Hanover Township installs fifth heritage marker

Hanover Township dedicated a fifth heritage marker at a historical site in the township this week.

The new sign was installed Wednesday at Villa Olivia, a golf course and ski facility at 1401 W. Lake St. in Bartlett, to commemorate the Leatherman farm that once existed on the property.

Abraham and Mary Leatherman settled on the land in 1835 and eventually opened an inn where Hanover Township was organized on April 2, 1850. For several years, the inn was also the location of township meetings.

Tom Kuttenberg, director of community relations for the township, said Supervisor Brian McGuire began the installation of the signs in 2011.

“The supervisor really started the program as a way to promote local history,” Kuttenberg said. “No one really knows about the history in their own backyard, so the supervisor really wants to promote the things we have.”

Other markers have been placed at Ahlstrand Park in Hanover Park, the church cemetery at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Streamwood, the Lords Park Pavilion at Lords Park in Elgin and the school house at Hoosier Grove Park in Streamwood.