|
Date |
Event |
| 11,524 B.C. |
Last glacier retreats, leaving area covered by Lake Chicago
(Lake Michigan) |
|
|
|
8,524 B.C. |
Lake
Michigan retreats to present borders |
|
|
| 1831 |
Cook County divided from Peoria County to become separate
county |
|
|
| 1838 |
Last Potawatomi Indians leave area |
|
|
| 1864 |
242 Worth Township men serve in Union Army |
|
|
| 1882 |
Wabash R.R. makes first stop in area |
|
|
| 1893 |
Amy Herbert (Mrs. Homan) born April 2 at 103rd Ridgeland |
|
|
| 1897 |
Charles & Zina Polchow arrive from Germany. Their daughter, Elizabeth
(Mrs. Arthur Eisler) born December 15th |
|
|
| 1898 |
Paul E. Berger Mfg. Co. built on 5 acres at Birmingham &
Oxford and manufactured slot machines & cash registers |
|
|
| 1900 |
James H. Robison named first Postmaster |
|
|
| |
Around this time "Dad" Meyer opened a tavern-hotel at Ridgeland
& Birmingham |
|
|
| 1907 |
Ernest & Elizabeth Klee open Piccadilly Gardens and general store |
|
|
| 1910 |
Fred Herbert of Chicago Ridge rides Donan to victory in the Kentucky Derby |
|
|
| |
Weiderman family
comes to Chicago Ridge |
|
|
| 1911 |
Racetrack demolished, now Holy Sepulcher Cemetery |
|
|
| |
Duckwitz family
arrives from Worth, via Chicago and Germany |
|
|
| 1912 |
Arthur Cooper born in Chicago Ridge |
|
|
| 1914 |
Village of Chicago Ridge incorporated in October |
|
|
| |
Charles Polchow
first President of Village |
|
|
| |
William Walsh family arrives |
|
|
| |
Edward
& Virginia Summer move here with 8 month old Edward, first
born of their thirteen children |
|
|
|
1942 |
Village President Bruno Duckwitz enlists in Armed Forces |
|
|
|
1943 |
Community Club founded - youth groups |
|
|
|
1944 |
Mike &
Martha Tuszl buy 5 1/2 acres & 8 room house for $6,500 at
110th Lombard |
|
|
|
1945 |
P.T.A.
established, Patricia (nee Ruccis) Ginn first president
|
|
|
|
Zoning Commission established |
|
|
| |
Glenn
Maker, having served in Armed Forces since 1939, was wounded
and died in Belgium |
|
|
|
1946 |
Foreman Manufacturing opens |
|
|
|
1947 |
Glenn
Maker American Legion Post 1160 chartered, William Ginn
first Commander |
|
|
|
1948 |
Our
Lady of the Ridge Parish created, Father Wm. Gentleman,
Pastor |
|
|
| |
First
Girl Scout Troop No. 157, leader, Ellie Olsen |
|
|
| |
First
American Legion yearly picnic in Ruceis’ Grove, amidst
pleasant gardens and fish ponds where huge goldfish wintered
under the ice |
|
|
|
1949 |
First
Brownie Troop formed, Frieda (nee Polchow) Rutz first leader |
|
|
| |
Ground
Observers Corps Post established, John Walsh Supervisor |
|
|
| |
Fred
Hansen, husband of Clara (nee Polchow) named Police Chief |
|
|
|
1950 |
Chicago Ridge Census 888 |
|
|
| |
Altar
and Rosary Society founded at Our Lady of the Ridge Church |
|
|
| |
Dick
Bristow opened first barber shop. Only previous facility was
part-time in Ruceis’ tavern |
|
|
|
1952 |
John
Stecker, Bill Walsh and Bill Schneider bring Little League
to C.R. |
|
|
| |
Velten
& Pulver manufacturing locates here |
|
|
|
1953 |
Glenn
Maker #1160, American Legion Auxiliary formed, first
President Virginia Bizzotto |
|
|
| |
Fire
Protection District established |
|
|
| |
Volunteer Firemen’s Association established |
|
|
| |
Ladies
Auxiliary for C.R. Volunteer Association formed |
|
|
| |
Firehouse No. 1 started |
|
|
| |
Herbert Polchow, son of first Village President, elected
President |
|
|
| |
Martha
Tuszl elected to Village Board, second women so honored |
|
|
| |
Harriet Oudsteyn begins 14 years answering fire calls in her
home |
|
|
|
1954 |
Our
Lady of the Ridge Church and School built |
|
|
| |
Firemen begin Operation Santa Claus |
|
|
| |
Elmer
Hanegan named Chief of Police |
|
|
| |
Sprinkle’s bowling alley opens, 6312 W. 111th St. |
|
|
| |
Tokar’s Supper Club opens, 5860 W. 111th St. |
|
|
| |
Louise
(nee Klee) Florian new Postmistress at 10731 Ridgeland |
|
|
| |
American Legion sponsors first 4th of July fireworks display |
|
|
| |
C.R.
