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

Mills Estate Purchase

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025

1. Mills Estate Purchase Marker

Inscription. 1939 CE

The Park District of Oak Park purchases the estate

The population of Oak Park is around 60,000

Erected 2012 by Park District of Oak Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.

Location. 41° 53.067′ N, 87° 48.128′ W. Marker is in Oak Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on South Marion Street 0.1 miles south of Pleasant Street. The stone is a part of a labyrinth located on the western edge of Mills Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 217 Home Avenue, Oak Park IL 60302, 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: Pleasant Home Foundation

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(here, next to this marker); Herbert S. Mills (here, next to this marker); Mills Park Labyrinth (here, next to this marker); Village of Oak Park (here, next to this marker); Pleasant Home (here, next to this marker); The Kettlestrings (here, next to this marker); First European Settlers in Illinois (here, next to this marker); Potowatamie (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Park.

More about this marker. The stone is one of about 20 stone pavers in Mills Park that show the history of Oak Park from the dawn of the solar system through 2012. The pavers are part of a labyrinth embedded into the ground near the western entrance into Mills Park.

Regarding Mills Estate Purchase. Herbert and Leonie Mills acquired the Pleasant Home and its estate from the first owners, John and Mamie Farson, in 1910. In 1939, they sold the estate to the Park District of Oak Park, which renamed the park Mills Park.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. The Mills Park Labyrinth marker page includes a list of all 21 stones in the labyrinth in chronological order

Mills Park labyrinth image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025

2. Mills Park labyrinth

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025

3. Mills Park labyrinth

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 27, 2025

4. Mills Park labyrinth

A nearby historical marker says that the labyrinth's artistic style was inspired by the architect George W. Maher, who designed the Pleasant Home, located in this park.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 87 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3, 4. submitted on March 27, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.