USA > Illinois > DuPage County > Hinsdale > Village on the county line ; a history of Hinsdale, Illinois > Part 14
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"Their hobby proved so interesting and lucrative that they added a wing to each end of the central building and imported manetti, a type of root, from Europe. To this root they grafted rose scions, and thus produced American Beauty roses. Manetti was not grown successfully in the United States until about 1915 when it was produced in Oregon and Washington.
"So many roses were grown by Messers Bassett and Washburn that they were taken to Chicago, where they found a ready market, and so successful was this venture that they formed a partnership and continued the enlargement of their plant, operating greenhouses and a wholesale flower store. This firm was the first to produce American Beauty roses for the commercial market, and its busi- ness flourished for many years on a large scale."
In 1905 there was a hotly contested election for the presidency of the village, the candidates being John Hess and J. C. F. Merrill. Polit- ical campaigns, of the usual sort, had accompanied the village elections ever since the 1880's and this one is said to have been especially noisy and apparently out of harmony with the governmental requirements of a small town.
Early in the present century, with the assistance of Mr. C. B. Kim- bell, the Hinsdale Sanitarium was founded by Dr. David Paulson, his wife Mary Paulson, and his brother N. W. Paulson. The Sanitarium building was completed and dedicated in September 1905. There was an orchestra concert, addresses by Dr. J. H. Kellogg of Battle Creek, Michigan, and Judge Carter of the Cook County Court. These pro- ceedings were followed by a banquet to which various persons from Chicago, Hinsdale, and elsewhere had been invited.
From this modest beginning the sanitarium has expanded, in stature and in serviceability. The number of Hinsdaleans who have been born there, or who have recovered from minor or serious ailments within its comfortable building and grounds runs into the thousands. Only four years after the sanitarium was completed, a large wing was added to the building.
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Social activity continued in full bloom, with most of it centered at the Hinsdale Club. A music class was meeting there, sponsored by the Mesdames A. E. Walker, Harvey Dean, Grant Miller, and F. C. Bebb. A minstrel troupe from La Grange appeared at the Club house, and possibly this one inspired many that were to follow, made up of Hins- dale talent. Dr. Gunsaulus lectured at the Club, the Beloit College Glee Club performed there, and the Grace Church Men's Club, a large organization of its kind, held its annual banquet there.
Alvar Bournique conducted dancing classes at the club house over an extended period. When bowling alleys were installed in the base- ment, they were something new in this vicinity. But perhaps the event for which the Hinsdale Club is best remembered was the annual New Year's dance. Like its forerunner the masquerade ball, at Stough's Hall back in the Seventies, the New Year's dance at the club was an institu- tion, for more than thirty years.
Among the addenda, there is a list of all but a few of those who served as President of the Hinsdale Club. Although the club was largely a place for social gaiety and repose, its officers had a task to per- form. For in those days club budgets were not easily balanced; the problems of supply, and of the maintenance of large frame buildings, were many.
Do you remember Utley and Frisbie's livery stable, Powell's Bakery, and F. W. Bahlman's tailoring establishments? They were advertising in the village paper in 1906. There was the Lawton chil- dren's pet donkey that was always such a feature of the Fourth of July parades. Where are the water lilies that bloomed in such great abun- dance in Salt Creek? What caused them to disappear? Do you recall the Golf Club when it was located east of the present course, and the large crop of wild flowers that brightened the fields every summer across the road to the south?
"Asa Bacon Makes Good," said a Doings headline, and so he had, for Asa Bacon was the former clerk of Ditzler and Linsley's grocery. He now had become general superintendent of the Presbyterian Hos- pital in Chicago. In a later issue of the paper, Superintendent Bacon described the internal workings of the institution that he had so large a part in running.
This appointment was made by Dr. D. K. Pearsons, who at that time was President of the hospital. The following incident, related by
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Mr. Philip R. Clarke, who now is President of the institution's board, is not a complete explanation of why Asa Bacon got the job, but undoubtedly it was a rung in the ladder:
One day Dr. Pearsons went into the grocery and asked for a dozen oranges. While clerk Bacon was putting them in a bag, the customer slipped a thirteenth orange into his pocket. This act was observed by Bacon, who promptly charged the doctor for thirteen instead of twelve. It is reported that the philanthropist had tried the same thing on clerks in various stores, and that the others had let him "get away with it." But large hospitals are places where considerable sums can be saved or lost, depending on the handling of small items of expense.
