“History and Development of Kenilworth” is a permanent exhibition at the Kenilworth Historical Society that was opened in 2021. This exhibition serves as a comprehensive introduction to the village’s rich history. In addition to detailed text panels with historical images, visitors will find interactive touchscreen displays for a hands-on approach to exploring local history.
Throughout history, railroads have always been important contributors towards the development and success of the communities. Kenilworth station was designed by Franklin Burnham in circa 1891 for the Chicago & North Western (C&NW) railroad which ran between Chicago and Milwaukee.
In the early 2000s Kenilworth Historical Society acquired a Large Soup Tureen from Charles Sears. It was given to Charles’ great-grandma, Helen Sears, wife of Joseph Sears by her aunt Martha Barry Paine. The tureen was brought from Russia, by Captain John Lambert probably in the 18th century.
For centuries soup tureens can be found in a variety of designs. The dish served as the centerpiece of the family’s table and was used to serve soup, stews, chowder, and broth. This white and blue elegant porcelain tureen has two handles and features flowers, landscapes, etc.
Here is an excerpt from the an 1890 brochure, which was produced by the Kenilworth Company to promote the attractive features of Kenilworth:
“The desire for a home in the country, with its pure air, quiet, green grass, forest shade, and all the comforts and delights of rural life, when such conditions can be combined with the conveniences of the city, becomes more and more urgent each year with the increase in traffic and manufacturing industries of our city, and the consequent din, smoke, impure air and disagreeable and unhealthy odors.”
Members of the Kenilworth Historical Society will receive a $10 discount on tickets!
In celebration of its centennial, the Kenilworth Historical Society is partnering with the Chicago Architecture Center to create a series of Kenilworth walking tours. Participants will view the earliest homes in Kenilworth and learn about residential architecture built between the 1890s and the 1920s by distinguished Chicago architects. Noted architects include George Washington Maher, Franklin Burnham, Joseph Lyman Silsbee, George Nimmons and John Van Bergen.
The tour will begin at the Kenilworth Train Station and conclude at the Kenilworth Historical Society. Tickets can be purchased on the Chicago Architecture Center’s website. Click here to purchase. Members of the Kenilworth Historical Society will receive a $10 discount on tickets. Please contact the Kenilworth Historical Society to receive the promo code to use when purchasing tickets.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events from the Kenilworth Historical Society!
Lecture –Myron Hunt: Wednesday, May 18 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Historian Kris Hartzell will speak about the architectMyron Hunt at the Kenilworth Assembly Hall. MyronHunt was a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright. In herpresentation, Hartzell will compare and contrast thecharacteristics of Hunt’s work with homes designed
by Wright in Kenilworth. Kris Hartzell is the Directorof Facilities, Visitor Services and Collections at theEvanston History Center.
Memorial Day Open House: Sunday, May 22
After Kenilworth’s Memorial Day parade, the KenilworthHistorical Society will be open to the public. Visitors cantour the exhibit space, including the new permanentexhibit on Kenilworth. There will be activities for thewhole family to enjoy!
Kenilworth Bingo: Monday, June 13 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Stop by the Kenilworth Assembly Hall to play a fewrounds of Kenilworth-themed Bingo during the ParkDistrict’s Monday Happy Hour. Participants will learn abit about Kenilworth’s history while playing on custom-made bingo boards featuring photographs from thecollections. Prizes will be awarded!
Kenilworth Walking Tour Series: Sunday, July 17; Friday, August 12; Sunday, September 4; Friday, October 7 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
In celebration of its centennial, the Kenilworth HistoricalSociety is partnering with the Chicago ArchitectureCenter to have a series of Kenilworth walking tours.Participants will view the earliest homes in Kenilworthand learn about residential architecture built between
the early-1890s and the mid-1920s by distinguishedChicago architects. Noted architects include: GeorgeWashington Maher, Franklin Burnham, Joseph LymanSilsbee, George Nimmons and John Van Bergen.
The tour will begin at the Kenilworth Train Station andconclude at the Kenilworth Historical Society.Tickets can be purchased on the Chicago ArchitectureCenter website. Members of the Kenilworth HistoricalSociety will receive a $10 discount on tickets. Please contact the Kenilworth Historical Society to receive thepromo code to use when purchasing tickets.
