September 18, 1947Wilmettes 75th Anniversary 1872-1947How Village of WilmetteMarked 75th AnniversaryNearly Every Citizen GotChanceage party held at the Michigan to Participateall-vill inShores club on May 31. There was anSeries of Eventsall-Wilmette swimming meet followedby dancing, bridge, movies, barber-WO m cite residents have partici-pated in one of the biggest birthdayWshoilpm etqtueartet, and buffet supper.s historical exhibit, gath-parties held on the North Shore forered by a group of people for thequitepublic library was on exhibition. a few years. Of course, wemean none other than1 all the cele- A track meet was held on the vil-brations by the townspeople of Wil- lage green on June 4. There weremettes 75th anniversary.track and field events and relayThe steering committee which for- races for grade school children,mulated plans for the village-wideobservances was appointed by theAll public buildings of the vil-presidents of the five village boardslage were open for inspection onin December. Members of the com-IN BUSINESS DISTRICT Frank Smiths grocery store occupied themittethe evening of June 5. The Wil-e who began making plans formette public library had a spe-building at 607 West Railroad avenue (now Green Bay road) aroundthe celebration in January were thethe turn of the century. The building is still standing. Note that nextMisses Jane Drucker, Frances Schei-Wciaill mdeitstplay of books written bye residents.door was the post office. (Photo supplied by H. F. Dusham).denhelm, Rebecca Fitch, and Paul: * *Cutler, the Rev. Ross Cannon, John. AlsoJ. Schneider, and Paul Pair. W. B. V: the sa e evenin James.,ListRobinsonD Jr. was chairman of th e |- W Kline was hast in the council Wilmette Men, Womenchamber of the village hall wheregroup.Whohe explained the historical muralswaThe WomansClub of Wilmettein the chamber. Died in Two World Warss one of the first organizations toAn historical pageant was giventake part in the celebration In Aprilthe club sponsored an art exhibiin the Wilmette amphitheater byt atWWorlilmettes roll of honored dead inDonald J. LaCombe, John R.children of the public schools ond Wars I and II has never beenLang, Harold Lindberg Jr.t"officially" compiled. It is believedVictorWhei lmceltutb which featured works nfeJune 6. artists only. Also at the McKeighan, Robertthat the following list, however, isMestjian,exhibit was a display of WilmetteSunday afternoon, June 8, the New Donald L. Millard,the most accurate one available.Laurencehistoric objects, collected by MissTrier High school band presented a M. Murphy.TherHelen Siniff of the public library.concert.e is no record of fatalityEleanor C. Nate, Joseph C.* * *among* * * the men who went from theNate, Donald H. Niggemeyer,then unincorporated settlements ofGrosRichard R. Nilles, LawrenceAnotheFollowing the band concert,r early parly was thevisitors to the Bahai temples Point and Wilmette to theanimal reunion meeting1 of YeCiviHenry Noel II.l war, nor from the two villagesOlpreviewed an audio-visual pre-d Townc Folkes, an. organiza-sentation of the stages in theto the Spanish-AmericanAlexander M. Patch III, War- war.tion made up of residents whoren A. Palmer, Edgar G. Pen-construction of the temple andPeterhave lived in Wilmette 25 years J. Huerter, for whom one ofney.took conducted tours throughor more. Historical skits, athe two local posts of the Americanthe building.LegionAnthony R e inw a I d , James"fashion show" of clothes rem- was named, is believed tohavBrownlee Rice, Richard Rudd,einiscent of early Wilmette, and been the only Gross Point manRobertChurches dedicated their services J. Rudd Jr.an historical exhibit were fea-to give his life in World War I. Histo the villages anniversary, andbiographytures of the meeting. appears elsewhere in thisAlbert Sargent, John R. Saw-regular summer activities such asissue.yer, Edward J. Schnell, David Wilmette Days also commemoratedThSkillin, Robert C. Specht, Rich-e following men from WilmetteHowever, the big 12-day celebra- the celebration.ard Joseph Steffens, Thomastion was held May 28 to June 8. The Throughout the month of May theW(aos rlit was then) died in the firstdSteffens, Albert C. Steinhoff, war:Harrietpurpose of this planned celebration choirs of the intermediate public Joan Stevens, EdwardAllynwas to portray the pioneer days and schools presented a series of con- T. Anderson, Louis M.R. Stone, Donald