Lectures, investment opportunities in Texas and Mexican lands were much in the news during these years. Bassett and Washburn won prizes at the National Flower Show's exhibit in Chicago's Coliseum. The Swedish Baptist Mission bought Gardner's Hall, formerly known as Stough's Hall.
A social event of considerable importance in 1909 was the "double anniversary" party given for Dr. and Mrs. Hench. The couple had been married twenty-five years and it also was the doctor's twenty-fifth year of practice here.
On a cold, windy night in January of the same year Ditzler and Linsley's store burned. A basketball game at the Garfield school had just ended when the fire whistle blew, and most of the spectators went to see the blaze. The store was a complete loss, and the entire block was threatened because of the high wind. But the flames were prevented from spreading by fire walls, an adequate water supply, efficient fire- men, and help from the fire departments of La Grange and Downer's Grove, and from local volunteers.
Athletics, by now, was taking a more prominent place in village life. As for basketball, the year 1909 is one to remember especially, for it was during that season that the state championship was won by a small high school, with its team largely self-coached, and its court on the third floor of the old brick building on the Garfield hill. "Stellar" is the word usually employed to describe star basketball players, and this appelation surely became the names of Bahlman, Cortis, Dana, Davidson, and Keith, a quintet whose achievement has not been equalled by a Hinsdale High School team. The manager of the team was Arthur Collins.
With the ending of the 1909 basketball season, Robert A. Gardner
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entered the national amateur golf tournament, and he came home with the cup. Bob Gardner also pole-vaulted for Yale.
Baseball was played in Hinsdale before it became the national game. Shortly after it had gained popular favor in the East, baseball reached the pasture diamonds of Fullersburg and Hinsdale, in the 60's and 70's. A news item of 1874 told of a game between teams represent- ing those towns.
No record has been found of the seasonal accomplishment of teams that represented the village during the 1800's, but it is probable that none of them reached the heights that were cleared by the town teams of 1908 through 1914. There were senior and junior town teams. The senior team held the Suburban League championship for a majority of the six years. Among the members of those teams were F. Bahlman, G. Clark, P. R. Clarke, H. Flechtner, P. and W. Hales, M. Johnson, the three Keiths, El, Gil, and Hans; Wm. Luthin, and E. Luthin. Phil Clarke, Goodwin Clark, and Bill Luthin, in the order given, usually topped the list in batting averages.
The most successful season a Hinsdale town football team has experienced was back in 1899, when football was a new sport in the village. But during the years on both sides of 1910 the town team won more games than it lost, and it met all comers from up and down the "Q."
Some of those who played on the 1899 team were Lester Childs, Robert W. Clark Jr., Elliot Fulton, Tom Murray, and Earl Needham. Later, these men were playing, viz .; Si Blogett, Pete Evernden, Her- man Flechtner, Art Hammond, Bill Pape, Albert Prior, and Fred Schmidt.
These teams, baseball and football, played most of their games on the old field between Washington and Lincoln south of Seventh street, familiarly known as "The end of Washington."
The annals of Hinsdale athletics include the names of Edwin (Laddie) Myers, and Frank Foss, both of whom have represented the United States in pole vaulting at the Olympics. Robert Ayres and Fred Cortis were top dash men at the University of Illinois. John Bryan played on the varsity football team at the University of Chicago, before intercollegiate competition was discontinued there.
Organized citizen groups and assemblies always have had an influ- ential voice in the deliberation of questions concerning the public
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welfare and progress. A group of this kind that had a membership of 250 persons, and exerted considerable influence in village affairs after the turn of the century, was the Village League. The League pondered and acted upon a variety of subjects relating to the best interests of the community. It explored the subject of relief of the needy, resulting in the formation of the Hinsdale Relief Society (forerunner of Hins- dale Community Service). The League brought "sanity" to the village Fourth of July celebrations, and it once wrote a letter to the C B & Q Railroad Company recommending certain changes in facilities that prevailed at the old Union Depot. The minute books of the Village League have not been found, but the organization is known to have served the village conscientiously and wisely for fifteen years or more.
Another well-remembered organization was the Hinsdale Fresh Air Association, the beginnings of which are described as follows by The Hinsdale Beacon, a contemporary of the Associations' founders:
"In the spring of 1888 Rev. W. C. Gannett, then pastor of the Unitarian Church at Hinsdale, proposed to his congregation to take into their homes children of the needy and deserving poor of Chicago, to be cared for one week. Mr. Gannett called it 'lending the country for one week to those who knew so little of it'. The plan was to be named the "Children's Country Week."