Police Ass’n founded, Stanley Wank, President |
|
|
| |
Lions
Club comes to C.R. |
|
|
| 1961 |
Edward Cridge
made life member of Glenn Maker American Legion Post |
|
|
| |
Phyllis Polchow
named first woman President of Chamber of Commerce |
|
|
|
1962 |
Chicago Ridge
Fire Protection District dissolved , supplanted by C. R.
Volunteer Fire Dept |
|
|
| 1963 |
Father
Gentleman leaves Our Lady of the Ridge Church, Monsigner
Edward Roche becomes Pastor |
|
|
| |
Park
and Recreation Board created by referendum |
|
|
| |
Terry’s
Discount Store and Starlite Theater open on site of present
C.R. Mall |
|
|
| |
Southwest Community Concerts become available to residents |
|
|
| 1964 |
Golden Jubilee
celebrating Village’s founding, co-chaired by Richard Melanson and Robert Scanlon. Congressman Derwinski presented a
flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol, and Barbara Ping
was crowned Queen of the Jubilee |
|
|
| |
United
Presbyterian Church moves into its new church building at
107th and Lyman |
|
|
| |
Library
Commission appointed by Mayor Art Cooper. Anne Pote,
Chairperson, members, Yetta Lorenana and Dolores Gudyka,
when Dolores moved, Elaine Zarnecki was appointed |
|
|
| |
Water
system completed, Lake Michigan water via Oak Lawn |
|
|
| |
John Semborski
wins design contest for official C.R. flag |
|
|
| |
Public Works Dept
. established, with Joe Tarqueno as superintendent |
|
|
| |
Faith
Baptist Church purchases church at 11025 Ridgeland |
|
|
| 1965 |
Mary Macarol
elected as Village Clerk and Collector |
|
|
| |
Friends of the
Library chartered, Don Livesey, President |
|
|
| |
Ridgelawn School
is completed |
|
|
| |
Community Center dedicated, 10655 S Oak |
|
|
| 1966 |
Chicago Ridge
Public Library opens on May 1, in north end of the Community
Center |
|
|
| |
Library Board
elected, members: Pres. Don Livesey, Audrey Clinton, Richard
Furman, Jeanne Landuyt, Jessie Hall and Margaret Slager. |
|
|
| |
C.R.
Branch of Cook County Circuit Court dedicated |
|
|
| |
Joan
Sherbet organizes Camp Fire Girls, Virginia Sumner,
co-leader |
|
|
| 1967 |
Chicago Ridge
census, 8338 |
|
|
| |
Firehouse No. 2 built, 104th and Southwest Highway |
|
|
| |
Moraine Valley Community College District created |
|
|
| |
Village Hall moved to 10655 S Oak |
|
|
| |
Big
snow in Jan. and terrible tornado in April |
|
|
| |
Sons
of the American Legion chartered |
|
|
| 1968 |
Rich Melanson
heads committee to form Park District |
|
|
| |
Park District
formed, Jack Pieroth first President |
|
|
| |
Dedication of Memorial to war dead, south of American Legion
Hall |
|
|
| |
Gateway
Transportation and Bemac trucking open |
|
|
| |
Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance adopted |
|
|
| |
Chicago Ridge
Runners Camping Club formed by R. Melanson |
|
|
| |
Ski-Slide Park licensed |
|
|
| |
Andrea Schaal
named Beauty Queen |
|
|
| 1969 |
Veterans of
Foreign Wars, Memorial Post No.2255 founded 1st Commander
Harold Haupt |
|
|
| |
Ladies
Auxiliary, VFW Post 2255, established- President, Marie
Buster |
|
|
| |
Helen Biggers
introduced Welcome Wagon |
|
|
| |
Little
League Women’s Auxiliary began, Pauline Ward President |
|
|
| 1970 |
Special census
- 9,861 |
|
|
| |
Public
Works building erected, 10449 S Oxford |
|
|
| |
Elks
Club built |
|
|
| |
First
Arbor Day celebrated in Chicago Ridge |
|
|
| |
Thomas
Furniture & Appliances moves from Chicago to C.R. |
|
|
| |
Village adopts the motto "The Village of Patriotism" |
|
|
|
1971 |
Elden D.
