iUm. l^^v^x fr^ -fvvvu:^ |e^U^^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FOREST PRE OF COOK col 000 911 608 4 ( Owned and_ ControlleL ,,^ tnc FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS COMMISSIONERS FOREST PRESERVE PETER REINBERG, President TOM MURRAY SOBERT W. McKINLAY BARTLEY BURG GEORGE A. MILLER WILLIAM BUSSE ALBERT NOWAK JOSEPH CAROLAN DUDLEY D. PIERSON JOSEPH M. FITZGERALD PETER REINBERG CHARLES N. GOODNOW DANIEL RYAN WILLIAM H. MACLEAN EMMETT WHEALAN FRANK J. WILSON COOK COUNTY IN 1818 WHERE THE PRESERVES ARE LOCATED HOW TO REACH THEM 5 54 dohes&y & Co., fqanters, 127 N. Wells St. THE FOREST PRESERVES IN THEIR SPRINGTIME SPLENDOR BECKON TO YOU Citizens of Cook County: Cook County's chain of forest preserves — more than 15,000 acres of picturesque woodland, with its lakes, rivers, hills and trails all easily accessible — consti- tutes a great public playground completely encircling the City of Chicago. Wherever you may live, it is only a step into this realm of natural beauties. Street cars and railway trains, both steam and elec- tric, take you into the very heart of this forest zone, where you may roam at will. Concrete roads, equal to the city's boulevards, lead to, through and around these tracts with the endless attractions. Within the preserves will be found winding trails leading to athletic fields, parking places, picnicking spots and no end of points of historical interest. And wherever possible improvements have been made to increase the usefulness of the grounds to the people. Drinking fountains, comfort stations and shelters are everywhere. Animal life and bird life remain undisturbed under the laws of the preserve district. The only restric- tions imposed upon visitors, who are welcome at all times, relate to the safety of the visitors themselves and to the conservation of the trees, the plants and the animal life. With the view to adding to the attractiveness of the preserves, the Board of Forest Preserve Commis- sioners has started plans for the establishment of the world's greatest zoological gardens and the world's greatest arboretum. In the zoo the public will find op- portunity for study of animal life. In the arboretum will be the same opportunity for study of tree and plant life. By the construction of bridges, concrete fords, roads and pathways through the forest, the Board has un- dertaken to solve the problem of the tourist within the woodland realm. How that was appreciated in the past year was shown by the number of visitors — a total of 1,500,000. - Special facilities are also provided for campers. Last year over 1,100 permits were issued to organiza- tions seeking to establish camps free from molestation. These permits are free of charge to the visiting organ- izations who desire the arrangements for special loca- tions on specified dates. lilvery preserve district has its recreational features, as well as its fields for natural research and historical pursuits. Golf links are being constructed as rap- idly as the demand grows, baseball diamonds are laid out in nearly every section, and tennis courts will eventually be available on each tract. For the motorist a delightful trip of a day, or days, is possible in Preserve territory without ever leaving the concrete roadways unless one is on adventure bent. In that case there are tempting trails, easily passable, striking into the heart of the woodland. Guide signs obviate the chance of a tourist's getting "lost in the jungle. ' ' Swimming, boating and fishing are all a part of this wonderful outdoor life in the Preserves. The concrete fords and dams built in the Desplaines and Chicago Rivers have been the means of backing up the water and providing unexcelled bathing beaches. The Des- plaines has long been noted for "good fishing" and scientific stocking is making it better. Fish ladders are a feature of all the dams. What will be of equal interest to the citizenship of the County is the fact that these vast stretches of for- est land have been acquired at a minimum of cost. Practically every cent levied for forest preserve pur- poses has been actually invested in w^oodland at a rea- sonable purchase price. Members of the County Board, acting as Forest Preserve Commissioners without extra compensation, have established this district with a policy of paying an honest price aiid not one cent more for the desir- 3 Z^^-0-— «s«®r u H I/) A M > u H H O H a: o