East of the Road to Dundee

The Road to Dundee began as a dirt wagon trail from downtown Elgin to the neighboring village of Dundee. Over the years it became known as the Dundee Road and finally in the early 1900's known as Dundee Avenue. What became of the Elgin Agricultural Society founded in 1870 and horse racing in Elgin? With the formation of the Elgin Improvement Company in 1890 read how the area east of Dundee Avenue went from field to factory. Learn about some of the early settlers and their families: Marks, Pabst, Hade, McBride, Beckmann, Muetterties and others.Read about the major employers: the Illinois Watch Case Company, the Ludlow Shoe Factory and Cutter and Crossette Shirt Factory. Follow the buildings through the years and what became of them. Other businesses that started small: Fox Valley Fire and Safety, Muetterties Bakery and Gromer's Grocery. What challenges did these small businesses face?Where were the children educated? Read about Columbia School and the building of Larsen Middle School.Learn about Peter Burritt and his second wife, Rebecca McBride Burritt Gilbert, a strong businesswoman ahead of her time, who built the Henriette and Burritt Buildings and managed extensive real estate holdings in Elgin.