Mundelein Historical Commission

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Mundelein Historical Commission

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Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Mundelein Historical Commission, Government Organization, Mundelein, IL.

The purpose of the Mundelein Historical Commission is to cooperate and collaborate with other organizations, as appropriate, to develop a long-term plan to preserve Mundelein’s history and to make its history accessible and available to the community.

10/13/2026

#9 Local cemeteries

OUR LADY of the LAKE SEMINARY CEMETERY (the Mundelein, IL Chicago Catholic Seminary Cemetery), is a small private cemetery on the grounds of Our Lady of the Lake Roman Catholic Seminary in Mundelein, IL, 45 minutes north of Chicago. It was established shortly after the founding of the seminary in the 1920's.

Within it are the graves of former seminary rectors, deans, teachers, faculty, staff and seminarians, as well as priests and religious from the Archdiocese of Chicago and elsewhere.

Within its landscaped grounds rest ALBERT CARDINAL MEYER, Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago at the time of the Second Vatican Council, and MSGR. REYNOLD HILLENBRAND, who was the distinguished Chicago theological scholar who served as rector and faculty member at the seminary.

The cemetery is private, and is located on the seminary grounds, and is administered by Our Lady of the Lake Seminary and the Archdiocese of Chicago.

10/02/2026

#8 Local Cemetery

Once upon a time there was a small cemetery in the heart of town on Rte. 45, Lake Street at Park Street. There is a note in the files mentioning that the first person buried in this cemetery had been stabbed to death.

Kevin Kristan of Kristan Funeral Home verified its existence. When the land was excavated for a strip mall, human remains were discovered. This was probably sometime in the 1960’s. Some of these remains were stored at Kristan’s when the funeral home was located on N Lake street. It is believed that these remains were later interred in Diamond Lake Cemetery.

We are still seeking information on this cemetery. Speculation is that it was a family cemetery.

09/20/2026

“You are lost in a London fog uncertain whether the figures that loom around are real or creatures of your imagination. And somewhere in the wet grayness lurks a murderer from whom you must escape!”

Saturday, Sept 26 is the last Saturday of the month and we bring you another adventure from the golden age of radio at the Mundelein Heritage Museum. Museum opens at 1 PM and the radio show begins at 3 PM in the freight room. We are in the skate park, 601 Noel Drive next to the caboose.

09/18/2026

#7 Local cemetery

Lakeside Cemetery is located on north side of Lake Street just a few blocks west of Milwaukee Ave in Libertyville, Illinois. The cemetery overlooks Butler Lake.

The first settlers in Lake County arrived in the 1830’s. Lakeside Cemetery was platted in 1843. At that time, Libertyville was known as Independence Grove and Butler Lake was called Independence Lake. Lakeside is the oldest cemetery in Libertyville Township and among the oldest in the Lake County. The oldest known burial at Lakeside is that of John Smith in 1844. There are many early Lake County settlers that are buried at Lakeside.

In the early days, Lake Street was just a dirt road that came west from Milwaukee Ave in Libertyville and ended at the cemetery and lake. The cemetery had an iron fence and a high frame arched gate bearing the cemetery name in front. Today the distinctive high arch with the cemetery name is all that remains of the fence and gate.

The Lakeside Cemetery Association was organized in 1910 to manage cemetery operation. The association still operates today as a 501(c)(13) organization. The association is run by volunteer board, which takes great care in maintaining and improving the cemetery. The cemetery is still active and serving the surrounding Lake County community.

There are two roads that lead into the cemetery; both are off of Lake Street. One enters and runs along the east edge of the cemetery, and the other enters near the west edge. The cemetery covers about 15 acres and is divided into sections and further into subsections.

The main sections and subsections within Lakeside Cemetery are as follows:

Old Cemetery – The Old Cemetery was first platted in 1843. The earliest known burials were in the mid 1840’s. This section covers the western portion of the cemetery running along Lake Street. The subsections within the Old Cemetery include the NE ¼ (NEOC), the NW ¼ (NWOC), the SE ¼ (SEOC), the SW ¼ (SWOC), the Disney Section (DISN) and the Old Road Section (OROC). This section is mainly comprised of lots of 6 graves (1 x 6).

New Cemetery – The earliest known burials in the New Cemetery were in the late 1840’s. This section covers the eastern portion of cemetery running along Lake Street. The subsections within the New Cemetery include the North ½ (NPNC) and the South ½ (SPNC). This section is mainly comprised of lots of 12 graves (2 x 6).

