Historic Maps Detail Grayslake's History

More than 175 years of Grayslake area history through maps are displayed in a new exhibit in the upper gallery of the .

The maps, mostly from the collection of the Grayslake Historical Society, trace the history of Lake County, Avon Township and the village of Grayslake from the frontier to the present. A dozen historical maps show how the development of roads, railroads and surveyors' tracts were used to form the communities in the Grayslake area.

The maps include:

• A map created by Albert F. Scharf in 1919 details Native American settlements and trails, as well as early communities and travel routes in Lake County's formative years. Hainesville Road roughly follows the route of the Muquonago trail in Avon Township.

• A survey diagram shows that townships in Illinois were six square miles and were divided into 36 sections of one square mile each. The diagram shows how these sections could be further subdivided. In the early years, land sold for about $1.25 an acre and 40 acres was the standard for most family farms.

• An 1840 map of Township 45 (Avon Township) includes an unidentified lake in sections 27 and 34. This lake, later named Gray's Lake for early area settler William Gray, inspired the name of the village, which was incorporated in 1895.

• An 1842 map of Avon Township bears the names of the area's original land patent holders. Early settlers such as the Rich, Hendee and Forvor families claimed the farmland and shaped the area's growth.

• In 1886, the Grays Lake subdivision was created. That was among the first steps toward the organization of Grayslake and the development of today's downtown, which occupies Section 26.

• Early roads in Avon Township in 1851 usually had the names of major landholders adjacent to the road or of the road's destination. For example: North-south roads: Antioch Road is now Fairfield Road; from Hainesville to Fox River Road is now Hainesville Road; Hendee Road is now Alleghany Road; Harvey Road is now Lake Street; and Fox River Road is now portions of Atkinson Road and Route 83. East-west roads: Avery Road is now Montville Road; Miltimore Road is now Rollins Road; Edwards Road is now Shorewood; Runihan (Renehan) Road is now Washington Street; Vandemark Road is now Center Street; and from Town Line to Hainesville is now part of Belvidere Road (Route 120) and Route 134.

• A map of Lake County on the eve of the Civil War. About 1,000 people lived and farmed in the portions of Avon and Fremont townships that eventually became Grayslake. The village of Hainesville provided basic amenities such as a general store and blacksmith shop.

• By 1873, the names of several Avon Township lakes were in flux. Gages Lake was identified as First Lake, Druce Lake as Second Lake, Chittenden Lake as Third Lake and Miltimore Lake as Fourth Lake. Some names stuck, others did not. Taylor's Lake is now known as Highland Lake.

• By 1957, the population of Grayslake was more than 3,700. Familiar landmarks included Grayslake Community High School (now Grayslake Central) and the Grayslake Gelatin Company.

• In 1988, the Grayslake Chamber of Commerce and Industry created a colorful map. A number of local businesses are fixtures in the Grayslake business community.

• The village of Grayslake celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in 1970 and three years later, a map recorded some of the community's historical milestones. Several familiar landmarks such as Jones Island, Memorial Park and the College of Lake County are noted on the map.

• A dozen years after Grayslake was incorporated, a 1907 Avon Township map shows the growth of the community, including a subdivision south of Belvidere Road.

The maps are on display in the upper gallery of the , 164 Hawley St., from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and during downtown Grayslake community events.

- Submitted by the Grayslake Historical Society.