1949 Map of Crete

About this map

Governor Dwight H. Green and Director Frank G. Thompson oversaw this detailed mid-century view of the borderlands between Illinois and Indiana. The landscape is defined by a dense network of early rural education, with dozens of family and community-named schoolhouses such as Beebe Grove Sch, Westenfeld Sch, and Neff Sch dotting the countryside around Crete. This era shows the region's transition into a major transportation hub, where the historic Lincoln Highway and Illinois 1 intersect a complex web of railroads including the Michigan Central and Chicago and Eastern Illinois. The map records numerous localized landmarks of genealogical interest, from the St Annes Ch and Pompeii Ch to the Crete Cem and Heusing Cem, reflecting the deep-seated communal roots of the townships spanning Cook, Will, and Kankakee counties.