Veterans Memorial Park … and How It Came To Be
You’ve often seen the little park next to the Grand Avenue Community Center. But, do you know its origin? For many years, Western Springs was home to the Harry G. Maxted American Legion Post 154. It was named for Corporal Harry Maxted, the first Western Springs resident to die in
What Ever Happened to Harvest Days?
In 1980, the Western Springs Rotary Club organized an annual fall festival in Spring Rock Park. But, the last year’s event was canceled before it began. Harvest Days started out in 1980 as an end-of-summer three-day festival featuring musical groups, carnival rides, an antique car show, square dancing, hayrides, a
Saving a Piece of Western Springs History
In 1974, the Grand Avenue School had been completely renovated. But, just a few years later, school enrollment declined, making the building’s long-term survival very bleak. Built in 1885, the Grand Avenue School building is actually older than our town’s historic Water Tower. For many years, it was the village’s
Before there was a Thomas Ford Library
In 1925, eighty-five Western Springs residents decided the town needed a free public library. So they petitioned the County to place the issue before local voters. Since the early 1920s, Western Springs residents had discussed the pros and cons of forming a free public library. And, in a 1925 village-wide