Let’s take a look back at Dorthy Sear’s diary from Nov. 7th 1918, as the First World War was coming to an end:
“The Germans are to cross the front line trenches at dawn today, to receive the armistice! These are great times… It is hard to believe every where we went people were exulting but later we heard that up to 2 o’clock the Armistice had not been signed. They say tho that they are celebrating wildly in Chicago… Can hardly wait for more news.”
Kenilworth Historical Society is celebrating 100 years of its mission to keep a history of the people and events of the village of Kenilworth, Illinois, to collect and preserve such material concerning the history of Kenilworth as may be of value to the people of the village and to disseminate historical information.
The first meeting was held on October 30, 1922 at the residence of Mrs. Helen Sears. Eighty-six Kenilworth residents were in attendance at the first meeting where presentations were given by both Helen Sears and Dr. Charles Smith, first secretary of the Kenilworth Company.
Over the next year the Kenilworth Historical Society will be hosting community events, sharing information from the History and Development of Kenilworth exhibit and much more! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram,Twitter and YouTube for upcoming details.
We would be happy to welcome new members, volunteers and board members. If you are interested in being part of the Kenilworth Historical Society, give us a call or email us.
The KHS is expanding the reach of the museum exhibits by adding more online content.
Our first online exhibit is a companion site to the 100 Years of Scouting museum exhibit from May – November 2019. This museum exhibit was made in collaboration with Kenilworth’s Troop 13 Scouts to commemorate their 100th anniversary in 2019. The new online exhibit explores the three different eras that defined Troop 13 throughout its long and rich history from 1919 to the present. Prior to the establishment of the Boy Scouts, there was the Kenilworth Cadets, which similarly acted as an organization for boys to learn skills like camping and self-discipline, but also military drills.
The Boy Scouts, or Scouting, officially began in 1908 in England after the publication of Robert Baden-Powell’s book, Scouting for Boys. Baden-Powell wrote this book as a nonmilitary field manual for a younger audience that also emphasized the importance of morality and good deeds. William Boyce, a Chicago publisher, brought this idea of Scouting back to the U.S. after a Boy Scout came to his aid when he was lost in a London fog. The Scout refused any sort of payment for doing a good deed. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was officially incorporated in 1910.
Explore our NEW online exhibit that gives new life and updates to our past museum exhibit, 100 Years of Scouting in Kenilworth.
Today, February 4th, 2021 marks the 125th anniversary of Kenilworth’s incorporation, also known as the quasquicentennial.
In order for Kenilworth to incorporate as a village, the state required a population of at least 300. In the Fall of 1895 the population was at 298, there was much anticipation as two families were expecting to give birth by the end of the year to bring the population to the required 300. In December of that year, John D Haslam was born, making him the 299th resident, followed shortly by Manierre B. Ware, the 300th resident of Kenilworth and son of Francis and Charles Ware.
Papers were promptly sent away and on February 4th, 1896 Kenilworth was officially incorporated as a village with James A. Culbertson as the first village president. At the time of its incorporating, Kenilworth only consisted of about 223 acres east of the railroad tracks. Kenilworth west of the tracks was annexed later throughout the 1920s.
The train station, Kenilworth Union Church’s chapel, as well as a handful of houses remain seemingly untouched from that time, 125 years ago.
The crossword puzzle on Kenilworth’s history can be solved by exploring our new website. Download, print and enjoy.
The village of Kenilworth has a rich history and our new website is a great place to start learning more about your village and your community’s history. Did you know that Kenilworth has the largest collection of buildings by George W. Maher, a contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright? Maher lived in Kenilworth and designed over 40 buildings and features between 1893 and 1926, most notably the Assembly Hall. He also fashioned the limestone pillars that mark the Sheridan Road entrances to the village and the town’s central fountain.
The Kenilworth Historical Society was founded through community action and continues to serve Kenilworth through the active support of community members. Our mission is supported everyday by volunteers and board members who help in the operation of KHS. We would not be here if it were not for the support of donors who contribute not only time, talent and financial support, but the objects which we preserve and care for in our collection. Contact the Kenilworth Historical Society to learn more about how you can help support the organization.
KHS Intern (Spring 2018), Becky Ramsey, created a word search of the street names found in Kenilworth. Download, print and enjoy.