3rd Addition – This section is the 3rdexpansion of the cemetery and was platted in 1920. There were some burials in this section in the early 1900’s before it was formally organized. The subsections within the 3rd Addition include the East Part (EP3A), the West Part (WP3A), the North Part (NP3A), the Northwest Part (NWP3A) and the Urn Garden (URNG – opened in 1996). This section is mainly comprised of lots of 48 graves divided into 4 quarters, each with 12 graves (2 x 6) but there are many lots of 24 graves in the West Part that are divided into 2 halves, each with 12 grave (2 x 6).

NW 4th Addition (NWP4A) – This section is in the northwest corner of the cemetery and was platted in 2018. There is a Veteran’s Memorial in the SE corner of this section with flags flying to honor those from the community that were killed or lost in action. This section is comprised of lots of 48 graves divided into 4 quarters, each with 12 graves (2 x 6).

09/10/2026

#6 Local Cemetery

The Lake County Poor Farm was purchased and commissioned in 1847. It offered little more than food and shelter to its residents. Residents lived in a cramped 2 story brick house. By 1910 there were 52 residents and 4 others hired by the county that worked the 150 acre farm. In 1926 the house underwent some renovations and in 1929 after the market crashed and the Great Depression began, the farm became overcrowded. The farm was on the corner of what is today Milwaukee Road (Rt 21) and Wi******er Road in Illinois, Lake County, Libertyville Township/Village. The cemetery is located in the middle of the field with access only by walking (no road access). It is about 500 yards into the field behind the Lake County Building with the Planning, Building and Development Department. The cemetery has a brass plaque that was placed within the grounds in 2006 which notes 21 burials that were known to occur between 1923 and 1939. None of the burials are marked. The cemetery is on grounds owned by Lake County, Illinois with many county buildings on it. As of 2021, the cemetery retains a white fence around its square area with a tree in each corner. The cemetery (fence/trees) is visible in the open field from several places on the roads in the back of the county property. It is accessible by foot from the back of the county property, or off of a paved walking/biking trail that runs north from the railroad tracks off Wi******er Road along the western edge of the county property.

08/29/2026

#5 Local Cemetery

Ivanhoe Cemetery is on route 176 near route 60 adjoining Ivanhoe Congregational Church. Although it is a public burying ground, it’s history is related to that of the church. The oldest tombstone is for Esther Payne, born Sept 2, 1846 and died Feb 25, 1847. The early records of the Ladies Society of the church tell us that they raised money to “Fence Our Burying Grounds”. Meetings were held as early as 1835. Original plots sold for $2.50 each. The west tier was set aside for the “Poor and the Stranger”. There were no exact records of interment prior to 1920.

Among the early settlers buried here are Addison Partridge and his family, the Payne family and all members of the Joice family.

08/23/2026

#4 Local Cemetery #

One of the smallest graveyards in the Chicago area is the Gridley Family Cemetery, which is situated next to Highway 83 in north suburban Lake County, north of the village of Long Grove, south of Mundelein.

Except in winter, when trees are bare, the tiny graveyard is not visible from the road, and one would be very lucky to spot it without already knowing it was there.

On the west side of Illinois Highway 83 stone steps can be seen leading up into the woods. The cemetery is about thirty feet beyond the steps.

The cemetery is very small - no more than twenty feet on any side, and is surrounded by an old iron fence. Inside, the weeds grow high.

08/20/2026

In 9 days, it will be the last Saturday of August. Can you believe it!!! Where has this summer gone???? Moving on, on August 29 we will be presenting another in our collection of radio programs from the golden age of radio at the Mundelein Heritage Museum. Per request, this month’s selection is an episode of Boston Blackie. The museum opens at 1PM and the show starts at 3 and runs until 3:30 PM.

This month we have an added attraction. One of our commissioners and one of our docents will be entertaining everyone by participating in “Play Music on The Porch Day”. Jeanne and Suzzanne will be playing a variety of folk songs, and in keeping with our heritage, railroad songs. The music will begin at 1:30 and plays until 2:30 on the front porch of the museum.

We are at 601 Noel Drive in the skate park, across from Fairhaven school.

08/17/2026

#3 Local Cemetery

The historic Fort Hill Cemetery was officially established in 1847 and is located in Lake County, Illinois, in the southwest corner of Avon Township between Volo and Hainesville near the corner of Route 120 and Fairfield Road. It borders west of the St. Joseph Cemetery.

