Related Records

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   Two Village Hall first annual Christmas ornaments

   Record Type: Object

   
2. A photo showing the exterior of village hall 40 East Center Avenue, and the almost completed board room addition. Village Hall was built in 1904 and designed by architect Webster Tomlinson. The tower was designed to handle the canvas hoses used by fire department. The tower, used to dry the hoses in the early days, was removed in 1935 and replace during Lake Bluff's Centennial year, 1995. Village Hall at one time also housed the jail. Village Hall was built with $6,500 received from railroad contracts,on land donated by village president Fred Cornish and his wife Alice Cornish.

   Village hall board room under construciton

   Record Type: Photo

   
3. Photo of Major Adam R. Wachs outside Village Hall. Wachs fought in the Spanish-American War and served as Lake Bluff's Village Superintendent from 1929 to 1947. Adam Wachs

   Major Adam R. Wachs

   Record Type: Photo

   
4. 1995 Centennial cornerstone description - A framed piece of paper 4.25" x 8", possibly an envelope,showing a drawing of the Village Hall. The brass plate says the paper was contained in a metal box that was found under the cornerstone of the Village Hall and recovered in the Centennial year of 1995. The paper, along with newspapers, documents, and artifacts, were contained in a metal box which was part of the 1905 time capsule that was under the cornerstone. The display case containing the items from the metal box, are on display in the first floor Vestibule of the Museum / Library building. Village Hall was built in 1904 and designed by architect Webster Tomlinson. The tower was designed to handle the canvas hoses used by fire department. The tower, used to dry the hoses in the early days, was removed in 1935 and replace during Lake Bluff's Centennial year, 1995. Built using $6,500 received from railroad contracts, on land donated by Fred Village Hall at one time also housed the jail.

   1995 Centennial cornerstone description

   Record Type: Archive

   
5. 1997 Comprehensive Plan - April 16, 1997 Draft - 1997 Comprehensive Plan - April 16, 1997 Draft Memorandum from Christopher A. Martin to Kent Street, the Village Administrator, with the following attached: - April 16, 1197 draft of the 1997 Comprehensive Plan - Suggested Changed by the Plan Commission or Trustee Mullenbach at the April 21, 1997 meeting - Draft cover designed by Plan Commission Member, Phil Ross

   Doc 2396

   Record Type: Archive

   
6. 502 E North Ave. - 502 East North Avenue Site of the old village hall building

   Record Type: Photo

   
7. 502 E North Ave. - 502 East North Avenue Site of the old village hall building

   Record Type: Photo

   
8. 502 E North Ave. - 502 East North Avenue Site of the old village hall building Demolished

   Record Type: Photo

   
9. 502 E North Ave. - 502 East North Avenue Site of the old village hall building Demolished

   Record Type: Photo

   
10. 502 E North Ave. - 502 East North Avenue Site of the old village hall building Demolished

    Record Type: Photo

    
11. Advertisement for Lake Bluff Election of April 17, 1945 - Advertisement for Lake Bluff Election of April 17, 1945 held at Village Hall and the Fire House. Asking constituents to vote for George M. Illich as Trustee.

    Doc 2562

    Record Type: Archive

    
12. Advertisement for Lake Bluff Elections on April 17, 1945 - Advertisement for Lake Bluff Elections on April 17, 1945 - Advertisement for George M. Illich running for Village Trustee.

    Doc 2563

    Record Type: Archive

    
13. Advertisement for Village Election - Advertisement for Village Election Discusses Progressive Party Candidates for Village President, Trustees, Village Clerk, and Police Magistrate.

    Doc 2561

    Record Type: Archive

    
14. Aerial view of Uptown Lake Bluff - Color photo of down town Lake Bluff showing Village Hall and beyond, taken from the water tower. Taken during the Winter showing snow on the ground. The Cornerstone for the building was laid February 7, 1905. The architect was Webster Tomlinson, the only partner of Frank Lloyd Wright ever had. The building was designed with space on the main floor for the Fire Dept., village clerk, the village marshall and 2 lock up cells. The Village Hall tower, equipped to pull up and dry 50 foot lengths of fire hose, was removed in the 1930s because it was falling apart, and replaced in 1995 during Lake Bluff's Centennial 40 East Center Avenue

    View from the water tower

    Record Type: Photo

    
15. An article from the Chicago Tribune July 26, 1988 about the two door companies on either side of Route 41 - An article from the Chicago Tribune July 26, 1988 about the two door companies on either side of Route 41 in Lake Bluff. Johnson Fire Proof Door Company, located in the Knauz Auto Park, installed metal doors for three new jail cells in Lake Bluff's Public Safety Building. The other door manufacturer, Crane Fulview Door Company, on the west side of Route 41, manufactured revolving doors for such places as the Sears Tower, McCormick Place in Chicago and the World Trade Center in New York.

