Western Springs’ Great Railroad Station Battle
In 1971, village officials decided to replace the brick and stone railroad station that had served the town since 1890. But, it wasn’t as easy as they had expected. Western Springs’ first railroad station was a small wooden depot located on the north side of the tracks near Wolf Road.
What’s That Small Railroad Building on Stilts?
When Western Springs built its current railroad station in 2005, the plan was to recreate a little bit of the past. But, the architects didn’t stop with just the station. In 1891, Western Springs built a “permanent” railroad station to replace an earlier wood structure that had burned to the
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
Do You Recall the Western Springs Rec Center Debate?
In 1995, the Village Board proposed building a new Recreation Center to replace the facilities at Clark School. But, it didn’t happen without a lot of resident input. In 1982, School District 101 closed the Maurice Clark elementary school, which was located at 46th and Franklin Avenue. This was due
The 1968 Demise of a Western Springs Landmark
On the afternoon of June 3, 1968, motorists on Willow Springs Road noticed a fire across the street from Community Memorial Hospital. And, by 5:30 p.m., little would remain of the historic Dierks Farm. In 1858, 20-year-old Dietrich Dierks came to America from Germany. By 1869, after working at several jobs