J" M •u ao G iJ o 1 H h ^ z uJ I a 1- 3 IT <( J a < X UJ Of ^3jyi^ » Q Hi U Q 5 ft; ^ K a. a < < uJ u tt K fe a < < u S > o able tracts. Wherever owners have been unreasonable in their demands condemnation proceedings have been instituted. This string of forests, forming a great outer park belt for Chicago and Cook County, happily includes virtually all the territory which figured so prominently in the County's early history. A hundred years ago this playground of today was the battlefield of the savage redskin. In the Palos Hills are the ruins of French forts esFablished in the days when the French explorers and their soldiers were contesting with the Indians. Throughout the Desplaines Eiver Valley is found the abundant evidence of the reign of the red man. Ruins of villages are there for your inspection. The portages between the rivers used by the Indians and the fur traders have left their marks. Not a single tract in the Forest Preserve District is without its part in history which adds to the fascination the wooded tracts ordinarily have for the recreation seeker. Remarkable as it may appear to you, Cook County forests standing at Chicago's ''back door" constitute a national attraction yet to be recognized locally. While Chicagoans are dreaming of the redwood for- ests of California and the pine forests of Maine, artists are coming afar to make nature studies here in Cook County. In the southern end of the county the ''home tour- ist" will find tlie far-famed Palos Hills, the incom- parable Sag Timber, much of which is yet to be ex- plored; the beautiful Beverly Hills, where the Indians maintained a signal tower; the Sauk Trail district at Chicago Heights; the junction of the Dixie and Lincoln Highways; the Thornton-Glenwood Tract, with the celebrated Marinuka Springs, and the State Line dis- trict. In the west lies the Salt Creek valley, covered with timber such as is found nowhere else in the country, the Portage preserve marking the spot where Indians 7 and French voyageurs launched their canoes in the waters' of the Desplaines, the Riverside woods, the Marquette woods, supposedly the summit of the county, and the wonderful Thatcher Woods, long a rendezvous for picnickers and students of nature. The northwest has real beauty spots, also. Deer Grove, with its superb lake, its deer preserves, its camping facilities and 1,150 acres of hilly woodland, has been an attraction for years. Elk Grove presents 1,600 acres of forest in its natural state. The Des- plaines Eiver valley is still just what is was in the days when the Pottawatomie Indians chose it as their home — the ' ' realm of beautiful country. ' ' To the north of the City of Chicago is the equally beautiful Chicago Eiver valley — the north branch. There visitors find the old haunts of the Indians and French explorers and missionaries. There also is found the public golf links, the vast fields of wild flowers and the favorite picnicking spots. Still fur- ther north is tlie picturesque Skokie valley and tito historically famous Turnbull Tract. For the lover of nature the Preserves with their ever- changing aspects and views, their various trees, shrubs, fl^owers and animal life will be found a source of genuine pleasure and instruction. To those with weakened bodies and unstrung nerves, the ozone-laden air and quietude of the forests will restore that vigor of body and tranquility of mind so necessary to the full enjoyment of life. But the acquisition of this wonderful outer park belt, insuring as it does the preservation of the county's wooded territory for present and future gen- erations, does not of itself constitute full realization of the Forest Preserve idea. That comes only when the mass of the people are educated to utilization of these outdoor facilities for recreation. While the Board is proud of the record of 1,500,000 visitors for last year, a total of 5,000,000 visitors dur- ing the year of 1920 would be closer to public recog- nition of the attractions of the preserves. Then would the great masses of the people reap the full benefits 8 which were in the minds of the Illinois legislators when the Forest Preserve Act was passed. It is with this in mind that the Board is issuing this pamphlet, hoping that it will serve to awaken public interest in the preserves to the extent that the people will take the attached guide with maps and spend their Sundays, holidays and vacations in this "wonder coun- try^' right^t home. ^^A^\Cj Eespectfully, O ^ \!