Originally published in the Spring 2018 KHS Newsletter, this word search features Kenilworth street names. Most names come from place or characters in Sir Walter Scott’s book Kenilworth.
Founded in 1889, Joseph Sears possessed definite ideas about how a village should be planned. Streets were designed to maximize the availability of sunlight in each home, utilities were placed underground, no alleys or fences were permitted, construction standards were high, and there were large lots and paved streets. To maintain the country atmosphere, the plan required large lots and setbacks, tree plantings along roadways, and generous park lands. Mr. Sears donated much of his own property to achieve this goal. This planned community attracted widespread attention and was visited by many noted architects attending the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Noted architect Franklin Burnham joined The Kenilworth Company and designed Kenilworth Station and Kenilworth Union Church. Burnham also designed several homes for company members to display for potential residents.
The Kenilworth Historical Society archive holds extensive material on the founding and growth of Kenilworth and its key institutions. These materials provide incredible insight to the daily operations of the village and the community who calls it home.
KHS Curator, Joseph Gackstetter, created a word search of the variety of trees found in Colleen Kilner’s book “Kenilworth Tree Stories”. Download, print and enjoy.
In 1889, Joseph Sears planned a North Shore village where he purchased 223 acres of woodland, pasture, and wetlands located between Wilmette and Winnetka. Much of the land purchased was overgrown with wild blackberry bushes and covered with native oak, hickory, and butternut trees.
The Kenilworth Company built municipal features that protected the existing trees, making the village especially attractive to potential homeowners. Although Kenilworth lost many elms to Dutch Elm disease in the 1960s, other mature specimen trees remain outstanding landscape features.
Each year the Village of Kenilworth organizes an “Annual Parkway Tree Donation Program”. This program offers residents a variety of arborist-recommended trees for planting in the Village’s parkway. The program is a way to help keep Kenilworth’s neighborhoods safe and beautiful. The Parkway Tree Planting program is designed to replace trees in a way that is good forestry practice to help maintain our Urban Forest. Contact the Village if you would like to participate.
One of Alden’s many landscape portraits, signed “AF Brooks”
At the start of this year we acquired a collection of over 100 original oil paintings and watercolors by artist Alden Finney Brooks. The collection was purchased from Allen Bryant thanks to a generous donation by Margaret Caswell.
AF Brooks was born April 3rd, 1840 in West Williamsfield, Ohio. His father, Charles Brooks, served in the War of 1812 and both of AF Brooks’ grandfathers served in the American Revolutionary War. One of eight children, Alden was orphaned by the time he was fourteen years old. Later Alden went on to marry Ellen T. Woodworth, who he would have four children with. One of his children was Bessie, or Elizabeth Brooks, the eventual wife of renowned architect, George W. Maher.
During his youth, Alden joined a wagon train going to California and learned how to do surveying from a group of students from the University of Wisconsin. “Alden… could determine approximate distances by foot and on horseback.” Alden, already having an aptitude for art, did numerous sketches of the landscape, horses, and Native Americans during the trip. Eventually Alden’s skills as a surveyor led him to become a cartographer in the Army and would end up sketching the generals he came in contact with during his service.
This sketch of General George H. Thomas is part of a larger series of sketches Alden did of Union officials such as General Ulysses Grant, General John Rawlins, and Major General John M. Palmer (who went on to become the 15th governor of Illinois). Alden officially started his “career” as an artist, studying under Edwin White in New York City before moving to Chicago in the 1870s. In 1881, he studied in Paris under Carolus-Duran. Some of his works can be found at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Chicago Public Library, and now Kenilworth Historical Society. Alden died in Kenilworth, IL on June 13, 1932 at the age of 92.
To learn more, keep an eye out for our future exhibit featuring the highlights of Alden Finney Brooks and his daughter’s breathtaking art.
There is temporary parking near the us on the street and by the train station. See map.
Where is the bathroom?
We have bathrooms located on the west side of the building next to the Village offices.
Is the museum accessible to guests with disabilities?
There is a ramp on the Village east entrance at 419 Richmond Rd.
Who is Joseph Sears?
