Drive-up Banking Comes to Western Springs
Residents had always gone inside their bank to cash checks or make deposits. But, in December of 1964, drive-up banking became a reality. The next time you go by the Heartland Bank on Wolf Road, try to imagine what the building looked like in 1964. It was about half the
Western Springs “Hardware History”
Today, everyone in town knows where the hardware store is located. But, did you know there were at least seven others? It seems that every week or so, most homeowners need something from their hardware store. And, our earliest village residents were no different. If you were one of the
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
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,
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
The 150th Anniversary Nobody Remembered
In 1864, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad began commuter service between Aurora and Chicago. But, 150 years later, no one marked the occasion. If you commute from Western Springs to downtown Chicago on METRA, you might take those trains for granted. But, in 1864, they were a radical innovation.
The Day Western Springs Banned a Book
Although first published in 1934, Henry Miller’s “Tropic of Cancer” didn’t arrive in Western Springs until 1961. But, when it did, it caused quite a stir. Western Springs is often described as a sort of “Mayberry.” People mention the quaint downtown, the churches seemingly on every corner, and that everyone
Liquor Comes to Western Springs
Western Springs had banned the sale of alcoholic beverages since 1886. But, that was to change in 2002. Since its founding in 1886, the Village of Western Springs had never allowed the sale of alcoholic beverages. While the federal government repealed its Prohibition laws in 1934, local communities were free
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.
Western Springs Rotary: Making Changes for the Better
Many local residents take our village assets for granted. But, they are the result of many clubs and organizations, especially the Rotary. The next time you drive through the Village, you should take a minute to think of all the things we have that are the result of the Western
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