We have on our shelves a pair of very interesting books about Chicago's North shore. We are pleased to be able to stock great books about hyperlocal topics, from hometown writers!
The village of Glencoe has a proud history of early African American settlement. In recent years, however, this once thriving African American community has begun to disperse. Robert Sideman, a thirty-year Glencoe resident, relates this North Shore suburb's African American history through fond remembrances of Glencoe communities such as the St. Paul AME Church, as well as recounting the lives of prominent African Americans. At the same time, Sideman poses a difficult question: how can the village maintain its diverse heritage throughout changing times? "African Americans in Glencoe" reveals an uplifting history while challenging residents to embrace a past in danger of being lost.
In 1854, as the Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad Company made plans to lay track through the Green Bay Trail north of Chicago, builder Charles Peck subdivided the surrounding woods. His wife Sarah declared that they must name this land Winnetka, meaning a beautiful land in Native American. There is no proof that the word means a beautiful land in any language but all who visit Winnetka agree it is an apt description. Bordered by Lake Michigan and the lagoons and woods of the Cook County forest preserve, Winnetka is a town of well-tended lawns with vibrant spring tulips and daffodils giving way to summers leafy hostas. Its homes are found in historical registers, its shopping districts are charming and quaint, and its beaches and parks invite one to play hooky for an afternoon. Winnetka's residents are good neighbors, reaching out to one another in times of fun and times of tragedy, devoted to excellence in education and in their professional lives.
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