A map in the Northside Neighborhood History Collection has recently been restored and is now available online.
Rascher's Map of the Villages of Evanston, South Evanston, Wilmette and Rogers Park was compiled and drawn from the latest records and published in 1874 by Dobsun and Rascher. The map was donated by the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society and is part of the Rogers Park/West Ridge Community Collection.
The map is bordered with advertisements for local real estate and surveyor companies. It also includes illustrations of Northwestern University and the Woman's College in Evanston, and the Cornell Watch Company in Chicago. The map has blue coloring to highlight the Lake Michigan shoreline and green marking the Catholic Cemetery and the Northwestern grounds.
The map had been tightly rolled up and started to flake into pieces. Due to its fragile condition it was not available to researchers. It was sent to Graphic Conservation Company for treatment. Conservators removed tape and varnish from an earlier mounting, helping preserve the map and make it accessible. The map measures 57” x 69”. Because of its extra-large size, researchers will need to consult a digitized version. To see a video of it being treated, click on this link of the Graphic Conservation Company's Instagram page.
Click on this link to view the map: Rascher's Map of the Villages of Evanston, South Evanston, Wilmette and Rogers Park, 1874
If you would like to learn more about the history of Rogers Park and West Ridge, please schedule an appointment in the Northside Neighborhood History Collection.
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