^ ■ PETER REINBERG, President of the Board of Forest Preserve Commis- sioners. FACTS ABOUT FOREST PRESERVES DEER GROVE (Northwest) — 1,150 Acres What to See There — Miles and miles of hilly, wooded land, carpeted with flowers and shrubs of every known variety and serving as the refuge for all species of bird and animal life common to the north- west section of the country. An 850-acre deer preserve, giving visitors an opportunity for study of this animal in its truly natural life. This pre- serve also boasts a flock of 500 sheep purchased by the Dis- trict in answer to the recent war-time appeal for production of wool. A 25-acre artificial lake, a refuge for water fowl and ani- mals, a delight to the fisherman as a result of the scientific stocking, and an ideal spot for those interested in boating and water sports. Camp Reinberg, with its athletic fields, baseball diamonds and big shelter houses supplied with running water from the springs which are found, invariably improved, in all sections of the forest. How to Get There — By automobile from Chicago, take Milwaukee Avenue to Ballard Road in Maine Township, to Rand Road, to Dundee Road, to Quinten's Corner Road, which turns north, penetrat- ing and skirting the preserve and connecting with well-beaten old trails which lead to scores of picturesque spots. All im- proved roads. By rail, take Chicago & Northwestern Railroad to Palatine, thence via Palatine, Lake Zurich and Waucanda Railroad, which stops within the preserve at Camp Reinberg (old Deer e-rove Park, where thousands of poor children get annual out- ings ) . (Note — The preserve caretaker lives at the junction of the Dundee and the Lake Zurich roads.) 9 ELK GROVE (Northwest)— 1,600 Acres How to Get There — By automobile take Milwaukee Avenue to Higgins Road, thence west and northwest direct into preserve. By rail take Chicago & Northwestern Railroad to Arlington Heights, thence direct south on highAvay that leads to preserve. What to See There — 1,600 acres of virgin timber land that stands exactly as it did in the pre-historic and Indian days when it constituted a hunting ground that brought the redskins from hundreds of miles around in their canoes. Hardwood tiniber, which naturalists say is equaled nowhere in the country. Lily ponds which are a delight to city folk and nature lovers alike. Birds refuges that abound in every known specie of feathered animal. DESPLAINES RIVER VALLEY (West and Northwest) For over 21 miles this stretch of superb woodland skirts the shores of the Desplaines, running from North Avenue in Leyden Township to the northern county line. The Desplaines River Road, improved from end to end, provides a means of trans- portation to every section. How to Get to the Wheeling Tract or Pottawatomie Woods (667 acres at the northernmost end of the Preserve). How to Get There — By auomobile take Milwaukee Avenue, skirting preserve in Wheeling Township, via Dundee Road, which leads into pre-\ serve. By rail take Soo Line Railroad to Wheeling, within walking distance of choicest sections of the preserve, where picnickers congregate by thousands. What to See There — Old Grove Portage of Indian days to be marked by construc- tion of concrete roadbed in bottom of river for an automobile ford marked by iron uprights on which will run a foot bridge. Scene of reception given Father Marquette, French explorer, who surprised the Pottawatomie Indians here — the white man's first visit to Cook County, 1673. NOTE — As at other preserves, all popular picnic grounds have been equipped with shelters, drinking fountains and pub- lic conveniences. How to Get to Northwestern Grove (extending from the Town of Desplaines to Higgins Road). By automobile take Milwaukee Avenue to Ballard Road, thence direct into the village of Desplaines. To make the more picturesque river drive, take Washington Boulevard to Thatcher Avenue, north to River Grove, Grand Avenue west to River Road, which follows river north, the length of the preserve to the village of Desplaines. By rail take Chicago & Northwestern Railroad to the town of Desplaines. What to See There — A wonderfully improved park system established in_ one of the most picturesque tracts of natural forests that existed m 10 Cook County, including the old Senne Woods, which abound in historical lore. Old sites of a half dozen Indian villages. Th« Desplaines