NEWSLETTER - La Grange Area Historical Society
NEWSLETTER LaGrange Area Historical Society 444 S. LaGrange Road – 708-482-4248 www.lagrangehistory.org email - lagrangehistory@sbcglobal.net May, 2006 ---------------------ANNUAL MEETING This year at the annual meeting we elected a new board member and said goodbye to another. We welcomed Ed Thoele, our IT person, who accepted a three year term as director. We said goodbye to Mary Higley, who was elected to the board in 1996, served as president from 1998 to 2004, and secretary from 2004 to 2006. We thanked Mary for her service to the society that began in 1995. That was the year she casually walked around the corner from her home on Madison Avenue and introduced herself to Bob and Alice Petrik who were, as usual, volunteering their time at the museum. Having grown up in the Boston area, where historical sites can be found at every turn of the road, and given her interest in genealogy, it was no surprise that Mary offered to volunteer at the historical society. She soon found herself planting, weeding, mowing, cleaning and helping Alice with the garage sale. She was elected to the board in 1996 and volunteered to be membership chair. When Mary was elected president, she volunteered the services of her husband Ky, who became our “handyman”; together they took care of their “second home”. They painted the kitchen walls, mopped the water that forever seeped into the basement, made sure the chimney caps were installed, and Ky cleared the snow from the parking lot. Many long hours were spent reviewing insurance policies, by laws, and contracts. Mary was in charge of the Christmas Open House. She decorated the tree, ordered the children’s gifts and made sure Santa arrived on time. She was present for every Sunday Open House, oversaw the annual garage and bake sale, ordered signs, organized programs and changed light bulbs. During all that time she continued as chair of the membership committee. Setting up our first computer station complete with scanner, Mary became our IT director before we even knew what IT stood for. She donated and updated countless software programs, ordered supplies, and was always there whenever a question arose. She asked that her monetary donations remain anonymous; and so it was that annually there appeared in the treasurer’s report a large donation from “a friend.” As director of auditing and director of financial services with U.S. Gypsum Corporation, Mary made sure that the society was in good financial shape and secured a Dun and Bradstreet number that she knew we would need when applying for grants. Mary came to the Chicago area making many stops along the way. From Gettysburg College, whose grounds adjoin the historic battlefield, and from Stony Point, Tarrytown, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, she brought with her a love of history. That love was evident in the many years she devoted to preserving our historical record. We publicly thank Mary for her many years of service, her dedication, her significant contributions and tireless work on behalf of the historical society. She has earned a well deserved rest from all her duties and responsibilities. The society is that much better for her having been with us. If any of you, our readers, happen to see Mary as she makes her way to and from the train each day, perhaps you too could stop and thank her for keeping our history alive. The La Grange Area Historical Society Officers and Directors for 2006 President, Jeannine McLaughlin Vice President, Lee Bence Treasurer, Jeanne Hayden Secretary, Pat Kozlowski. The Board of Directors Jodi Bannister Eleanor Carroll Jacquie Flood Ralph Fredericks Larry Kinports Mary Knoppe Mary Nelson Robert Milne Jane Reich Alex Severino Ed Thoele Cynthia Urbain
A Special Project Max, an 8th grade student at Park Jr. High, has selected a project in cooperation with The LGAHS in an endeavor to achieve the Eagle Scout rank in The Boy Scouts of America. He will be interviewing people who lived in the LaGrange area in the years of the Great Depression (1929 1939). He will then put these interviews into a book and on video. These documents will become official records of The La Grange Area Historical Society. Max’s project will include interviewing about 15 people. If you are or know of someone who lived in the area during this time, please contact Jeanine McLaughlin at The LGAHS (these people are ideally over 77 years old). These interviews are of planned to take place during the months June and July 2006. WHO DOESN’T LOVE A PARADE? Many children, their family members, and their pets are needed, to walk with us in the annual LaGrange Pet Parade, June 3, 2006, wearing attire from yesteryear. Walkers are treated to a snack and a drink when they are finished; We