Swingley.Bruch,spirit of 1872, to interpret the growth certs. Alfred T. Francisco, Hen-Alfred J. Toscani, Harvey W.and progress of the community, and The Wilmette Public library alsory G. Herbon, Douglass T. Hoff-man,Tuber, Theodore Wall, Kennethto open all village facilities and pub- participated in the celebrations by Robert P. Irvine, EugeneG. Wayt, Ralph White, JamesBlanchardlie buildings to inspection.putting out an historical guidebook, Jones, John J. Mc-Deming Wolff.Ardle,An historical pageant presented by William C. Pope, Georgem"The Story of Wilmette, As ToldV.War Memorial Seibold, Cedric A. Smith.pupils of St. Josephs school startedB kBooks.WorlLast year the village board ap-off the revelries. The pageant wasd War IIpointed a War Memorial committee,divided into eight scenes: (1) theThe men and women of Wilmettecharged with studying the problemcoming of Father Marquette and theHenry Fowler Noted(which by that time had absorbedot the creaLian of a "living" me-first celebration of the Mass nearWGroorsls Point) who did not return frommorial to the men and women of thethe present site of Evanston hospi-for Public Serviced War II are as follows:village who lost their lives in service.tal; (2) Indian dances and wars, theAlfred Beecher Abeles, DavidThearrivalAmong Wilmettes public servants of Ouilmette and the grant committee, headed by JamesR. Allison, Harry Anderson,V. Sill, 140 Maple avenue, reportedofof recent times was Henry Fowler, land to his Pottawatomie wife;George B. Bassler Jr., Byronback to the board, after consultation(3)who lived for many years at 1404 early settlers, mostly farmers,H. Beaton, Gus George Bebas,with many individuals and with theandForest avenue. the building of schools andClement A. Berghoff Jr., JohnheadHe was a mem-s of all of the village civic, re-j homes; (4) old-fashioned sports; (5)ber of the com-Birong, Raymond E. Boudart,iigious, patriotic, fraternal, welfara,establishment of the first privateRobert J. Boyle, Stephen Elbertandmission which I^E^""*"^^^ . social organizations, that a com-Brooks.munitschool by the Hoffmann and Lauer-y house would be the most de-mansdrew up the first; (6) incorporation of the vil-Waltersirablevillage plan from and useful "living" memo-lage, the building of the first post of- C. Campana, James T.rial1919 to 1922, a.Clarke,| fice and a portrayal of Father Nes- John Harding Coyne,^embCT of ttheNorman L. Craig, William Say-Thetraeter, pastor of St. Josephs church, proposal will shortly be placed park board fromlor Culver, John Neil Currie.before the voters of the village tofrom 1872 to 1923 and twice village1925 to 1944, Re-Henryaccept or reject.president; (7) sports of modernpublican town- William Dalton, GayleW.times; (8) a closing with the entireship committee- Dearborn, Robert I. Diete-class singing1 school songs.rich, William F. Dieterich, GeneFrederickFiremenman from 1932 to Would Borrow1936, president of Drake, Stafford W.Drake Jr., William Dayton Dur-ham.LaundryOn Memorial Day the Newthe community Firms HorsesTrier High school varsity base-chest from 1934WilliamIn the middle 1B90E locomotionball team played Wankeganto 1937, member Henry Fowler R. Farris, ThomasMagillfor Ihe volunteer ffre departmentHigh school at the village green.of the playground board from 1928 Fread, Guy M. Freeman.Carlhose cart was furnished by a horseThis game was preceded by ato 1934 and again from 1936 to 1940, L. Geppert, Chester L.Haighfrom Kelsons laundry. The fire de-game between the New Trierand was chairman of the latter or- Jr., Carl B. Hall, CharlesD.partment was located across thefreshman team and a group ofganization for two years. Mr. Fow- Hall, Mark Hall, Eugene E.Hasselberg,street from the laundry where Al"all-stars" from the Wilmetteler, active during his entire resi- Howard S. Hender-Thompsons filling station nowschools. Joe Giallombardo alsodence in the village in St. Augus-son, Henry C. Hoffmeyer.stands. When a fire was reportedgave a trampoline demonstra-tines Episcopal church, was alsoThomas Ray Johnson, RobertW.a bell on top of the building wastion with his daughter and twoa 32nd degree Mason. He was a Kaye, George R. Kivland,rung and the laundry horse was ledboys.founder and for some time servedRobert G. Kraft, Charles F. Kre-acrossas president of the North Shore to be hitched to the hosemerCouncil of the Boy Scouts. He died Jr.cart.Highlight of the celebration was an in 1944.