Jefferson Township

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Jefferson Township
Life Span: 1886-Present
Location: Jefferson Township boundaries were Devon (N), Austin/Harlem (W), North Ave (S), Western Ave (E)
Jefferson Park Neighborhood boundaries are Austin Ave, Chicago River, Railway, Elston Ave, Foster Ave, Edens Expy, Cicero Ave, Montrose Ave, Narraganset Ave, Nagle Ave, Bryn Mawr Ave, Northwest Hwy, Milwaukee Ave.
Architect: NA

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1899

Cook County Insane Asylum

Cook County Poor House

Jefferson Park School

William Penn Nixon School

Chicago Tribune, February 8, 1874

A NEW TOWN AND ITS WANTS.
The People ex rel. Stephen Pennoyer filed a petition for a mandamus against William P. Gray, Supervisor, and Frank Wolf, Assessor, of the Town of Jefferson. Pennoyer states that on the 3d of February, 1873, the Board of Commissioners of Cook County adopted a resolution declaring that a new town should be established in Cook County, to be called Norwood Park, containing Secs. 6, 7, and 10, and the west ½ of Secs. 5, 8, and 17, of Township 4, Range 13, and Secs. 1, 2, and 13, and the east ½ of Secs. 2, 11, and 14, of Township 40, Range 13. The town thereby became a corporate body, and was erected out of the towns of Leyden and Jefferson the sections and parts of sections, in T. 40, R. 13, being taken from Jefferson; the town Jefferson owns a Town Hall and other real estate, and also considerable personal property and money. At a town election in April last, petitioner was elected Supervisor and one Jessie Ball Assessor of Norwood Park, and the defendants were elected to the corresponding offices in Jefferson. On the 17th of May petitioner served a notice defendants, to meet on the 22d of May, and divide the property of Jefferson with the new town of Norwood Park. Gray and Wolf very obligingly met, but refused to share. Pennoyer states that present mode is the only one by which the Town of Norwood Park can have relief, and therefore asks that a mandamus may issue against said defendants to compel them to account. Leave was given to file a petition and have a summons issued.

Chicago Tribune, August 4, 1889

The Town of Jefferson, one of the acquisitions of Chicago by annexation, which now forms the Twenty-seventh Ward of the city, and that part of the Town of Cicero comprised in the Village of Moreland, which also came in, offer many attractions to visitors and present many features in their new municipal relations that are of deep interest to the taxpayers. The city secured more unoccupied land in Jefferson than in any other annexed suburb. The town is six miles square and sparsely settled, the population numbering about 15,000. Of the Town of Cicero, which formerly included Douglas, Garfield, and Humboldt Parks, that part which came in at the late election (the west half of the Village of Moreland) contains about 1,500 people, but there are also Brighton Park, Central Park, and Crawford, important towns having a large population, which came in a year ago last fall and stuck to Chicago, notwithstanding the informality of the election as declared by the Supreme Court. The older portions around the West Parks came in a good many years ago, and the population of that part of Chicago which was once contained within the classic precincts of Cicero now numbers its population by the thousands.

The Famous Snell Road.
The Snell toll road or the extension of Milwaukee avenue runs through the heart of Jefferson and continues on to the limits, nearly a mile beyond Park Centre. All that the people of Jefferson want now is the abolishment of this road and a supply of pure lake water. They are willing to forego any other improvements for a while if they can accomplish the two things nearest to their pocketbooks, their comfort and health. The cry of Cicero is also for water.

Jefferson contains the pretty and inviting Towns of Maplewood, Irving Park, Grayland Park, Jefferson Park, Mont Clare, Avondale, Forest Glen, Montrose, Elmira, Cragin, Deering, Hermosa, and Bowmanville. All are sightly residence towns, and most of them contain main village streets with shops and stores.

The sites of all are like a green oasis on a wide expanse of prairie. Huge trees of oak, ash, and maple overhang the streets: most of the lawns and spacious grounds contain beds of brilliant flowers and are inclosed with rich green hedges evenly trimmed and attractive. Many of the residences are quaint in design, and nearly all have some unique feature of architecture or there is some landscape idea worked out in the grounds that causes each pretty villa or town residence to contrast pleasantly with its neighbor’s. One of the handsomest places in Jefferson Park is the residence and grounds of Henry Wulff, the County Clerk, who, with his brother Robert, was among the first settlers in the village proper. Another residence that attracts attention, which is yet but a counterpart of many others, is the long, straggling white farmhouse and shaded grounds known as “Oak Grove” -the Snell homestead, where the founder of the noted toll road delved and toiled until he owned a large part of Jefferson and became a millionaire. Having now enlisted the services of the Mayor and City Law residents of Jefferson are in hopes Department that they can bring influence enough to bear upon the Legislature at its next session to have the charter of the road three gates on the road, one repealed. There are three gates on the road, one at Fullerton avenue—the late city limits—one in Jefferson Park, and one midway between. For years the farmers of almost the entire region northwest of the city and town residents who own conveyances and frequently drive to and from the city have been forced to pay tribute at these gates.