assemble near the corner of Maple and LaGrange Road look for the silver/blue Chrysler convertible. Parents: meet your children afterwards at the LT north parking lot. Families wishing to participate should phone Ellie Carroll at the museum, 708 482 4248 Garage/Bake Sale . September 16th It is Springtime and already our thoughts are turning to September and our annual garage/bake sale. We have learned some important lessons over the years. We discovered that we, the volunteers, are not as young as we use to be; (average age is 60 plus) therefore, we had to rethink this year’s event. We decided that we were going to downsize and hope that perhaps some of you are going to downsize also. If that is the case, if you are moving or just simplifying, and have items that you know others would dearly love, please get in touch with us. We will gladly accept your donations, especially if they are as old as we are. So please pick up the phone, give us a call. We are sorry that we cannot accept books or clothes this year but your other treasures are needed. The garage/bake sale is our largest fundraiser and we need your help to make it a successful event. Recent Donations Marianne R. Matthews – 50th Reunion booklet for the L.T.H.S. class of 1938 Jan McFarland – 1930’s pieced quilt in the basket pattern, small heart-shaped pillow with front made of Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt. Marlan Smith – 50th Reunion booklet for the L.T.H.S. class of 1935, 2-L.T.H.S. TAB’s from 1933 & 1935, and programs from the 25th Reunion of the class of 1935 Mr. & Mrs. William Cumming – membership directories from 1st Presbyterian Church – 1972, 1975, 1985, 1990, 1995 Bob Milne – Western Electric memorabilia, Salt Creek Model A Ford Club – 2002 roster Mrs. John R. Castles – gilded baby shoes of John R. Castles who was born in 1919. Ken Knops – information and real estate listing paper for 831 Homestead, safe deposit box key for LaGrange State Trust and Savings Bank box #1190 Cynthia L. Jenner – 1922 autograph album – Peggy’s Friendship Book, page’s sash from 1929 D.A.R. convention and souvenir American flag from 1929 D.A.R. convention. All belonged to Nadine Newbill Jenner who grew up in LaGrange. All had been professionally conserved by C.L. Jenner Mary Nelson – Amish checkerboard Mr. & Mrs. Harold Austin – scrapbook of 1970’s newspaper articles about LaGrange Betsy McManaman – wooden curtain stretchers Eamon Rago – Burlington Railroad, West Towns Bus Company and LaGrange Park Transit memorabilia Marilyn Job – LaGrange Centennial memorabilia and other LaGrange mementos
CORRECTION In our last newsletter we featured a 1908 picture of the Hunter Building on Burlington Avenue in LaGrange which was torn down in 1979 and replaced by a similar looking building. We incorrectly said the building was currently occupied by the Hallmark Shop. It is not. At the time of the newsletter it was occupied by the Sprint Store. Now in May 2006 Sprint has moved and the building is empty. LGHS GOES HIGH-TECH We are in the process of being able to e-mail the newsletter to our members. It will save on mailing and printing costs. If you are interested, just e-mail your e-mail address to us at lagrangehistory@sbcglobel.net. It will be sent as a PDF file and should be about 5 megabytes. New Self-Guided Walking Tour Booklet If you like to read about, or enjoy strolling through the LaGrange Historic District looking at the wonderful old properties, then you will enjoy our next in the series of walking tours. We are pleased to announce a new self-guided booklet in our Walking Tour Series covering the 100 and 200 blocks of Sixth and Seventh Avenues in LaGrange along with a few homes/properties in the same blocks on LaGrange Road. As in similar booklets, we have selected some of these fine homes so we can share with you the rich history about our LaGrange settlers and the homes they built. House photographs are in color and you will be sure to find a newsworthy paragraph or two on the selected homes based on information from our archive files and from our renowned ‘Wednesday Ladies’. The new Walking Tour along with our other Walking Tour booklets will be available for purchase during our Open House on Sunday June 25th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., or if you prefer you can mail your check to the LaGrange Area Historical Society at 444 S. LaGrange Rd. Cost is 5 per booklet for members and 10 for non-members. Can you identify this home? This photograph is of an unidentified home in LaGrange. If you think you know its location please give us a call at 708-482-4248. AND THE WINNER IS Last newsletter’s unidentified house was a rerun from the newsletter before. It was correctly identified by Gay Bishop as 21 & 23 S. 7th. It is a 2-family home.
