By Janice Hack, executive director of the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society
In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the City of Lake Forest, a skit about the formation of the City will be performed at the beginning of the City Council meeting on Tuesday February 22, 2011. The meeting takes place at 7:30 pm at City Hall.
The idea for the skit was generated by the Historical Activities Committee for the sesquicentennial celebration and was developed by local resident Harold Morrison and Edward Johnson of Lake Forest TV. The skit was written and produced by Idona Griffith.
Three founding fathers of the City of Lake Forest will be plucked from the past for an interview by present day newscasters played by Ron Weiner and Elaine Opsitnik. The founding fathers travelling in time are Harvey Thompson (portrayed by Harold Morrison), Samuel Miller (portrayed by Harry Griffith) and Sylvester Lind (portrayed by Sandy Turner). Costumes were donated by Sarah Barnes.
All three of the founding fathers played an important role in formalizing and recognizing the area as a local government. The original charter for the City of Lake Forest is dated February 21, 1861 and was signed by both Thompson and Miller.
Harvey Thompson, first mayor of Lake Forest, was an original trustee for the Lake Forest Association in 1856 and was a Trustee of Lake Forest College from 1857 to 1865. He also helped established a post office in the area. His home is on Sheridan Road across from the Lake Forest College Chapel.
Samuel Miller, a civil engineer, oversaw the laying of the first railroad track between Chicago and Waukegan in early 1855. He was elected the first superintendant of schools and was the first headmaster of Lake Forest Academy where he taught from 1858 to 1862.
Sylvester Lind was an original purchaser of land when the plat for the Lake Forest Association was recorded in 1857. He pledged support for the prospective university which was named Lind University from 1857-1865 in his honor. (The name was changed to Lake Forest University when Sylvester Lind and other supporters could not meet their pledge commitments.) His home on Deerpath was a stop on the Underground Railroad. He was a mayor of Lake Forest a record four times in the 1860s and 1870s.
The 10 minute skit will be recorded and shown on Lake Forest TV as part of the City Council Meeting encore presentations. Copies of the original charter are in the collection of the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society.
