I can remember spending Saturday afternoons at the show. My mom always went to Don & Lou's (remember them) and got a ticket for my brothers and I so we could get into the show for if I remember right a DIME!! Then we would each get twenty-five cents to go to Woolworths for penny candy. Back then twenty-five cents bought us a pocket full of the stuff! We were there all afternoon which I am sure was a nice break for our parents. I can remember playing outside all day long. We never spent our days in front of the TV. If it wasn't baseball, it was two square (which my 6 year old grandson loves to play) to basketball, volleyball or going to the beach in the summer. I spent a lot of time with Debbie Svejcar when we were younger. One time I remember my next door neighbors tying her to the garage door and pulling it up. They were really mean to her!! She and I along with Linnea Nystrom would build a tent out of boxes and sleep outside...those were the days. Now parents worry when their children cross the street. I remember our first tv as well. Black and White of course and those shows...Fury, Rin Tin Tin and the endless Saturday morning cartoons. Now it is Nickelodeon all day probably 24 hours a day. When we were growing up everything around us was fields...now you can't find a field except maybe a football or baseball field. Lake In The Hills was this small little borough with two lakes now it too is all grown up! I consider myself very lucky to have grown up in those very unassuming years.

Linda,

I remember those movies and Don and Lu's too!  Of course, my uncle's place "The Pantry" was down the street too.  Always went there to get that chocolate soda!

I remember seeing 'Sinbad and the Cyclops" and "Godzilla versus "King Kong".  I remember somebody standing up and yelling, "I will bet anybody $5 that King Kong wins!".   I figured he must have seen the movie before.  HA!

Glad you are doing well.

Oh Yes Rick, The Pantry, I remember it well! My first "regular" paid job (other than delivering papers and mowing lawns) was at Althaffer's Drug store - for $.65 per hour! (I should have stayed in the lawn mowing business!) I used to eat lunch all the time at The Pantry and they made the best "American Fried Potatoes"! I used to get my hair cut at the small barber shop at the end of the block, just down the street from The Pantry on the same side of the street. Anyone know the name of that place and the name of the barbers? I always went to the blonde haired "young" guy. And I remember getting my first haircut in that place where you sat on the little bench they put over the arms of the chair!

And Linda, I too remember the DIME movies - and I think that might even have been for a double feature? 

Yeah Paul I believe you are right..some of them were double features. I went to The Pantry too. I worked at Geske's (remeber that store) for a few months and I would go there for dinner on Friday nights. Of course, being the youngest on the staff I got all of the good hours. That store was scary!!! He had so many pairs of unbought jeans in the basement,  it was unbelievable. Some of them looked like they had been around for a VERY LONG TIME.  He was a real gem to work for as well...what a grouch. That barber shop is still on the corner. Don't know the name of it but I see the lamp that is outside the door going around and around...that must have been a staple back in the day so everyone knew it was a barbershop.  That wasn't the one that Joe Scotillo's dad owned was it?

That WAS it Linda - Joe's Barber Shop! Pretty simple, how could I possibly have forgotten that!!??

Of course I remember Geske's Departmet Store! It was on the other side of the street form The Pantry right? I don't remember shopping there but then I didn't shop all that much! But the drug store I wroked at had the same basemet storage situation - it was the stockroom fo the stoer and was a scary place indeed! And the owners, a husband and wife team kind of like George Constanza's parents on Seinfeld! They were always at one another - real pieces of work!

Remember Heisler's Shoe Repair Store? Susie didn't you mention you were going to talk with one of them about a CL history matter? Surely that place is not still in business? You don't find too many shoe repair places around anywhere anymore!

Then there was that Men's Store on the corner across the street - what was tht called? That's where I shopped most!

This is a great topic...I love reminiscing about growing up in CL. I used to work for Les Geske at New Era Men's Store right after I turned 16. He paid me $1.00/hr. He was very intimidating, but never really mean to his employees. I remember having to go downstairs in the creepy basement to bring up stacks of levis to put out on the shelves. He had inventory down there that dated back to the 40's...and it all wound up in his sidewalk sales year after year. I swear he  couldn't bear the thought of throwing something away if he thought he could turn a buck for it! He was a shrewd businessman.

