Remember Western Springs’ Shoe Repair Shop?
Before the days of rubber soles and imitation leather, local residents took their shoes to this little shop for repair and a friendly chat. In 1952, Dan Cech and his father opened a shoe repair shop at 4367 Lawn, directly east of the historic Water Tower. In those days the
The Great Tollway Landscaping Theft
In 1960, Western Springs began beautifying the new Tollway. But, their efforts were quickly undermined by thieves. In late 1959, the Western Springs Beautification Commission began exploring the possibility of planting trees and shrubs along the shoulder of the brand-new Tri-State Tollway, just west of the village. This would provide
Western Springs’ “Boxcar Family”
In 1958, a new family moved to town. But, unlike other newcomers, they came by boxcar and didn’t stay long. In 1958, the Illinois Toll Highway Commission was in the midst of constructing the Tri-State Tollway. One of their most challenging tasks was building a new bridge for the Burlington
Western Springs’ Female Bank Embezzler
In 1938, a woman was arrested for stealing $4,300 from our local bank. Why? Just to keep her husband. On November 26, 1938, a 28-year-old woman named Hazel Cornwall was arraigned on a charge of embezzling $4,300 from the Western Springs State Bank. In fact, auditors testified that the amount
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
Remember Glen’s Local TV?
If you lived in Western Springs before 1993, chances are you were one of Glen’s customers. Today, when you drive or stroll past 923 Burlington Avenue, you’ll see the Dye Hard Salon. But, in the 1950s through the 1980s, you would have seen Glen’s Local TV. In the late 1940s,
Western Springs’ “Lilac Sharing Campaign”
In 1940, the Chicago Tribune spotlighted our village residents’ effort to provide lilacs to Chicago area hospitals and orphanages. On May 15, 1929, the Chicago Tribune ran a short editorial entitled “Lilacs and What to Do With Them.” The article encouraged readers to harvest their lavender and white blossoms and
- 1
- 2