| 1818 |
Illinois admitted to the Union. |
| 1836 |
The Rich family from New York settled in the area. |
| 1837 |
Lawrence Forvor and Ben Drury came from Ohio. |
| 1839 |
Lake and McHenry counties separated. |
| 1842 |
William Gray bought land, including part of Gray's Lake. |
| 1862 |
Lawrence Forvor deeded land to be used for a cemetery. |
| 1886 |
The Wisconsin Central Railroad station was completed. |
| 1886 |
Grayslake was platted as a subdivision. |
| 1886 |
Fourth class post office established in Grayslake. |
| 1889 |
Grayslake's first doctor, Dr. Schaffer, came to town. |
| 1890 |
Gray's Lake postal name became Grayslake. |
| 1891 |
The first church was organized as a Congregational Church. |
| 1895 |
GRAYSLAKE WAS INCORPORATED. |
| 1895 |
A frame school house was moved to Whitney Street and became the original
Village Hall. |
| 1897 |
Electric street lights were installed in the business section of town.
|
| 1898 |
Local phone service began. |
| 1899 |
The Village Hall was raised ten feet. |
| 1899 |
Long distance phone service began. |
| 1899 |
Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad put in line. |
| 1899 |
Grayslake Fire Department organized. |
| 1904 |
A canning factory located at the end of Railroad Avenue. |
| 1905 |
The first issue of Grayslake Times published. |
| 1905 |
Cement sidewalks began to be installed to replace wooden walkways. |
| 1909 |
Wisconsin Central became known as the So Line. |
1912 |
The Wisconsin Condensed Milk company began on Railroad Avenue. Its initials can still be seen on the smoke stack. |
| 1914 |
Bonds were issued for the village waterworks piping system. |
| 1916 |
Sewer system installed. |
| 1918 |
Center Avenue (present day Lake Street) was paved. |
| 1922 |
The Grayslake Gelatin Factory started at the end of Railroad Avenue. |
| 1923 |
Plans were completed to put Route 21 - present day Route 83/Barron Boulevard - on what was then the eastern edge of Grayslake. The highway was completed in 1924. |
| 1924 |
New village well completed. |
| 1925 |
The gas company started digging gas mains to supply the Village with gas. |
| 1926 |
Center Street and Lake Street exchanged names. |
| 1926 |
Center Street was paved. |
| 1938 |
Major flood caused rowboats to be used in the streets. |
| 1941 |
A library district was formed. |
| 1941 |
The houses within the Village limits received numbers. |
| 1946 |
Grayslake Community High School opened its doors. |
| 1949 |
Village delivery of mail began. |
| 1949 |
Fort Hill School District 45 consolidated with Grayslake School District 46 to become Grayslake Community Consolidated Elementary District 46. |
| 1950 |
The Grayslake Chamber of Commerce was organized. |
| 1952 |
The sewer plant moved from Center Street to Route 83 |
| 1952 |
Municipal garbage collection began. |
| 1956 |
Woodview School opened on Woodview Drive. |
| 1959 |
The Grayslake Park District was organized. |
| 1969 |
College of Lake County opened its doors. |
| 1969 |
The Grayslake Junior High was built off Barron Boulevard. |
| 1970 |
Grayslake celebrated its Diamond Jubilee. |
| 1974 |
The Grayslake Recycling Center was opened. |
| 1976 |
Grayslake took part in the nation's Bicentennial Celebration. |
| 1976 |
The Grayslake Fire Protection District was approved by voters. |
| 1977 |
The Lake County Vocational Center began classes. |
| 1979 |
International Fire Chief Rockenbach was honored with a parade. |
| 1980 |
The new police facility on Hawley Street was dedicated to former Chief Gordon Shattuck. |
| 1984 |
The Lake County Fairgrounds were annexed to the Village. |
| 1984 |
The Economic Development Commission was formed. |
| 1984 |
The Village hired a Village Manager. |
| 1988 |
Avon School District 47 merged with Grayslake School District 46. |
| 1990 |
Grayslake had a population of 7,388. |
| 1991 |
9-1-1 service was instituted. |
| 1992 |
The distribution of Lake Michigan water went on line in Grayslake. |
| 1992 |
The Grayslake Pump Station was dedicated to former Mayor Edwin Schroeder.
|
| 1992 |
The Village Hall moved to 33 S. Whitney Street. |
| 1993 |
The Grayslake Municipal Historical Museum was dedicated at 164 Hawley
Street. |
| 1994 |
The Village signed an agreement with the landfill. |
| 1995 |
Grayslake celebrated its centennial. |
| 1996 |
The Village Hall moved to 10 S. Seymour Avenue. |
| 1996 |
Meadowview School is opened. |
| 1997 |
The new Grayslake Library opened its doors at 100 Library Lane. |
| 1997 |
The Grayslake Police Department moved
into its newly remodeled building at 33 S. Whitney Street. |
| 1999 |
"SK8 Grayslake" Skate park was opened on Library Lane. |
| 2000 |
The municipally-owned Esper A. Petersen Foundation Family
Aquatic Center is opened. |
| 2000 |
Frederick School is opened. |
| 2001 |
Veteran’s Memorial is dedicated. |
| 2002 |
The municipally-owned Village of Grayslake Senior
Center is opened. |
Special thanks to the Grayslake Historical Society for their assistance with providing information on this page.
