Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 219
Home sweet home - Sandy Williams writes about this Italianate home built in 1869 at 142 E. First St. in her book, "Images of America - Hinsdale." "It was owned by William Whitney, the man responsible for coordinating the village's incorporation in 1873. Still standing, the home was the first in Hinsdale to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places."...
Civil war vet - From Sandy Williams book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is an entry on the home built for Heman Fox. "This 1890 Queen Anne styled home at 206 N. Washington St. was built for Heman Fox. Fox had grown up in Fullersburg, away at school in the winters and working his father's farm in the summers. After serving in the Union army, he joined his brother in a successful career as one of the early merchants in Fullersburg and Hinsdale."...
Up on a hill - The Memorial Building in Hinsdale is an example of community spirit and cooperation, writes Sandy William in "Images of America - Hinsdale." "The building was privately built, funded through a meticulous community campaign led by Philip R. Clarke that had Hinsdaleans contributing the entire amount necessary for its construction within a single week." For more information on the building, see the story on Page 5. (Hinsdale Historical Society p...
Ming dynasty - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of 318 N. Madison St. "When built about 1910 for Moy Ming and his family, this home stood alone, centered on the block. Ming was a Chicago tea merchant and restaurateur who owned the "largest and most beautiful Chinese Cafe in the world" with a seating capacity of 2,000. The house and grounds were later owned and brilliantly landscaped by Mary Dynes, horticulture expert. The house was...
Early Hinsdale - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of one of the downtown's main thoroughfares. "The east side of Washington Street around 1902 reveals several stores still familiar in 2012. The shorter, light-colored frame building in the center of the photography was built in 1881.It is the oldest building standing in Hinsdale's downtown, now the home of Phillips' Flowers, at 47 South Washington." Phillips is celebrating their 100-year...
Underground railroad - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of Graue Mill. "Due to its location, access to transportation and antislavery sympathies, Fullersburg served as a stop and transfer point for fugitive slaves traveling the Underground Railroad. Graue Mill harbored runaways and it is believed that Castle Inn (near York and Ogden) also sheltered slaves on their journey to freedom. Some residents recalled seeing wagons or sleighs...
Hinsdale legacies - This photo from the archives of the Hinsdale Historical Society shows what the house at 132 N. Vine St. looked like when it was constructed in 1882 and when Hinsdale Cash Store co-owner Edgar Davis moved in with his wife Alice in 1887. German immigrants were settling in the village's west side in the late 19th century, and Davis and partner Heman Fox opened their grocery in downtown Hinsdale in 1892 with an eye on that clientele, selling goods like herring...
First on the block - The Craftsman-style home at 510 N. Lincoln St. has held its ground and gained neighbors since its 1911 construction as the first home built in that corner of Hinsdale. The land was previously part of the Ayres Farm, sold as development became a more profitable enterprise than farming in the growing suburb. The Gjeldum family purchased the home 10 years ago intent on preserving it while making some 21st-century updates. See the story on Page 5. (photo...
Early Hinsdale - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of Washington Street. "The east side of Washington Street around 1902 reveals several stores still familiar in 2012. The shorter, light colored frame building in the center of the photograph was built in 1881. It is the oldest building standing in Hinsdale's downtown, now home of Phillips' Flowers, at 47 S. Washington St." Core Remodel recently remodeled the second floor and now occupies...
Calling all cars - Hinsdale police and firefighters are honoring the village's 150th anniversary - and their forebears - by wearing throwback badges this year. When Hinsdale was founded in 1873, among the village officers was a "police magistrate." The village hired its first true policeman, C.P. Clark in 1877; his official title was constable. Star No. 1 was given in January 1888 to John Peter Linn, a native of Denmark who had come to Hinsdale five years earlier. This photo...
Walter "Wassy" Schmidt, captain/center Frederick Schmidt, and end Elmer Schmidt, who played football on the Hinsdale Town Team, posed for this photo in their letterman sweaters. The photo - and one of the sweaters - is on display as part of the "Hinsdale in Lights - Celebrating 150 Years" exhibit at Immanuel Hall in honor of the village's sesquicentennial. To learn more about the exhibit, turn to Page 7. (Hinsdale Historical Society photo)...
Presidential power - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of Hinsdale's J.C.F. Merrill, who was one of Hinsdale's early village presidents. "Early homes and businesses relied on kerosene lamps to provide their lighting. In 1894, Hinsdale wanted to offer its residents electricity, but with several public improvements ongoing, it had issued its statutory limit of public works bonds. In an extraordinary move, Village President J.C.F. Merrill...
