Dundee Township Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Dundee Township Historic District is a set of sixty-five buildings in Dundee Township
, Kane County
Illinois
. Buildings in the district are found in East Dundee
, West Dundee
, and Carpentersville
. The district represents the development of the upper Fox River
Valley from 1870 to the 1920s. Dundee Township became an important industrial area, especially following the construction of the Dundee Brick Company in West Dundee and the Illinois Iron and Bolt Company in Carpentersville. Also included in the district are a variety of Queen Anne
, Italianate, and Greek Revival style houses and Gothic Revival churches. The majority of the historic district lies within the boundaries of West Dundee. It was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1975.
was first settled in 1834 by Jesse H. Newman. Shortly afterward, Newman's travel mate Joseph Russell erected his house on the east side of the Fox River
, effectively becoming the first settler of East Dundee
. Charles W. and Daniel G. Carpenter settled in what would become Carpentersville
in 1837. Both East and West Dundee were plat
ted in the early 1840s, and Carpentersville was platted in 1851. The Dundee Brick Company was an important early employer, starting in 1852. West Dundee was incorporated in 1867 and East Dundee followed four years later. The Illinois Iron and Bolt Company opened in Carpentersville in 1870. Dairy production became an important source of income for East and West Dundee in the 1870s. The period presently reflected in the historic district stretches from 1870 to the 1920s.
Most of the properties in the district are within the bounds of West Dundee. The Dundee Cemetery first saw use in 1841, though it did not officially become a cemetery until 1862. A Baptist church was built in 1865 on the corner of Fourth and Main Streets, which later was sold to the Methodist congregation. Union School was originally built by Richter & Morris in 1873, but was destroyed in a fire five years later. It was reconstructed that year in the same design, and is now used by School District #300. Several important commercial properties were established along Main Street starting in the 1870s, including the First National Bank, Dundee State Bank, the Cleveland Drug Store, and the Dundee House Hotel. The First Congregational Church was also built on this strip in 1902, as did the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in 1912. St. James Episcopal Church was built in 1904 to serve the local Episcopalian congregation. In 1909, West Dundee constructed its Village Hall based on plans by George F. Morris of Elgin
. St. Catherine's Catholic Church and School (1914, school added 1926) was an important church for Italian immigrants wishing to practice their faith while working for the Illinois Iron and Bolt Company.
In East Dundee, the Spring Mill was first built in 1837, though only one large black storage building remains. Most of the mill was demolished following financial troubles during The Great Depression. The Haeger Pottery Plant was built in 1871 for David H. Haeger. It initially provided bricks for Chicago
following The Great Chicago Fire and later produced art pottery. Immanuel Lutheran Church was built in 1886 to serve German immigrants. It had the largest membership in Dundee Township.
The Atlantic Flour Mills, built in 1846, are the oldest buildings in Carpentersville. The 1871 Illinois Iron and Bolt Company building was one of the major employers of the town. The Star Manufacturing Company was built in the early 1870s to make agricultural supplies and farm machinery. The Carpenter Store was built in 1877 and owned by the Carpenter family. Union Church Congregational and Parsonage was donated by Julius and Mary Carpenter and was built in 1884. Library Hall
was built in 1895 as a memorial to Julius Angelo Carpenter, and is individually listed on the National Register of Historical Places.
The earliest homes in the district express some Greek Revival influence. As the population of the valley increased in the 1880s, Italianate homes became a major architectural style. The other important style of homes in the district is Queen Anne
. There is one large Georgian Revival residence that was later converted into a bank. Most churches in the district are in the Gothic Revival style. The factories are Queen Anne and Renaissance Revival in design. Most buildings were built with locally-fired brick from the Dundee Brick Company, which is notable for its unusual yellow color. The Dundee Township Historic District was added to the National Register of Historical Places on March 7, 1975.
Dundee Township, Kane County, Illinois
Dundee Township occupies the square in the Northeast corner of Kane County, Illinois. It includes West and East Dundee, Carpentersville, Sleepy Hollow, Gilberts and portions of Elgin, Barrington Hills, Hoffman Estates, and Algonquin. It is divided by the Fox River.It is located at 42.111813 N,...
, Kane County
Kane County, Illinois
Kane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 515,269, which is an increase of 27.5% from 404,119 in 2000. Its county seat is Geneva, and its largest city is Aurora.- Geography :...
Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Buildings in the district are found in East Dundee
East Dundee, Illinois
East Dundee is a village in Kane County with a small section in Cook County. The population was 2,955 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Dundee is located at ....
, West Dundee
West Dundee, Illinois
West Dundee is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,975 as of July 2008.West Dundee lies across the Fox River from East Dundee and Carpentersville.-Geography:West Dundee is located at ....
, and Carpentersville
Carpentersville, Illinois
Carpentersville is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The population was 30,586 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Carpentersville is located at ....
