In the earliest days, the current west Lake Forest area was known as Meehan’s Settlement, after Deerfield Township’s very first European-American settlers, Michael and Bridget Meehan. The Meehans were Irish immigrants who came to the United States in 1832. They built a cabin south of the present-day intersection of Telegraph and Half Day roads in 1835.
As a landmark and way station, the Meehan house, would guide pioneers passing through on the way to their new claims in Lake County. Mrs. Meehan even had a horn, which she blew at intervals to greet the newcomers, and to direct them toward their destination. She knew they would stop at the Green Bay Tavern, located south of present-day Highwood, for dinner, and so calculated about the right time to start to blow the horn.
The Meehans cultivated 225 acres of land and brought the first domesticated animals to the area. In the spring of 1836, Michael Meehan reportedly traveled down to Bridgeport, where he purchased seed oats and potatoes for $1 per bushel, and a young pig for $10.
The Meehan cabin also hosted the first town meeting, when early settlers voted 17 to 13 to name their township Deerfield instead of “Erin.”