Franklin Park Public Library Local History

06/14/2017

In the 1920s and 1930s, Rev. Fred W. Krueger was a pastor in Franklin Park. His son, Fred A. Krueger, became a music instructor at Leyden Community High School and eventually at Evanston High School. After the family left Franklin Park a box of photos was found at their former home. These are just a sample of the Krueger family's history, waiting, perhaps, to be rediscovered by their descendants.

02/03/2017

Cherry's Service Station was located at the southwest corner of Rose and Franklin. In this1945 photo, owner Clarence Cherry uses an auxiliary generator to pump gas. If you had an A sticker for your car, you were only entitled to 3 to 4 gallons of gasoline per week. Gas rationing continued until 1945.

01/31/2017

Thank you to Chuck Kent of Roselle Town's People for posting this link. http://drloihjournal.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-complete-history-of-kiddieland-in.html?m=1

The Complete History of Kiddieland in Melrose Park, Illinois. 1929-2009

11/29/2016

The Puglia Building, 1930.

10/06/2016

Transportation, new and old.

09/07/2016

The original site of Forster Waterbury Foundry, Franklin Foundry and Nelsen Steel and Wire.

08/24/2016

This is a rare photo of Sky Haven Airport taken by Rodger Hammill in 1952. Unfortunately, the negative was damaged in processing but we can still see the planes waiting on the field. Sky Haven was opened on 75 acres leased from the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1939 by Ira Eylea. Eylea, together with his wife Lillian "Boots" and son Lyle operated the field until 1946. Dick Lloyd purchased the airport, located on Wolf Road north of Grand Avenue, in Bensenville, in 1946 and ran it until1955. For more information, look for Nicholas C. Selig's book, "Lost Airports of Chicago."

04/08/2016

Passing through Mannheim. The last steam engine ran through the Franklin Park area in 1953.

03/18/2016

Every kid in town is in line to see "Hey There, It's Yogi Bear" and "Robinson Crusoe on Mars" at the Rose Theater. 1964. Photo credit Rodger Hammill.

03/17/2016

The original of this picture is so faded that it is hardly viewable without scanning. FPLH has the original, but we have no idea where it was taken or by whom.