During the 1950s vacations by automobile were the hot trend. Motels, offering free parking right by the door of your room so that moving luggage in and out was easier, popped up across the country, dotting roadsides in rural areas and on the outskirts of cities. As traveling by automobile grew increasingly popular, motels became a common sight. In 1958 Libertyville…
Eighty years ago, northern Illinois experienced a period of bitter winter weather. For about a month, from January 22 until the end of February 1936, Lake County experienced heavy snow fall, freezing temperatures, and terrible winds. During this time the country was also in the grips of the Great Depression. Funds for equipment to manage these conditions were hard to…
Before the dominance of chains and big box stores, most people did their shopping in town, at a store that was generally owned by an individual, not a corporation. Even before Jewel came to Libertyville, there was Triggs & Taylor Grocery. From 1892 until 1942, Triggs & Taylor was the place in town to get your groceries.…
In the 1950s one of the biggest draws to Libertyville was the Hawthorn-Mellody Farm. At the height of its popularity, the farm, which was owned by the Cuneo family, occupied more than 1,200 acres of land adjacent to the Cuneo Mansion. Hawthorn featured a working dairy farm, a milking parlor, a western town, and even a…
Halloween has always been a fun time for kids to dress up, go trick or treating and enjoy a prank or two. However during the trying times that the Great Depression and World War II presented to the people of Libertyville, Halloween provided a welcome diversion. Putting on a silly costume of a witch or…
In the early 1920s Lake County was witness to several horrible train accidents on the Soo Line. The Soo Line was part of the Canadian Pacific Railway and ran through western Canada and much of the Midwest, including downtown Mundelein. While the railroad helped bring prosperity and supplies to the area, it also brought tragedy.…
Entertainment in the early part of the 20th century was different from our experiences today. Fairs and festivals offered a type of communal and collective form of entertainment unknown in the present. During the 1900s to the mid-1920s the circuit or tent Chautauqua, a cross between a traveling show and a lecture series, offered a…
Cook Memorial Library is now offering a set of astronomy binoculars. What better way to enjoy a summer evening than to observe the night sky! The super-powered binoculars allow close-up viewing of the moon, stars, and nearby planets. The astronomy binoculars kit includes a binder with moon-viewing ideas, information on the night sky, and activities…
Major floods were never a problem in Libertyville until 1938 (see previous post). After that, all was relatively dry in town until, within a two-year period in the early 1960s, Libertyville again was hit by major flooding. Although different areas throughout the village were affected by the flood waters, the damage seemed to be the…
For many years, Libertyville’s biggest problem was probably flooding. Natural bodies of water such as lakes and rivers are often fun or picturesque. However when the conditions were right they could quickly turn into a terrifying site, enveloping roads, businesses and homes. The Libertyville area is known to have approximately 50 floods, ranging from minor…
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