The early Citizen Newspaper carried a column reporting on the comings and goings of its citizens. This column, titled “Locals,” brought readers up to date on what was happening around town: who was going where on vacation and when they would be traveling who was visiting whom who was moving where and why they were moving the latest bridge parties and club events the progress of those who had been released from the hospital We are going to resurrect the “Locals,” tweak it a bit and bring you the latest news about your fellow members. Our first “edition” follows below. On April 23, former board member Curryanne Hostetler was ordained a minister in a beautiful ceremony that was held at the First Congregational Church of La Grange. Curryanne is presently serving at Sparta United Church of Christ in Kimmell, Indiana. A number of our members were seen working the streets (names withheld) on behalf of Misericordia Home. Other members were part of a crew wearing brightly colored vests and picking up trash along a state highway. They claim it was on behalf of the Rotary Club’s Adopt a Highway Program. In recognition of her service to mankind, Mary Vann received the Dr. Ted Gifford Community Service Award from the Rotary Club of La Grange. We are continuing to correspond with John Gardner who lives in Germany. John served with Army Intelligence in WWII and during the occupation. We hope he may one day pay us a visit and share his intelligence with us. (We need all the help we can get.) Donald Veverka thanked us for advertising the “Y Men’s Club Christmas Tree Sale” in our newsletter. We were the recent recipients of a donation from the “Y Men’s Club of the Rich Port YMCA, and are ever so grateful that they always remember us. Your support of their Christmas Tree Sale makes such grants possible. Jerry Hill was the very first to volunteer to work at our “refreshment corner,” a fundraiser, to be held in conjunction with the Pet Parade on June 3rd. A “For Sale” sign is posted in front of Elizabeth Lewis’ house and news reached us that this long time resident will soon be relocating to Madison, Wisconsin. How can it be that she and Lloyd are leaving the community she’s given so much to for soooo long?! Two beautiful young ladies brought their father and our newest member Michael Bolton, to our April Open House. Also visiting were Cathy Riebel and Ed Thoele who presented us with a check for a life membership. Carol Norling, another new life member, presented us with a new Victorian Christmas tree ornament. A gift card that keeps giving and giving, has mysteriously wormed its way into our system. It was donated by Corinne Gasner, a “friend” we have yet to meet and not quite sure is real. We suspect she is from cyberspace because the donation was specifically earmarked for tech support. If you see Jackie Torrence and our young volunteers digging in the side yard of the museum, they are not looking for another “Sue” but getting the yard ready for spring blooms. If you have any good news that you would like to share, please contact us. If you spy any of our members committing nefarious acts, please contact the police. If you have any complaints about this newsletter, please contact the disconnected number listed below.
THE LA GRANGE AREA AND ITS RAILROAD HERITAGE On May 20, 1864, a transcendent event in our area’s history occurred. On that spring day, the first Chicago, Burlington and Quincy passenger train stopped in La Grange. The now nonexistent depot, called Hazel Glen, was located just east of Gilbert Avenue along the Burlington tracks. This epochal event changed forever the history of our community. Over the next several years, the La Grange area was to be transformed from a predominately agricultural settlement to a bedroom community populated by commuters and a downtown composed of burgeoning small businesses. The significance of the coming of the railroads, the vanguard of the nineteenth century transportation revolution, cannot be understated. For the first time, farmers could efficiently ship their crops to distant markets, increasing the prices they received for their commodities. Consumers could look through a Wards or Sears mail order catalog and order heretofore unobtainable products that would be shipped to their towns by the railroads. Commuters, consisting chiefly of businessmen at that time, could travel to or from downtown Chicago in a fraction of the time that it took a horse and buggy. Potential residents could travel to the western suburbs to purchase homes in the many new subdivisions that were developing across the prairie’s landscape. Throughout the last 142 years, The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, later The Burlington Northern and now, through mergers and consolidations, The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, has been our area’s most important transportation artery. Our downtown regions, dominated by small businesses, developed alongside that railroads east to west rightof-way and adjacent to our communities’ depots. Our area’s industrial base received a boost with the opening of the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad in 1906. This freight-only railroad cuts through La Grange Park and La Grange on a north-south axis and connects with all Chicago area railroads, helping ease congestion in what was by the late nineteenth century the nation’s railroad capital-Chicago. During the Great Depression, the world’s first diesel-electric