    An article from the Chicago Tribune July 26, 1988 about the two door compan

    Record Type: Archive

    
16. An audio tape interview with Katherine Kuhlman - In 1983 Catherine Shively interviewed several longtime Lake Bluff residents using an audio tape recorder. This interview is with Katherine Kuhlman who came to Lake Bluff in 1941 and first lived at 544 Ravine Avenue.

    Record Type: Archive

    
17. Andersen Projects Future L.B. Costs - Xerox Copy of the Lake Forester article titled "Andersen Projects Future L.B. Costs" details the projected large expenditures over the next few years

    Newspaper Article

    Record Type: Archive

    
18. 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

    
19. A photo of village hall - A color photo of village hall, 40 East Center Avenue, with a large evergreen tree stands in front that has since been removed. Village Hall was built in 1904 and designed by architect Webster Tomlinson. The tower was designed to handle the canvas hoses used by fire department. The tower, used to dry the hoses in the early days, was removed in 1935 and replace during Lake Bluff's Centennial year, 1995. Village Hall at one time also housed the jail. Village Hall was built with $6,500 received from railroad contracts,on land donated by village president Fred Cornish and his wife Alice Cornish.

    A photo of village hall

    Record Type: Photo

    
20. Around the Bend on Center Ave Lake Bluff - Sepia photograph of Center Ave. with Village Hall and water pumping station. Center Ave is unpaved. The Cornerstone for the building was laid February 7, 1905. The architect was Webster Tomlinson, the only partner of Frank Lloyd Wright ever had. The building was designed with space on the main floor for the Fire Dept., village clerk, the village marshall and 2 lock up cells. The tower, equipped to pull up and dry 50 foot lengths of fire hose, was removed in the 1930s because it was falling apart, and replaced in 1995. 40 East Center Avenue

    Postcard #151 Around the Bend On Center Av., Lake Bluff

    Record Type: Photo

    
21. Art for the People - Becker, Heather

    2002

    Record Type: Library

    
22. A Salute to Heroes - This newsletter includes the history of how Lake Bluff got its police and fire departments.

    A Salute to Our Heroes

    Record Type: Archive

    
23. A Song of Lake Bluff - Lyrics to the song "A Song of Lake Bluff". This song was written and sung at a municipal celebration on New Year's Day, held at the Village Hall, on January 1, 1915. It can be sung to the tune of the Austrian National Hymn and was published in the Lake Bluff Chat.

    Doc 387

    Record Type: Archive

    
24. A Song of Lake Bluff - Several copies of "A Song of Lake Bluff," which first appeared in the Lake Bluff Chat in December 1914. Multiple unopened copies of a Vliet Museum newsletter including the song. Program for the Village Hall Tower dedication ceremony in 1995, which includes the singing of "A Song of Lake Bluff." Also includes excerpts from a poem, "Lake Bluff, 1894."

    A Song of Lake Bluff

    Record Type: Archive

    
25. At Home - A sepia postcard showing a front / side view of the Merchant block with the date May 2, 1906, and an inscription reading : At Home Mr. and Mrs. McNichols. Ernest McNichols was a pharmacist in Lake Bluff. Mrs. McNichols' name was Daisy; in the Museum's collection are many postcards signed by Daisy around this time and who might be Mrs. Daisy McNichols. In the background is Village Hall and the wood water tower

    At Home

    Record Type: Photo

    
26. Barney Rosenhagen - A Xerox article from a Louisiana newspaper showing an image Barney Rosenhagen, who was police chief at the time of the furnace murder. The caption reads : Barney Rosenhagen is the chief of police at Lake Bluff, Ill., where Miss Elfrieda Knaak claims she burned herself in the furnace of the village hall as a test of her love for Charles Hitchcock. Another Xerox article from a New York paper about Rosenhagen and Knaak entitled: Self - Tortured Teacher is Dead, describing the encounter between Hitchcock and Knaak in the hospital after Knaak was found in the village furnace. Source: Newspapers.com

    Barney Rosenhagen

    Record Type: Archive

    
27. Budget Will Cover Village Hall Rehab - Newspaper Article in the Chicago Tribune titled "Budget Will Cover Village Hall Rehab" approving a budget of $6.9 million to a program of capital improvements for the next fiscal year

    Newspaper Article

    Record Type: Archive

    
28. Camera Club Invitation - Invitation to attend the Lake Bluff Camera Club's get-together at the Village Hall. Lake Bluff residents are encouraged to attend for the social aspect, even if they do not have a camera. The Club will invite famous television and movie stars to come and pose so members can take their pictures.

