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Dolton Real Estate and Community Information
History
Dolton was once the home to a tribe of the Potowatomie Indians. In 1760, the Potowatomies were pushed out of the area by tribes of the Sac, Illini and Miami Indians, and some settled along the bend of the Little Calumet River, now Blouin Drive.
The first non-Indian settler was a White man named J. Clark Matthews who bought land from the Indians in 1832, establishing a homestead in what is now Dolton.
In March 1837, George Dolton settled here and joined Matthews in a business venture operating ferrys across the Little Calumet River. Other early families included the Perriams, Shermans, Ousterhouts, Osterhagens and Zimmers. Additional settlers from Holland and Germany also settled in the area because of unrest in Europe.
Thorntown Township was established in 1850 and Andrew Dolton, the son of George Dolton, became the first supervisor. Andrew Dolton also served as:
- The postmaster of the first Post Office that was opened in 1866.
- First Justice of the Peace
The city of Chicago began looking to expand south and parts of the region near Dolton began to be annexed. Village leaders wanted to preserve Dolton as an independent community and so on December 28, 1892 the Village of Dolton was incorporated during a village meeting.
The Dolton family continued to prosper and had many children. Their original homestead was located at 14037 Lincoln Ave. Their home was donated to be used as the Village Library but was razed in 1964 and replaced with a newer building.
Dolton became a center for the growth of train transportation. The Train Depot was located at 139th Street and Lincoln Ave. It was torn down in 1972. The trains brought commerce, and complaints that the noise frightened the livestock and also block streets.
Much of Dolton's history is recorded in the family records of the Dolton Family and newspaper articles published during the 20th Century. There has also been a book authored on the first 100 years of the village, entitled "Dolton Tattler: Fact, Fiction and Folklore" (1992) authored by Marlene Cook.
The City of Aurora is rich in history and pride. The future for the "City of Lights" looks bright as the community continues to grow and prosper.
Schools
The first school in Dolton (District 149) was a one-room cabin built in 1854 along Lincoln Avenue. The Park Avenue School was replaced by the Lincoln School in 1911. The Park Avenue School was turned into the Dolton Municipal Building because the noise of the local train traffic disrupted classes. Thornridge High school was opened in February 1960 with 1,625 students.
Fire & Police Department
Dolton organized its first Fire Company in 1895 with 29 men meeting at Lund Hall located at 14067 Lincoln Ave. The engine keeper was the first person to be paid in 1906, he received $2 after every fire. The fire company itself was paid $10 for each fire attended.
The Dolton Police Department was formed in 1892 when the village was incorporated, but did not formally organize itself until April 25, 1907. Police were paid $65 a month that year. Later, they also received a $35 clothing allowance. Police Call Boxes were initially located at 138th Street, 147th Street at Chicago Road, 138th and Lincoln Avenue. Later coverage was expanded to include other locations including the South and West limits of the village, and also the center of town. Radio dispatches did not begin until the late 1930s and early 1940s. In 1951, the village established a Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.
The Dorchester Club
The Dorchester Club began as a private club in the 1950s. Dolton's official flag was adopted on Feb. 20, 1967 after businessman Sid Steele, owner of the Dolton Department Store, offered a $25 US Savings Bond as a prize to the designer of a suitable design. Of the 47 designs, the Village selected one submitted by Carol Cameron.
Demographics
The Village of Dolton occupies six square miles in Cook County. The population was recorded as 448 in 1880 and increased to 2,923 in 1930, 13,012 in 1957, 23,000 in 1963 and 26,600 in 1974. Today, Dolton has a population of 25,000+ residents and is considered one of the premiere towns of the Southern Suburbs. Dolton has many qualities that attract people, including the Waterfall, various social clubs, booming economic development, safe residential communities, and convenient proximity to the major expressways and downtown Chicago. The Village is governed by the Mayor and six trustees, all elected officials. The position of Village Clerk/Collector is also an elected position.
