieb Grost - A letter to Lieb Grost, mostly likely from Elmer Vliet, regarding an article by Susan Dart concerning the house Ben Cloes built at 666 Maple. Vliet wanted additional information on the Cloes Brick yard and when Ben stopped making bricks and when Lieb's father stopped working for Ben.

    Letter to Lieb Grost

    Record Type: Archive

    
15. American Legion at the Bicentennial - Elmer Vliet, center, and other American Legion members stand at the Bicentennial celebration outside a tent

    Record Type: Photo

    
16. An audio tape interview with Helen Weshinskey - In 1983 Catherine Shively interviewed several longtime Lake Bluff residents using an audio tape recorder. This interview is with Helen Weshinskey

    Record Type: Archive

    
17. An audio tape interview with Henry Spruth - In 1983 Catherine Shively interviewed several longtime Lake Bluff residents using an audio tape recorder. This interview is with Henry Spruth

    Record Type: Archive

    
18. An audio tape interview with Henry Spruth - In 1983 Catherine Shively interviewed several longtime Lake Bluff residents using an audio tape recorder. This interview is with Henry Spruth

    Record Type: Archive

    
19. Annexation of Knollwood - Letter from Elmer Vliet to The Lake Bluff President, Phyllis Albrecht, and Board of Trustees advocating for the annexation of Knollwood. Included are school population numbers and other data.

    Annexation of Knollwood

    Record Type: Archive

    
20. Annual Report of the Park Committee - Annual Report of the Park Committee, submitted by Elmer Vliet, discuses which green spaces in the Village were seeded and graded, sodded, and what areas still need those treatments.

    Doc 3279

    Record Type: Archive

    
21. Annual Report of the Street Committee - 1) Annual Report of the Street Committee regarding the construction at the cross roads of East of the Sheridan Road Viaduct, thereby eliminating a traffic hazard, and the construction of signs at Green Bay Road and Rockland Road. 2) Annual Report of the Street Committee regarding the parkway on Center Avenue has been graded and seeded.

    Doc 3048

    Record Type: Archive

    
22. An obituary for Verna Vliet Bailey - A copy of an obituary for Verna Vliet Bailey, daughter of Elmer and Mabel Vliet and sister of Northa Vliet Edwards. Bailey died at the age of 96 on July 19, 2025. Born in Lake Bluff, she lived there until 1974.

    An obituary for Verna Vliet Bailey

    Record Type: Archive

    
23. Application for License - Application for License pursuant to "an ordinance related to alcoholic liquors", passed and approved in 1934. Applicant - Dean Batze Approved by: Elmer Vliet, Village President, on September 18, 1936

    Doc 3358

    Record Type: Archive

    
24. A Promise for Life: the Story of Abbott

    2013

    Record Type: Library

    
25. A timeline for the Village Market - A timeline for the Village Market from Elmer Vliet's book "Lake Bluff the First 100 Years". This document is incomplete, showing a timeline from 1871 when Conrad and Minnie Helming arrived in Rockland (Lake Bluff) in 1871 to 1902 when Adolph Rosenthal dies in 1902. The Village Market, the tall two story building across the street from the current (2025) Post Office, is the oldest commercial building in the village. Its bricks were said to have come from the Cloes brickyard, located in the Birch Road area. This building was built for the new Helming's Grocery Store and Meat Market, which replaced an earlier frame building at the same location, that had been destroyed by fire, located on northwest corner of Scranton Avenue and Walnut Avenue, today 24 East Scranton Avenue.

    A timeline for the Village Market

    Record Type: Archive

    
26. Bird Ordinance Provides Bells for All Tabbies - Associated Press

    May 27, 1935

    Record Type: Library

    
27. Camp Meeting Notes - Notes from various Camp Meeting Association meetings

    Doc 2028

    Record Type: Archive

    
28. Circular on Liquor Regulation - Circular on Liquor Regulation regarding a vote for to keep Lake Bluff dry despite State Legislature repealing all local ordinances. The circular urges residents to vote for liquor prohibition.