. The district represents the development of the upper Fox River
Fox River (Illinois River tributary)
The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near...
Valley from 1870 to the 1920s. Dundee Township became an important industrial area, especially following the construction of the Dundee Brick Company in West Dundee and the Illinois Iron and Bolt Company in Carpentersville. Also included in the district are a variety of Queen Anne
Queen Anne Style architecture (United States)
In America, the Queen Anne style of architecture, furniture and decorative arts was popular in the United States from 1880 to 1910. In American usage "Queen Anne" is loosely used of a wide range of picturesque buildings with "free Renaissance" details rather than of a specific formulaic style in...
, Italianate, and Greek Revival style houses and Gothic Revival churches. The majority of the historic district lies within the boundaries of West Dundee. It was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1975.
History
West DundeeWest Dundee, Illinois
West Dundee is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,975 as of July 2008.West Dundee lies across the Fox River from East Dundee and Carpentersville.-Geography:West Dundee is located at ....
was first settled in 1834 by Jesse H. Newman. Shortly afterward, Newman's travel mate Joseph Russell erected his house on the east side of the Fox River
Fox River (Illinois River tributary)
The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near...
, effectively becoming the first settler of East Dundee
East Dundee, Illinois
East Dundee is a village in Kane County with a small section in Cook County. The population was 2,955 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Dundee is located at ....
. Charles W. and Daniel G. Carpenter settled in what would become Carpentersville
Carpentersville, Illinois
Carpentersville is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The population was 30,586 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Carpentersville is located at ....
in 1837. Both East and West Dundee were plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted in the early 1840s, and Carpentersville was platted in 1851. The Dundee Brick Company was an important early employer, starting in 1852. West Dundee was incorporated in 1867 and East Dundee followed four years later. The Illinois Iron and Bolt Company opened in Carpentersville in 1870. Dairy production became an important source of income for East and West Dundee in the 1870s. The period presently reflected in the historic district stretches from 1870 to the 1920s.
Most of the properties in the district are within the bounds of West Dundee. The Dundee Cemetery first saw use in 1841, though it did not officially become a cemetery until 1862. A Baptist church was built in 1865 on the corner of Fourth and Main Streets, which later was sold to the Methodist congregation. Union School was originally built by Richter & Morris in 1873, but was destroyed in a fire five years later. It was reconstructed that year in the same design, and is now used by School District #300. Several important commercial properties were established along Main Street starting in the 1870s, including the First National Bank, Dundee State Bank, the Cleveland Drug Store, and the Dundee House Hotel. The First Congregational Church was also built on this strip in 1902, as did the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in 1912. St. James Episcopal Church was built in 1904 to serve the local Episcopalian congregation. In 1909, West Dundee constructed its Village Hall based on plans by George F. Morris of Elgin
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
. St. Catherine's Catholic Church and School (1914, school added 1926) was an important church for Italian immigrants wishing to practice their faith while working for the Illinois Iron and Bolt Company.
In East Dundee, the Spring Mill was first built in 1837, though only one large black storage building remains. Most of the mill was demolished following financial troubles during The Great Depression. The Haeger Pottery Plant was built in 1871 for David H. Haeger. It initially provided bricks for Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
following The Great Chicago Fire and later produced art pottery. Immanuel Lutheran Church was built in 1886 to serve German immigrants. It had the largest membership in Dundee Township.
The Atlantic Flour Mills, built in 1846, are the oldest buildings in Carpentersville. The 1871 Illinois Iron and Bolt Company building was one of the major employers of the town. The Star Manufacturing Company was built in the early 1870s to make agricultural supplies and farm machinery. The Carpenter Store was built in 1877 and owned by the Carpenter family. Union Church Congregational and Parsonage was donated by Julius and Mary Carpenter and was built in 1884. Library Hall
Library Hall
Library Hall in Carpentersville, Illinois, also known as Administration Building, Dundee Township Park District, is a Romanesque architecture style building built during 1895-1897....
was built in 1895 as a memorial to Julius Angelo Carpenter, and is individually listed on the National Register of Historical Places.
The earliest homes in the district express some Greek Revival influence. As the population of the valley increased in the 1880s, Italianate homes became a major architectural style. The other important style of homes in the district is Queen Anne
Queen Anne Style architecture (United States)
In America, the Queen Anne style of architecture, furniture and decorative arts was popular in the United States from 1880 to 1910. In American usage "Queen Anne" is loosely used of a wide range of picturesque buildings with "free Renaissance" details rather than of a specific formulaic style in...
. There is one large Georgian Revival residence that was later converted into a bank. Most churches in the district are in the Gothic Revival style. The factories are Queen Anne and Renaissance Revival in design. Most buildings were built with locally-fired brick from the Dundee Brick Company, which is notable for its unusual yellow color. The Dundee Township Historic District was added to the National Register of Historical Places on March 7, 1975.