    Camera Club Invitation

    Record Type: Archive

    
29. Carillon Tower Reconstruction, Village Hall, Lake Bluff, IL - Village Hall tower reconstruction diagrams, 1995

    Plan 7

    Record Type: Archive

    
30. Centennial Photo - Community photo taken for the Centennial Outside of Village Hall, Frame by Lawrence Framing and Autographs, photographer took picture in Cherry Picker

    Photo 7103

    Record Type: Photo

    
31. Center Ave. Lake Bluff ILL - Sepia postcard on heavy stock and embossed. One card has message and postmark 1909. Second card has Dr. Dewey's name and description "Center Ave. looking east " . The Cornerstone for the building was laid February 7, 1905. The architect was Webster Tomlinson, the only partner of Frank Lloyd Wright ever had. The building was designed with space on the main floor for the Fire Dept., village clerk, the village marshall and 2 lock up cells. The tower, equipped to pull up and dry 50 foot lengths of fire hose, was removed in the 1930s because it was falling apart, and replaced in 1995. 40 E Center Ave

    Postcard #132 Center Ave.

    Record Type: Photo

    
32. Charles Hitchcock - A 5.5 x 10 sepia photo of Charles Hitchcock. When the era of silent film began in Chicago prior to World War I in 1914, Hitchcock became a contract player of Essanay Studios, working alongside Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson, Wallace Berry and Charles X Bushman. While these actors went on to become Hollywood movie stars, whatever star Hitchcock may have been working toward fizzled. He became a night police deputy in Lake Bluff, where he is notoriously remembered for his connection to Elfrieda Knaak, a 29-year-old encyclopedia saleswoman from Deerfield who in 1928 was found badly burned in the furnace room of Lake Bluff Village Hall. She died several days later.

    Charles Hitchcock

    Record Type: Photo

    
33. Charles Hitchcock - Three Xerox articles about Charles Hitchcock An article dated November 29, 1928 : Barney Rosenhagen, police chief at the time of the Elfrieda Knaak furnace death, too ill to resume responsibilities after the Knaak incident. Lake Bluff police officer, Hitchcock was a suspect at the time and denied that he loved Knaak, who on her deathbed maintained her love for him was only spiritual. An article from the Lake Forester dated December 29, 1928 announcing Charles Hitchcock's resignation from the police force. Another article from the Lake Forester dated August 23, 1929, announcing that Charles and his son Raymond Hitchcock, aka Raymond Bacon, confessed to a burglary and posted bond.

    Charles Hitchcock

    Record Type: Archive

    
34. Charles Hitchcock impersonator - Fourteen pages from the University of Iowa archives showing various images of Charles Hitchcock and descriptions of his time in vaudeville Charles Hitchcock was an actor who traveled the national vaudeville circuit in the early 1900s and later performed in several silent films. He was also connected to Lake Bluff’s most gruesome unsolved mystery. When the era of silent film began in Chicago prior to World War I in 1914, Hitchcock became a contract player of Essanay Studios, working alongside Charlie Chaplin, Gloria Swanson, Wallace Berry and Charles X Bushman. While these actors went on to become Hollywood movie stars, whatever star Hitchcock may have been working toward fizzled. He became a night police deputy in Lake Bluff, where he is notoriously remembered for his connection to Elfrieda Knaak, a 29-year-old encyclopedia saleswoman from Deerfield who in 1928 was found badly burned in the furnace room of Lake Bluff Village Hall. She died several days later. Also, several pages showing land transfers between the Hitchcocks and others, including Charles mother Mary Hitchcock in 1907 and 1912

    Charles Hitchcock impersonator

    Record Type: Archive

    
35. Consider Fund Transfer For New Library - (1) Article detailing a brief history of the library and how the library will be moving from its location at 40 East Scranton Avenue to a new location, as the city is in talks with architects for a new building. (2) Article from the Lake Forester titled "Consider Fund Transfer For New Library". The article details if there is a possibility that the Village of Lake Bluff could transfer accumulated funds for construction for a new village library.

    Doc 234

    Record Type: Archive

    
36. Consultant Advises No New Village Hall - Newspaper article in which an architect recommends renovation instead of new Village Hall

    Doc 2197

    Record Type: Archive

    
37. Contract Between Modern Engineering and Construction Company and the Village of Lake Bluff - Contract Between Modern Engineering and Construction Company and the Village of Lake Bluff Contract specifies Engineers to be paid a sum of $1,440 for their work.

    Doc 2296

    Record Type: Archive

    
38. David Graf 'home free' in Lake Bluff - David Graf was the Village President of Lake Bluff and resided at 111 East Prospect Avenue A newspaper article clipped from the March 28th, 1985 News Voice about David Graf's transition from Village Trustee to Village President.