The first known burial in the Fort Hill Cemetery was that of Warren Scovill, born August 24, 1798, in Harwinton, Litchfield County, Connecticut. On February 6, 1844, Warren purchased 40 acres in Section 27, Township 45N Range 10E (Avon). On October 10, 1844, at the age of 46, Warren died. According to the “Scoville Family Records, Part III, Harwinton (Conn.) Branch”:

“Warren Scoville (Abner, Ezekiel, Ezekiel, Stephen) born at Harwinton Aug. 24, 1798; married Evelyn Bellamy, Jan. 1, 1821. She was born Mar. 24, 1799. He died Oct. 10, 1844, at Waukegan, Illinois, killed at a log raising, or felling timber. Warren went from Connecticut to New York state about 1820, settling at Portage, where he lived until 1833, and then removed farther west. In the fall of 1842 he located in Illinois, at Waukegan, or Lake City.”

Warren Scovill was buried on land that was owned by Soloman Marble. On June 23, 1847, Soloman and his wife commissioned with the County of Lake a portion of his property to provide a burial ground for the early residents and the cemetery land was deeded to the Commissioners of Lake County.

The Fort Hill Cemetery survey completed by James Anderson, Jr., County Surveyor at Lake County, Illinois dated April 4, 1902 certifies the cemetery was “surveyed, subdivided and staked under the direction of Caroline Cleveland, Mary Wilson and Mary Huson, Trustees of the Fort Hill Cemetery” Association, identifying the new portion annexed to the original cemetery established by Soloman Marble.

Why Fort Hill?

In January, 1837, there were no townships, incorporated villages or organized communities in the young county. Three early settlers of the region, Thomas H. Payne, Joseph Wood and Joel H. Johnson stood on top of a hill that January, and could see many miles of vast land around them. Payne suggested the name of the settlement to be “Fort Hill” and the others agreed. The hill, Fort Hill, was located in what is now Fremont Township on the north side of Peterson Road between Route 60 and Alleghany Road east of the Behm farm.

08/14/2026

#2

In 1853 the residents of Vernon and the SW part of the Town of Libertyville and vicinity of Diamond Lake formed “Union Cemetery Association”. Meetings were held at the Diamond Lake Schoolhouse. First meeting was Feb 17, 1854. The original land was purchased from Joshua Pelton for $50.80. Four grave plots were sold $1 per parcel. The oldest stone is for Altha Moore, dated 1815. Her grave was originally on the Pelton family farm and moved to Union Cemetery. The first original burial here was for Owen S. Bennett in 1853, before the association was officially established. There are some tombstones dated earlier than 1853 and those are graves moved from family grave sites at a later date. About 1900 the cemetery was recorded as the “Diamond Lake Cemetery”. It was incorporated in 1917. In 1902 perpetual care was offered for an additional cost of $20.00 per grave. By 1927 all plots were sold with perpetual care which, of course raised the price of the plots. In 1964 the cemetery purchased an additional 1 ¼ acres from Gordon Clavey. In 1966 Diamon Lake Cemetery was annexed to the Village of Mundelein.

Between 1928 – 1929 the State of Illinois paved Townline road, then known as route 59A. To do this they had to tear down the hill in front of the cemetery. This resulted in the center archway gate being high above the road. The state offered and the cemetery accepted additional land; 50 feet on both the west and east ends of the cemetery and 60 feet on the south end. The state also installed a new road, 16 feet wide, all around the original plot with two exits on to the highway. The first sexton was Charles Tibbetts, 1855. At this time the grass was mowed with a scythe. This duty fell to Samuel Darby.

In 1868 an osage hedge was planted around the cemetery. This hedge fence was pulled out in 1897.

In 1869 6 plots were saved on the west side of the cemetery for the “Benefit of Strangers and Transient Persons”. In 1903, this “Potter’s Field” was given up and the lots were put up for sale.

In 1874 more land was obtained from Rufus Pelton. There was no money available for this purchase so this land was staked off into plots and sold at auction. The money raised was used to pay Rufus Pelton for the land for necessary cemetery repairs. Pelton was paid $25 for this land in 1879. In 1915 additional land was purchased from Henry Helfer.

The first gateway arch was erected in 1892 and was made of wood. (This gateway arch was replaced with an iron one in 1906.)

A ladies association was very active in fund raising, making improvements to and maintaining the cemetery. They were responsible for getting a well dug, shrubs and trees planted, flower beds planted, and extensive landscaping. The association had a comfort station and tool shed installed in the cemetery in 1919. The ladies raised money by holding socials, oyster suppers, picnics and by making and raffling quilts.

Address

Mundelein, IL
60060

Website

https://www.mundelein.org/government/boards-commissions-and-committees/mundelein-historical-commission

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