Joseph Sears was the founder of Kenilworth. He purchased 223.6 acres of land in 1889 that was to become Kenilworth. Sears and several of his associates formed The Kenilworth Company to execute his suburban dream. Joseph Sears possessed definite ideas about how a village should be planned. Streets were plated to maximize the availability of sunlight in each home, utilities were placed underground, no alleys or fences were permitted, construction standards were high, and there were large lots and paved streets. To maintain the country atmosphere, the plan required large lots and setbacks, tree plantings along roadways, and generous park lands. Mr. Sears donated much of his own property to achieve this goal.
When was Kenilworth founded?
Kenilworth was founded in 1889 when Joseph Sears purchased 223.6 acres of land consisting of several farms between the Chicago and North Western Railroad and Lake Michigan for $150,300. However, Kenilworth wasn’t incorporated as a village until 1896 when the population reached 300.
When was Joseph Sears School founded?
In 1904 Joseph Sears, the founder of Kenilworth, donated the land on which a three-room white frame school was to be erected. The school was later named after Joseph Sears in 1912 after his death.
The Kenilworth Cookbook Club is a group of women in the community that gather once a month to create a dish from a featured cookbook. Each month, we are invited into a neighbor’s home to feast and promote camaraderie among the community.
As I was looking through the Historical Society’s library researching old cookbooks written by Kenilworth residents for the Kenilworth Cookbook Club I came across; The Good Egg- 200 Recipes For Leftover Egg Whites or Egg Yolks.
The author is Loretta White. Her personal inscription in our book reads; “To my beloved hometown, Kenilworth where I lived from 1917 to 1938 and from 1943 to 1954.” The copyright is 1959 and it was published by Rand McNally & Company. According to an old newspaper article from the Naples Star (December 30, 1971) The Good Egg Cook Book was selected by LIFE magazine as one of the top ten cook books in 1962.
Loretta White, c. 1959, KHS
Our records tell us that Loretta first lived at 310 Richmond Road. Her parents were Thomas and Loretta White. From 1943 to 1954 she lived at 644 Abbotsford Road with her husband and son.
In the newspaper article Loretta reported that after “making beauty queen” at Northwestern University in the 30s she became a model for the John Powers Agency.
She married and eventually settled back again in Kenilworth. “There followed seven years of typical suburban living, driving my husband to the station, club meetings and then whoom!- the bomb fell. A famous movie star breezed in and out of town and with her blew my husband. Divorce followed and all I had in the world had gone except for my seven year old son, Peter.”
Loretta regrouped and worked in television in Chicago during the 50s, doing a daily half-hour cooking show with French chef Eddie Doucette. Following preparation of dishes there would be egg whites or egg yolks left over. Loretta began searching for dishes that included the leftovers. In the process she began writing the cookbook.
Her acting career later included numerous TV commercials, appearances on the Perry Como Show and Car 54, Where Are You. She appeared in the movie The Group, as Candice Bergen’s mother.
Getting back to The Good Egg Cook Book, hints were offered such as; “Do not keep beaten whites standing. Use them immediately or the foam will revert back to the original liquid state and the whites cannot be beaten again.”
I also spotted a recipe for using egg whites that sounds pretty special.
CINNAMON CANDY KISSES
4 egg whites 1 cup chopped nuts
pinch of salt ½ cup cinnamon candies
1 cup sugar
Beat egg whites and salt until dry. Add sugar and nuts. Then cinnamon candies. Drop on a greased and floured cookie sheet. Bake in a slow oven (325 degrees) for 25 minutes. Makes 60 kisses.
Loretta ended the book with the following message; “The most chic thing a woman can be today is a good cook.” How times have changed, thank goodness!
The KHS is very excited to announce the launch of our newly designed website. Visit us online at KenilworthHistory.org. After three months of hard work and dedication, we are delighted to officially announce the launch on March 18, 2020. We wanted to make the new website faster, easier to navigate, responsive and more user-friendly.
Among the new features the site contains integrated social media buttons for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to foster improved communication with KHS members and our North Shore community. We will be updating our content with exhibit information, historic photos, announcements, behind the scenes and local events. You can also sign up for our newsletter!
We would like to thank our amazing staff and members of the Kenilworth Historical Society who donated their time and energy to make this site what it is, and our web designer, Your Plan B Company, who have been a fantastic partner for us – we wholeheartedly recommend them!
