Who Was Ansel B. Cook? Part 1

Cook Avenue, Cook Park, Cook Memorial Library, the Ansel B. Cook Home. Libertyville is full of things named Cook. Who is this Cook guy? Over the next few months (and several blog posts), we’ll take a look at Ansel B. Cook and learn more about the man, his work, and his legacy. Ansel Brainerd Cook was…

W. W. Boyington

In the nineteenth century a well-known Chicago architect was commissioned to design buildings in Libertyville, most likely through his association with Ansel B. Cook. Mr. Cook of course, was a town dignitary and the benefactor of the Cook Memorial Library and Cook Park.  In the 1850s he was a successful stone mason and building contractor. …