The picture of the Morgan Park Baptist Church triggered interest in the early days of Morgan Park. Morgan Park did not just evolve – it was a "planned" community. The Blue Island Land and Building Company (BILBC) bought much of the land left from the Thomas Morgan estate after the Civil War, after Mrs. Morgan died in 1868.
The BILBC was headed by Col. Clarke, who lived here, and by George Walker, who never lived here but was an investor, who gave MP its first library – the Walker Library on 111th and Hoyne.
The land was laid out to resemble an English village, with winding streets and parks. The Village was founded as an educational, religious and temperance enclave. It was marketed to the public beginning in 1873.
Attached is an ad from the Chicago Tribune from 1873. Note it mentions both Morgan Park Academy and the MP Baptist Church. These were selling points for attracting people here.