"After some canvassing and consideration, this proposal was modified by Mrs. H. C. Coffeen to one which seemed to meet with more general approbation. This was to take an unoccupied house and fit it up for the reception during the summer for working girls and needy children. Mr. Alfred Payne generously offered the use of his country house, and it was furnished with bedding and other necessaries by women of Hinsdale, who also supplied cooked food, sent in every day, with the contributions of money being used for incidental expenses. Physicians in the village donated their services to the Association's clients whenever they were needed." (The Payne house formerly was the home of Marvin Fox, early settler in Brush Hill. It still stands, at the southeast corner of Lincoln and Ogden.)
The Hinsdale Fresh Air Association was organized in 1889. The elected officers were: Mrs. H. M. Van Liew, President; Mrs. John Burton, Vice President; Mrs. F. P. Bagley, Secretary.
The Association functioned faithfully up to the 1920's, affording to hundreds of underprivileged young people an opportunity to see the country and to come in contact with persons and surroundings which were beneficial to both physical and mental health. Apparently the only reason for its discontinuance was a gradual change in the economic condition of that class from which it drew its beneficiaries.
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Living standards had risen to the point where the need of the particular facilities offered by the Association was no longer urgent.
In the handling of both its funds and its affairs, this was an excep- tionally well administered undertaking. Its record stands high among those of Hinsdale's useful organizations.
Among other milestones after 1900 were these:
Adolph Frosher, Truman Eustice, Mr. H. Thayer, Sophia Merrill, LaFayette Briggs, and Mrs. Cornelia Stuart passed away.
The wedding of Miss Louise Hildebrand and Philip Ream Clarke took place at Grace Church, on a Saturday evening in September of 1910.
Mrs. Blanche Merriman, the talented pianist, wife of Reverend Earl Merriman minister of Grace Church, was appearing frequently at musicales and receptions.
The new golf club opened in 1910, at its present location.
Francis S. Peabody, who had moved to Hinsdale, and who later established his large estate at Mays Lake, was mentioned as a possible candidate for the Vice-Presidency of the United States.
The following announcement, marking one of Hinsdale's por- tentous events appeared in a June issue of The Doings in 1912:
"There will be a meeting of all adults interested in the organization of a Boy Scout Camp in Hinsdale in the parlors of the Hinsdale Club. Field Secretary Pollard will speak and answer questions regarding this great movement."
The Girl Scout movement soon followed, and these two organiza- tions, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, have continued to the present time.
In 1912 Hinsdale was considering the erection of a new village hall, but the proposal was a little ahead of its time. Soon the possibility of a new, large hotel was widely discussed. This edifice would have been commodious and open to both resident and transient guests. Sketches of the architects' conception of the building, and descriptions of its appointments, and names of those who were backing the project were given wide publicity. Promotion meetings were held. But eventually the idea faded out, and nothing further was heard of it. Had this hotel materialized, it, instead of the Memorial Building, would now stand on the hill north of the station.
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Harvest Home dinner dances of the Golf Club had their inaugura- tion about 1913, and were to be an institution for many years. And it was around this time that the "sane" Fourth of July movement began to take hold, to be followed by a village ordinance abolishing the use of muffler cut-outs on automobiles.
Among the lecturers at the Woman's Club in 1914, was a man who gave a talk on the war in Europe, an event which was eliciting mild interest and wide condemnation. The peace crusade which followed found local encouragement and support.
In January, 1915, the Hinsdale Theatre opened, with a drama of five reels entitled "The Hoosier Schoolmaster." This first theatre was housed in a small building that stood on the present site of Schweidler and Mewherter's store. It displayed many silent but chuckle-provoking, pie-tossing comedies, and hair-raising dramas. At the piano Myra Bohlander played the theme music, "catchy" tunes that succeeded one another hour after hour without becoming monotonous.
Other milestones passed in this year were the start of a branch of Infant Welfare, the assurance of a new Union Station in the city, and the arrival of Roger C. Sullivan who occupied the large brick residence on the County Line Road formerly owned by the Freers, and afterward by Stuyvesant Peabody. Mr. A. E. Keith was honored by the Scientific American magazine for his work in developing the automatic tele- phone, and the Hinsdale Relief Society had its start toward administer- ing to the needy.
Robert A. Childs passed away in this year, also Edwin C. Fuller, H. K. Walker, and H. W. Holcomb.
Lectures, describing the war in Europe had changed to talks on preparedness. Ladies began taking part in Red Cross work, and a few young men had joined the National Guard.
