Norwood Park is Chicago Community Area #10, sitting 11 miles northwest of the Loop. Its earliest settlers were European Immigrant farmers. In 1853, the area was the beneficiary of the new Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad and the area started to grow. Soon enough, developers sought to capitalize on the picturesque setting and draw nearby Chicagoans to the intended resort community. In 1868, the Norwood Land and Building Association began creating a new subdivision in the area with curvilinear streets intersecting the traditional rectangle blocks and work began on the Norwood Park Hotel complete with artificial lake. While the plans did not draw enough from the city to make this plan profitable, the planning of the city did create a desirable place to live. The area incorporated as a village in 1874, and prohibited the sale of alcohol to its citizens and through all businesses. The village was annexed to Chicago in 1893.
Edison Park is Community Area #9, and sits 13 miles northwest of Chicago, directly north of Norwood Park. The area is named for inventor Thomas Edison and joined the city of Chicago in 1910. Like parts of Park Ridge, West Ridge, Edgewater, Oak Park and other areas in and around Chicagoland, this area was formed from the retreat of glaciers that left behind a ridge between the Des Plaines River on the west and the North Branch of the Chicago River on the east. The area was used as a portage between the rivers by early travelers to the area and the indigenous people that travelled the area before they arrived. In addition to learning about the history of Edison Park and Norwood Park, the ride will also detail a bit of history regarding the adjacent O’Hare Community Area and the adjacent suburbs of Norridge, Harwood Heights, Park Ridge and Niles.
Stops on the tour include the Noble-Seymour-Crippen house, the Norwegian Old People’s Home (built on the site of the Norwood Park Hotel), the Wingert House, the Charles Turzak House, the Danish Old People’s Home and numerous historic houses, parks, districts, schools and religious institutions.
Starting Spot: Norwood Park
Route: view Norwood & Edison Park Route
Upcoming date for the Tour of Edison Park and Norwood Park
- October 2014
Past date of the Tour of Edison Park and Norwood Park
- April 20, 2013