streamliner, The Burlington Zephyr, sped through La Grange on its dawn to dusk race from Denver to Chicago in record time, with most of our inhabitants lining the tracks to wonder at this latest, for 1934, technological marvel. This streamliner utilized a revolutionary dieselelectric engine developed by The Electro-Motive Corporation, once a subsidiary of General Motors but now an independent company. Seventy years ago, on May 20 1936 (and, coincidentally, exactly 72 years after the railroad’s arrival in La Grange), E.M.D. delivered its first locomotive built at its new plant in La Grange: a 600 horsepower switcher built for The Santa Fe Railroad. Electro-Motive quickly developed into the manufacturer of the largest and highest quality locomotives in the world, employing up to 15,000 workers and providing enormous economic development to our community. From June 3 until the end of October, 2006, The La Grange Area Historical Society will present an exhibit entitled “The La Grange Area and its Railroad Heritage,” at the society’s Vial home. If you have any pertinent items related to railroads and the La Grange area that you would like
to loan or donate, please contact Ralph Fredericks at 708-352-2471, or e-mail him at senatorralph@hotmail.com. President’s Comment At age nineteen, on a warm day in August 1944, she made her way up the stairs to the control tower at Midway Airport and became the first woman air traffic controller at Midway Airport. It was not known as Midway back then, its official name was The Chicago Municipal Airport, and on this day a young woman, a licensed pilot, reported for duty. Ruth Osgood learned to fly on a grass strip in a Piper J3 back home in Mendota, Illinois. She completed two years at Stephens College, enrolling in their flight program in 1943. Her parents were eager for her to complete her education but Ruth wanted to join the war effort. World War II was raging, good friends had been killed in action, and she felt obliged to contribute. Vowing that she would return to school one day, she applied to and was accepted into the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, (WASPS). A total of 25,000 women had applied for WASP training, 1,830 had been accepted. She was scheduled to enter the July 1944 class but the program was cancelled because there was no longer a critical shortage of male pilots. It was then that her father learned that air traffic controllers were needed at Midway and encouraged his daughter to apply. She took the C.A.A. test and was hired – she would be trained on the job. So there she was, working at the world’s busiest airport, alongside several men. There were civilian aircraft coming and going; TWA, Braniff, Pan Am, along with the large contingent of military planes, the B17s, B24s. There were fighters, the P51s and the P47s, and the trainers and cargo planes. Midway, not yet having radar, used only one radio frequency and a small push button telephone. There was a wind tree and, for the civilian aircraft with no radio, a light gun to direct their landings. Working with the chief controller, Ruth learned to co-ordinate tower activities with the regional controllers as planes entered Midway’s airspace. Then, gradually, she began direct voice contact with all pilots, giving altitude and landing instructions and taxiing and take-off clearances, the primary responsibilities of the tower controllers. No, she was never promoted above assistant, as they would not promote a woman in the Midway tower. And it was she who retrieved coffee for the men. “It was a job expected of a woman,” she said. Her salary was 45.00 a week and with that she bought war bonds, paid seven cents for her streetcar ride to Cicero Avenue, and worked three shifts that rotated every week. Ruth stayed on until December, 1945, as men were returning from service to take positions in the tower. She resumed her college education at Michigan State. It was there that she and others started a flying club, purchased a war surplus airplane, and signed up for flight time. Her love of piston aircraft continues to this day. Ruth is leaving La Grange and her home on Stone Avenue after 45 years. It is the house where she raised her four children, all Lyons Township High School graduates, volunteered in the community as chair of a local day care center, and was an elder in her church. She completed graduate credits and resumed work in the field of women’s health. Ruth is relocating to Evanston but we hope she will return often to help us at the historical society. Over the past years Ruth has interviewed our area World War II veterans for the Veterans History project on behalf of the society. Those interviews were recorded and copies are presently in the Library of Congress we well as our library. We are not saying goodbye to our friend and volunteer. We fully understand how difficult it will be for her to leave a home that she loves, one with all those memories. Closing the door for the last time will be traumatic but Ruth has faced many challenges in the past and she will do well. We will let her settle in, do some traveling and attend air shows. We know that she will venture into the control towers that she’s permitted to enter, knowing that women air traffic controllers and women pilots are now fully accepted as an every day fact of life. However, on her next visit to a control tower, we would like her to ask if it is still a woman’s job to fetch the coffee. Can’t wait to hear that answer!
