This gallery captures moments from our 125th anniversary celebrations, alongside historic images that tell the story of the Village’s journey over the past century and a quarter.
Visit the Northbrook History Museum to explore even more!
Miss Campbell. Miss Campbell was a teacher at Maple School in the late 1800s. (Northbrook Historical Society)
Crossroads of America The advent of the railroad greatly enhanced the economics of the area. Farmers depended upon the rail service to transport beef cattle to the Union Stockyards in Chicago and cream to the creamery in Deerfield (Northbrook Historical Society)
Daniel Beaver. In 1896, Daniel Beaver was both the area's train station agent and the postmaster. In the above photo, he is standing on the east side of the railroad tracks. The Knochenmuss store is in the background. (Northbrook Historical Society)
Shermerville’s First Village President. Louis Voltz was elected the first president of Shermerville and served from December 23, 1901, until April 27, 1902.
Shermer Road Bridge Improvements. This photo shows improvements requested by Shermerville Village Trustees. The Board asked that bids be submitted for a railing across the bridge on Telegraph Road (Shermer Avenue) and for two gasoline lamps to be placed at the bridge. (Northbrook Historical Society)
Northbrook's Namesake. Northbrook is named for the usually tranquil West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River that runs through the center of town providing a glimpse back in time. The Village of Shermerville officially changed its name to Northbrook in 1923. (Courtesy of Kathleen Morgan).
Northbook's Namesake. Northbrook is named for the usually tranquil West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River that runs through the center of town providing a glimpse back in time. The Village of Shermerville officially changed its name to Northbrook in 1923. (Courtesy of Kathleen Morgan)
Village Hall History. Construction of the Village Hall in 1956. Built on the embankment next to Tower Rink skating pond, the lower level of the new municipal building was accessible from the rink and was used as a warming house for skaters for several years. Note that the ice pond extended into the area that eventually became Cherry Lane, the underpass and the area where the creek was diverted to the Cherry Lane bridge. (Northbrook Historical Society, courtesy of C.C. Oleson)
History on the Move. The Northbrook History Museum building, formerly the Bartleme’s Northfield Inn (built 1894), was moved in January 1975 from the corner of Waukegan and Shermer roads to its current location at 1776 Walters Avenue on the Village Green. (Northbrook Historical Society).