Charles Durkee and George Kimball were two of the earliest settlers and laid claim to neighboring tracts of land.

Durkee and Kimball agreed to donate a portion of their lands to Kenosha for a city park.

[6][2] During the Civil War, the neighborhood became active as a stop on the Underground Railroad at the behest of Ruben H. Deming.

Located at 1116-18 61st, Kenosha WI, both the Hale–Farr[7] and the Reuben H. Deming house[8] have survived as examples of homes used for the slave escape network.

[12] The Gilbert M. Simmons Memorial Library, designed by Daniel Burnham, opened to the public in 1900.