After reading our story about the Market Square Family Fair, a reader commented that Elle Decor   reported Kansas City's Country Club Plaza was the first shopping center. We wanted to set the record straight, given that Market Square's status is a source of pride in Lake Forest. So we took this query to Arthur H. Miller, archivist and librarian for Special Collections at the Donnelley and Lee Library/LIT at Lake Forest College. He found proof that Market Square was completed in 1916, several years prior to the debut of Country Club Plaza.

By Arthur H. Miller

Lake Forest College's Special Collections holds the papers and early plans of Market Square, a gift from  Griffith Grant & Lackie Realtors, and discovered in 1998 or 1999 by Shirley M. Paddock and Gordon Lackie. The college library has about 2,000 leaves of correspondence and meeting minutes and plans for three versions, 1912 (Town Market), 1914, and 1915. These plans, etc., are shown too in "Lake Forest: Estates, People and Culture" by Arthur H. Miller and Shirley M. Paddock (Arcadia Press, 2000). In addition, the college library, in its Special Collections, has Susan Dart's files that were compiled while she was working on her 1984 book, "Market Square," and including copies of the final plans and an extensive photo file.

When east Lake Forest's estate areas were designated a National Register District in 1976, Market Square was included. In 1981 "The Anglo American Suburb", ed. Robert A.M. Stern (St. Martin's, 1981), p. 23, discusses Lake Forest as an early railroad suburb, and discusses and shows Market Square, saying that it "anticipates the modern shopping centre…" (the book is printed in the UK). Urban historian Michael Ebner also discussed the history of Market Square in his 1988 published "Creating Chicago's North Shore…" (U. of Chicago Press), and first reported the existence of an early, 1912 plan called Town Market.

Early photo of Lake Forest's Market Square, courtesy of Arthur H. Miller

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If you're in need of a baby shower gift and/or cute kids outfit, do not go shopping until July 1. Repeat: Wait until Thursday! That's when Nanabimbi opens on Center Avenue in Lake Bluff (across from the Village Green). Owner Barbara Urso is offering a grand-opening 20% discount on all clothing. For more info on the children's clothing store, visit Nanabimbi.com or click here to read GazeboNews' previous story.

Many non-profits are struggling amidst challenging economic times. Knowing they’d likely face an uphill battle obtaining sponsors this year, the coordinators of the 2009 4th of July Family Fair took a different tack.

“We choose to be compassionate and creative in trying to raise support for this year’s Fair,” said Tom Dickelman, pastor of the Community Church of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, which runs the Fair each year in Artesian Park. “Our sense was a number of sponsors from prior years could not easily support the Fair this year, and frankly, we did not want anyone to feel bad. So, we sent a letter to last year’s sponsors saying ‘we know things are tough, and we appreciate your past support. Please consider yourself as a sponsor again this year – whether you give the Fair any money or not.’ “

Mr. Dickelman said those who received the letter appreciated the compassionate approach, and many

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Declarations of boredom shall not be allowed this weekend! There's just too much fun stuff going on, such as a Captain Cranky marionette puppet show at the Gorton Community Center. The Captain and his crew will search for the wild man of wacko wacko, with considerable help from puppeteer Dave Herzog. The audience will join Captain Cranky as he and his crew set sail on the good ship Tantrum. Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. Tickets cost $8. Visit Gorton's website. 

The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society is offering tours of Albert Lasker's Mill Road Farm on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Here's a press release about the event:

Between 1926 and 1928 Albert Lasker, known now as the father of modern advertising, spared no expense on his Lake Forest gentleman farm. Lasker’s "American Chantilly" covered 480 acres, contained 27 buildings designed by master architect David Adler, and cost $3.5 million. A completely self-contained utopia, the estate even boasted a nationally recognized 18-hole golf course, designed by William Flynn and enjoyed by presidents and movie stars. Legendary golfer Bobby Jones declared it one of the three best courses in the United States. He spoke out of genuine respect, for even Jones couldn’t break par on Lasker's course.

