William Henke was an executive at the Blue Island Ice Co. and one of the founders of the Calumet State Bank, the first bank to have its beginnings in Blue Island. Henke served on Blue Island’s last Village Board and was the first Alderman for the fourth ward when Blue Island became a City.  Henke also served as Assessor, Clerk …

Joshua P. Young, a native of New York, arrived in Blue Island in 1854. In 1856 Young purchased 80 acres of land bounded by Western Avenue, Vermont Street, Maple Avenue, and Burr Oak Avenue from Carlton Wadhams – which became the choicest residential and business section in Blue Island.  Young was a major real estate developer and had a hand in …

George Luchtemeyer came to Blue Island in 1858. He first lived on the east side of Western Ave south of Grove Street, where he made his living repairing guns, watches and clocks for the early settlers of the community and the surrounding region. Later he purchased this property and the business developed into a jewelry store. The Luchtemeyer family carried …

Built for Christian Schmidt, a tailor who came to Blue Island from Germany in 1856, this building’s most prominent occupant was Blue Island Mayor John M. Hart, who operated a pharmacy here for many years. Hart was first elected Mayor in 1937 and remained in that office until 1965. Buildings of this style once lined both sides of Western Avenue …

This home was constructed for Dr. Gerhard Seim, an early Blue Island physician. Dr. Seim raised his family here and also practiced medicine from an office in the home. With its tall, two story octagonal turret, complete with clerestory windows and a towering peaked roof, Dr. Seim’s home and office was one of the most prominent dwellings in Blue Island. …