Western Springs Tackles Race Relations
By John Devona In 1953, an African-American couple wanted a home in the Forest Hills subdivision. But, some tried to keep that from happening. Arthur Falls was the African-American son of a postal worker and a dressmaker. In 1925, he graduated from Northwestern University’s School of Medicine and opened an
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
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
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
Setting a Western Springs Speed Record
In 1934, the Burlington Railroad’s new Zephyr streamliner roared through Western Springs. And, the speedometer hit 107 miles-per-hour! In June 1933, the Burlington Railroad ordered a revolutionary stainless steel, streamlined train from the Budd Manufacturing Company. It was to be powered by a diesel-electric motor built by General Motors’ Electro-Motive
Remembering Floyd Kalber
One of America’s best newscasters, Floyd Kalber was also at home flipping pancakes at the Western Springs Methodist Church. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Floyd Kalber served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II. After being discharged, he was hired as an announcer with a Kearney,
How Western Springs was First Electrified
In 1898, the village’s first electricity generating plant was built at 47th and Central. And, to help run it, they chose 24-year-old Lawrence Castrodale. People were amazed in 1893 when they got their first glimpse of electric lighting at the World’s Columbian Exposition. So, by 1898, Western Springs decided to
The Never-Ending Timber Trails Saga
The upscale Timber Trails subdivision comprises Western Springs’ only remaining vacant land. But, it has had a rocky road, to say the least. In 1833, Joseph Vial came to the Chicago area and first settled in Western Springs. He subsequently built a log cabin and staked claim to land north