River Valley was the real home of the Pottawatomie Indians. NORTH BRANCH CHICAGO RIVER VALLEY (Including Forest Glen, Caldwell Reservation, Turnbull Woods, Injun Clark Woods and Glen view) How to Get There — To Forest Glen, by automobile north to Peterson Avenue, thence west on Peterson to Forest Glen Avenue. By street car, take any northbound car to Lawrence Avenue, transfer to North LeClaire (Fifty-first Avenue) to end of the line and walk north about three-fourths mile. By rail, take Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railroad to Forest Glen station, Avhich is on south line of the plreserve. To Caldwell Reservation, by auto and street car, take Mil- waukee Avenue car to end of the line. By rail, take Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad to Edgebrook station and then walk westerly about one mile. To Turnbull, by auto take Sheridan Road to county line, thence west about one-half mile, or Green Bay Road to county line, then east to preserve entrance. Green Bay Road skirts preserve. By rail, take Chicago & Northwestern Railroad to Braeside station or Chicago & North Shore Electric Railway to same station (county line) and walk west one-quarter mile. To Injun Clark woods by auto take Milwaukee Avenue to town of Wheeling, thence east on Dundee Road to preserve, one mile east of village of Schermerville, or take Milwaukee Avenue and Waukegan Road to Schermerville, then northeast one mile to the Dundee Road and the preserve, or take Sheridan Road to Glencoe, then west on the Wheeling Road to just west of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad (the Lake Bluff cut-off). By rail, take Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad to Schermer- ville and M^alk east about one mile to Dundee Road and the preserve. To Glenview, by auto take Milwaukee Avenue to north line of the village of Niles, thence north on the Chicago and Wau- kegan Road to point opposite Golf station, thence east through golf links to preserve, or take Milwaukee Avenue to Glenview Road, thence east to about one mile east of the village of Glen- view, or take Lincoln Avenue throiigh Niles Center to Harms Road to preserve, or Sheridan Road to Church Street, or Cen- tral Street, Evanston, or to Lake Street, Wilmette, and then west about four miles to Harms Road and the preserve, or take Broadway and turn northwest on Ridge Road to Church Street, Evanston, then west four miles to Harms Road to center of preserve. By rail take Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road to Golf station and then walk east about one mile on road through golf club to preserve, or take Chicago & Northwestern Railroad or Northwestern Elevated Lines to Central Street, Evanston ; take Central Street car to end of line, take trolley line to Glenview Golf Club and the preserves. What to See There — Forest Glen. Acres upon acres of timber land which was considered the beauty spot about Checaugau (Indian Chicago) in the days when Skokie Lake that is now Skokie swamp was 11 filled with the canoes of Indians bent upon trade, game or warfare. The woodland is interwoven with kettle valleys that were the delight of the red men. Caldwell Reservation. All forest land that was awarded to Billy Caldwell, the educated Indian chief Avho won govern- ment favors hy his services to the hard-pressed white settlers and soldiers in the Fort Dearborn massacre. The remnants of the original Caldwell home, still standing in the center of a section since grown into popularity as a haunt of picnickers. Turnbull. Still bearing the Turnbull homestead, established by one of Cook County's pioneers in the days when this and all other territory north of the Indian Boundary Line (present Rogers Avenue in Chicago) was acknowledged Indian territory. Borders on the Green Bay trail (Green Bay Road of today), the most heavily traveled ''road to the north" of Indian days. Within a half mile of the lake and an ideal recreation spot. Injun Clark Woods. Another favorite Indian haunt and hunting ground, still bearing marks of the mode of living of the aborigines. Here is to be found the sand ridge on which Albert Sclaarf says the red men loved to tarry to be "rocked to sleep with the roar and roaring of the storms of Lake Michigan." Glenview. The Cook County home of the wild canaries and virtually every known specie of song and game birds. Timber land such as Chicagoans would marvel over were they to