Grayslake in Lake County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Story of This Land

Photographed by Tom Blasius, June 15, 2026

1. The Story of This Land Marker

Inscription. The first canning factory in Grayslake opened on this land on Railroad Avenue in 1904. The Wisconsin Condensed Milk Company opened here in 1912 which was purchased by the Nestle Company in 1919. These two locations eventually became the home of the Grayslake Gelatin Company. Harry Epstein and Thomas Tennant formed the Grayslake Gelatin Company in 1922 by purchasing the milk processing buildings then owned by the Nestle Company. They had developed a process of making gelatin from pig skins. Pig skins were brought in by rail, primarily from the Union Stock Yards in Chicago. Gelatin was shipped out by rail to other compaines to be used in making pharmaceuticals, salads, ice cream, film, beer and more. The partnership ended in 1929 with Epstein maintaining the company, and the canning factory buildings were added to the gelatin operation in 1933. After Harry's death son John assumed control in 1953. In the fifties, pollution issues plagued the company. In 1971 the stock yards closed diminishing the supply of pig skins. The company stopped manufacturing gelatin in 1982 and packaged gelatin purchased elsewhere

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using the Grayslake Gelatin label. Grayslake Gelatin closed at this location but evolved into Great Lakes Gelatin in 1988 at another Grayslake location. The buildings have since been demolished but the smokestack remains to remind us of the whistle that called employees to work, firemen to fires and children to supper. Today the residents of Grayslake can enjoy recreational activites on the Gelatin Factory property now known as...Gelatin Park.

Erected by Grayslake Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.

Location. 42° 20.798′ N, 88° 2.349′ W. Marker is in Grayslake, Illinois, in Lake County. It is on Railroad Avenue 0.2 miles north of Center Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Grayslake IL 60030, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Grayslake Gelatin Company Smokestack image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Blasius, June 15, 2026

2. Grayslake Gelatin Company Smokestack

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named The Story of This Land (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); 164 Hawley (about 500 feet away); St. Andrew Church Bell (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named The Story of This Land (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named The Story of This Land (approx. ¼ mile away); The Story of this Land (approx. 0.4 miles away); General Dragoljub Mihailovich (approx. 4.6 miles away); Serbian Orthodox Monastery of St. Sava (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grayslake.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2026, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 19, 2026, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.