Wilmette at 150

Wilmette at 150 is a collection of illuminating stories that feature and celebrate the people, places, and events that have shaped the village and created its unique character over the last century and a half. These stories present the grandeur of the lakefront, the turmoil of No Man’s Land, the devastation wrought by a Palm Sunday tornado, the beauty of a tree memorial built for blind Judge Kolman, the final moments of notorious gangster Baby Face Nelson, the inspirational visit by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to promote racial justice and unity, and much more.

John Jacoby, a long-time Wilmette resident and former Village President (1989-1997), weaves all these stories into a fabric of village history-a history that includes success and failure, joy and tragedy, principle and pragmatism, unity and division. Wilmette at 150 is a tapestry that both honors the past and welcomes the future with insight, energy, and confidence.

Breezy, engaging storytelling, framed by meticulous reporting and attention to historical context, make Wilmette at 150 an important and highly readable addition to the institutional memory of the village. While showcasing ‘all of humanity’s virtues and frailties’ in his richly textured storylines, Jacoby also touches the heart. -Alan P. Henry, author, journalist and North Shore resident

Anyone who ever thought of Wilmette as a sleepy suburb will have a vastly different perspective after reading this enthralling history that grabs you at the beginning and doesn’t let go! I did not want this book to end. It is a wonderful birthday gift to the community. -Heidi Voorhees, former Wilmette Village Manager