Winnetka Local History Digital Collections

Winnetka Weekly Talk, 26 Nov 1927, p. 13

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November 26, 1927 WINNETKA TALK I. be "NO MAN'S LAND" WAS ONCE SPURNED AS GIFT Valuable Tract Between Wil- mette and Kenilworth Rejected By Glencoe Man in '49 By E. T. SELBY The controversy which easued a few months ago over the development of "No Man's Land" on Sheridan road between Wilmette and Kenilworth nto a club, theater and business section has not been followed more closely and with greater interest, perhaps, by anyone, than Charles M. Dennis, of 823 Green- leaf avenue, Glencoe. For it was his father, the late J. J. Dennis, who, back in the days of the "Forty-niners," declined as a gift, a farm of 360 acres aloag the lake be- tween what is now Wilmette and Ken- ilworth, extending far to the west, and including what is now known as "No Man's Land," if he would abandon his announced plans of joining the rush to California in quest of gold. Mr. Dennis' grandmother, the late Mrs. Mary Dennis, owned this large tract at that time and earnestly coun- seled her son to remain here. He, how- ever, could see no future in the then lake-side farm and heavily wooded pasture, and, in 1850, a year after the "gold rush" started, declared his inten- tion of going west to seek his fortune. Like all those pioneers of his day, he persisted, and one cool October morning, astride a pack mule on which was strapped a somewhat limited camp equipment, he headed for the Golden West. The adventure, which the jour- ney offered, and the lure of gold proved more attractive to his stout heart than the pleadings of his mother to remain with her and to hold title to 360 acres which has since grown into a value of many thousands of dollars per acre. Mrs. Dennis later disposed of what is now known as "No Man's Land" and many additional joining acres in this section to the Gage family. Charles M. Dennis was born and reared in California. At the age of 16, following a longing to return to his old ancestral home, he came back to Illi- nois, locating in Evanston. That was in 1871, the spring of the Chicago fire. A few years later he moved to Glencoe, purchased, which was at that time the only store in the village, and, with the exception of the winters which he has spent in Florida, has resided there ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis expect to leave in about a week for their winter home located at Micco, Brevard county, 210 miles south of Jacksonville, Fla., oa the Dixie highway overlooking the beauti- ful Indian river and in the heart of the great orange and grape fruit country for which that state is famous. Akin to those who reside on Lake Michigan and enjoy their own riparian rights in the summer bathing season, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis look forward to their annual pilgrimage to the Florida home where they have their own pier extending far out into the placid wa- ters of Indian river. Here, while the blizzards are raging about their Glen- coe home, they bask in the sunshine and watch the porpoise roll, or vie with their friends in establishing new ang- ling records, "for the fishin' is mighty good down there," Mr. Dennis adds. RETURN FROM EAST Mr. and Mrs. Lewis L. Tuells, for- merly of Kenilworth, and now living at 316 Linden avenue, Winnetka, have recently returned from a trip east. They stopped at New York and Phila- delphia. While they were away, their daughter, Helen, stayed with Miss Mary Dow, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Dow, 1228 Forest avenue, Wil- mette. Tongregational _ Church (a=) PR ay Morning-- :30 Men's Class. :45 Women's Class. Richards. Evening-- SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1927 :30 All departments of the Church School. :00 Young Men's Class. :00 Morning Worship. Sermon by Rev. J. A. 6:00 Winnetka Sunday Evening Club. 7:00 Young People's Club. 8:00 Evening Worship. Sermon by Rev. Thos. A. Goodwin. "Growing Young." State Bank Let Santa Write Your Christmas Check 3 La CHRISTMAS CLUB offers you sev- eral interesting plans whereby you can set aside a certain sum each week and shortly before Christmas, 1928, you will have accumulated a nice amount. The principal, of course, draws regular inter- est. We suggest that you enroll your name before the formal opening date, so that you may be assured of early and com- plete benefits of membership. Banking Hours: 8 to 3; Saturdays 8 to 12:30 Monday Evenings 7 to 8 WINNETKA TRUST and SAVINGS BANK

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