A Christian Science group was formed in the village. There was a good-roads movement throughout the region. A vote on local option was held, and the township remained "dry."
War was declared, draft boards were set up and the village began to "do its bit." Boys went to training camps, and three residents of Hins- dale were chosen for important posts: Alexander Legge was Assistant Purchasing Agent for the United States, Philip R. Clarke was war loan leader in Chicago, and C. E. Raymond was publicity agent for the production and conservation of food.
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For the next two years, news of the war predominated in the local paper. News of some Hinsdale boys being lost was received: Among the first were Leslie Chandler, Mac Weddell, Malcolm Brown, Harry McAllister, Linus Ruth, and William Giffert.
But eventually the war ended. The village had its part in celebrat- ing the Armistice, resumed its peace-time pursuits, and soon entered upon the tumultuous twenties.
REGARDLESS of the number of horses that had pranced the village streets in the 80's and 90's, no mention has been found of a horse show during those years. But in 1916 the Saddle & Bridle Club, whose members lived in Hinsdale and other suburbs, held its first annual horse show, on the old Middaugh farm in Clarendon Hills. These events were interrupted by the war of 1917-18, and the Saddle & Bridle Club went out of existence. But horse shows eventually were resumed, on a larger scale, at the Oak Brook Polo Club.
Early in 1919 the state sold $60,000,000 worth of bonds for new motor roads, from which Du Page County benefited to the extent of $1,000,000.
A village park and athletic field was acquired, comprising an entire block at Hickory and Vine streets. Half of this tract was purchased from O. J. Stough of San Diego, California, and the other half from local property owners. This area was named Burns Field, for R. W. Burns, then President of the village.
Ruth Lake Golf Club, southwest of the town, had its start during the 1920's, through the sale of memberships to many of the younger men of the neighborhood. The club has functioned successfully through the years.
In 1920 William Evernden sold his business; a new village ice plant came into operation, and power tractors were being introduced on the surrounding farms. A widespread building-trades strike hampered the construction of new homes.
The 50th birthday of the village was celebrated in 1923. A large party was held at the High School gymnasium, and The Doings printed a special issue commemorating the event. "And a colorful pageant it was from the opening address of welcome by President Burns until the last strains of 'Home Sweet Home.' " Sponsored by the Village Board,
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the good work of preparing and directing the celebration was carried on by the Plan Commission. Mrs. H. I. Hiatt was chairman of the committee. The other members were Mrs. Lemuel H. Freer, Mrs. W. T. Bruckner, Mrs. N. H. Whiteside, Mrs. Frank Farr, and Mrs. Ralph Pierce.
It seemed altogether appropriate for Fullersburg to have been annexed to Hinsdale in this year, but Clarendon Hills voted on the same question and decided to remain separate. Radcliffe Park and the Woodlands were opened for home building, and plans were ap- proved for the enlargement of the light and water plant, including water softening facilities. Plans for the new Madison School were well- developed. Automatic traffic lights were coming into use.
During the early 1920's Hinsdale experimented with the Village Manager plan. In many respects the management was satisfactory, but when differences arose concerning the sources of the manager's com- pensation, he went elsewhere when his term expired, and the Village sought another President of the Board.
New subdivisions developed during this decade. The remaining acres of Alfred L. Walker's farm became Radcliffe Park. East of the County Line, W. R. Jordan set out The Woodlands. New homes were appearing in the Oak Brook area.
The village population had reached 7,500. Safety on our streets was becoming more uncertain. A request from Western Springs for permis- sion to draw on the Hinsdale water supply was declined; and trouble was experienced in keeping the water mains unobstructed. Village schools were beginning to use state funds for certain purposes.
ยท The town withstood its first year of the long depression with no troubles. Relief and unemployment problems were not to hit for an- other twelve or eighteen months.
In 1930 a magazine, The Economist, reviewed the business career of Philip Clarke, and told of his elevation to the presidency of the Central Trust Company. At about the same time Wade Fetzer was made president of the Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York, and Alexander Legge was appointed to head the United States Farm Board. Upon the death of Mr. Legge, a few years later, he was suc- ceeded by A. E. Mckinstry as president of International Harvester.
In that same year, 1930, there were other Hinsdaleans who were making their mark. Who's Who in Chicago listed the following names and occupations, as well as many that have already been mentioned:
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RALPH N. BALLOU, banker, retired.
SAMUEL W. BANNING, patent attorney.
SAMUEL BEATTY, president, the Austin-Western Road Machinery Co.