    Doc 3349

    Record Type: Archive

    
29. Citizens for and Open Caucus - Letter to residents of the Village of Lake Bluff detailing the belief that the present nominating system for Village Trustees did not meet certain criteria and wanted to set up a neutral, independent group, to set up a non-partisan open caucus. If one cannot be set up, they intend to form a new caucus. Attached is the original envelope the letter came in.

    Doc 2444

    Record Type: Archive

    
30. Citizens for an Open Caucus - Letter sent to residents of the Village of Lake Bluff to attend the Area Caucus Meetings. This gave residents a chance for a "direct, personal, and equal voice in the selection of nominee for the Village Board of Trustees". Enclosed with the letter was a map that notified residents of their neighborhood area meeting. This map is the same maps as New 696. Attached is the original envelope the letter came in

    Doc 2443

    Record Type: Archive

    
31. Clean Up Week Proclamations - Clean Up Week Proclamations given by the Village Presidents in order to beautify the Village premises, the Village, for one week only, allows Village trucks to remove all refuse without charge if it is brought to the curb. Proclamations have been signed by: - Henry C. Spruth on April 22, 1936 (Also included a Fire Precaution) - Elmer B. Vliet on April 27, 1937 - Irwin W. Steans on April 18, 1938 - The Board of Trustees on April 20, 1940; May 3, 1941; April 25, 1944; April 8, 1952; April 7, 1953; April 6, 1954

    Doc 2676

    Record Type: Archive

    
32. Conversation about Lake Bluff Plan Commission Between Daniel Riley McMaster, Elmer Vliet, Charles Hummer, and Ernest Olsen - Conversation about Lake Bluff Plan Commission Between Daniel Riley McMaster, Elmer Vliet, Charles Hummer, and Ernest Olsen (1) Letter from Daniel Riley McMaster to Elmer Vliet stating he has examined the Smith-Hurd 1933 page 31 and found that the statue as passed in 1921 has not been amended. McMaster believes that Section 3 of the Act deserves some consideration as it references the adoption of an official plan. McMaster also mentions that one of the neighboring communities a subdivider forced the recordation of a plat without the approval, and over the objection, of the Plan Commission due to the municipality not having adopted an official plan. (2) Letter from Elmer Vliet to Daniel Riley McMaster thanking McMaster for his letter dated July 9th which brought attention to the recordation of a plat in one of the neighboring communities. Vliet has examined the minutes of the Village Board from June 19, 1923 to July 1, 1927, on the assumption that if the Village Plan had been adopted, the ordinance of adoption would have been passed during that time. Vliet was unable to find any evidence of action by the Village Board in adopting an Official Plan, only references. Vliet suggests the only other route is to go to the County Recorder or to Jacob Crane but hesitates with both those options before discussing it further. (3) Handwritten letter from Elmer Vliet to Daniel Riley McMaster enclosing a circular that Vliet thinks McMaster would like to look at. (4) Letter from Daniel Riley McMaster to Elmer Vliet stating his letter of July 20th and 24th have gained his attention. McMaster said he will return the circular as he has also received a copy. McMaster holds the opinion that the reference to the Village Plan in a Subdivision Ordinance would not be though of as an adoption of the Ordinance. McMaster also stated that he believed that Mr. Brockway, the County Recorder, may be able to give valuable information on this situation. Similarly, McMaster believed the gentleman, whose name he could not recall, who made certified copies of plats in the basement could shed some light on the situation. McMaster saw no reason for the recording of the Village Plan. McMaster said he will try to reach out to Jacob Crane but since he was always travelling he will reach out to his office instead. (5) Letter from Elmer Vliet to Daniel Riley McMaster in which Vliet wonders if it is the best plan to pass an ordinance adopting an Official Village Plan in the near future. Vliet says when McMaster receives a copy of Crane's improved adoption ordinance he would like to look it over. Vliet also presumes that if the Plan were to be adopted it would be the one that Crane worked on in 1923-1924. (6) Letter from Elmer Vliet to Charles A. Hummer enclosing a correspondence with Daniel Riley McMaster concerning an Official Village Plan. Vliet asks that after he has looked at it to pass it onto Orrie McCombs. (7) Letter from Ernest Olsen to Daniel Riley McMaster enclosing the model ordinance for adoption of a city plan. Original Envelope is attached (8) Letter from Daniel Riley McMaster to Elmer Vliet stating that he finds the Village Plan prepared by Crane has in it a form of ordinance adopting the Plan, and it is hardly possible that is was passed by the Village Board. Yet, he says it would be unsafe to assume that an ordinance adopting the Village Plan was passed. Vliet then encloses a form for ordinance which he received from Crane's office. Vliet says he examined the statute and has come to concluded that it is subject to the same criticism as many acts of Legislature. Vliet then lays out a criticism for Section 3 of the act and says he believes it wise to meet with the Plan Commission and the Village Attorney.

