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Established on August 24, 1916 [1] by president Woodrow Wilson, the Council of National Defense was created because "The Country is best prepared for war when thoroughly prepared for peace." The local Highland Park branch was formed shortly thereafter.

Biographical/Historical note The Highland Park United Way, formerly named the Community Chest, is a not-for-profit organization formed in 1935. In 1935 twelve members representing the twelve social and welfare agencies which accepted membership in the Chest composed the group, and of thirteen members of the public. The original objective of the organization was to coordinate the fund-raising activities of the social welfare agencies serving the Highland Park community. As of 2012, the Highland Park United Way is part of the United Way of North Shore. The Community Chest aims at cutting down the cost of administration of the various philanthropic organizations whilst supervising and inspecting budgets and expenditures of all enterprises receiving support from the community chest. It eliminates the annoyance to donors in the repeated solicitation for funds, and adds the assurance that the money sought will be properly handled. The original agencies representatives in 1935 were: Arden Shore, Mrs. W. Fyffe; Boy Scouts, Albert Snite; Dorcas Home, Mrs. G. B. Chapman; Highland Park Hospital, John W. Newey; Women’s Auxiliary of the Highland Park Hospital, Mrs. Charles Rubens; Girl Scouts, Mrs. Roy. O. Nereim; Highland Park Social Service, Lyle Gourley; Infant Welfare, Mrs. Malcolm Vail; Red Cross, H.F. Kelley; Northwestern Settlement, Mrs. Kenneth Ives; Baby Feeding Clinic, Edith Fyffe; and Y.W.C.A., Mrs. T.L.Osborne. Allan Wolff, William F. Ross, H.E. Kerber, Gilbert Fuller, Cloud Wampler, C.W. Jones, A.T. Sihler, Robert Greenslade, H.F. Aiston, Lawrence Abt, Mrs. E.A. Harrington, E.J. Fucik and H.N. Pfister are the members at large. The Highland Park United Way, formerly named the Community Chest, is a not-for-profit organization formed in 1935. In 1935 twelve members representing the twelve social and welfare agencies which accepted membership in the Chest composed the group, and of thirteen members of the public. The original objective of the organization was to coordinate the fund-raising activities of the social welfare agencies serving the Highland Park community. As of 2012, the Highland Park United Way is part of the United Way of North Shore. The Community Chest aims at cutting down the cost of administration of the various philanthropic organizations whilst supervising and inspecting budgets and expenditures of all enterprises receiving support from the community chest. It eliminates the annoyance to donors in the repeated solicitation for funds, and adds the assurance that the money sought will be properly handled. The original agencies representatives in 1935 were: Arden Shore, Mrs. W. Fyffe; Boy Scouts, Albert Snite; Dorcas Home, Mrs. G. B. Chapman; Highland Park Hospital, John W. Newey; Women’s Auxiliary of the Highland Park Hospital, Mrs. Charles Rubens; Girl Scouts, Mrs. Roy. O. Nereim; Highland Park Social Service, Lyle Gourley; Infant Welfare, Mrs. Malcolm Vail; Red Cross, H.F. Kelley; Northwestern Settlement, Mrs. Kenneth Ives; Baby Feeding Clinic, Edith Fyffe; and Y.W.C.A., Mrs. T.L.Osborne. Allan Wolff, William F. Ross, H.E. Kerber, Gilbert Fuller, Cloud Wampler, C.W. Jones, A.T. Sihler, Robert Greenslade, H.F. Aiston, Lawrence Abt, Mrs. E.A. Harrington, E.J. Fucik and H.N. Pfister are the members at large.

On March 11, 1869, the Illinois legislature granted a charter to the City of Highland Park. The city was laid out in four wards, and a mayor and eight aldermen were elected on April 13. Highland Park’s first city council comprised Mayor Hawkins and Aldermen George Hammer, Thomas S. Dickerson, Milton H. Baker, Henry Mowers, George Grussing, William Osterman, Jacob S. Curtis and A.O. Fay. Mr. Fay was the first city treasurer; George Williams served as city clerk; Lucius Field, police magistrate and Jonas Steers, city assessor.

Highland Park was within the district designated in 1831 as Cook County. By March, 1837, the northern section of the county comprised the 350 inhabitants required for independent government. Highland Park was included in Lake precinct of McHenry County until March 1, 1839 when Lake County was established east of the Fox River. Early settlers, primarily Irish and German began arriving in the early 1840s, establishing farms in the open countryside west of Green Bay Road. The construction of the Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad in 1856 brought new opportunities. The financial panic of 1873 brought a halt to the area’s development, and not until the 1880s the City restarted expanding economically. The population, however, continued growing from 1,154 inhabitants in 1880 to 2,163 in 1890. The creation of a literary society in 1874 that would lead weekly lectures on current issues warranted the necessity for a reading room and a library. In 1887 the city council favored a petition for a public reading room. Miss Marsalene Green was appointed the first librarian in April, 1888. The Andrew Carnegie Library served Highland Park from 1906 until 1931 when the limestone building at Laurel and St. Johns Avenues was opened to the public.

The police force was established as one of the first departments in 1869 when James Ayres was appointed marshal and Peter Hoffman was employed as the lone patrolman. During the extensive service of Chief Edward Moroney, 1919-1940, a police station was established at the City Hall; a radio system was installed at the station, and squad cars were equipped with two-way radio sets.