The Legend of the Gate.
All of the gates bear the following legend:

It is doubtful it any city in the country possesses such a reminder of early days and customs as Chicago has in the Snell toll road. It is simply a highway of rubble and gravel, sometimes not in the best of repair. There is a keeper at each gate who receives $30 per month, and can bring anybody who tries to “run the gate” to a sudden stop by simply letting down a strong wooden bar having a rope and pulley attachment. It was at the Fullerton avenue gate where the Mayor was forced to pay toll upon his visit to the new ward, and here also one of the police patrol wagons was stopped when on the way to quell a picnic disturbance. If a fire were to occur at night on Milwaukee avenue beyond Fullerton or in any of the annexed towns the engines would have to stop at the gates until the keepers could be aroused, or else use axes on the bars to cut their way through, for these bars are locked down with padlocks at night. If a man driving a single goat were to seek passage it is difficult to say how the change would be made for the one mill tariff, but notwithstanding this apparent financial difficulty the road allows nothing to escape, but flourishes and is profitable to its owners. It is also not plain how the arbitrarily-fixed fine of $25 could be collected, but possibly this is provided for in the charter, for the toll road magnates were popular at Springfield and always got what they asked for from the Legislature.

Jefferson’s Town Government.
The Jefferson Town Hall is at Grayland Park, on Milwaukee avenue, and the building is now decked in mourning for the late John Grav, an old settler and public spirited citizen who donated the town hall site to the village. The famous Board of Trustees, which furnished several County Commissioners and other county officers, used to meet in a building on Strong street in Jefferson Park, which is now used as an engine-house and “calaboose.” The fact that the latter contains no prisoners speaks well for the quiet character of the citizens. There was a village police force of sixteen men under Capt. Chris Kemmler. The men have been transferred to the Twenty-seventh Ward Precinct and Capt. Kemmler 1s retained in charge. The fire department was a volunteer one and the apparatus consisted of four chemical engines—one at Elmira, one at Bowmanville and two at Irving Park; one hand engine and hose-cart at Jefferson Park and a hose-cart at Jefferson. The water is secured from artesian wells, reservoirs, cisterns, and surface ponds, there being no water-works system or sewerage system in Jefferson. The sewerage is all by surface drainage, and Jefferson being sixty feet above lake level there is a free flow, the main drainage incline being southeast, the gutters running east and south and emptying into the North Branch. There is a main sewer known as the county sewer that can be utilized as the basis of a sewage system when the needs of Jefferson require it. This sewer is a nine-inch tile pipe extending from the Insane Asylum and Poorhouse along Irving Park avenue, a distance of five miles, to the North Branch at Graceland avenue. Sewer and gas extensions are already being made across the line, however, at Maplewood and other points. There are 500 oil lamps in Jefferson and the streets and roads are well maintained and in good condition. Having made but few expensive improvements Jefferson has no bonded debt.

The County Institutions.
The county institutions are just outside the new city line, and the united population of the Poor-house and Insane Asylum is nearly 2,000 people. The drainage of the institutions is good, the nine-inch sewer to the North Branch answering all purposes. They are not so well off for water, and there is great danger of a short supply in case of fire, although there are two artesian wells and several big reservoirs on the grounds and more extensive reservoirs on top of the buildings.

The expenses of maintaining the town government and making improvements nave been about $40,000 a year, but this year, on account of Maplewood having gone into the city last spring, the appropriation is but $33,000. The principal expenditures of Jefferson have been in the direction of and none of the other annexed suburbs have schools, better school-houses and educational facilities. There are sixteen school-houses in the town, including the splendid high school building at Montrose, all of them being handsome, first-class brick structures.

There is great complaint in Jefferson, and, indeed, in nearly all the suburbs about the lawless manner in which the railroads obstruct the streets with freight-trains. Park boulevard and Milwaukee avenue form Irving a triangle in the town, and both streets have been blockaded by freight-trains of the Chicago & Northwestern Road for hours at a time, making these main thoroughfares absolutely impassable for teams.

