Western Springs’ Gold Medal Winner
In 1992, a kid from Western Springs won two gold medals at the Barcelona Summer Olympics. And, he came back to a hero’s welcome. In 1981, Nelson Diebel was a cub scout here in Western Springs and was awarded his 2nd year Bear badge. In 1985, he had the distinction
The Battle Against Paved Streets
In 1967, most residents of Western Springs’ Field Park were opposed to letting the Village pave their streets. Especially since they’d have to foot the bill. Roughly one-fifth of Western Springs’ residents live in the Field Park area. Most of them never think twice about which street to take on
Forgotten Western Springs: The Wolf Road Garage
In 1920, Western Springs was home to just 1,258 residents and 100 automobiles. But, who could someone call for a tow or flat tire? In 1920, Wolf Road in Western Springs was just an unpaved dirt street. The most common vehicles were still horse-drawn wagons and buggies. But, Fred Tiedt
A Nautical Supply Store in Western Springs?
You might think that land-locked Western Springs would be the last place to find a store for boat owners. But, in 1965, you would have been wrong. Since Western Springs is roughly 20 miles from Lake Michigan and has no navigable waterways within its village limits, one could assume that
Ogden Avenue … Street with a Real History
Few Western Springs roads can boast as much history as Ogden Avenue, which was originally developed by Native Americans and continues in use to this day. The next time you’re driving along Ogden Avenue, try to envision what the road looked like in the 1700s. In those days, it was
Western Springs… First in Space?
In 1962, the United States launched Telstar, the first communications satellite, into space. And, just a few days later, Western Springs was invited to converse with its sister city in England via the brand new satellite. It was a very different world just 51 years ago. There were no touch-tone
Let there be Light … wait, not so Fast!
Nineteen years ago, Lyons Township High School officials decided to take a page from other schools and start playing football games on Friday nights. But that meant adding lights, and some nearby residents took strong exception While Friday night high school football games are a tradition in a lot of
Western Springs Florists, Past & Present
Remember when you got (or gave) your first corsage? Just look below and you’ll see how long that tradition has been part of our village. The first record of a florist in Western Springs was in 1928. That’s when George Dockum had a small shop on the corner of Lawn
Spring Rock Park: A Long Time Coming
Western Springs families treasure the village’s huge Spring Rock Park. But, if it weren’t for some early residents and the Illinois Supreme Court, it might not be here today. In November 1923, 100 concerned village residents signed a petition and presented it to the Western Springs village board. The petition
Western Springs’ Biggest Party Ever
In 1986, village residents decided to celebrate the town’s 100th anniversary. The resulting centennial celebration lasted all twelve months! Twenty-seven years ago, village residents were in the midst of celebrating the town’s 100th birthday. And, what a celebration it was! Virtually every organization in town, from churches to fraternal organizations,