Many drivers pass through Roselle daily on Irving Park Road. The village covers about 5.5 square miles and is home to about 23,000 people.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
Roselle is a quiet bedroom community in the Northwest suburbs that was settled in the mid-1800s.
Today, the village is home to about 23,000 residents and well-known for its popular family-friendly events like the Rose Festival and Parade in June and Taste of Roselle in August.
Lynfred Winery, the longest-operating winery in Illinois and one of the village's biggest draws for visitors, sits on land once owned by the town's namesake, Rosell Hough, who moved to the area with his parents and siblings in 1837.
Rosell went to Chicago for work a few years later, where he built a meat packing house and served as a Chicago alderman. He later achieved the rank of colonel in the Union Army and became the first president of the Chicago Chamber of Commerce.
In 1868, Rosell returned to Bloomingdale Township, where he opened the Illinois Linen Company on the northwest corner of Roselle and Irving Park Roads. He also became the first president of the Chicago and Pacific Railroad Company, which gave him an opportunity to influence the route of the railroad.
Rosell reportedly paid $10,000 to have the train line altered after realizing his linen mill might have a better future if the route went through Wood Dale, Itasca, Medinah and Roselle instead of Addison and Bloomingdale.
In turn, the railroad agreed to named the Roselle station after Hough, but his first name was misprinted on the first published train schedule. When the village incorporated in 1922 it kept the Roselle spelling.
Look for a new “Icons of ...” town gallery every Sunday at dailyherald.com/galleries and on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. On our social media sites, share your favorite Roselle photos with us by using #shareyoursuburb.
Take a look around and let us know which icons of Roselle are special to you. Which ones stir a memory for you? Where do you love to go in town?
Gayle Smolinski has led the village of Roselle as mayor since 1993. She has served on the village board for a total of 30 years.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
The Canaan Apostolic United Pentecostal Church building was constructed in 1859, making it one of the oldest structures in the village.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
Roselle's Main Street is full of shops, restaurants and outdoor dining areas.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
The Roselle Miracle Field, located at 304 E. Pine St., is a baseball and softball field accessible to people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
The Roselle Public Library, located at 40 S. Park St., houses more than 90,000 books.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
The Main Street Station development in downtown Roselle is a mix of luxury condominiums, commercial storefronts and offices.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
The Roselle Historical Museum, located at 102 S. Prospect St., is open by appointment and on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
Milwaukee District West Line Metra trains and freight trains pass through the Roselle train station multiple times a day.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
Turner Park features a pond for fishing, a ball field, a basketball court, two soccer fields, a playground, a water splash pad, a pavilion and a gazebo.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
Lynfred Winery opened in Roselle in 1979. It has expanded into a 24,000-square-foot facility that features a tasting room, a gift shop and bed and breakfast suites.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
The Roselle Veteran's Memorial was dedicated in 2015 at the corner of Irving Park Road and Park Street.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com
Lake Park Community High School District 108 has two campuses in Roselle.
Jessica Cilella/jcilella@dailyherald.com