We hope to see you soon Ruth, and thanks. Signed: Your friends and crew members at the Historical Society Little Bit of History A HELPING HAND TO THE YOUNG 1924 It was in the year of 1924, that the Illinois Masonic Orphans Home was established in LaGrange, to provide a home for the orphaned children or the children of broken marriages of any relative or member of the Masonic Organization. The home, fronting on Ninth Avenue at Goodman was one of the finest and most substantial buildings in the area. The main buildings were of brick, and constructed to appear as a single architectural unit. Every possible facility and convenience was provided for the needs and comfort of the children, including a complete hospital to care for their health and any possible emergencies that might have arisen. The boys and girls maintained splendid band and drill corps which was in great demand at Masonic and public gatherings throughout the area. This band and drill corps also made frequent appearances at entertainment functions given by the Shriners in Chicago, and were always the most popular unit of the occasion. The grounds were located in the extreme southeastern part of the village and comprised about three and one-half blocks. An athletic field occupied about an acre south of the buildings for the outdoor activities of the youngsters. A vegetable garden of about two acres provided outdoor work for the boys during the summer months. The institution was kept supplied with vegetables as a result of some fine gardening by the boys, and the surplus was canned for winter by the girls domestic science class. The capacity of the home was about 200. The children were accepted at three years old and kept until they were adopted or became selfsupporting, which was considered to be upon graduation from the local high school. The children attended the public schools of the area, and while the home did not have to pay taxes, the Grand Lodge voluntarily contributed very generously both to the grammar schools and to the high school. The home operated pretty much under the circumstances until 1959, when the new facilities were opened just to the south of the original buildings, where it is still in operation. The original facilities shown above were occupied by Colonial Manor Health Care from 1959 until 2000. Presently it is occupied by Victorian Manor Healthcare and Rehabilitation. The building is scheduled for demolition and this “Little Bit of History” will soon be history. This article was originally published in “The Shopper” in 1968 as an ad for Koshgarian Rug Company, then of LaGrange now of Hinsdale.
LOOKING FOR PHOTOS? We are beginning to make reprints of old photographs related to the LaGrange and LaGrange Park areas. If you are interested in purchasing them call or stop by the museum. Below are examples of a few of the photos we have on file. LaGrange Area Historical Society 444 S. LaGrange Road LaGrange, Il 60525
NEWSLETTER LaGrange Area Historical Society 444 S. LaGrange Road - 708-482-4248 www.lagrangehistory.org email - lagrangehistory@sbcglobal.net May, 2006
444 South La Grange Road, La Grange, IL Web: www.lagrangehistory.org Phone/Fax: 708.482.4248 LA GRANGE AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY Serving La Grange and La Grange Park Autumn 2014 PRESERVING THE OLD WAYS, PROTECTING THE NEW We study history in order to learn how and why the world came to be as it is. In seeking to understand . YMCA MEN 'S CLUB .
La Grange Warehouse and Store (La Grange Barn) .he La Grange Warehouse is difficult to precisely date, but it is likely from the mid-nineteenth century when the La Grange Iron Works was acquiring land and needed storage for materials. One I 851 newspaper reports that Isaac Rogers and Son purchased
the subject historic Grange Hall, on an intersecting alley, is the location of the new grange hall constructed in 1964. The historic New Market Grange Hall is a frame, 1 % story gable-fronted building, 5 bays in depth. The building is sheathed with German lapped siding; windows are six over six sash.
For 140 years Grange halls have existed as community centers where residents gather for educational events, town meetings, dances, potlucks, and entertainment. Junior Grange, 4-H, FFA, Boy Scout, Girl Scout and other youth groups have thrived because of Grange involvement. Each year tens of thousands Grange members give back to their community
Rainbow Grange was founded in1876. The Rosier Grange was founded in 1933. They merged in 1994 when their memberships were waning and upkeep of the substantial building in North Brooksville (now Bill Jagger's carpen-try shop) became too burdensome. The current Rosier Rainbow Grange Hall was built on land donated by Lillian Bakeman around 1940.
This version of the Junior Grange Program Guide replaces all prior versions and will go into effect beginning November 2022. For any additional updates or for more information visit the National Junior Grange Website at www.nationaljuniorgrange.org Questions or comments should be directed to: Samantha Wilkins - National Junior Grange Director
Mining Company and began mining in Oregon Gulch. This company and their gold claims were eventually acquired by Baron Ernest de . La . Grange for 250,000. Between 1893 and 1915, the . La . Grange Mine grew to become the largest hydraulic mining operation in the state of Califor
100 Grange Place, Cortland For more information contact: Betsy Hicks (607) 753-5213 or by email at bjh246@cornell.edu Pre-registration by March 10 See pg. 2 for registration form Pay by credit card online at scnydfc.cce.cornell.edu Inside this Issue Pg. # hose
