Sorted by date Results 101 - 125 of 234
Green acres - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," shows Walker's farm. "Located where today's Ayres Avenue meets Garfield Avenue, Walker's farm stretched to the county line. There were no houses to the south for 8 miles, only prairie and a lone grove of trees. The street, 'The Lane,' was actually the lane that cows used to reach the barn. Years later, the barn's foundation was broken down and used in paving Ravine Road....
Early car dealer - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," shows Hinsdale's first automobile dealership. "This was Hinsdale's first automobile dealership, a Ford agency built in 1917 at the southwest corner of Garfield and Hinsdale Avenues, operated by the multifaceted carpenter/contractor/realtor Henry Buchholz and his brother. Within months of opening, Henry Ford stopped for a spontaneous visit on his way to meet with International harvester's...
This old gas station - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of the space that up until recently was home to Dips and Dogs. "This 1930 station was built on the northwest corner of Garfield Avenue and First Street. Designed by Hinsdale architect R. Harold Zook, the station was built in the Georgian style encouraged at the time by the village plan commission. The station has recently been reinvented as a popular snack shop." Today much of the...
Early First Street - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," shows the southeast corner of First and Washington streets. "In this early 1920s photograph, First Street development appears fairly complete. The bank's vault annex is shown as well as the four-store retail block built in 1912. Included here is Hinsdale's first movie theater, boasting a seating capacity of 300. To appease concerns over new 'moving picture exhibitions,' residents were...
This old home - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of a home located on North Grant Street. "This Prairie-style home, at 105 N. Grant St., often mistaken for a Frank Lloyd Wright commission, was designed by William Drummond in 1912. Drummond worked for Louis Sullivan and Daniel Burnham before becoming chief draftsman for Wright, leaving to establish his own practice in 1909."...
Parades of the past - This photo is from Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale." "The village's celebratory spirit has always been enthusiastic; Hinsdale's Fourth of July celebration is legendary. This 1913 Washington Street photograph reveals that parades of the past were equal to today's popular patriotic displays." Please turn to Page 17 for details of this year's celebrations....
This old home - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of the home that was located in the 300 block of South Washington Street. "German born building contractor Adolph Froscher arrived in Hinsdale in 1869. A talented craftsman, Froscher built commercial properties and fine homes for many prominent residents. This home built in 1888 at 314 South Washington Street, still stands today, remaining in the family since the day it was built." Editor's...
Tuning up - This photo of the Jolly Boys dates back to the early 1950s. The man directing is Scott Jones, founder of the group and a former president of the Princeton Glee Club. In those days, the Jolly Boys all wore the same bow tie as their uniform. Now the group dons its distinctive red jackets. The group is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. For more on its special anniversary concert, see the story on Page 7. (photo courtesy of Dick Pinto)...
A nutty idea - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," shows the home located at 219 E. Third St., which was built in 1887 by a "public-spirited" Deming Preston. "He noted an absence in his new prairie community - it had no squirrels. To rectify this, Preston and other residents purchased several dozen pair to populate the village. In addition to this successful effort, the resourceful Preston served as a local bank president, volunteer fire chief,...
First florist - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of Fred Morris. "Englishman Fred Morris established Morris Florists in 1894. Shown about 1907 in the greenhouse near his home at Hickory and Grant streets, Morris produced shrubs, vegetables and herbs as well as flowers. When the government encouraged victory gardens during the war, Morris volunteered to teach residents proper planting methods."...
B.C. - before coffee - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is taken from the corner of Hinsdale Avenue and Washington Street facing east. "Hinsdale Avenue is immediately recognizable in this c. 1926 photograph. On the site of Hinsdale's first store and post office, this corner drugstore was built in 1900 by Hinsdale builder Adolph Froscher. A drug store operated here for over 100 years until Starbucks sensitively rehabbed the building in...
Cheers! - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of what was to become the York Tavern. "North of his (Benjamin Fuller) house across the creek, Fuller built a grocery and saloon in 1843, naming it the Farmers' Home. Remnants of this building still stand, significantly renovated and now known as York Tavern. This 1941 photograph shows the tavern with an addition in progress."...
