Historical Fourth in Evanston

Well over a century ago, in 1871, Evanstonians were celebrating the Fourth of July in much the same way they do today. But that year the celebrations had an unusual fund-raising goal.

As this story from the Northwestern University Archives reports, the celebrations then were a fundraiser to help establish the Evanston College for Ladies.

And the day's festivities featured the laying of the cornerstone for what's now Northwestern University's Music Administration Building -- on land donated by the Town of Evanston.

Original story