St. John’s Neighborhood Historic Resources Survey
- Preservation Planning
- Civic
- Cultural Resources
- Urban Planning
McGuire Igleski partnered with the City of Joliet to survey the historic resources of the City’s oldest neighborhood, St. John’s, for the first time since its establishment nearly two centuries ago. The historic resource survey catalogs the diverse range of cultures and traditions associated with one of Joliet’s earliest settlement sites, as reflected in the area’s buildings and structures. In an accompanying survey report, McGuire Igleski provided a detailed narrative on the history and development of the community, including an account of the historical and cultural significance of those who have shaped and developed the neighborhood from its initial settlement to the present day, through the survey of the built environment. The report also documents the architectural heritage of the area through its existing architectural styles, building typologies, and construction methods. As part of the survey report, McGuire Igleski prepared recommendations that address challenges and opportunities to preserve the neighborhood’s sense of place and cultural heritage.
Joliet, Illinois
City of Joliet
180 acres, 541 buildings
The history of Joliet’s early settlement, ethnic heritage, and industrial and commercial development is depicted by a wealth of historic resources in the St. John’s study area, representing the neighborhood’s varying and substantial early periods of growth.
Permanent settlement of the area that would become Joliet and St. John’s neighborhood by European and white settlers began with the establishment of Fort Nonsense in 1832 to serve the few settlers who chose to remain in Will County during the Black Hawk War. Following the war, development of the area began in earnest with the platting of West Joliet by Martin H. Demmond in 1835 and North Joliet in 1848 by Illinois & Michigan Canal Commissioners. Those who settled in the neighborhood were attracted by the burgeoning industrial and commercial activity emerging along Bluff Street and the Des Plaines river. Groups settled within their identifiable ethnic enclave, including Irish, German, and Croatian, each centered around the churches that served as the focal points of each community. Soon after, they became assimilated into the city, as boundaries between ethnic neighborhoods became increasingly fluid. What remains to illustrate their past imprint on the development of Joliet are the churches, residences, and commercial establishments they built. New immigrant groups, including a significant Mexican population, arrived during the mid-twentieth century, revitalizing structures within the St. John’s neighborhood. Today, the St. John’s neighborhood remains a powerful illustration of the ethnic diversity and stratification that embodies Joliet.