Old Elgin: A Pictorial History

When James Gifford saw the possibilities of establishing a community northeast of the little lake port of Chicago in 1835, he probably did not envision the dynamics of what was to come. That is the advantage of present-day historians and the readers of E. C. Alft's Old Elgin: A Pictorial History. Through fascinating, sometimes rare, photographs, Alft has given us a visual perspective of the Elgin of the past. These photographs, as living history, afford us the opportunity of witnessing that past as if we were momentarily present; to be select observers of the passage of time. We realize that what we take for granted today in Elgin was once more difficult and much different. This book is a tribute to Elgin's professional and amateur photographers who captured the triumphs and tragedies of the community's struggle to grow and prosper. The publication also honors the collectors of history. The Elgin Area Historical Society has been primarily responsible for preserving Elgin's past. We must be able to look back to see the proper path of advancement. Within the pages of Old Elgin: A Pictorial History, our community comes visually alive in photographs. It is a book and a knowledge you will long cherish.