Sorted by date Results 172 - 196 of 239
Down on the farm - From Sandy Williams' book "Images of America - Hinsdale," we learn Marvin Fox arrived from Vermont in 1852 with his wife and 10 children. "Homesteading 160 acres southwest of Brush Hill, he soon added another 160 acres to his farm, planting the first corn on the prairie that was to become Hinsdale. His home, shown here, still stands on the sought side of Ogden Avenue at Lincoln Street." Do you have a Hinsdale photo that is at least 25 years old? We'd love...
Vintage hotels in the village - Hinsdale used to be the home of a few hotels, according to Sandy Williams' book, "Images in America - Hinsdale." "In 1851 with business booming at Castle Inn, Fuller built a second hotel across the street on the north side of the plank road. (Ogden Avenue) This hotel, shown here in 1869, was known over the years as Fullersburg Tavern, the Deutches Gast Haus and the Grand Pacific Hotel. Often both inns in Brush Hill were filled to capacity,...
Early Hinsdaleans - Ralph Homann sends in this family photo that was taken on the 700 block of Grant Street. The woman circled on the left is his great-grandmother, Sophie Klusmann Biermann, who was born in Germany in 1865. Her daughter Minnie, his grandmother to be, was born in Hinsdale in 1890. She went on to marry Henry Homann after the two in Germany and he moved to the U.S. in 1910. Do you have a Hinsdale photo that is at least 25 years old? We'd love to share it with...
Lake front property - A couple of workers work to clear a sewer at the corner of Hinsdale Avenue and Vine Street in June of 1967. In the background, Millar's Grocery seems to be just on the edge of the flooded street. Do you have a Hinsdale photo that is at least 25 years old? We'd love to share it with our readers. Stop by our office at 7 W. First St. or email it to [email protected]. (Photo courtesy of Carol Cikanek)...
Station envy - After the Highlands station was built in 1873, it didn't take long for O.J. Stough, who was developing much of the west side of Hinsdale at the time, to request to build another station in West Hinsdale. The railroad agreed and in 1874 this two story station was constructed. According to the book published by Sandy Williams, "Images of America - Hinsdale," the station master sold tickets and signaled trains when passengers were waiting. He lived above the...
All aboard - According to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," the mature trees along the county line attracted home buyers to Hinsdale's eastern edge. To accommodate the large homes on both sides of the railroad tracks, the Burlington Northern Co. agreed to stop on a signal if a station were built. In 1873, grateful homeowners built the stone station, naming it "Highlands" after its elevated location. Do you have a Hinsdale photo that is at least 25 years...
Early merchant - Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," mentions John Mohr, who was an early merchant in the area. "Storekeeper John Mohr purchased the Fox Brothers Fullersburg store in 1877. Mohr came to America from Germany as a child, later serving in the Union army during the Civil War. The photograph shows the store on Ogden Avenue and the view eastward. In 1909, Mohr relocated to Hinsdale, building the store that still stands at 24 E. Hinsdale Avenue,...
Auto row - According to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," several car dealers were located north of the tracks along Chicago Avenue between Lincoln and Washington streets, and there were a few more just south of the tracks as well. This photo of the Chevy dealer, where Burdi now is, was once thought to be the location of an illegal beer depot. The photo, taken looking east down Hinsdale Avenue from Lincoln, is from about 1930....
All aboard! - In Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," she mentions the train station in town used to be on the north side of the tracks. "Hinsdale's first railroad station was built in 1864 on the north side of the tracks between Washington and Lincoln streets. The station was used for town meetings, social events and church services until other venues were built. The current depot on Hinsdale Avenue replaced this station in 1899."...
First residents - According to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," Rev. Charles Barnes was the first to purchase property in Hinsdale when the town was first proposed. He lived in this house at Second and Washington streets. As a sales promotion William Robbins offered a free lot to the first boy born in Hinsdale. Barnes and his wife collected in May 1866 when their son was born. To honor the founder, they named him William Robbins Barnes. Later William grew...
This old home - According to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," the home at 318 S. Garfield Ave. was built in 1888 for Robert Childs. Childs was a Civil War veteran, school principal and attorney. He represented Hinsdale in the U.S. Congress from 1893-97. Do you have a Hinsdale photo that is at least 25 years old? We'd love to share it with our readers. Stop by our office at 7 W. First St. or email it to [email protected]....
Built for the road ahead - In 1917, Henry Buchholz and his brother opened Hinsdale's first car dealership on the corner of Garfield and Hinsdale avenues. According to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," Henry Ford dropped in for a visit to the dealership when he was in the area visiting International Harvester's Alexander Legge, who lived in town. Do you have a Hinsdale photo that is at least 25 years old? We'd love to share it with our readers. Stop by our...
