Niles Centre, Illinois (Skokie) - Founding businesses within a one-block radius from downtown's center.

A pictorial history of the intersection at Lincoln Avenue (formerly called: Main Street) and Oakton Street in Downtown Skokie (Niles Centre, Incorporated 1888; Americanized to Niles Center in1910; Renamed to Skokie 1940).

The name Skokie comes from the Potawatomi word for "Marsh."

In 1888, the community was incorporated as Niles Centre, then in 1910, the spelling of Centre was Americanized to "Center." 

However, the name caused postal confusion with the neighboring village of Niles. A village-renaming campaign began in the 1930s. In a referendum on November 15, 1940, residents chose the Indian name "Skokie" over the name "Devonshire."

During the real estate boom of the 1920s, large parcels of land were subdivided; many two-flat and three-flat apartment buildings were built along with "Chicago" bungalows being the dominant architectural choice.

Large-scale development ended as a result of the Great Depression of 1929. It was not until the 1940s and into the 1950s when parents of the baby boom generation moved their families out of Chicago and into the suburbs. Skokie's housing development began again at a fever pitch. Consequently, the village developed commercially. (example: Westfield Old Orchard was turned into Old Orchard Shopping Center.)

During the night of November 27, 1934, after a gunfight in nearby Barrington, Illinois (called the Battle of Barrington) that left two FBI agents dead, two accomplices of the notorious, 25-year-old bank-robber, "Baby Face Nelson" (Lester Gillis) dumped his bullet-riddled body in a ditch along Niles Center Road adjoining the St. Peter Catholic Cemetery, a block north of Oakton Avenue in the town. 

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Some of the businesses by the intersection of Lincoln Avenue & Oakton Street in Skokie.

St. Peter Catholic School and Church, Established in 1868. Postcard, circa 1880

St. Peter Catholic Church Postcard, circa 1900

Peter Blameuser General Merchandise [Wines, Liquors, Cigars] circa 1870

Blameuser Building. 1895

Klehm & Sons "The Cheap Store" Building circa 1896 

Klehm Bros General Store circa 1900 

Klehm Bros General Store circa 1905

Fred Schoening Wagon & Carriage Maker and Dry Goods Store circa 1900
{Phone: Niles Center 16-W}

Schoeneberger General Store Interior, circa 1900

Robert Siegel Cigar Store circa 1905

Lincoln Avenue from St-Peters Church Steeple, circa 1890

Lincoln Avenue North of Oakton, 1890

Niles Center Theater, circa 1916

Lincoln Avenue North of Oakton, circa 1905

Lincoln Avenue North of Oakton, circa 1930

Aerial Lincoln Avenue and Oakton 1930

Hermann Gerhardt Horse Shoe Shop [Horseshoers & Wagon Maker]
Bergman General Store
Tony Saul Tavern
Niles Center Bank
Niles Center Mercantile [Studebaker Dealer, Farm Machinery, Vehicles, Seed] {Phone: Niles Center 26-J}
Alf's Hall [Dancing & Party Venue]
Johanannes Schoeneberger General Store
A. Kutz [Plumbing and Gas Fitting]
Niles Center Grocery & Market
Ludwig Luebbers [Wagon & Buggies Maker, Blacksmithing, Horseshoers]
Charles Luebbers, Niles Center Tavern {Phone: Niles Center 84}
Freres Brothers Bakery {Phone: Niles Center 1013}

Skokie Incorporated on November 15, 1940, changing its name from Niles Center.

Heinz Electrical Appliance Shop {Phone: Skokie 598}
Niles Center Coal and Building Material Co. [Lumber Mill, Building Material] {Phone: Skokie 600}
Barney’s Place
Siegal’s Cigars
Rodell Pontiac Dealership
Oakton Drug
Dieden’s Smart Shop
Skokie Camera
Skokie Cleaners
Krier’s Restaurant
Schmitz Tavern
Nunn Busch
1st National Bank of Skokie
A&P Grocery
Skokie Music
Community Bakery
Albert’s Pizza
Urbanis Sinclair Gas Station
Walgreens Drug Store
Skokie Jewelers
King Realtors
Alice Beauty Shop
Able Currency Exchange
Skokie Paint
Consumers Millinery Store
Florsheim Shoes
Affiliated Bank
Desiree Restaurant
Village Inn Pizza

Oakton and Lincoln Avenue looking West circa 1948

The intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Oakton 1946

Lincoln Avenue North of Oakton 1957

Oakton East from Lincoln Avenue, 1960

Oakton West at Lincoln Avenue, circa 1960

Lincoln Avenue at Oakton, circa 1960

Aerial of Lincoln Avenue from St-Peter Church Steeple, circa 1965

 Aerial of Lincoln Avenue and Oakton, circa 1973

Lincoln Avenue and Oakton 1991

Aerial of Lincoln Avenue South from St-Peter Church Steeple 1994

ADDITIONAL READING: Dr. A. Louise Klehm: Niles Center (Skokie) Illinois' First Lady of Family Practice.

Compiled by Neil Gale, Ph.D.