    Doc 2542

    Record Type: Archive

    
33. Correspondance Between Vliet and Davis - Letters exchanged between Elmer Vliet and Robert Davis, former Village president, regarding gathering information about past Village presidents.

    Correspondance Between Vliet and Davis

    Record Type: Archive

    
34. Correspondence between Arthur Perrow, Jr. and members of the Building Commission. - A series of eight letters; a hand drawn survey of the property in question by Elmer Vliet and a Resolution by the Lake Bluff Building Commission, all addressing Arthur Perrow's appeal to that Zoning Board, requesting permission to build a house on part of lot 2 in block twenty eight, being in the 600 block of Sunrise Avenue. The Commission in their Resolution, refused Perrow's appeal "because of insufficient frontage required by ordinance. " The resolution continues for two pages. Also a wedding announcement for Arthur Perrow and Dorothy Zimmerman both of Lake Bluff, from the Waukegan News - Sun, dated April 19, 1934.

    Record Type: Archive

    
35. Correspondence between R. C. Johnson and Elmer Vliet - Correspondence between R. C. Johnson and Elmer Vliet regarding compiling local history, Vliet recomends Joe Meads book, "How It All Began," a history book about this areas early history. 2 letters.

    Correspondence between R. C. Johnson and Elmer Vliet

    Record Type: Archive

    
36. Correspondence on Ostrander Family - Long correspondence between Elmer Vliet and Daniel DeNoyelles, senior geneologist at the Rockland County Historical Society in New York, as well as Wilfred Talman and the Holland Society of New York, regarding the ancestry of the Ostrander Family. Henry Ostrander came to Lake County in 1842, where he started a brick-making business and founded the community of Rockland, which eventually became Lake Bluff. Notes by Elmer Vliet pertaining to Ostrander Family. Information taken from book De Halne Maem referring to Rockland County, NY. Account of development of Rockland, undated.

    Lake Bluff Women's Club

    Record Type: Archive

    
37. Country Club - Two booklets for the Lake Bluff Country Club Harvest Home Dinner in 1911. Two original programs from "The Tribe of the Illinois" and "The Yokohama Maid", as well as a copy of each. Various documents protaining to the Country Club: a letter sent to members, multiple articles, a portion of a Hand Bill, and a document of incorporation. A stack of miscellaneous notes and correspondence. A letter detailing the decision to shut down the Country Club (attached is a copy of the minutes from their meeting on July 22, 1929). Minutes from Country Club meetings (1919-1929).

    Country Club

    Record Type: Archive

    
38. Cover Letter From Elmer Vliet to Frank Hoffman - Cover Letter From Elmer Vliet to Frank Hoffmann enclosing letter (Doc 2199)

    Doc 2200

    Record Type: Archive

    
39. Cutting the ribbon - An article from the Lake Bluff Review of April 22, 1965 showing the opening of the First National Bank of Lake Bluff at 30 East Scranton, on April 15th, 1965. Local historian Elmer Vliet cut the ribbon with Philip Speidel, Chairman of The First National Bank of Lake Forest, and village president Robert Davis. John Anderson and others were also present for the event. The First National Bank of Lake Bluff opened April 15, 1965 in a leased building at 30 East Scranton Avenue and moved to 120 East Scranton Avenue in 1972. This building later served as the location of Northern Trust Bank and PNC Bank, before it was demolished in June, 2025.

