Countryside in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
This was "Countryside"
Farms and Quarries
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 1, 2020
1. This was "Countryside" Marker
The Marx Brothers’ Chicken Farm
The Marx Brothers were a famous family comedy act from the early to mid 1900s. In 1917, they began chicken farming near here to avoid being drafted into World War I.
Groucho remembers…
When we first got the farm we got up every morning at 4 o’clock. After awhile we got up at 5, then 6, then 7, then 8 and then Chico discovered that LaGrange was near the Chicago Cubs ballpark. We didn’t farm anymore, but we made sure to catch the train to the ballpark…
Quarries and Route 66
The Route 66 roadbed from Chicago to Joliet was made of crushed limestone from quarries about a mile east of here. They have produced rock and aggregate since 1881.
Erected by Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Entertainment
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Location. 41° 46.614′ N, 87° 52.293′ W. Marker is in Countryside, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Joliet Road west of South LaGrange Road (U.S. 45), on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in front of Local 150 Conference Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6201 Joliet Rd, La Grange IL 60525, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: 1925 Erie "Type B" Steam Shovel (a few steps from this marker); Hodgkins Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Specialist John R. Sullivan (approx. one mile away); Memorial Park (approx. one mile away); John H. Brancato, Jr. (approx. 1.1 miles away); Last Camp Site of the Potawatomie Indians in Cook County (approx. 1.3 miles away); Veteran's Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); Santa Fe Prairie (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Countryside.
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 1, 2020
2. This was "Countryside" Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,754 times since then and 119 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 11, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
