NEWSLETTER - La Grange Area Historical Society · NEWSLETTER La Grange Area Historical Society 444...
Transcript of NEWSLETTER - La Grange Area Historical Society · NEWSLETTER La Grange Area Historical Society 444...
NEWSLETTERLa Grange Area Historical Society
444 S. La Grange Road – 708-482-4248www.lagrangehistory.org
May, 2009------------------------------------------------------------------------
The history of La Grange was documented and published thirty years ago. Those responsible for writing the La Grange Centennial Book
are mostly gone.
Those responsible for preserving this history are with us today and you, our members, are among those. You have not only
kept this history alive, you have added thirty more chapters to the book; thirty more years of memories.
You did this because you joined with others to insure that La Grange has a local history museum; the only entity in the Village
that is dedicated to preserving the community's rich heritage.
We ask you to join your fellow members in celebrating La Grange's 130th Anniversary on Saturday, June 13th, from 7 to 9 p.m. on the grounds of the historical society. We invite you to an evening of food, entertainment, and shared memories and stories -- from long-time La Grange residents, as well as our newer friends and neighbors. You are a vital member of our village, and we would love for you to publicly share your precious La Grange memories. Come and be a part of La Grange history!
For more information, please contact Noël Zethmayr at 708-588-1235.
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Please complete and return to: La Grange Area Historical Society
444 S. La Grange Rd., La Grange, IL 60525
___ Yes, I would love to come to La Grange’s 130th birthday party!
Please plan for ____ of us to attend.
___ I would love to participate in the evening’s festivities by sharing my memories of
La Grange.
___ I regret that I cannot attend, but I am enclosing a donation of _______ to support
the La Grange Area Historical Society.
RECENT DONATIONSLa Grange Park Public Library – La Grange Park Centennial Quilt
Pat Rozanski – 1940’s gloves from “McAllister Schoen Co”
Ted Frantzen – 1948 La Grange dog tag – brass
Margaret Johnson – 3”x5” cotton American flag and bills and receipts for work done on her home at 1017 Arlington
Estate of Helen Olson – Pet Parade memorabilia, historic La Grange memorabilia, photos and articles relating to Mrs. Olsen’s activities and accomplishments
Peggy Ann Fry – West Suburban Community band programs and Sunday Evening Club program
Eamon Rago – 1940’s postcard of Our Lady of Bethlehem Academy
Anonymous – 1950’s menu from Johnny’s Place
Ann Hileman – formal photo of operatic soprano and La Grange resident, Else Harthan Arendt
Mary Jane Kepner – 2 WWII obituaries
Madeline Prendergast – 2002 photo of 704 S. Kensington which was then razed
Gloria Hannas – 1965 Campfire girl uniform
Dan Ruzic – photographs and fragments from the restoration of La Grange Theater – 2009
Bill Rosol – 1953 Tower yearbook of L.T.J.C.
Maxine Heinen – 1970’s Prosch Pharmacy bag and 1949 telephone directory
Marian Giles – c. 1900 baby clothes, 1930’s lady’s beaded overblouse and 1926 child’s game
Jean Kocmoud – La Grange Diamond Jubilee newspaper
RECENT VISITORS
Cub Scout Tiger Den 7 Pack 17Girl Scout troop 134 – St. Francis SchoolCub Scout Troop 117 – St. John of the CrossFlagg Creek Questers
NEW MEMBERS
The Historical Society would like to welcome the following new members:Mr. & Mrs. M. SpringerBeth Siegel
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LA GRANGE!!
By Nancy Kenney
I have long believed that La Grange is the center of the universe. I really do.
Is it because many celebrities have visited La Grange? For instance, the famous Paul Robeson once climbed up on a table of a longgone La Grange tavern and belted out “Old Man River” the hauntingly gorgeous song from the musical Showboat that he made so popular. It’s said that Errol Flynn took a room at the Norrland Hotel for some necessary downtime after one of his benders. Where else would he get a better rest? Few probably know that Helen Morgan had her funeral services in quiet La Grange lest her popularity attract an unwieldy crowd were they held in Chicago. Then, there are the wonderful stories of the Marx Brothers. Yes, they are true. My mother’s uncle, Jimmy Cossitt knew them personally. The zany brothers tried farming in the area south of La Grange to avoid being drafted in World War I. They were apparently successful at avoiding the draft, but not so good at farming. They had to drive into La Grange to purchase eggs to sell at their farm. Another Marx Brother legend is that Harpo learned to play the harp in the home that stands on the NE corner of Kensington and Elm Avenues. Are these stories all true? Maybe, maybe not, but this is what I was told, and I choose to believe them.
However stories like these are not why La Grange is the center of MY world. La Grange will always be my home whether I live there or not. To me, La Grange is everything a town should be – beautiful, yet unpretentious, full of friendly people who appreciate quality without snobbishness. I miss La Grange and hope to return some day.
Happy birthday to all you lucky folks who live there!
Nancy Kenney is the great great granddaughter of Franklin D. Cossitt, Sr., the founder of La Grange.
Nancy was born and raised in the Village and graduated from Lyons Township High School, as did the three Kenney children. Nancy and her husband John currently reside in northern Michigan, very close to the home of her mother Margaret.
Nancy’s father, Bill Mabin, left La Grange to serve in the armed forces of the United States in World War II. He never came home. He lost his life in the line of duty while serving in the U.S. Submarine Force aboard the U.S.S. Lagarto. A great many of our war dead are buried in foreign countries. Bill Mabin was buried at sea.