see it in some far-off distant land and ground that has a bit of his- torical significance for every inch. THATCHER WOODS (West) How-to Get There — By automobile take Washington Boulevard west to Thatcher Avenue, then north to Chicago Avenue and the Thatcher Park preserve. By rail, take Chicago & Northwestern Railroad to River Forest. By street car, take either Madison Street or Lake Street cars (two fares required) or take Oak Park Ele- vated Road to western terminal (one fare), thence walk west to preserve. To Steele tract sailie route as preserves are adjoining. What to See There — Hundreds of acres of forest land, just beyond the city limits, that has long been recognized by scientists as Cook County's foremost specimen of virgin oak and maple forest. For years it has been recognized as a popular picnic grounds, thousands of Chicagoans having visited the grounds on Sundays. A!] public conveniences and shelter. Springs providing the piirest fortm of drinking water known are found on every side of the preserve. SALT CREEK VALLEY (Woodland covering both banks of this famous water- way of Indian days, running the Desplaines Eivor to the western county line.) How to Get There — By automobile, take Jackson Boulevard to Oak Park Avenue, thence south to Harrison Street, west on Harrison to Des- plaines Avenue, or Washington Boulevard to Desplaines Ave- 12 nue, south to Twelfth Street, west to Fifth Avenue, LaGrange, then south to Salt Creek. By rail, take Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad to Riverside or LaGrange, or take Twenty-second Street car to 46th Avenue, and thence by Chicago and LaGrange trolley to Salt Creek, or take Douglas Park Elevated to Austin Avenue and LaGrange trolley. To McCormick zoo tract, leave trolley at Forbes Road; to Portage preserve, transfer to Berwyn or Lyons trolley, getting off'at Desplaines River. What to See There — Timber land that is unexcelled anywhere in the world. The Salt Creek Valley has been characterized as the most pictures- que river valley in the country, artists coming from everywhere to study it. For a mile and a half the river runs in a north- erly course, the only place in the State of Illinois where water -runs north. The McCormick tract containing two picnic groves that have long been popular, now selected as the location for the "world's greatest zoological gardens" to be established by the Forest Preserve District. What has been styled the most natural golf course in the ., country, for improvement of which plans have already been laid. BEVERLY HILLS (The Beauty Spot of the South Side) How to Get There — By automobile, take Michigan Boulevard south to Garfield Boulevard, west to Western Avenue, south to Eighty-fifth Street, which is the north line of the preserve. By street car, take Ashland Avenue car to Eighty-seventh Street and walk west one-half mile to the eastern boundary line of the preserve. By rail, take Rock Island Railroad from LaSalle Street station to Beverly Hills station and walk one block west to preserve. What to See There — Starved Rock's only rival in Illinois, the promontory of solid rock tliat was utilized by the Indians as a lookout in the days when quick signaling was necessary to mobilize the redskin warriors against invading white men. Completely equipped picnic grounds that have been used for years. Picturesque scenerv such as found nowhere else in the county. PALOS HILLS AND SAG TIMBER (Southwest) Where seventeenth century history was made in Cook County. Over 7,000 acres extending along the Drainage Canal and back into the famous Sag District. How to Get There — Section 3 — Go south on Western Avenue to Ninety-fifth Street and west on Ninety-fifth to Keene Avenue. Paved roads all the way. Section 4 — Same road directions. By rail take Chicago & Joliet Electric Railway to Willow Springs, where the station is less than 300 feet from the entrance to the preserve. 