That old house - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," shows the home of Benjamin Fuller. It was relocated near the Graue Mill parking lot in 1980. "After purchasing Castle Inn, Fuller built this family home just north of the trail along York Road. Some historians believe this 1843 home is the oldest extant example of balloon frame construction in the country. This revolutionary technique used mill-cut wall studs that ran in a continuous piece...
Early classroom - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," shows the kindergarten classroom at Monroe School in 1929, complete with fireplace and play loft. 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]....
Public safety - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," shows Hinsdale Police and Fire Department's building. "Built as a federal public works project in 1935, the police and fire departments moved into this new building at 25 E. First St. designed by Hinsdale architect Harford Field. The building included a courtroom, jail and an apartment for the police chief. Today the former holding cell's iron bars are used decoratively, mounted in the...
Horse powered fire truck - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," shows the fire deparment's hose cart ready for a parade in 1905. "Before 1912, horses were not owned by the department. The first team to appear at the station after the fire bell rang was hired for $5. At the time, Hinsdale's funeral director stabled his horses downtown. Legend tells that these horses, trained to respond to the bell, once took off for the station during a funeral...
March madness continues — This photo in Sandy Williams’ book, “Images of America — Hinsdale,” is of the Hinsdale Township High School 1905 girls basketball team. “Girls also participated in high school sports. This is the 1905 women’s basketball team, possibly the first, dressed in uniforms of wool bloomers, high-collared blouses, and long black stockings....
March madness -This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of the Hinsdale Township High School 1909 basketball team. "The high school state basketball championship was won by this Hinsdale team in 1909. The 'largely self-coached' team had a season 22-3 record, outscoring their opponents 838 to 498. From left to right are (first row) Fred Bahlman and Woodbury Melcher; (second row) Fred Cortis, Gilbert Keith and Preston Davidson; (third row) Frank...
Safe harbour - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," shows The Life Boat Rescue Home for unwed mothers and abandoned children. The home was started and managed by the Hinsdale Sanitarium. "Relocated in 1903 from Chicago to Hinsdale, the home was strongly supported by village residents, expanding in 1909 to the building shown here at 328 Phillipa St. The home provided shelter, counseling, adoption placement, employment asistance and the...
Going postal - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of the post office on Garfield and Chicago avenues. Hinsdale's village president at the time was William Regnery, who worked tirelessly in securing the location and also personally donated money for the project. "Through some difficult maneuvering the site of the current post office was secured in 1937. With the blessing of Hinsdale's plan commission, Regnery and others traveled to...
First church of Hinsdale - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," shows Hinsdale's first church, built by a Baptist congregation. "The Baptists were the first to build their own church, constructed in 1870 on land donated by William Robbins. Located on the southwest corner of Garfield Avenue and First Street, the splendid building proved too costly. Attempts at sharing the space were not enough to sustain the congregation, and the Baptists...
Wooden walks - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," mentions the village sidewalk system - or lack of one - in the early days of the village. "Before Hinsdale was incorporated, sidewalks were private projects. If a homeowner wanted one, he had to build the wooden walk himself. After the 1873 incorporation, walks were a popular public improvement; in 1878, the village's largest expense was for sidewalk nails."...
Frozen Salt Creek - Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," shows this photo of a frozen Salt Creek from the early 1900s. "After a hard freeze, Salt Creek offered wonderful ice skating all the way to Elmhurst. Warmed by fires built along the shore, some skaters enjoyed picnics brought from home. While hockey was popular by day, a moonlit evening could find 200 or 300 skaters covering the ice."...
Vintage view - Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," describes what the central business district looked like in the 19th century. "Long, narrow 25-foot lots accommodated Hinsdale's early storefronts. Most were built of wood and some had false fronts, characteristics of retail buildings across the country before 1900. This photograph, taken in the late 1870s, shows the west side of Washington Street from First Street, looking north. None of these buildings are...
First park - Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," mentions that Burlington Park was the site of the first public landscaping in the village. "After the railroad granted use of the site in 1877, fencing and evergreens were installed. When the new depot was built in 1899, the village acquired the remainder of the block, setting the stage for walkways and flower beds to showcase Hinsdale's 'front yard.' In this early photograph, Flagg Creek, covered in 1934, is...
