October Dates in Wheaton's History

Wheaton IL

29 September, 2021

8:04 PM

Description

October October 1, 1874Gary-Wheaton Bank was founded by Jesse Wheaton, Erastus Gary, and Elbert Gary October 4, 1976Death of Graeme Stewart, Wheaton real estate developer and Mid-Century Modern builder. In the late 40's and early 50's, Stewart hit upon the idea of creating a home plan that served young families but would be different than the "cookie cutter" ranches of the era. Stewart is buried with his wife, Ruth Cook Stewart, in Wheaton Cemetery. October 7, 1918Death of Winston Morton at Camp Grant, Rockford, IL; Cause of death: influenza pneumonia. Winston, born in Kentucky but working in Wheaton as a barber's porter, died while in training at Camp Grant. He was the only African American soldier from Wheaton who died in WWI. October 8, 1846Birth of Judge Elbert Henry Gary, Wheaton leader; co-founder (with his uncle, Jesse Wheaton) of the Gary-Wheaton Bank; served two terms as a Du Page County judge 1882 to 1890; lawyer; president of US Steel Corporation; namesake of Gary, Indiana. October 13-15, 1940Wheaton celebrated Frontier Days on Front Street. The storefronts were transformed to look like the Wild West. Men participated in a beard-growing contest, and the town's people dressed in Frontier clothing. Stage Coach rides were offered and Buffalo burgers were served. October 18, 1924Red Grange, graduate of Wheaton High School, leaves Wheaton to attend the University of Illinois. While playing in the football game against the University of Michigan Red Grange scores four touchdowns within the first twelve minutes of the game. The next year Red Grange joined the Chicago Bears. "In 2008 he was named the best college football player of all time by ESPN and in 2011, he was named the Greatest Big Ten Icon by the Big Ten Network" October 1890 John Quincy Adams, a distant cousin of the former president of the same name, financed the construction of the Adams Memorial Library to honor his wife, Marilla who had died of tuberculosis. The construction was completed and the library was dedicated the following year October 1912The new brick Aurora, Elgin and Chicago Railway station opens at Main and Liberty. It replaced an outgrown wooden station built ten years earlier and was called "one of the best provided by any interurban line in the United States." The station served Wheaton riders until the electric railroad ended service in 1957. It was demolished in 1966 and replaced with a parking lot. October 2001 Mawi Asgedom, Ethiopian refugee, author, and motivational speaker, resettled in Wheaton by World Relief, appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show along with other immigrants who told their stories about why they came to America These dates were provided by the City of Wheaton Historic Commission. If you have any comments, corrections or additions to the list, please contact us at:[email protected]. Thank you!