Finley Jr. High School dedicated by David Oberg, school board
president |
|
|
| |
Senior
Citizens form C. R. Friendship Club |
|
|
| |
United
Presbyterian Church welcomes new pastor, Rev. Grant Noland,
from Canada |
|
|
| 1972 |
Village Clerk
Mary Macarol announces opening of immunization clinic |
|
|
| |
Lyle Schaal
appointed Police Chief Jan.18 |
|
|
| |
Junior
Auxiliary, Glenn Maker American Legion formed |
|
|
| 1973 |
Ridge Whirlers
Square Dance Club organized by Marvin Labahn |
|
|
| |
Police
car garage built |
|
|
| |
"Potpourri
73" was the first extravaganza at Our Lady of the Ridge |
|
|
| |
Chess Club meets
for the first time, teacher Dominiak Mele got the kids
interested |
|
|
| 1974 |
Diamond
Jubilee 60 years, special census 12,576 |
|
|
| |
Park
Recreation building completed |
|
|
| |
Robert
Miller becomes first salaried Fire Chief |
|
|
| |
John Oudsteyn
elected Assistant Fire Chief by firemen |
|
|
| |
Ortigara’s
Musicville comes to town |
|
|
| |
All members of
Village Board indicted, except for Don Pratl, Sr., who was
appointed to fill a vacancy on the Village Board the week
before. Trustee Don Pratl, Clerk Mary Macarol and Treasurer Richard Tranowski maintained the village
until the
April 1975 election |
|
|
| 1975 |
Eugene Siegel
elected President. His board: Thomas Cooper, Charles Tokar,
William Herrington, Mary Susan Zelis, Paul LaChance, and
George Rwyniak |
|
|
| |
Re-codification of village ordinances completed |
|
|
| |
Natural prairie mapped by biology teacher/naturalist, John Brodemus, who
counted over 100 wildflowers |
|
|
| |
Ridge
Village Senior Citizens Club formed |
|
|
| |
Pete Chiappetti
named assistant superintendant of public works |
|
|
| |
Chicago Ridge
Youth Commission appointed, Jim Leatherman chairman |
|
|
| |
YMCA
Princesses started |
|
|
| |
Bicentennial
Commission appointed, Chuck Tokar and Tom Hannigan
co-chairmen |
|
|
| |
Robert
Whitten, great grandson of Amy Herbert accepts position as
part-time engineer for the village |
|
|
| 1976 |
Walter Jakovich retires as custodian of village hall and library |
|
|
| |
Well
Baby Clinic started |
|
|
| |
James
O’Hara becomes police chief |
|
|
| |
Rich Melanson
chairs C.R. Blood Commission |
|
|
| 1980 |
Full time
firefighter - paramedic service established |
|
|
| 1981 |
Chicago Ridge
Mall opens |
|
|
| 1985 |
Commons
Shopping Center TIF District established |
|
|
| 1986 to 1994 |
Street
improvement project means new street, curbs, gutters, street
lights and storm sewers - no more ditches! |
|
|
| 1988 |
"The
Park" at Chicago Ridge, industrial park established |
|
|
| 1990 |
Population
13,643 |
|
|
| 1994 |
Home Rule
Referendum passed, March 15th by 3 to 1 |
|
|
| |
|