13 Section 5 — Take Archer Avenue to Fairmount, either by automobile or street car. Sections 7 and 8 — Take Archer Avenue car to Maple Hill station, thence south on Maple Hill road about 500 feet. Section 9 — Go south on Western Avenue to Ninety-fifth Street, west on Ninety-fifth Street to road, one and a half miles west of pavement's end on Ninety-fifth, then one-half mile south. Sections 17 and 18 — South on "Western Avenue to Ninety- fifth Street, then west on Ninety-fifth to Keene Avenue, south on Keene Avenue to Bluff Road (107th Street), west on 107th Street to the preserve. Sections 21, 27 and 28 — South on Western Avenue to Ninety- fifth Street, west on Ninety-fifth to Keene Avenue, south on Keene Avenue to One Hundred and Nineteenth Street, west on One Hundred and Nineteenth one-half mile. Sections 22 and 23 — Same as directions for 21, but go east on One Hundred and Nineteenth Street three-fourths mile, then north one-quarter mile to Palos Springs a short distance east of the road. Lyons Township — Take Archer Avenue to Keene Avenue and south on Keene Avenue one-half mile. What to See There — Over 7,000 acres of the wildest and most picturesque forest land in the country, a tract in which naturalists and historians might well spend weeks. It is threaded with well beaten trails which follow the lines taken by the Indians and French set- tlers in the county's earliest days. Ruins of two French forts are to be found in the preserves and will soon bear identifying marks to be fixed by the Forest Preserve Commission. It was in these forests that Marquette took refuge from floods on his second trip into ' 'The Illinois." THORNTON - GLENWOOD TRACT (Including the celebrated Marinuka Springs) How to Get There — To Thornton by auto, take Michigan Boulevard south to Garfield Boulevard, west to Normal Boulevard, south to Mar- quette Road, west to Halsted Street, south to One Hundred and Forty-seventh Street, west to Center Avenue, Harvey; south to One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Street, east to Blue Island Road and south to Thornton. Preserve lies south of village and east of C. & E. I. Railroad. By street car, take Halsted Street car to Sixty-third Street Elevated Railroad station and take Crete Electric Line to Franklin depot and walk east one mile to Thornton. By rail, take Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad from Dear- born Street station to Thornton, station within walking dis- tance of preserve. To Glenwood, by auto same route as to Thornton, thence sovith one and one-half miles to preserve, which lies one-half mile west of village. By street car, same route as to Thornton, only continue on Crete Electric to Glenwood station and walk one mile east to preserve. By rail, take C. & E. I. Railroad from Dearborn Street sta- tion to Glenwood station and walk east to preserve. 14 What to See Theife — Picnic grounds set down in hundreds of acres of superior forests that have shown their popularity by the visits of hun- dreds of thousands even before the improvements made by the Forest Preserve Commission. The site that has been selected by historians as the site of the Battle of South Chi- cago, a battle of the Revolutionary War in which Americans and Indians were pitted against the British frpm Fort St. Joseph. SAUK TRAIL DISTRICT (At Chicago Heights, the junction of the Lincolii and Dixie Highways.) How to Get There — By automobile, take Michigan Boulevard south to Garfield Boulevard, west to Western Avenue, south on Western Avenue and Dixie Highway to South Chicago Heights, west along ''Sauk Trail'' road, one-half mile to preserve. By street car, take Halsted Street car to Sixty-third Street Elevated Railroad station and take Crete Electric Line to South Chicago Heights and walk one-half mile west along Sauk Trail Road to preserve. By rail, take Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad from Dear- born Street station to Chicago Heights, Crete Electric Line to South Chicago Heights and walk one-half mile west along Sauk Trail Road to preserve. What to Set There — The haunts of the old Sauk Indians, hundreds of acres of woodland embodying scenic effects not to be found anywhere else. Miles of forest connected by the city park of Chicago Heights, dotted with bodies of water and beautiful streams that are a delight to admirers of the handiwork of nature. Dozens of popular picnic spots. Most accessible of all Cook County's wooded tracts for motorists. 15 SB 483 .C75 fl5 1918a Copy 1 County of Cook :OUNTY COMMISSIONERS PETER REINBERG, President (JRRAY ROBERT W. McKINLAY BARTLJbY BURG GEORGE A. MILLER WILLIAM BUSSE ALBERT NOWAK JOSEPH CAROLAN DUDLEY D. PIERSON JOSEPH M. FITZGERALD PETER REINBERG CHARLES N. GOODNOW DANIEL RYAN WILLIAM H. MACLEAN EMMETT WHEALAN FRANK J. WILSON ROBERT M. SWEITZER, County Clerk COOK COUNTY IN 1918 The Cook County Commissioners by Virtue of Their Office Are Also Forest Preserve Commissioners