Manteno (Images of America)

Manteno (Images of America)

Once known as a "brickyard town," the small town of Manteno holds a special place for not just Americans, but for French, Canadians, and Indigenous people as well. Though the village of Manteno was only formed thanks to the Illinois Central Railroad in 1869, the area had been populated for generations before that - Manteno's name derives from Mawteno, a Potawatomi maiden whose people lived in the area before the arrival of Europeans. Farming has always been a mainstay in Manteno, and its importance continues today, but Manteno's boundaries widened as a mental hospital opened on its eastern border in 1930 and a major interstate sprang up on its western edge decades later. Part of the French-Canadian Heritage Corridor, it was common to hear French on the streets of Manteno well into the 20th century by many residents as well as by an order of nuns from Paris who chose Manteno for a Catholic boarding school - a school they operated for more than six decades. Among former Mantenoans is a man who won the "Grand Prize of the World" in 1900, a woman who canvassed for women's rights legislation that swept the nation in the 19th century, and a family who left its mark on the history of American aviation. The Images of America series has led to a remarkable reflection of local history across the entire country. For the most part, these books are useful collections of historic photographs with a straight-forward narrative and extended captions on the photos. This addition to the series is a far richer experience. Holmes presents all the essential elements for a good local history, but reaches beyond to a broader context...In each chapter, introductory paragraphs flow into a narrative that continues through the photo explanations. Especially for Illinois residents and those seeking to understand the nature of small communities in the upper Midwest, this story of Manteno is a valuable and rewarding source. It is uniquely Manteno's story, but also representative of the broad sweep of similar communities across Illinois. Larry A. McClellan, Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Community Studies, Governors State University and Author of The Underground Railroad South of Chicago Melanie Holmes's paternal grandparents came to the area in the early 20th century; her maternal great-grandmother was a LeVasseur and linked to the founder of Bourbonnais-the village whose namesake was grandfather to Mawteno. Holmes collected images from top historians as well as from the Manteno Historical Society. Other images came from leading universities and institutions. Number of Pages: 160 Published By: Arcadia Publishing Imprint: Arcadia Publishing Series: Images of America Publication Date: February 10, 2020 Location: Illinois Illustration Style: Black and White ISBN Number: 9781467104487 Book Format: Paperback