1940s Mill Road Farm gardens behind the garage. Photo supplied by
the LF-LB Historical Society and is courtesy of the University of
Chicago

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Home buyers, nosy neighbors, and city folks wanting a day in the “country” are in for a treat this Sunday, June 28. That’s when Lake Forest and Lake Bluff plan to roll out their welcome mats by hosting Open Houses from 1 to 4  p.m. throughout the communities. In Lake Forest, most of the 450 homes on the market will be open. Likewise with most of Lake Bluff’s listed homes.

There are a couple of ways you can find out which homes are open. Realtors will post their traditional Open House signs at street corners, guiding people to the Open Houses nearby. And many real estate offices will have maps and listings available. It’s worth reviewing the real estate incentive package that features goodies to nudge potential buyers into the category of buyers. Visit LakeForestVoices.org or LakeBluffVoices.org for more on that.

Equestrian Connections is all about encouraging strength and empowerment of people with special needs. It connects participants with high-quality horses to provide an outlet for them to personally grow. It also provides art therapy, which gives individuals a chance to work with trained therapists on the Equestrian Connection’s grounds at 600 Bradley Road in Lake Forest. On Saturday, Equestrian Connection is hosting its annual art therapy show,
"Creative Connections 2009," a culmination of a year's worth of hard
work by students. The exhibit will remain on display until June of 2010.

Saturday's showing begins at 5 p.m. with a private reception for artists and their families. From 5:30 to 7 p.m., a public reception will take place where artists and art therapists will discuss the artwork as well as the program. Light refreshments will be served throughout the event.
The Equestrian Connection will also raffle artwork from famous artist Pat Moss, with the raffle proceeds going towards the fund raiser. There is no fee to attend, but there will be a donation box available. To learn more about the work of this group, please visit equestrianconnection.org

Correction: FoodStock is on Sunday, not Saturday, which GazeboNews erroneously reported earlier today.

Sunday is a day to give and to receive in Lake Bluff. It's FoodStock '09, an outdoor concert involving three local bands and several other musical artists who are donating their talents for a worthy cause. All you need to do is show up (on Sunday!), preferably with a donation of non-perishable food items or money (or both!), because the outdoor concert/picnic is a fund-raiser for Lake County's C.O.O.L. food pantry. (On Sunday!) Last year, C.O.O.L. provided meals to some 28,500 individuals.

The FoodStock invite reads: "The economic downturn has affected all of us in different ways, especially those who have lost jobs and homes and those who rely on help from local food pantries just to feed their families. As with all charities in this economy, food pantries have lost much of their funding in the face of increasing need….Please consider attending this 'Ravinia'-like event and have a great time while helping a very worthy cause and giving back to our community. Bring your chairs and blankets."

FoodStock is from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Gazebo. Local food vendors will be on hand with refreshments. Visit FoodStockonline.org for more information on the bands, the fund-raising and C.O.O.L. You can also learn more by visiting this trailer on YouTube.

The following memo was written by C. Kent McKenzie, emergency management coordinator for Lake County, and M. Anthony Wolff, chief engineer-flood operations manager for the county's Stormwater Management Commission.

Thursday, June 25, 3:30 p.m.: Based on the preliminary information collected across the County this week and at the recommendation of Emergency Management Agency personnel, Lake County Board of Commissioners Chairman Suzi Schmidt today issued a Proclamation of Disaster in Lake County. Lake County EMA is pursuing all options to secure assistance for residents and communities that have been affected by these storms, and continues work with municipal officials to compile an overall picture of the situation along with lists of specific homes and businesses that were damaged.

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There's a local connection to the scandal surrounding South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford: His wife, Jennifer Sullivan Sanford, attended Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest, according to ABCLocal  She has an entry in Wikipedia, which reports she's from a prominent Winnetka family whose patriarch, Bolton Sullivan, founded Skil Corp.