Highland Park’s first fire department consisted of six volunteers selected in 1889 by H. H. Edwards. The first official chief was Andrew Bock, appointed in 1889. A volunteer department at Ravinia was formed in 1910 and supervised by Lawrence Buck and George Wallace Carr.

The second city department originated in the 1870s when John Duffy was named superintendent of streets. The first paved streets, 1893, were Sheridan Road, Laurel and Prospect Avenues. Incandescent lamps were introduced in June of 1889 at Elisha Gray’s state. To illuminate the grounds, the men employed a wiring system consisting of paraffin and other materials which Professor Gray had been using for experiments with an electric printer.

Despite problems encountered by summer draughts and epidemics, citizens hesitated to undertake the expense of a water plant until 1893 when Archibald Fletcher was elected mayor. The sanitary sewer system has grown from three units, installed in 1893, to 60 miles of sewer mains which connect with five disposal plants. Prior to 1919 the collection and disposal of sewage was handled by separate sewer districts which employed such methods as partial treatment and the dumping of raw sewage into Lake Michigan.

Highland Park’s Board of Health originated in 1879 when a special meeting was called to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. James McDonald, a merchant, and Dr. Warren Sweetland, a pharmacist, were among the first board members. By March, 1837, the northern section of the county comprised the 350 inhabitants required for independent government. Highland Park was included in Lake precinct of McHenry County until March 1, 1839 when Lake County was established east of the Fox River. Early settlers, primarily Irish and German began arriving in the early 1840s, establishing farms in the open countryside west of Green Bay Road. The construction of the Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad in 1856 brought new opportunities. On March 11, 1869, the Illinois legislature granted a charter to the City of Highland Park. The city was laid out in four wards, and a mayor and eight aldermen were elected on April 13. Highland Park’s first city council comprised Mayor Hawkins and Aldermen George Hammer, Thomas S. Dickerson, Milton H. Baker, Henry Mowers, George Grussing, William Osterman, Jacob S. Curtis and A.O. Fay. Mr. Fay was the first city treasurer; George Williams served as city clerk; Lucius Field, police magistrate and Jonas Steers, city assessor. The financial panic of 1873 brought a halt to the area’s development, and not until the 1880s the City restarted expanding economically. The population, however, continued growing from 1,154 inhabitants in 1880 to 2,163 in 1890. The creation of a literary society in 1874 that would lead weekly lectures on current issues warranted the necessity for a reading room and a library. In 1887 the city council favored a petition for a public reading room. Miss Marsalene Green was appointed the first librarian in April, 1888. The Andrew Carnegie Library served Highland Park from 1906 until 1931 when the limestone building at Laurel and St. Johns Avenues was opened to the public.

The second city department originated in the 1870s when John Duffy was named superintendent of streets. The first paved streets, 1893, were Sheridan Road, Laurel and Prospect Avenues. Incandescent lamps were introduced in June of 1889 at Elisha Gray’s state. To illuminate the grounds, the men employed a wiring system consisting of paraffin and other materials which Professor Gray had been using for experiments with an electric printer.
Despite problems encountered by summer draughts and epidemics, citizens hesitated to undertake the expense of a water plant until 1893 when Archibald Fletcher was elected mayor. The sanitary sewer system has grown from three units, installed in 1893, to 60 miles of sewer mains which connect with five disposal plants. Prior to 1919 the collection and disposal of sewage was handled by separate sewer districts which employed such methods as partial treatment and the dumping of raw sewage into Lake Michigan.

Highland Park’s Board of Health originated in 1879 when a special meeting was called to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. James McDonald, a merchant, and Dr. Warren Sweetland, a pharmacist, were among the first board members.

The Highland Park Mother's Club was founded at the Highland Park, Illinois YWCA in 1916 with a membership of seven mothers. In 1973 Highland Park Public Library purchased the YWCA property at 474 Laurel St for expansion purposes.

The League of Women Voters was established in Highland Park in 1928. Its beginning objectives were to promote education in citizenship, work for efficient administration of government, support the legislative program of the league, and to retain a non-partisan identity. The League promoted registration, community involvement, education, physical health, and city preservation among other things.

*Further information on the League of Women Voters can be found in "Highland Park The First Hundred Years"

The Highland Park Hospital began as a community institution in 1918. It began with a focus on local community health and was supported by individuals and associations of Highland Park. Some of the associations that contributed to the Hospital in its early years are the Woman's Auxiliary, Ossoli Club, Ravinia Woman's Club, and the Garden Club of Highland Park. The Hospital had many departments: a Maternity Ward with staff obstetricians, Operating Rooms with staff surgeons, X-Ray department, Medical Laboratory Dental Clinic, Baby Clinic, Emergency Room, and general patient care admittance. A few of the goals of the Hospital were to educate the public on health information, care of elderly, and the general well being of the community.

With the growth and expansion of the community, the Hospital grew as well. In 1978, they added a new wing to the existing hospital, and in 1980, they added a heliport. The new wing allowed for more patients to stay in the hospital and allowed the hospital to further expand its existing departments. Adding a heliport, allowed patients to be flown in or out of the hospital due to their needs. It also allowed the hospital to gain status as a triage center.

The Highland Park Hospital, in 2012, is part of the NorthShore University HealthSystem .