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

The Story of This Land

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 26, 2012

1. The Story of This Land Marker

Inscription. In 1895, the year of Grayslake's incorporation, Charles F. Kuebker bought the land that encompasses Central Park from Charles Whitehead. He brought his wife and young son to Grayslake the following year. They tilled the soil and raised animals. In 1904 a canning factory was located directly south of the property. The factory purchased the farm in 1910 but it reverted back to the Kuebker family in 1914.

The younger Charles ventured into the business world when he purchased the Harley Darby milk route in 1925 and founded the Grayslake Dairy. In addition to the milk produced by the cows, housed on the farm, milk was purchased from nearby farms. Local men were hired to work in the processing plant and to deliver the milk. The milk, cream, and eggs were delivered to Grayslake housewives each day. The building in which the processing was done was a former bunkhouse of the closed canning factory. The dairy ceased operation about 1936, but the land continued to be a dairy farm.

The farm remained in the family until 1967 when it was sold to John Epstein of Grayslake Gelatin Company. The Grayslake Park District started Central

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Park when it acquired 14.67 acres of the farm in 1979. Forty more acres were purchased in 1991. The former farm also includes the library, the Middle School and the skate park.

Source: Charlotte K. Renehan

Erected by Grayslake Park Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.

Location. 42° 20.862′ N, 88° 2.34′ W. Marker is in Grayslake, Illinois, in Lake County. It is on Central Park 0.2 miles west of Library Lane, on the right when traveling west. 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.

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,

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 26, 2012

2. The Story of This Land 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 (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Andrew Church Bell (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. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named The Story of This Land (approx. 0.3 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.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 26, 2012

3. The Story of This Land Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,161 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 21, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.