Melrose Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Historic Lake Street

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. Historic Lake Street Marker

Inscription. Indians traversed this path for about a thousand years to obtain salt at Vermillion River.

In 1832, General Winfield Scott's army and supply wagons went this way to fight Blackhawk's warriors.

Soon, pioneers came west by this well worn road. Stagecoaches came this way to and from the West.

Western cattlemen drove their herds through here to Eastern markets.

Pioneers founded Melrose here in 1873.

This was the route of the early 1900's famed Chicago-Elgin auto races.

Erected 1977 by Melrose Park Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Black Hawk War series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.

Location. 41° 53.652′ N, 87° 51.386′ W. Marker is in Melrose Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is at the intersection of Broadway Avenue and Rice Street, on the right when traveling north on Broadway Avenue. The marker is in front of the Melrose Public Library. Lake Street, subject of this marker, is about

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100 yards to the south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 801 Broadway Avenue, Melrose Park IL 60160, 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 walking distance of this marker: Kiddieland Amusement Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Casa Jalisco (approx. 0.2 miles away); San Giovanni Battista Scalabrini (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ralph "Babe" Serpico Field (approx. half a mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); First School Building in Melrose Park, Illinois (approx. 0.6 miles away); Veterans Park District (approx. 0.7 miles away); Joseph A. Maggio Baseball Field (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melrose Park.

Another

Historic Lake Street Marker and the Melrose Park Library image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 24, 2023

2. Historic Lake Street Marker and the Melrose Park Library

marker is no longer nearby. Major League Players from Proviso East (was approx. half a mile away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Melrose Park History.

Excerpt: "Indians and animals traveled through the Melrose Park area. Herds of buffalo meandered through to salt licks along the Vermillion River near what is now Danville. Indians traveled the route for a thousand years from the great Indian villages along the Fox and Rock rivers. They obtained salt for trading. The trail followed Lake Street from Addison to the DesPlaines River, continued diagonally to Cermak and the lakeshore, and turned south to the Vermillion River."

(Submitted on October 24, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 426 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 24, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.