    Cutting the ribbon

    Record Type: Archive

    
40. Dear Susan Dart - A copy of a typed unsigned letter to Susan Dart of writing in the Lake Bluff Review, undoubtedly written by local historian Elmer Vliet. (Elmer usually signed his letters by hand.) The two page letter concerns a few "errors that crept into the" article Dart wrote on 666 Maple in which she stated that it was the oldest house in Lake Bluff. Vliet goes on to give a history of the home, which was built in 1886 with bricks from the Cloes brickyard, and of the family. Vliet wanted to correct the story, as the home was going to be put on the market, and being called the oldest house in Lake Bluff might hamper its sale.

    Dear Susan Dart

    Record Type: Archive

    
41. Dedication to new Lake Bluff Post Office - Two 8 x 10 black and white photographs of the Dedication of the new Lake Bluff Post Office on September 27, 1958. The first photo includes Village President Curran, Elmer Vliet, Congressman Margurite Church, a P.O. Official, State Senator Robert McClory, and Reverend Jackson Turner.

    Dedication to new Lake Bluff Post Office

    Record Type: Photo

    
42. Deeds to land adjoining Blodgett Avenue east of Birch Road - Elmer Vliet notes on a few deeds to land adjoining Blodgett Ave. east of Birch Road beginning in 1896 when Cloes sold a tract of land (Tract "F") to A. K. Stearns in 1896 for $8,000. Other transfers include Blodgett to Durand, Stearns to Herbert Angster, Thomas Stearns to Grace Stanley. Also included are two sketches by Vliet showing some of the land being transferred.

    Some deeds to land adjoing Blodgett Ave. east of Birch Road

    Record Type: Archive

    
43. 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

    
44. Document Accompanying Framed Notice - Document Accompanying Framed Notice that was given by Leopold Grost that reads: "Over a Mile" An Imported High Class Picture Film at the Village Hall Friday, November 4, 1910 8 o'clock sharp 25¢ Proceeds will be used to improve the Village Hall Assembly Room

    Doc 3808

    Record Type: Archive

    
45. Documet Sent to Members on the Plan Commission - Documet Sent to Members on the Plan Commission about the meeting of the new Plan Commission and included a directory of newly appointed members.

    Doc 2501

    Record Type: Archive

    
46. Don't Need Red Ink on Books on Lake Bluff - Herald Examiner Article titled "Don't Need Red Ink on Books on Lake Bluff" which details how the Village is free from all their debts, as shown in report put together by Elmer Vliet.

    Doc 3156

    Record Type: Archive

    
47. Dorothy Vliet - An obituary for Dorothy Vliet. Dorothy was wife of Lake Bluff historian Elmer Vliet, and was a member of the Union Church of Lake Bluff and St. John's Lutheran Church in Libertyville. She was 85 at the time of her death.

    Dorothy Vliet

    Record Type: Archive

    
48. Drawings of Tabernacle Out House - Drawings of tabernacle out house by Elmer Vliet with women on the top floor and men on the bottom floor. Consists of two original drawings and 1 photo of drawing.

    Doc 360

    Record Type: Archive

    
49. Elmer & Dorothy Vliet in Parade - Photo of Elmer and Dorothy Vliet in the 1975 Lake Bluff Fourth of July Parade

    Elmer & Dorothy Vliet in Parade

    Record Type: Photo

    
50. Elmer, John, Lewis and Henry at Dedication - Two black and white photographs of Elmer Vliet, John Cloes Stedman, Lewis Steadman and Henry Spruth (left to right) at the 1975 Library Dedication.

    Elmer, John, Lewis and Henry at Dedication

    Record Type: Photo