From where do some of Skokie’s street names come?

Here are just a few:

  • Harms Road is named for Henry Harms, considered one of Skokie’s founding fathers. He opened the first store in Skokie in 1858, the first post office in 1863, and possessed the first phone in 1886. He aided the community by draining much of the area’s swamp land to make it suitable for farming and owned much of the land south of Oakton St., which he rented to farmers. He also built a plank toll road along Lincoln Ave. into Chicago.
  • Galitz Street is named for William Galitz who with Peter Hoffman founded the Niles Center State Bank in 1907.
  • Floral Avenue is named for the greenhouses that once dominated the north end of the block.
  • Brown St. is named for John E. Brown, 6th Mayor of Niles Center 1923-1932, who also happened to live on that street.
Skokie Street Names