The Des Plaines River Valley was occupied by the Potawatomi, Ottawa, and Chippewa Indians immediately prior to the arrival of the first settlers from the east during the second quarter of the 19th century. Following the Treaty of Chicago in 1833, pioneers from New England and New York began farming the prairie that would eventually become Des Plaines. German immigrants, seeking economic and political freedom, arrived in the area in large numbers during the 1840s and 1850s. German was the primary language in many Des Plaines homes and churches.
The Town of Des Plaines was incorporated in 1869 and the federal census of the following year shows that the village had grown to a population of 800. Des Plaines was reincorporated as a Village in 1873 and was officially organized in 1874 with the election of the first village board. Franklin Whitcomb, a local brick manufacturer, was the first village president.
In addition to the railroad, local farmers were drawn to the steam-powered grist mill next to the Des Plaines River in what is now downtown Des Plaines. Constructed by the railroad developers in 1852 to cut ties from the forested belt of burr oak and hickory along the river, the mill was later purchased by Socrates Rand who converted it to a grist mill. It has since been demolished. The downtown business area of Des Plaines began to grow on either side of the tracks near the mill and at the point where trains would naturally stop to take on water.
Des Plaines was a thriving community when, in 1925, voters approved a proposal to adopt the present city form of government, with H.T. Bennet as the first mayor. During the same year the Village of Riverview, to the south of Des Plaines, was annexed, adding land for industry and homes. The city annexed the Orchard Place area in 1956. Known in 1881 as Farwell, Illinois, Orchard Place developed simultaneously with Des Plaines and Riverview until much of it was razed during construction of the Northwest Tollway.
Following World War II, movement of people from Chicago, plus the development of Chicago-O’Hare International Airport at Orchard Place, signaled a great period of growth for Des Plaines. The population jumped from the prewar 9,000 to over 50,000.
Over 30 churches representing every major denomination are now in the City. Additionally, the City’s elementary and secondary schools are nationally acclaimed. The art and theater guilds, the community concert series, a fine public library system, and a historical museum are true indications of the cultural growth of the community. A progressive park district and extensive forest preserve options accommodate the recreational needs of all ages.
During the past two decades industrial growth has also been phenomenal, the City having become a raw materials and finished products distributing center as well as the headquarters of several major corporations. The combination of superior air transportation, good railroads, and a network of expressways have fostered the full development of Des Plaines. Today, Des Plaines is indeed a progressive city characterized by diverse residences, industrial opportunities, and an abundance of business and trade facilities. Des Plaines is a growing environment, constantly on the move.
LaMantia Design and Remodeling has been helping homeowners in Des Plaines for over 44 years transform their home remodeling dreams into reality. You will find unsurpassed quality and attention to detail given to all projects – kitchen remodels, bath remodels and home additions. Contact us today for a Free Design Consultation.
Verified Client – 12-26-2011 – Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling in Des Plaines, IL
Dear Gentlemen,
With 2011 coming to a close and the completion of our remodeling project, we wanted to take this oppourtunity to thank you and everyone else involved in our project. What we appreciated the most was the fact that your company is a very personable family run business. We felt like we were part of a family and the attention given to us and our project needs was truly appreciated. We were not simply a number or a dollar sign to you. You and your staff showed genuine caring and concern to make sure everything was accomplished according to the plans with no corners being cut. The quality of the workmanship was superb and all of the workers took pride in their work just as if they were working on their own home.
As a Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, I must pay particular attention to detail, planning, vision, experience, research and making sure everything is done correctly, so that a just result is obtained. I was pleased to see that you run your company in the same manner.
We want to specifically mention what a pleasure it was to deal with Jim Campbell, Mike Ryzner, Katie Suva and Mike Gacek. You are lucky to have such wonderful and dedicated people who made our project run very smoothly. Jim Campbell stayed with us throughout the project. He is very knowledgeable and he answered all of our questions. He helped us pick out granite and stone and spent time with us. He gave us ideas and made great suggestions in our overall plan. We became friends.
Mike Ryzner was equally as great. As our construction supervisor he was fantastic. He made the process run smoothly and tried to make sure we were comfortable while construction was ongoing. He made sure everything was done correctly and personally pitched in with the work. His knowledge and experience is invaluable. We became friends as well.
Katie Suva helped us with the cabinet design as well as colors for the siding, indoor paint and hardware. She is very friendly and personable. She came out personally to view our project and make suggestions. Mike Gacek was the first person we met and got the ball rolling. As a supervisor he made proper decisions and treated us fairly. He took an interest in our project and came to our house as well.
All of these wonderful people treated us like family and were concerned about our happiness and attention to detail. They spent a lot of time with us and we appreciate it! We are extremely happy with the final result and want to thank you for running such a great family oriented company that puts their customers first. We were so happy with your work, we recommended you to our neighbors and they have contracted with you as well. All the best to you in 2012!
Steve G. – 4-1-2011 – Room Addition in Des Plaines, IL.
(100% Customer Satisfaction via GuildQuality)
A+ company! They are a family run company that truly cares about you and the project. They do not view you simply as a dollar sign. They are concerned about customer satisfaction, design craftsmanship, quality workmanship and they do not use inferior materials to save money. Their word is their bond. They are reasonably priced and easy to work with. Remodeling can be stressful by its very nature, but they make it easier! We are so happy with our addition and La Mantia!
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Our mission is to provide design and remodeling expertise and deliver unparalleled customer satisfaction in home improvement. With a team of licensed architects, accredited designers, and project managers, we have years of experience to support your renovation needs. We work with distinguished partners to offer quality results, providing style and value without compromise.
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