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
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,
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 While the federal government repealed its Prohibition laws in 1934, local communities were free
A Corner Filled With Village History
The building located at Lawn and Burlington dates back to 1926. And, the list of former tenants reads like a history book of Western Springs. In 1926, the two-story building on the southwest corner of Burlington and Lawn was constructed at the then-significant sum of $125,000. The initial list of
Remember These Old Car Washes?
Over the past fifty years, residents had several locations where they could get their cars washed. How many do you remember? If you live in Western Springs today, getting your washed probably means a trip to Brookfield, Countryside, Hinsdale, or Westmont. But, it wasn’t always that way. When the Garden
Downtown Western Springs … 50+ Years Ago
Even if you’ve lived in the village all your life, you may be surprised to see some of the ways our downtown has changed. While Western Springs has always been known for its quaint downtown, it has still changed dramatically during the past 50 years. As shown in the photo
Charles Vickery … Gone, But His Works Live On
Exactly fifteen years ago this week, Western Springs lost Charles Vickery, one of the country’s best seascape artists. But, his paintings live on in many homes and businesses. What influences a young boy to pursue a career in painting? In the case of Charles Vickery, it may have started with