The Town Board.
Jefferson has a Town Board comprising an Assessor, Collector, Supervisor, Clerk, and and four Justices who still remain in this board together with those of the other annexed towns added to the of the three divisions of the original boards total of the city make up a total of seven Town Boards that will assess collect the taxes of Chicago. The Town Board of Cicero will have nothing to do with the taxes of Chicago for the reason.that the portion of Moreland annexed extending from Madison street to North avenue will be divided between the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Wards and thus become a part of the West Town. Cicero extended originally from North avenue to Thirty-ninth street, and contained six square miles. The annexed precincts of Brighton Park, which lies west of Bridgeport, Central Park, or the Northwestern car shops, and Crawford, have a heavy population. There are many stores and shops in Brighton Park and Central Park, the former having also extensive brickyards and a cotton mill. Crawford is principally a residence precinct and contains many tasty cottages and quite a large number of more pretentious homes of brick and stone, surrounded by spacious grounds and shaded by fine trees. The streets and highways are in the main in good condition, but Cicero, like Jefferson, needs first a supply of Lake Michigan water and next a sewerage system.

Chicago Tribune, July 15, 1900

Chicago Tribune, January 28, 1890

THE SNELL TOLL-ROAD.
Arguments Being Heard by Judge Shepard Regarding Its Use.
Arguments were made before Judge Shepard on a demurrer by the City of Chicago to the bill of the heirs of the late A. J. Snell, which seeks to prohibit the city from moving the toll-house and tollgate of the Snell toll-road, near the intersection of Milwaukee and Fullerton avenues. About a year ago persons claiming to be the owners of property on Milwaukee avenue petitioned the City Council to construct an apron over a large ditch, and represented that in order to do it the toll-road and tollgate would have to be moved.

The tall-road company was ordered by the resolution of the Coupcil to remove the obstruction, but the direction was not obeyed. Thereupon the Superintendent of Public Works threatened to move them by force. The Snell heirs went into court for an injunction, which was issued temporarily, and the matter now comes up for disposition.

Messrs. Robey Robinson appeared on behalf of the city and -ex-Judge Smith and Mr. Crawford for the Snell heirs. Mr. Robey’s position was that A. J. Snell never had any legal title to Milwaukee avenue for a toll-road or any other purpose. He said Milwaukee avenue, having now become part of the city, 1t was subject to municipal control and the city had a right to remove the obstruction.

Judge Smith contended that the right of the Snell heirs to a franchise could not be raised on a defense to a bill in chancery. It was necessary to resort to a quo warranto, and there had already been a decision upon that point by Judge Baker in the Snell heirs’ favor.

Mr. Crawford said that if the city had the right to move the toll-house and gate it had the right to deprive the Snell heirs of the road itself. It the city did this it would be confiscation of the most glaring sort. There was no law by which it could be done unless the heirs were compensated. The road is now paying dividends at the rate of 6 per cent on $150.000. A. J. Stone had offered to sell it to the city for $100,000, but the city’s only reply was to give instructions to its Law Department to fight the Snell heirs. The argument will be resumed today.

Chicago Tribune, May 3, 1890

A crowd of 200 indignant people living in the vicinity of the Snell toll-road went to the toll-gates in a body early this morning and, after warning the gatekeeper to take his effects and get out, set fire to the gates and guard-house and then danced with glee they were burned to the ground.

It was shortly after midnight when the mob appeared at the guard-house in front of the gate at Fullerton and Milwaukee avenues. Ed Smith, the gatekeeper, was asleep, but he was roused by a heavy knocking at his wooden door. Cries of “Smash them down!” and “Burn them up!” alarmed him. Thrusting his head out of the window he saw a mob of 200 men whose determined cries left no doubt in his mind as to their purpose.

“Come out of there and get your baggage,” one shouted.

Come out, hurry!” echoed the crowd.

In a moment the gatekeeper was out and, badly scared, was flying away from the crowd as fast as possible.

When he was some distance away he looked back. bright blaze illuminated the gate and guard-house. Around the fire, as if it were a representation of an Indian war he could see the maddened actions of the determined mob. The fire grew brighter and brighter. The gate-keeper saw his little shanty in flames, and he decided to make an effort to disappoint the crowd. He turned in an alarm of fire.

It takes the nearest engine considerable time to get to the gates, and when the apparatus reached the scene the fire was burning low, for the house and gates were nearly consumed. The firemen found a big crowd, bat the men had on their faces the innocent expression of a small boy who has eaten up all the cake and who has to face his mother. They were anxious to know how the fire started.

“I guess Snell’s heirs burned it,” said one.

“Perhaps the fire started from spontaneous combustion,” said another.

“From spontaneous indignation,” slyly whispered a third.