KLM Park - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," was taken at KLM Park. Alexander Legge, president of International Harvester, and his wife Katherine purchased 52 acres on south County Line Road in 1915 for use as a summer residence and farm. After Katherine died suddenly in 1924, Legge dedicated this property in her name for use as a retreat by the female employees of Harvester. Do you have a Hinsdale photo that is at least 25 years old? We'd...
First spa - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of KLM Lodge. "The KLM Lodge, a dining and recreation hall for the women's retreat, was built in 1926. It was designed by Hinsdale architect R. Harold Zook based on an earlier plan for the Legge home intended for the site. A dormitory followed, along with tennis courts, swimming pool and a convalescent cottage. In December 1973, International Harvester donated the retreat property to Hinsdale...
Special delivery - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of the Hinsdale Post Office in 1894. "Established in 1867, the Hinsdale Post Office moved frequently about the downtown before settling at 53 S. Washington St. about 1894. Residents had to pick up their mail; home delivery did not begin until 1906, when carriers made three rounds daily throughout the village. The photograph shows the Washington Street location after it, but incredibly...
Early Hinsdale - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of William Robbins' second addition to the village. "Hinsdale flourished and Robbins made two additions to the village. This, his second, 'Park Addition,' was designed in 1869 by well-known landscape architect H.W.S. Cleveland. Familiar with Olmsted and Vaux's curvilinear plan of Riverside, Robbins sought this new, more picturesque layout for the area that included his own home. Cleveland...
One look at this home at the southwest corner of Walnut and Lincoln offers a clue as to its first occupant. William Gates was president of the American Terra Cotta Co. He and his home have been well-documented in village annals, including Hugh Dugan's "Village on the County Line." See Page 7 for more coverage. (Hinsdale Historical Society photo)...
Back to school - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of what was then called South Side School. "While reincarnated over the years, a Hinsdale school has always been located at Third Street and Garfield Avenue. Two years after this building's 1866 construction, William Robbins sold it to the newly created Hinsdale School District. At that time it was renamed South Side School to differentiate it from the Fullersburg School farther north....
Pre-I-pass - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of the Barto Van Velzer's home on Ogden Ave. "Located on the north side of the plank road near the county line, this was toll collector Van Velzer's home. Toll rates between Brush Hill and Naperville were 25 cents for a horse and carriage, 37 cents for a wagon with two horses, 10 cents for a horse and rider, 4 cents for cattle and 3 cents for hogs and sheep. For those who needed to stop...
Early Hinsdalean - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of Barto Van Velzer, who was a settler from the east. "Barto Van Velzer was a former boat driver on the Erie Canal. He helped lay the Southwest Plank Road and became the toll collector at Brush Hill upon its completion. Van Velzer had a reputation as a talented horse trader and was well liked by the stagecoach drivers and area farmers."...
Powerful company - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of Hinsdale Light and Power. "The village granted the power company a franchise and donated land for the plant north of the tracks, east of Garfield Avenue. Western Electric, then chaired by Hinsdale resident Enos Barton, was the lowest and winning bidder on the plant and power line construction. The newly completed plant is shown here in 1896."...
Before Hinsdale - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of the front inside cover of Hugh Dugan's book, "Village on the County Line," which was published in 1949. "At the map's center is what is now York Road and Ogden Avenue. The plank road (Ogden Avenue) is shown running east to west through Brush Hill." For more information on the early days of Hinsdale, see the story on Page 7 and the editorial on Page 10....
Icemakers - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," shows ice being cut up and stored along the banks of Salt Creek near Washington and Spring Road. "Fullersburg's Mammoth Springs Ice Company, a prosperous natural ice business before the days of refrigeration, was begun by John Ruchty in 1880. When the ice on Salt Creek was about 16 inches thick, it was cut into 24-inch blocks. Workmen are shown maneuvering the floating ice to the horse-powered...
Hay mountain - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," is of Hinsdalean Frank Kufrin. "The Kufrin home and farm was located on South Oak Street. This 1925 photograph shows Frank Kufrin on top of his hay wagon with his wife and six daughters posing proudly below." 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 jslonoff@thehinsd...
Christmases past — Those lucky enough to be on Vinaya Sharma’s Christmas card list are always in for a surprise as to where he will stage his next scene. Twenty-five years ago it was at a USC football game. Hinsdalean Sharma is a graduate of Hinsdale Central High School and former District 86 board member. 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]....
