Ten miles west of Chicago on the west bank of the sits Maywood, a village that was founded in 1869 by seven New England businessmen who established the . This prairie community, carefully laid out along the railroad, experienced a population boom after the of 1871. Soon industry arrived, followed by a variety of ethnic groups. Maywood was one of the few early suburban communities with an African-American neighborhood. Explore the fascinating history of Maywood, Illinois, with author Douglas Deuchler, a journalist, playwright, and historian who taught in the community for 34 years. Maywood transports readers back in time to meet the people and visit the places that provide the town with its unique heritage.