Jack of all trades - According to Sandy Williams' in her book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," Anson Ayers had a wide-ranging background of teaching, farming, carriage building, hardware, harness making and operating a sawmill. She goes on to say, "He bought 80 acres and this home on the northwest side and perhaps did some gentleman farming before subdividing the property, his initial goal."...
A hero's club - According to Sandy William's book, "Living in America - Hinsdale" Ruth Lake Country Club, pictured in 1940, was founded in 1922 by some of Hinsdale's younger men. They wanted to use the club for hunting, camping and skate sailing. The club was named for Linus Ruth, who was a boyhood friend of the founders. Ruth was killed in World War I....
Teeing it up - According to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," golf was first played in Hinsdale in the 1890s on a six-hold course located along Ayres Avenue near Lincoln Street. In 1898 the Hinsdale Golf Club was founded, located just east of its present Chicago Avenue site. The photo here is of the clubhouse in 1923....
This old house - Sandy Williams, in her book "Images of America - Hinsdale," wrote about the home at 231 E. Third St. "An excellent example of Prairie School design, this home was designed by noted architect E.E. Roberts. Built for lumber executive A. W. True in 1908, the home features a low-pitched roof with broad eaves and bands of windows characteristic of the Prairie style." In 2014 Rob and Amanda Miller completely remodeled the home's interior while keeping the home's...
Devil in the details - Myrta Holmes, the former wife of serial killer H.H. Holmes, rented various homes throughout the village, including this one at 212 N. Lincoln St. in 1912. She moved to Hinsdale with her daughter in 1896, the year her estranged husband was executed. According to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," Holmes taught third and fourth grades at least 15 years in the Hinsdale Public School system. H.H. Holmes was featured in Erik Larson's book...
If the shoe fits - In her book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," Sandy Williams writes about Emanuel Karlson, who began his boot and shoe business in Hinsdale in 1895. In 1898 he moved his store to the new building pictured here at 52 S. Washington St., where the family business lasted more than 80 years. In addition to crafting his own custom, handmade shoes, he was one of the first shoemakers in Chicago to sell national brands as well....
Hinsdale through the years - Walgreens first entrance into Hinsdale was in 1935 at the corner of First and Washington streets. "Dr. Merrick's and Evernden's original 1872 drug store changed ownership and locations twice before Walgreens bought the business in 1935. It remained at this First and Washington Street location until closing in 1973. It was not until 1986 that Walgreens again had a presence in Hinsdale," according to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America -...
Ashes to ashes - According to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," H.L. Storey, who was a successful piano dealer, lost his home in the 1871 Chicago fire. He moved to Hinsdale and built this house on the hill in Highlands Park just south of the Highlands Station in 1972. It was called Oaklawn. When it caught fire and burned in 1914, it was not replaced....
All aboard - From Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale" this view of the 'new' train station was taken from Washington Street looking east. She says, "After years of Hinsdale's complaints and requests, the Burlington railroad agreed to replace its aging original Washington Street station. A new site was chosen on the north side of Hinsdale Avenue one block east of the original structure." The photo is from 1907 and the station was completed in...
It's a house on wheels! - It took two days in 2005 for R. Harold Zook's home to be moved from its lot at 327 S. Oak St. to Katherine Legge Memorial Park. The noted architect's home and studio, which are owned by the Hinsdale Historical Society, are in need of repair. Learn more by turning to the Pulse feature on Page 17. (Hinsdale Historical Society photo)...
From hardware to whiskey - In 1929 Ray Soukup built the building at 35 E. First St. to house his hardware store. For 63 years the family, including former Hinsdaleans Hank and Anne Soukup, provided almost everything you could ask for. The building now is home to Fuller's Home and Hardware and Fuller House. This photo is from Sandy Williams' book "Images of America - Hinsdale."...
The squirrel whisperer - This home, formerly at 219 E. Third St., was built by Deming Preston in 1887. When he noted the village did not have squirrels, he and other residents purchased several dozen pairs for the town. He was also a local bank president, volunteer fire chief, founder of the library and village president, according to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale."...
The right stuff - Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Dutch Colonial home at 121 S. County Line Road that was built in 1894. The home was owned by Frederick Bagley, who was a marble merchant. The home included many marble details and an octagonal library. This photo is from Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale." Do you have a Hinsdale photo that is at least 25 years old? We'd love to share it with our readers. Stop by our office at 7 W. First St. or email it to...
