World War One War Memorials on Chicago's North Shore: More in Evanston

There are a lot of World War One memorials in Evanston!  As I continued my research, I found more and more information.  In fact, I found enough information to write a third blog post about Evanston. and about the outcome of the war in Evanston.  Watch this space next week.

Evanston Township High School

The memorial elms on the new campus of Evanstson Township High School which opened in 1924. Photo: History of ETHS, 1883-1958 by M.C. Davis

 

 

The Memorial Elms

  In 1924, when the new campus of Evanston Township High School opened its new buildings at 1600 Dodge Ave, The Evanston Garden Club planted 80  Elm trees High School as a memorial to the students who lost their lives in World War One. The Club maintained the Elms  until 1951.  The rows of trees grew and thrived, unfortunately, they were killed by Dutch Elm disease, and were no longer there when I attended the high school in the 1960.

The Oliver Baty Cunningham Award

An award honoring the World War One service of Oliver B. Cunningham was established at Evanston High School by his father Frank Cunningham. The award,  the highest award given to an outstanding male member of the graduating class is still given today. It is given to a student who ranks first in his class in all around qualities, including intellectual ability, capacity for leadership,  sense of responsibility and  distinguished service to school and community.   Cunningham's portrait hangs outside the library at the high school.  He is also remembered in a stained glass window at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Evanston. 
Cunningham graduated cum laude from Yale University, where was awarded the Francis Brown Memorial Prize, given to the member of each Junior Class at Yale "who most closely approached the standards of intellectual ability, high manhood, capacity for leadership, and service to the university."

Captain Cunningham was buried in France, near the place of his death. He received both the Distinguished Service Cross and the Silver Star Medal, which was awarded posthumously.  After his death, his father established the Oliver Baty Cunningham Publication Fund at Yale University Press was established, which continues to publish today.

Oliver B. Cunningham as a young man

 Lt. Oliver B. Cunningham

Northwestern University

The Memorial boulder on the north end of the Northwestern Campus. Photo: P. Noznick

There are several World War  One memorials on the campus of Northwestern University.  The oldest, dedicated in 1923 is a bronze plaque mounted on a granite boulder on the northern end of the campus, near the fraternity houses.  I'm not sure that it is in it's original location, since I read information that stated that the memorial was located in the avenue of the elms north of Patton Gymnasium.  There is a row of trees nearby, but I doubt that they are the original elms.  I also noticed is that some of the names in the  Northwestern World War I list are also on several memorials in Evanston.
The second memorial on the campus is a plaque located in the lobby of the Alice Milar Chapel.

The bronze plaque memorializing Northwestern students who lost their lives in the Civil War and World War One. Photo: P. Noznick

 

World War One War Memorials on Chicago's North Shore: Evanston IL

Evanston, my hometown,  is one of the oldest and largest of Chicago's suburbs.  There are three War Memorials in town, one dedicated only to World War One, the others include all the Wars from the Civil War to the Viet Nam War.

St Luke's Church 1921

Evanston's oldest War Memorial is at  St Luke's Episcopal Church and was dedicated in 1921. It is the only memorial that commemorates World War One. It is also the largest memorial and is integrated into the design of the church.

A granite boulder with a bronze plaque attached  commemorates the planting of an elm tree on Armistice Day (November 11) 1921.    The tree is long gone, a victim of Dutch Elm  Disease, which killed most of Evanston's American Elm Trees.  The memorial is extensive and includes the figure of a dough boy  and a cloister displays the names of five church members who died in World War One.  It also lists the battles in which The American Expeditionary Forces participated.

The World War One Dough boy watches the courtyard below him.

The stones on the cloister are labeled with the names of  the church members who died in the War and the major battles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patriot Park 1929

The War Memorial in Patriot Park on Evanston's Lakefront.

A memorial for all Evanston residents who died in war was installed in 1929 in Patriot Park on the lakefront.  A flagpole with a bell shaped base included the names of the people who died in the Civil War, The Spanish American War and World War One.  The memorial was erected by the Fort Dearborn Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  The bronze frieze was designed by sculptor Steven Beames in 1929.  Inscribed on the frieze is  the following phrase:

     "May the memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice live forever in the Hearts of the   People."

 

The soldiers of all the wars march

 

around the 

 

frieze.

 

Below the frieze is a list of 41 residents of Evanston who died  in World War One.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fountain Square 1949

War Memorial in Evanston's Fountain Square, installed in 1949.

The central business district of Evanston, Fountain Square, was experiencing traffic circulation problems after World War Two. As a result, Fountain Square was redesigned and included a War Memorial.  The large granite fountain was dedicated on Armistice Day in 1949.  It was designed by architect Hubert Burnham  with three fountains  and listed all Evanstonians who died in wars from the Civil War to World War II. 

 

 

Fountain Square 1976

In honor of the Bicentennial of the United States in 1976,  Fountain Square was redesigned again.  The granite fountain was removed and replaced by a three fountain complex with three brick piers which listed the names of Evanston residents who died in the wars, starting with the Civil War and ending with the War in Viet Nam.

War Memorial, dedicated in 1976, in honor of the Bicentennial.

The tallest pier, in the center, lists those who died in World War Two, the pier to the left lists those who perished in the Civil War, Spanish American War and World War One.  The pier on the right list those who died in the War in Viet Nam.

This fountain complex is now in disrepair, and plans are underway to rebuild the Memorial and restructure Fountain Square.