GEORGE H. BELL, western manager, the National Fire Insurance Co.
GEORGE A. BERRY, JR., lawyer.
FREDERICK T. BOLES, lumber and securities.
H. A. BRINKMAN, banker.
CHARLES A. BROWN, patent attorney.
WILLIAM T. BRUCKNER, vice president, Continental-Illinois Bank, and other banking interests.
WALTER J. BUFFINGTON, vice president, C. D. Peacock & Co.
RANDALL BURNS, lawyer.
BURRIDGE D. BUTLER, owner and publisher, The Prairie Farmer.
WARD C. CASTLE, vice president, National Bank of the Republic, and chairman of the Grant Land Association.
E. W. CHILDS, President, S. D. Childs & Co., stationers.
L. C. CHILDS, lawyer.
R. W. CHILDS, lawyer.
CHARLES L. COBB, lawyer.
SYDNEY T. COLLINS, insurance, retired.
L. P. CONOVER, lawyer.
W. B. DAVIES, patent attorney.
SAMUEL E. DEAN, president, Dean Evaporated Milk Co.
WILLIAM F. DICKINSON, lawyer.
A. G. DUGAN, western manager, Hartford Fire Insurance Co., vice president, Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co.
F. G. DYAS, M.D., surgeon.
O. W. DYNES, general counsel, Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul R.R. Co. WALTER H. ECKERT, lawyer.
STANLEY R. EDWARDS, engineer and editor.
E. PORTER ESSLEY, secretary, the E. L. Essley Machinery Co. EDWARD W. EVERETT, lawyer.
FRANK D. FARR, vice president, Silver, Burdett & Co., publishers.
J. C. FETZER, real estate, mortgage banking, and receiver for traction lines.
WALTER TAYLOR FIELD, author (the Field Readers, etc.) and editor of The Abbey Classics.
H. W. FREEMAN, lawyer.
ALEXANDER G. FROST, shoe merchant.
MAURICE E. HANDKE, president, Archer Paint & Varnish Co.
JAY L. HENCH, vice president, Mid West Forging Co. Also identified with mining.
H. G. HETZLER, president, Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad Co. and the Belt Railway of Chicago.
HOUSTON I. HIATT, Chicago sales representative for the National Malleable & Steel Castings Co.
CHARLES W. HIGLEY, president, Hanover Fire Insurance Co.
H. H. HOLCOMB, vice president, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Co. ADDISON C. HOOF, automotive supplies.
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M. L. JOSELYN, president, Joselyn Manufacturing & Supply Co. and associated companies.
H. VICTOR KEANE, vice president, American Bank Note Co., and president of Western Bank Note & Engraving Co.
MARSHALL KEIG, executive vice president and director of the Consumers Co.
HARRY C. KNISELY, manufacturer of building equipment.
J. S. KNOWLSON, general manager, Electro-Magnetic Tool Co.
WILLIAM F. KROHN, secretary, Central Commercial Co.
JOHN B. LAMSON, manager, commercial development department, C B & Q R.R. JOHN S. LORD, lawyer.
ARCHIBALD MACLEISH, controller, Carson Pirie Scott & Co.
EDWARD P. McKENNA, McKenna & Strawser, grain dealers.
G. R. McLERAN, manager, Home Life Insurance Co. of New York.
H. S. MECARTNEY, lawyer.
FREDERICK W. MOORE, Moore, Case, Lyman & Hubbard, insurance.
M. A. MYERS, manufacturer of medical supplies.
LOUIS J. NAUMANN, Naumann & Steuer, real estate.
FREDERICK O'BRIEN, western manager of a group of insurance companies.
JOHN C. B. PARKER, insurance.
STUYVESANT PEABODY, president, Peabody Coal Co.
H. PERRY PHELPS, vice president, Chicago Transfer & Clearing Co.
WILLIAM H. REGNERY, president, Western Shade Cloth Co. and of Standard Shade Roller Corp.
BRUCE E. RICHIE, insurance.
WILFRED A. ROWELL, pastor, Union Church.
DANA SLADE, JR., president, Slade, Hipp & Meloy.
JESSE E. SMITH, district manager, Prudential Insurance Co.
NATHANIEL G. SYMONDS, commercial vice pres., Westinghouse Elec. & Mfg. Co. WALTER B. TEMPLETON, president, Templeton, Kenly & Co.
RALPH M. THAYER, president, Thayer Eating Houses.
HAROLD G. TOWNSEND, lawyer, banker.
FRANK VANINWAGEN, railway equipment.
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