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Images: #TBT Gallery looks back at Des Plaines

Des Plaines has a rich old history dating back to the 1850s with early settlers like Augustus Conant, who was a renowned abolitionist, and Luther Jefferson, who opened a wind-powered grist mill for local farmers to process their grain.

Another early settler Socrates Rand, had the town of Rand named after him, which was later changed to Des Plaines in the 1860s. Rand Road, which cuts through the heart of Des Plaines, still bears his name. The pictures here date back to that era, along with images from the early 1900s and mid-20th century. Another little known fact about Des Plaines is that it was once known as the City of Roses during the early part of the 20th century because of the millions of flowers it exported every year.

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Many thanks to the Des Plaines History Center for providing the photos for this week's gallery.

Postcard showing the interior of Premier Rose Gardens greenhouse, 1946. Des Plaines was known as the City of Roses during the first half of the twentieth century because of the millions of flowers it exported every year. Premier Rose Gardens was the largest of dozens flower businesses in Des Plaines. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Rose DeWinter's family automobile crossing the Des Plaines River on top of Dam #4 in the late 1920s. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Miner Street in 1957. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Two young women in a bicycle parade along Ellinwood and Graceland Avenue in the late 1940s. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Rand Park swimming pool, 1949, now the location of Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Rand Park swimming pool, 1949, now the location of Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Gathering at the bandstand, now the location of Metropolitan Square, 1910. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Miner Street looking westward from Pearson Street, 1950s. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Peter Stellmann's bar on Central Avenue in 1950. The men are, Robert Syverson, I.R. Syverson, Fred Stellmann, Arthur Stoehr, William M. Bielefeldt, and John P. Byrne. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Men working in the Royal Enameling factory, 1910s. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Steam locomotive passing through the Des Plaines train yards in 1948. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Luther Jefferson was an early settler along the Des Plaines River. He opened a wind-powered grist mill so local farmers could process grain for use at home or sale on the market. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Women working in the Royal Enameling factory, 1910s. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Elmer Wicke and passengers in his automobile on Miner Street, just east of Pearson Street, circa 1910s. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Runde's Dairy store on Oakton Street, late 1940s. Pictured are Harvey Runde, Emily Lunde, and Johnny Runde. The store was later Bill's Dairy. Dairy stores did not only carry dairy products, they weremore like today's convenience stores. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Women playing croquet at the Methodist Campground, circa 1930s. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Augustus and Betsey Conant, circa 1850. The Conants were early settlers on land in Maine Township. Augustus was a renowned abolitionist and gave speeches on the topic. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Italian immigrants who settled in Des Plaines and worked on the Minneapolis-St. Paul Railroad, circa 1910. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
Oakton Street Bridge over the Des Plaines River in early 1900s. Courtesy of Des Plaines History Center
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