The firemen didn’t seem to care. They turned the nozzle of their hose on the dying embers and squirted a little water on the débris. The crowd looked on. There was an intensely joyful smile of satisfaction on their faces as they whispered to each other.

The police patrol wagon from the Milwaukee Avenue Station, loaded with bluecoats, now came up. The crowd did not budge. It wanted to see the whole show. The officers looked around, talked to the firemen, and then ordered the crowd to be off. The men hesitated, but considering that their work had been accomplished moved off and finally dispersed.

The County Board’s Action.
An attack was made on the toll-gates at Fullerton avenue and Irving Park last Wednesday. The attack was incited by the action of the County Board the Monday before. A crowd of about 200 tore down the gates and smashed them to pieces, but went no further.

The County Board’s action which incited the first attack and probably that of last night followed the presentation by the County Attorney of the following opinion on the Snell toll-road:

I am informed that it is a matter of public notoriety that the owners and operators of the Snell toll-road have been guilty of the most flagrant abuse of the supposed franchise in them vested: and that the road in question is now in the most deplorable condition, unfit for travel or public use. Probably the best and most effective measure for your body to adopt to protect the public against the abuses which they have heretofore labored under is to pass a resolution prohibiting the taking of further toil from travelers over the alleged toll-road.

The County Board adopted this opinion, and promptly and without debate passed the following resolution outlawing the tollroad:
WHEREAS, It has come to the knowledge this board that the owners and operators of what is commonly known as the Snell toll-road have neglected to keep the road in repair suitable for public travel; and

WHEREAS, Said Snell toll-road is not now repair and is not suitable for public travel. Resolved, That the taking of further toll thereon by the owners and operators of said Snell tollroad is hereby prohibited.

Litigation In Court.
The Snell road case has long occupied the attention of the courts. Several months persons claiming to be the owners of property or Milwaukee avenue petitioned the City Council to construct an apron over a large ditch, and represented that to do this the toll-road and toll-gate would have to be removed. The toll-road company was ordered by resolution of the Council to remove the obstructions, but did not obey. Thereupon the Superintendent of Public WorKS threatened to remove them by force. The Snell heirs went into court for an injunction and a temporary one was granted. The Snell attorneys said that if the city had the right move the toll-house and gate it had the right to deprive the Snell heirs the road itself. If the city did this it would be confiscation of the most glaring sort. There was no law by which it could be done unless the heirs were compensated. The road is now paying dividends at the rate of 6 per cent on $150,000. A. J. Stone had offered to sell it to the city for $100.000, but city’s only reply was to give instructions to its Law Department to fight the Snell heirs.

A final decision of the case has not been G. reached, although the obstructions have been effectually “removed.”

Chicago Tribune, February 11, 1892

People who ride in cold, uncomfortable cars and carettes of the cross-town lines will, before another winter comes around, be envious of the citizens of Jefferson Park and other suburbs along the line of Elston avenue.

The Jefferson Park and Chicago Electric railway has obtained the right of way to operate an electric street-car line on Elston avenue from Jefferson Park to Addison street, and from that point east to Southport avenue, where it will connect with the Chicago and Evanston Electric railway, which will run between Chicago and Evanston.

The promoters of this enterprise are E. E. Gordon, W. W. Lowe, J. H. McAllister, George R. Allen, and Frederick H. Doty, who are real-estate men and capitalists having large interests in the real-estate through which the proposed line will pass.

The right of way for the entire line has been obtained, it is said, with the exception of an undivided tract of forty acres of land on the east side of Elston avenue, between Montrose and Irving Park boulevards. The road will have a doublo track and its cars will be propelled by means of electrohydraulic motors. They will be supplied with the most improved running-gear, which will almost entirely do away with all vibrations while in motion and will, it is claimed, enable the passengers to converse in moderate voices. There will be no shaking and rattling of windows.

The seats, which will be arranged after the manner of railway-coaches will be upholstered. The cars will be heated by a hot water system. Water heated by a stove which is placed at the head of the car will be conducted in pipes through the car and will also be placed beneath each seat to insure a perfect foot-warming medium. In short the accommodacions on this line will be all that could be expected of an ideal transportation line. The running time between Jefferson Park and the terminus in the heart of the city, a distance of eight miles, will be forty minutes. Ground for buildings and roadbed will be broken this spring, it is claimed, and it 18 expected to have the road in active operation before fall.

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BOTTOM:

Inter Ocean, October 9, 1909

Snell’s Gate at Milwaukee Avenue and Fullerton Avenue, the morning after its destruction by a fire in 1890.

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