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History

A Brief History of Mount Prospect

The Village of Mount Prospect has certainly grown from its earliest days as a farming community, yet it still works to preserve its rich heritage. The area that stands as current-day Mount Prospect was once entirely undeveloped, comprised of sweeping, wide-open spaces and prairie grasses. American Indian tribes roamed the land, and while many specifics remain unknown, it is noted that, by the 18th century, the Pottawatomie tribe inhabited the area.

Following the end of Black Hawk’s War and the 1833 treaty with the Pottawatomie—which ultimately ceded all land in the Chicago area for settlement—the region began to welcome its first settlers. The move westward from the east coast brought many to what is now Mount Prospect. These original settlers remained in the area for a short period of time, with many leaving by 1850 for varying reasons: to move farther west due to the lore of the Gold Rush in California, to relocate to coastal areas or to return home to New England.

As these settlers moved out, a flood of German immigrants moved in. The new pioneers immediately established a charming farming community, complete with a new church: Saint Johns Lutheran Church, built circa 1848.

It did not take long for the railroad to make its way through the area. By 1850, the German community began to evolve. Farmers easily traveled to neighboring towns in order to sell their goods, which led to a noticeable shift in the type of farming found here. Instead of just growing enough food to feed their families, local farmers branched out into commercial agriculture, providing goods such as dairy, onions, mushrooms and sugar beets.

The commercial farming business grew immensely with the establishment of a train station within the community. In 1874, a man by the name of Ezra Eggleston acquired the majority of the land that would later become downtown Mount Prospect and soon created a plan to construct a train station, establish a road system and divide the land into city blocks. Eggleston is also noted for bestowing the name Mount Prospect on the town—giving the name “Mount” for its location upon some of the county’s highest land, and “Prospect” to relay the feeling of opportunity.

Ezra Eggleston had little luck selling off the land he invested in with tide-turning events such as the Chicago Fire and the Great Depression occurring simultaneously. Not long after Eggleston left behind his dreams of developing Mount Prospect, people began opening shops and constructing homes, breathing new life into the sleepy town. Within five years (1880-1885), Mount Prospect opened its first store, blacksmith shop, tavern and post office. The developing community attracted more and more people, ultimately transforming into the Mount Prospect we know today.

By 1917, Mount Prospect, with a population of 300, chose to incorporate as a village. The population surged through the 1920s, and again following WWII and the baby boom era. Growth remained constant, and in the early 1960s, Mount Prospect began construction on the Midwest’s first indoor, air-conditioned mall: Randhurst. The development of the Kensington Business Center soon followed, with a major downtown redevelopment effort occurring in the 1990s and 2000s. Today, Mount Prospect is a dynamic suburban community with a residential population exceeding 56,000.

Mount Prospect Historical Society

A small group of active community members came together to form the Mount Prospect Historical Society in 1967—the same year Mount Prospect was celebrating its 50th anniversary as a village. At first, the Society housed its collection of artifacts in a small room within the old village hall. In 1976, the Society moved into the historic Saint John Lutheran schoolhouse, and by 1992, it found a permanent home in the recently restored 1906 Dietrich Friedrichs house, situated at the corner of Maple Avenue and Busse Street.The Mount Prospect Historical Society is recognized as one of the largest historical agencies in the northwest suburbs with a membership totaling around 900. The Historical Society maintains thousands of artifacts, photographs, files and printed material relating to the Mount Prospect community. Public displays of the Society’s historic materials are seen at both the Dietrich Friedrichs House Museum and the Mount Prospect Public Library.

In addition to the holdings, the Mount Prospect Historical Society hosts a number of entertaining and educational programming throughout the year. It also operates an award-winning historical Web resource available to the public, in addition to maintaining two other Web sites. A visit to the main site, www.mtphist.org, will link browsers with the Historical Society’s extensive sister site, www.mtphistory.org.

Protecting & Restoring Historical Gems in Mount Prospect

The Mount Prospect Historical Society maintains two historic structures in the community: Dietrich Friedrichs home and the original Central School.

Dietrich Friedrichs House Museum – The Friedrichs family, immigrants from Germany, constructed a two-story Victorian farmhouse in Mount Prospect in 1906. The Historical Society acquired the Friedrichs home in 1987, and, after five years, restored the structure to reflect the year 1917—the Village’s incorporation year. The house, which was the 13th home built in the community, opened to the public in 1992.

Long-time resident Bessie Friedrich Barnes, Dietrich’s daughter, grew up in the house and played an integral role in the establishment of the museum. Today, visitors are invited to browse through Dietrich Friedrichs House Museum, which features personal artifacts and furnishings depicting the lifestyle of the Friedrichs family in the early years of the 20th century.

The Original Central School – The Central School is an important part of preserving Mount Prospect’s past. The one-room schoolhouse was built in 1896 and, in addition to serving as Mount Prospect’s educational institution, it became a central gathering place among community members.

As Mount Prospect’s population increased, the community’s need for more educational space grew alongside. By 1927, the Village built Central Standard School and the original Central School remained open, serving many purposes over the next decade. It was used to house Mount Prospect’s first kindergarten, different civic and social groups, the library and the first movie screen.

By 1937, it was clear Central Standard School needed to expand to accommodate a ballooning population. The land the original Central School stood on was a necessary part of this planned expansion. Instead of demolishing the important community facility, Saint John’s Episcopal Church purchased the school and moved it to a new location in 1939. The schoolhouse became the new home of the parish through 1954.

While the school remained in the hands of the church, it was quickly deteriorating and faced demolition. Knowing the historic value of the Central School, the Mount Prospect Historical Society took on the arduous task of saving the decaying structure. After six years of fundraising, the Society acquired the deteriorating building in 2002 with the intention of restoration and relocation. In May of 2008, the Central School was successfully moved to the Mount Prospect Historical Society’s museum campus and is currently undergoing restoration.

According to Historical Society Executive Director Greg Peerbolte, the spring and summer of 2009 were very productive. “A new roof was put on the building courtesy of Peterson Roofing. The concrete and landscaping work were also completed and the building will also be handicapped accessible. Additionally, CNM Development of Des Plaines is coordinating the plans for asbestos abatement, interior demolition and exterior woodwork restoration.”

Upon completion, the historic schoolhouse will return to its roots as a center for education and community gathering. “In addition to restoring the school to its early appearance, complete with desks and potbelly stove, the building will also be used to display Historical Society and private collections, as well as an available meeting space for community organizations and private events,” said Peerbolte.

The Central School is more than just a schoolhouse; it has been a part of more than a century of growth and development in Mount Prospect. The project is still in need of public financial support. For more information, or to make a donation, visit www.yourcentralschool.org or call Executive Director Greg Peerbolte at (847) 392-9006.


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