Willow Street to the Quarry: The History of the 400 Block of Summit Street Elgin, Illinois 60120

Has passing by an old house ever piqued your interest? Have you ever wondered who built it? Or even who lived there? Were they new immigrants with hopes and dreams of a better future for their families? Or were they descendants of the early families?How did they provide for their family? What churches did they attend? Were they members of fraternal or service organizations?How much did a lot cost? How was it sold? Follow a “lot” for 150 plus years from the original land patent issued by the Federal Government in the 1840’s to a lot that a house now occupies. See how owners financed their “American Dream” from the simple handshake, to using third parties to back the loan, to more formal agreements with capitalists to the modern banking era.•Who was the first white child born in Kane County?•Who owned and published Elgin’s first German language newspaper?•Who brought home an Italian bride after World War II?•Who left Elgin and owned and operated a well-known women’s hat shop in Belvidere?•Who was Elgin’s first piano dealer?•Who served as a lieutenant in the Elgin Fire Department?•Who was one of the first airplane pilots in Elgin?•Which German immigrant was a merchant and served as a city alderman from 1875 - 1881?•Who brought McDonald’s to Elgin and how much did the first restaurant cost?•Who played for the Chicago White Sox and was co-owner of a landmark restaurant in Algonquin?•Who were the Danish immigrants who owned their house for almost 100 years?•Who was known as “the superintendent of the quarry”?•Which Italian immigrant owned and operated a greenhouse?•Who owned the roofing company on Hill Avenue?•Which famous capitalist died as a result of being run over by a runaway team of horses?•Who started a kindergarten at the Elgin Watch Factory?This work brings the two together to give an impression of a small piece of a larger urban area. Come explore a block of Elgin’s east side!