Here lies Paul Cornell. He significantly shaped Chicago’s South Side. Paul Cornell was born in White Creek New York in 1822. He died in Chicago in 1904. Cornell’s vision transformed the lakefront into a sought-after resort area. This area included Hyde Park, Kenwood, and Woodlawn.
Paul Cornell was more than a real estate speculator. He was an urban planner. He preserved land for the Chicago Park District. Parks such as Jackson Park and Washington Park owe their existence to him.
Cornell’s family history is interesting. He descended from Thomas Cornell. Thomas Cornell was the Cornell family’s first member in North America. Ezra Cornell the founder of Cornell University was his cousin. Tragedy struck early in Paul’s life. His father died when Paul was just 10 months old. He later moved to Illinois and worked to pay for school. He passed the Illinois bar examination and moved to Chicago in 1847.
Imagine arriving in a new city only to have your savings stolen. That’s what happened to Cornell. A kind lawyer helped him. He offered Cornell a loan and a job. This act of kindness changed Cornell’s life.
Stephen Douglas advised Cornell to invest in land south of Chicago. Following this advice Cornell bought 300 acres in 1853. This land became the foundation for Hyde Park. To increase his land value Cornell gave land to the Illinois Central Railroad. He wanted a train station at 53rd Street and a commitment for train service. Cornell then promoted Hyde Park as a resort area. He chose the name to evoke the elegance of New York and London neighborhoods.
Around the same time Cornell built the Hyde Park House hotel. It became a community focal point. The hotel attracted wealthy guests. By 1861 Hyde Park became a township. Paul Cornell wanted to keep heavy industry out of Hyde Park. He sold large lots to affluent buyers. For two generations the neighborhood thrived.
In 1889 Hyde Park Township voted to join Chicago. Cornell had planned the town with parks and boulevards. He first wanted a seminary. Later his vision materialized as the University of Chicago. John D Rockefeller and Marshall Field helped found it in 1890.
Cornell is called the “father of the South Parks System”. He argued that parks would raise surrounding land values. He based his ideas on New York City’s Central Park. Cornell served on the South Parks Commission for over 13 years. He believed parks gave “lungs to the great city”.
Other ventures included the Hyde Park Hotel. Paul Cornell also developed the Grand Crossing area. He established the Cornell Watch Factory. He founded Republic Life Insurance Company and the American Bronze Company. He helped create Oak Woods Cemetery. Paul Cornell rests here beneath a 15-foot zinc monument. Remember Paul Cornell a visionary who shaped Chicago.