The documentary, “Lost and Found – The Legacy of the U.S.S. Lagarto,” will be aired during the Memorial Day Week End on Chicago Public Broadcasting Station, WTTW (Channel 11). It tells the story of the American World War II submarine Lagarto which was lost in the South Pacific just days before VE day and weeks before the Allies secured victory over Japan. In May 2005, sixty years after her loss, Lagarto was found by British divers in the Gulf of Thailand. Until then, the families of Lagarto’s crew had scant information on the location of the submarine and the events that caused her to sink.
The firsthand significance to La Grange comes in the person of SMI William T. Mabin, a twenty six year old resident of the village and 1936 graduate of LTHS. Mabin’s family – wife Margaret, daughter Nancy, and parents Gordon and Nancy Mabin all lived in La Grange and Mabin’s brother Jim and his family resided in La Grange Park. Mabin is one of the three members of Lagarto’s crew featured in the documentary.
The documentary gives an inside look at the construction, operations, battles and bravery of WWII submarines. It also shows the emotional turmoil felt by Lagarto’s families after her loss, as well as her discovery and the efforts of the world’s leading divers to find the reason for her sinking. Two of those divers were John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, subjects of the bestselling non fiction book Shadow Divers.
The documentary is scheduled to air in Chicago on May 24, at 6 p.m., and May 25, at 2:30 p.m. It will also be aired over the Memorial Day week end in the Milwaukee and Indianapolis areas.
Nineteen students from Lyons Township High School have designed a new web site for the Society. I believe that some of these young people might be members of your family; perhaps one of your children, nieces, nephews or next door neighbor.
When it was recommended that we update our web site, I did not know where to begin. For some unexplained reason I went to the LTHS web page and how I found George Lowen’s name among the long list of faculty members, I will never know, but when I saw his name I shot him an email asking if he could help. Much to my surprise I received an answer in the affirmative but with conditions. We had to visit his class, Web Development 1, and speak to the students. George’s offer was gratefully accepted.
At the appointed time, Michael Bogert, a former board member and I arrived at South Campus where we were greeted by George Lowen and Hank at the security desk.
Hank gave us the “once over”, asked for our IDs and the reason for our visit. He entered our names into his computer. After he had checked with the federal, state, county and local governments to make sure we were not convicted felons, and double checking to make sure our photos were not among those hanging in the lobby of the post office, Hank finally put our IDs in a machine and out came our passes. It was only then that George Lowen escorted us to his classroom and introduced us to his fellow teacher, Greg Semaan and nineteen wonderful young people all seated at their respective computers. On the large screen in the front of the room was the historical society web site.
We learned that the students, after having scrutinized our site and investigated other sites, had been separated into five groups, each group given the task of designing a new site for the Society. We viewed each presentation and the students asked for comments.
This process continued three more times and on each visit we viewed refinements to the background, fonts and navigational tools. We learned that a few of the students had worked on our project during Spring Break. Some had taken it upon themselves to visit the museum, taking photos of the interior and exterior. We were truly impressed by their initiative, commitment, talent, conceptualization, animation and execution. On April 29, we viewed the final presentations.
During these visits we viewed more than web sites: I saw George Lowen respectfully greet every student by name as they entered the room. On our last visit I took it upon myself to inform the class that Mr. Lowen had been the recipient of the Vita Plena award for the month of April. The award: “ for providing excellent leadership to his students and peers over the past eleven years,” also cited George’s dedication and selflessness, recognized him as a founding member of the LT Tech Corp program and a major influence in launching LT’s Computer Recycling Drive. Mr. Lowen was embarrassed when I mentioned this to the class but they were not surprised. I am not surprised either. George reached out to us as he has to so many. Not only does he engage the students, he engages the community.. The five sites designed by Web Development 1 are currently being viewed by our board and soon we will have a new and improved web site. I will close by saying that not only were we truly impressed by George Lowen, Greg Semaan and the students, we were also impressed by the friendly atmosphere at South Campus; with one cautionary note. To all who might be planning a visit to LTHS: it was easier for me to pass through “Check Point Charlie” in Berlin, circa 1960, than it was to get past Hank at security. So be prepared and don’t forget your ID.
Jeannine McLaughlin, President
Little Bit of HistoryMemories from Eugene Gardner
Eugene Gardner grew up at 708 S. 5th
Avenue between 1880 and 1900. His recollections provide a window into life in
La Grange before the turn of the last century through the eyes of a young boy. Roly Poly Sandwiches occupies the land where his home stood. (see photo at left)
John Whitson was a wellknown La Grange merchant whose impressive commercial building stood on the SW corner of La Grange Road & Calendar (see above photo) 5th Avenue – an early name for La Grange Road. A.G. Morey home – NW corner of La Grange Road & Cossitt where the theater building is now.
Lyonsville Cemetery is still on the SE corner of Joliet Road and Wolf Road. Decoration Day is an old name for Memorial Day.
G.A.R. – Grand Army of the Republic – an organization of former Civil War soldiers.
Old Rink building was on the west side of La Grange Road north of Calendar and south of the alley where the north end of the bank building no stands.
McAllisterPittsford was a dry goods store built in that space in 1914. It was the forerunner of McAllisterSchoen (see photo to right)