    David Graf

    Record Type: Archive

    
39. Elfrieda Knaack - Chicago Tribune photos of Elfrieda Knaak.

    Miss Elfrieda Knaack

    Record Type: Photo

    
40. Elfrieda Knaack Newspaper Articles - Seven Xerox newspaper articles found online covering the Elfrieda Knaak murder/suicide mystery. On October 30th, 1928, local school teacher, Elfrieda, was found with deadly burns in the basement of the Village Hall ( the former police station). Her case was ruled a love related suicide in which she burned each of her limbs in the Village Hall's furnace "for purity, for love" regarding her crush on Lake Bluff Police Officer Charles Hitchcock. However, to this day, many believe her suicide was actually a passion fueled murder. Before she passed away from her injuries, Elfrieda made multiple confusing statement's while in and out of consciousness. Some of her final statements reinforce the suicide claim and other statements reinforce the murder claim. These newspaper articles dive into this debate. Nude Woman Found Burned in Furnace - New York Times, October 31, 1928 Held Limbs In Fire, Burned Woman Says - New York Times, November 1, 1928 Frank Threw Me Down - Teacher - The Sheboygan Press, November 1, 1928 Thinks Letter Clue To Burning Mystery: Illinois Sheriff Believes Miss knaak Was Not Alone in Furnace Room - New York Times, November 14, 1928 Who Killed Elfrieda Knaak? - The Charleston Gazette, November 25, 1928 Furnace Death Case Recalled by Arrest - New York Times, August 14, 1929 Reopens Knaak Mystery- New York Times, August 15, 1929

    Elfieda Knaack Newspaper Articles

    Record Type: Archive

    
41. Elmer Vliet Notes - Handwritten notes by Elmer Vliet regarding Village Hall Renovation

    Doc 2229

    Record Type: Archive

    
42. Elmer Vliet Notes - Handwritten notes from Elmer Vliet regarding the Village Hall renovation

    Doc 2228

    Record Type: Archive

    
43. Fire station and public works - Fifty-six black and white photographs of the old fire station and public works building taken in 1982. Many interior photos of offices, storage, boiler and mechanical rooms; fire trucks, hoses, and a photo of Village Hall with a police car in the driveway. These are publicity photos taken by the village to raise awareness of the need for a new public safety building to house both police and fire departments which would replace the current fire station built in 1934. The police department had always been located on the east side of Village Hall since it was erected in 1905. The public safety building was completed in 1987.

    Record Type: Photo

    
44. Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette - Front page of the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. The headline reads : GRAF ZEPPLIN SAFE AT HOME. The bottom portion of the paper contains an article : STATE IS PROBING BURNING OF GIRL of Elfrieda Knaak who was found burned in the basement of Lake Bluff village hall.

    Record Type: Archive

    
45. Fresh Approach - Newspaper Article from Lake Forester showing the new remodeled Village Hall

    Doc 2240

    Record Type: Archive

    
46. From Years Past...In Our Town - Photocopied Newspaper Article by Doree Vissman that briefly mentions the history of Lake Buff Village Hall

    Doc 2193

    Record Type: Archive

    
47. Furnace room at Village Hall - Black and white photograph of the furnace room at Village Hall, circa 1970. The Cornerstone was laid February 7, 1905. The architect was Webster Tomlinson, the only partner of Frank Lloyd Wright ever had. The building was designed with space on the main floor for the Fire Dept., village clerk, the village marshall and 2 lock up cells. The tower, equipped to pull up and dry 50 foot lengths of fire hose, was removed in the 1930s because it was falling apart, and replaced in 1995. 40 East Center Avenue Village Hall was built with $6,500 received from railroad contracts,on land donated by village president Fred Cornish and his wife Alice Cornish.

    Record Type: Photo

    
48. Furnace room at Village Hall - Low angle black and white photograph of the furnace room at Village Hall, circa 1970 The Cornerstone was laid February 7, 1905. The architect was Webster Tomlinson, the only partner of Frank Lloyd Wright ever had. The building was designed with space on the main floor for the Fire Dept., village clerk, the village marshall and 2 lock up cells. The tower, equipped to pull up and dry 50 foot lengths of fire hose, was removed in the 1930s because it was falling apart, and replaced in 1995. 40 East Center Avenue Village Hall was built with $6,500 received from railroad contracts,on land donated by village president Fred Cornish and his wife Alice Cornish.

    Record Type: Photo

    
49. Gruesome Discovery Made in Village Hall Basement - Panel in Exhibit: Furnace Girl Panel lays out the story of Elfrieda Knaak and her gruesome death. The panel talks about the facts surrounding her first being found and then the story on how she came to be found in the Village Hall furnace room.

    Photo 3023

    Record Type: Photo

    
50. Invitation to the Official Opening of the Village Service Building - Official Opening and Public Inspection of the Village Service Building

    Doc 2230

    Record Type: Archive