Sorted by date Results 151 - 175 of 234
Cheers! - It wasn't that long ago where the only place you could be served a drink with your meal was at the Cypress on Ogden Avenue and County Line Road. According to Sandy Williams' book "Images of America - Hinsdale," the Cypress Inn was established in the 1940s on Ogden, just outside of the village limits, where liquor sales were permitted. "The business began as a beer distributorship and grew to include a bar and restaurant. Shown here about 1950, the restaurant...
Summer theater - According to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," "Hollywood came to Hinsdale from 1951 to 1962 when the Hinsdale Theatre presented summer stock performances. The plays were produced by Sidney Blackmer, a well-known actor who called upon stars such as Charlton Heston, Debbie Reynolds and Vincent Price to headline the shows. The stars enjoyed Hinsdale hospitality, staying in the homes of residents during the short runs, at times bringing their...
Farm livin' was the life for them - Walker's Farm was located near Ayres Street and Garfield Avenue and stretched to the county line. Sandy William's book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," describes the area at the time. "There were no houses to the south for eight miles, only prairie and a lone grove of trees. The street, 'The Lane,' was actually the lane that the cows used to reach the barn. Years later, the barn's foundation was broken down and used in paving Ravine...
The Hinsdale Township High School boys golf team won its first state championship 75 years ago Tuesday, May 18. Team members included Ben "Connie" Creed (from left), team captain Henry Heinly, Sam Stout, all of Hinsdale, and Walter Poswilko of Westmont. The team won every dual meet, along with the district and conference meets on the way to state title, according to Poswilko's son, Thomas. Coach Russell Poppenhager led teams to two more state titles in 1954 and 1961. It would...
The little engine that did - Engine No. 9 hauled trains from Chicago to Aurora through Hinsdale from 1865 until 1885. According to "Village on the County Line" by Hugh Dugan, it was an experimental engine built in the 1850s that originally burned wood but was converted to burn coal. 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]...
Founding matters - William Robbins, generally regarded as the father of Hinsdale, purchased land from Chicago Avenue to 55th and Madison Street to County Line Road in 1862 for $9,000. "To be near his new venture, Robbins temporarily moved his family to Fullersburg," Sandy Williams writes in "Images of America - Hinsdale." "From here, he had direct supervision of Hinsdale's formation, from the street layout and grading to the tree planting and construction of his own estate....
Calling all cars - From Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," this photograph is of Hinsdale's first police chief, John Nicholson. "John Nicholson was named chief of police in 1902, a job he held for 24 years. A two-man force walked patrols, using bicycles or Nicholson's own horse when necessary. Automobiles began arriving in Hinsdale about 1903, and occasionally one would be appropriated to pursue a felon. It was not until about 1921 that Hinsdale purchased a...
Old school - Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America Hinsdale," includes a photo of the high school gymnasium, which was built in 1921 on Washington Street north of the high school. "Spectator seating for 500 was accommodated on a second-floor gallery that surrounded the court below. Beneath the stands, on the first floor, were the locker rooms and storage. The building was razed in 1976 along with the adjacent school to make room for the current Hinsdale Middle School."...
Early transportation - It's hard to imagine traveling by horseback and carriage through town, as Hinsdaleans did when the village was first founded. According to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale" "The livery stable was situated just north of the tracks, west of Washington Street. Liveries met all trains and 10 ride tickets could be purchased for $1. Some villages boarded their horses at the stable, others rented buggies for special occasions. This...
Pre-Home Depot - In Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," she mentions the building which is still standing at 42 S. Washington St., which was built in 1894. "One of the area's first merchants, John Bohlander opened a grocery and tavern in Fullersburg before moving to Hinsdale in 1871. Here, he operated a general store at 42 S. Washington before his business turned to hardware in 1877. Shown is Bohlander's second building at this address, constructed in 1894...
Lifestyle housing circa 1888 - In her book, "Images in America - Hinsdale," Sandy Williams mentions that the first building on the south side of First Street was this one located at 102 S. Washington St. "In 1888, German born John Papenhause had this building constructed to house his successful tailoring business. The second floor was home to the Papenhausens and their six children."...
Early Hinsdale - Sandy Williams cites this historic edifice in the village's downtown in her book, "Images of America - Hinsdale." She writes, "This building at 54 S. Washington Street was built in 1892 replacing an earlier blacksmith shop. Reineke's Grocery occupied the site from 1904 until closing in 1974 as one of Hinsdale's oldest and most popular businesses."...
Prime location - From Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," we learn the building that currently houses Baldinelli's and Vistro Prime has had food as the main course since the beginning. "Built in 1929 at 114 S. Washington Street to house the Loblaw Groceteria, this later became one of the first Jewel food stores in the chain. Loblaw stores featured a new concept of 'self-serve' rather than clerks gathering orders to be delivered later that day. With customers...
Hinsdale's first florist - Morris Florist filled the need for a florist in downtown Hinsdale, according to Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale" when it opened up on Hinsdale Avenue in 1902. His business eventually expanded to include six greenhouses on the corner of Monroe Street and Ogden Avenue and several others outside of Hinsdale as well. 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...
Green thumb – Sandy Williams, in her book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," writes about Englishman Fred Morris. "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." Do you have a Hinsdale photo that is at least 25 y...
Back in the day - From Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," this photo shows the west side of Washington Street taken about 1895. "From right to left, the 1891 corner building remains, although remodeled; the two adjacent Joliet limestone storefronts both built in 1894, also stand today. Barely visible at the south end of the block is the familiar round oriel bay window of the corner building." Do you have a Hinsdale photo that is at least 25 years old? We'd...
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."...