Kenilworth Historical Society acquired this exquisite oil painting in 2017 of Kenilworth station made by Diana deMeuse, a resident of Kenilworth. Aesthetically a beautiful composition by itself the painting portrays a wintery scene with vibrant hues. The brilliant artwork amplifies the ambience of our front office and highlights the beauty of Kenilworth. KHS now has prints of the painting on notecards for purchase. Stop by our front desk during our open hours to send some to your friends and family.
Diana is an accomplished painter and a faculty at North Shore Art League. She is an experienced professional artist who has exhibited her artwork in many art shows. We are very grateful for her generous gift.
If you love North Shore history like we do, you should join the “I Love North Shore History” Facebook page to learn about all the events, exhibits, and fun facts shared with other history organizations throughout the North Shore!
Our Kenilworth Centennial Structures permanent exhibit is accessible online or at the Historical Society on our table display. Our previous wall display of Kenilworth’s centennial structures has been updated to a digital platform to allow for easier updating of information as structures reach the centennial mark, searchable information by street, date built, or architect, and additional information and photographs. The improved accessibility to information on Kenilworth’s centennial structures is a beneficial gateway to those conducting house histories.
On March 1, 1971 excavation began for the construction of the Stuart Memorial Building, home of the Kenilworth Historical Society and Village of Kenilworth.
The Kenilworth Travel Club was organized in 1895, just a year before the village was incorporated. The 28 members of the Travel Club met regularly in a member’s home to take an “imaginary journey” to a particular country. A condition of membership was to contribute a paper on an assigned topic. It held its last meeting in 1917 as the United States became more involved in WWI.
Exciting happenings at Kenilworth Historical Society! The remodel of the gallery and offices is complete and our new exhibits are installed! Stop in to see the new exhibit on architect/designer/artist Marion Mahony Griffin and our updated Kenilworth Centennial Homes exhibit!
Our tree is now up for the season thanks to the help of the Kenilworth Girl Scouts who decorated the tree. Take a look the next time you’re driving down Kenilworth Ave!
The tradition of a lighted Kenilworth Christmas Tree was first documented in 1908 with the lighting of a spruce tree near the fountain.
If you want to learn more about the many trees of Kenilworth, you can pick up a copy of “Kenilworth Tree Stories” from our gift shop!
Our Kenilworth Centennial Structures permanent exhibit is accessible online or at the Historical Society on our table display.
Our previous wall display of Kenilworth’s centennial structures has been updated to a digital platform to allow for easier updating of information as structures reach the centennial mark, searchable information by street, date built, or architect, and additional information and photographs. The improved accessibility to information on Kenilworth’s centennial structures is a beneficial gateway to those conducting house histories.
The new digital platform also includes an interactive map of Kenilworth showing the location of all centennial structures. Witness the growth of Kenilworth by using the sliding timeline to see new structures as they were built year by year! Meet us under the lamp post to illuminate your knowledge of Kenilworth’s centennial structures and be sure to ask what additional information we might have in our archives.
Kenilworth Centennial Structures is updated every year to track the new centennial structures. The exhibit will be getting an upgrade in the near future to a larger display as a part of our upcoming permanent exhibit on Kenilworth’s history.
When Joseph Sears founded Kenilworth in 1896, historians say, his vision was strictly residential. But no community develops without its business component, and Kenilworth was no exception, according to Kenilworth Historical Society curator Kyle Mathers.
That economic reality underpins “How Can I Help You; Business and Commerce in Kenilworth,” an exhibit the spotlights the village’s tiny business district.
KENILWORTH – The Kenilworth Historical Society and the North Shore Art League are hosting a Plein Air event in Kenilworth.
On Saturday, September 16 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Kenilworth Historical Society and North Shore Art League will be hosting a plein air painting event in the Village of Kenilworth. Plein air painting is about leaving the four walls of a studio behind and experiencing painting and drawing in the landscape. The beautiful buildings and streets of the Village will give artists many choices for creating their artworks. The front lawn of the Kenilworth Historical Society will be the meeting spot – tables and chairs will be available to all who register for this fun, one-day event.
In celebration of its centennial, the Kenilworth Historical Society is partnering with the Chicago Architecture Center to create a series of Kenilworth walking tours. Participants will view the earliest homes in Kenilworth and learn about residential architecture built between the 1890s and the 1920s by distinguished Chicago architects. Noted architects include George Washington Maher, Franklin Burnham, Joseph Lyman Silsbee, George Nimmons and John Van Bergen.
