The City of Elgin is hosting a yearlong Sesquicentennial celebration in honor of the community’s founding in 1872. 2022 is a year for the entire community to commemorate, educate and celebrate the rich history and highlight the cultural fabric of the last 150 years. The Elgin Courier is generously sharing a weekly “Sesquicentennial Story,” intended to provide new perspectives, pay tribute to the past, and help the community join together throughout the year and beyond.​The early newspapers contain stories about large and destructive fires that engulfed large frame buildings in Elgin.Most of the houses and businesses that existed during the close of the 19th century ...