Western Springs’ Connection to the Butterball Hotline
In 1981, the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line was born. And, who better to head it up than a woman from Western Springs. In 1981, Swift & Company, which owned the Butterball turkey brand, decided to experiment with a toll-free “Turkey Talk-Line” to help their customers with cooking and preparation questions. Eleven thousand people called
What’s in a Name?
Shakespeare wrote that “ … a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” But, what about Western Springs? Back in the 1870s, before it was actually a town, Western Springs was just a small collection of homes known as “East Hinsdale.” However, an enterprising land developer coined the
Do You Remember America’s Freedom Train?
In 1975, America was already celebrating the Bicentennial of the Nation’s founding. In Western Springs, it started with a train visit. In the early 1970s, in anticipation of the Nation’s upcoming Bicentennial celebration, a group of private citizens spearheaded an effort to use a steam-powered locomotive to pull a string
Today’s Vehicle Stickers … a Bargain Compared to 1915!
Some may think that the vehicle sticker is a relatively new concept. But, in 1915, the Village was already collecting this tax. If you’re like most Western Springs residents, you pay $35 for a motor vehicle sticker each year. And, you probably think that’s more than necessary. But, in 1915, local
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
What Children Wanted in 1928
In 1928, Western Springs’ school children were asked to write letters to Santa Claus. And, their requests are interesting. The following are actual letters from 1928 that were written by the third graders at Grand Avenue School. As the letters attest, the children were convinced that there was a Santa
When Ridgewood Joined Western Springs
Built in the late 1950’s, the Ridgewood subdivision was part of unincorporated Cook County for many years. And, its 1974 annexation to Western Springs didn’t come easily. In 1956, Teninga and Company of Chicago proposed developing a 90-acre tract of property south of 55th Street and West of Wolf Road. It
A Sampling of Western Springs’ Laws from 1886
When the village was first organized, the founding fathers published a 62-page booklet that described what residents could and could not do. Here are some excerpts. No cows, horses, mules, swine, sheep, goats, geese or cattle of any kind shall be permitted to run at large within the village. A
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
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
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