Sandwich

By Joan Bark Hardekopf and Sandwich Historical Society

Come take a look at the history of Sandwich from its beginnings in the mid-1850s to today. First known as Newark Station, the town s name was changed to Sandwich in 1856 by Congressman John Wentworth, after his hometown in New Hampshire. Wentworth was instrumental in getting the railroad to stop here. Sandwich, surrounded by the fairest and most fertile country, was advertised in 1892 as one of the most beautiful and prosperous cities in northern Illinois. Its agricultural implements, made by the Sandwich Manufacturing Company and Enterprise Company, were shipped worldwide. Sandwich is now known for its annual county fair, antique shows, and shopping.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Aug 18, 2008
• ISBN: 9781439636824

Joan Bark Hardekopf

Joan Bark Hardekopf is a longtime resident of the community. Her family roots date back to the earliest farms. Along with members of the Sandwich Historical Society, Hardekopf is pleased to present this book as part of the 150th celebration of Sandwich. Royalties will help fund the sesquicentennial in 2009.

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INTRODUCTION

Sandwich was not the only name considered for this community back in the mid-1850s. Other names were Almon, after an early settler, and Newark Station. Sandwich was chosen because of Congressman John Wentworth’s influence with the railroad officials. The name was taken from his hometown of Sandwich, New Hampshire.

One of the earliest settlers in 1844 was Almon Gage. He gave the railroad five acres on the condition it would erect the necessary depot buildings within five years. Gage offered lots to anyone who came to erect a building. The first person to respond was James Clark. Clark built the short-lived Donegana House at the southeast corner of Main and Railroad Streets. The depot was built in 1855, two years after the completion of the railroad tracks, attracting large industry.

One of the first businesses to come was the Sandwich Manufacturing Company followed by the Sandwich Enterprise Company. Several hundred people were employed at the factories, which shipped farm implements to all parts of the world. A large brick and tile factory supplied products for farm tiling and building in the community. Bricks were also used for paving the downtown streets.

Many farms were established in the area with the soil being very black, flat, and fertile. The first farms were north of town along the Somonauk Creek. Farming is still an important part of the area now but on a different scale. The average farm size is much larger, and there are fewer farmers.

The area is rich with Native American artifacts like arrowheads, axes, and pottery. Shabbona, a Potawatomi Indian chief, roamed the area as a friend of many. Sandwich Township is actually one half of a township, being divided off from Somonauk Township in 1898 after some disagreements.

Sandwich was progressive in the early years. A power plant and city water were installed in 1883, a fire department in 1884, electric lights in 1893, telephones in 1898, and a sewer system in 1912. There were 203 families here in 1860. The population in 1910 was 2,500.

In 2008, Sandwich has about 6,500 residents in its three square miles. Although there are several small industries, a large number of residents commute to the east for employment. It is still a growing, friendly community that continues to draw new people to the area and is a good place to retire. The town is known for its Sandwich Fair, April to October antique shows, antique and unique shopping. Recently a 100-bed hotel and a convention center were completed; an indoor water park will be completed soon.

This book is a good representation of life in Sandwich from its beginning around 1853 through the 1950s. The town was established in 1859, became a city in 1872, and W. W. Sedgwick was elected the first mayor. Sandwich will be 150 years old in 2009.

—Joan Bark Hardekopf

This 1856 three-story building at 315 East Railroad Street is the Stone Mill Museum. It was deeded in 1965 by James Knights to the newly formed Sandwich Historical Society. It opened as a museum in 1969. It is open Sundays from April to October, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., except some holidays.

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PLACES OF WORSHIP AND PLACES OF LEARNING

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints organized in Sandwich in 1859 and met on East Hall Street until 1902, when the church was deliberately burned. Then they rented the German Lutheran Church on South Main Street until they purchased the church at 109 North Castle Street (above) in 1925 for $850 from the Norwegian Lutherans. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints no longer meets in Sandwich. Today this is the Bread of Life Tabernacle.

A group of Baptists started gathering north of Somonauk in 1842 before moving to Sandwich in 1853, where they built the first church, the First Baptist Church, in Sandwich at the southwest corner of Main and Church Streets for $2,100. They merged with the Presbyterians in 1917. Later the church became the Pictorial Paper Package Corporation.

After worshiping at the academy at the southwest corner of Church and Wolfe Streets, the Presbyterians built the third church in Sandwich, the First Presbyterian, at the northeast corner of Eddy and First Streets. The south-facing church was dedicated in 1858. A 16-foot addition was put on in 1866. In 1892, it was changed to face the west. The Roman Catholics purchased it in 1910.

In November 1897, Sandwich was captivated by an evangelist invited to the area by several local churches. When the Sandwich Opera House became too small after the first evening of evangelist Milan B. Williams’s daily services, the community