The Night the Water Tower Sprang a Leak
It was a quiet August evening at the historic Western Springs Water Tower. But, suddenly, a loud noise prompted the police chief to run upstairs. In 1926, the Western Springs police department and village offices were located on the two lower floors of the historic water tower. Above them rested
The Battle Against Paved Streets
In 1967, most residents of Western Springs’ Field Park were opposed to letting the Village pave their streets. Especially since they’d have to foot the bill. Roughly one-fifth of Western Springs’ residents live in the Field Park area. Most of them never think twice about which street to take on
Forgotten Western Springs: The Wolf Road Garage
In 1920, Western Springs was home to just 1,258 residents and 100 automobiles. But, who could someone call for a tow or flat tire? In 1920, Wolf Road in Western Springs was just an unpaved dirt street. The most common vehicles were still horse-drawn wagons and buggies. But, Fred Tiedt
A Nautical Supply Store in Western Springs?
You might think that land-locked Western Springs would be the last place to find a store for boat owners. But, in 1965, you would have been wrong. Since Western Springs is roughly 20 miles from Lake Michigan and has no navigable waterways within its village limits, one could assume that
Western Springs … A Nuclear Refuge for VIP’s?
In the early 1970s, the U.S. was still in the grips of the cold war. And Western Springs’ new village hall had a special feature that was of interest to mayors and even presidents. The Cuban missile crisis of 1962 brought the world to the edge of nuclear war. While