I also have fond memories of Helen's Delicatessen (Blondie's). She really loved kids coming in for penny candy and I can still see all of the pictures lined up behind the deli counter. Does anyone remember her cat...it was a gigantic yellow cat and like 20 years old.

One of my favorite memories of those days is the fireworks at Vet's Acres, especially when everyone held up lit matches or lighters just before dark. What an awesome sight that was. How about the Niagra Falls display or the Grand Finale boomers that echoed all through the park! Another fond memory of Vet's Acres is ice skating on the pond and the warming hut which had a distinctive smell of popcorn and wet socks. It was especially cool to go night skating. They would blast rock & roll music from loud speakers and Al Becker would always be there. He was this amazing skater. One time he was really whipping across the pond and his skate hit a crack and he fell really hard hitting is head on the ice and he started convulsing! I remember another time when we were there for an enitre Saturday and around dinner time when everybody was leaving the park, Steve Wicklas (sp?) was laying on his back rubbing his frostbitten feet on a light pole. Poor guy! My mom took him home with us and fixed him up, she was a nurse. One last memory of Vet's Acres is when they put the toboggan shoot on Devil's Hill where the Nature Center was eventually built. The only problem was they built it over one of the best parts of the hill. Probably did it on purpose to prevent any more kids from getting banged up. I recall seeing plenty of kids slamming into trees on that hill.

Linda was talking about how kids always played outside. Our moms never had to worry about us being out after dark. I used to live on Pomeroy Avenue right next door to the McGoughs and I remember all of us playing up and down Douglas Street till well after 9:00 on summer nights ( our folks were probably enjoying the peace and quiet, since we both had fairly large familys). We'd even ride our bikes down to the beach in the evening till closing, as long as one of our older brothers or sisters were with us. Crossing Virginia Street back then was a piece of cake! Speaking of Virginia Street, does anyone remember the "Mayor of Virginia Street"? His initials were J.D. He was a legend in his own time!

I remember Woolworth's penney candy and their soda counter with the turning stools.

Anyone remember what the name of the sports store was - it was down by the railroad tracks.

I remember The Pantry - we used to go get Chocolate Cokes and fries!  I am sure they were great for us! (smile)

What is Veteran's Acres like NOW?  I remember all the ice skating, tobogganing - and rolling down the hills in the summer.  One time I rolled down the hill and a bee stung me in the back!

The fireworks there were awesome.  Do they still do fireworks on July 4th?

Good one Ginny,  Johnny Dahl,  the Mayor, Yup! He also had a brother that drove cab for Ione Winters,  his name was Norman,  but he was known as "bismarck"

Oh my gosh Ginny - great memories. The yellow cat at Blondies - Yes - that bugger WAS huge! But Blondie had the best selection of penny candy around!

So I really got ripped off by the Althafers (sp?) Geske may have been shrewd but he paid you $.35 more an hour than I got!

I remember walking across Vets Acres pond with a friend in late fall when the ice was freezing and poking a long stick through the ice to see how deep it was! And the ice finally started breaking up when we got about 25 feet from the edge and we made it the rest of the way walking in mud! What idiot kids - we were lucky we didn't fall through in the middle and never be heard from again!

And did anyone else used to walk the railroad tracks out to Richfield? Past Denkers house and beyond. Used to do that with Jim Keller and Mike Schepers. There were hobo camps along the way. Can you imagine letting kids do that these days? No way! We did so much with so much more freedom and no worries of where the kids were. Amazing what we've let happen to our world!

I remember delivering flowers for Flowerwood and one of my favorite places to deliever to was Chester Gould's (The Dick Tracy cartoon creator) home out in Bull Valley. And delivering to funeral homes was creepy - no one would be there except me and the corpse while I was setting them up!

Yup, yup, you're right, Charlie. Johnny Dahl. I remember another Norman that was a downtown fixture, I think he may have worked at The Pantry as a dishwasher. He wore his pants tucked into his cowboy boots...kind of a little guy. Then there was the older couple that walked arm in arm up and down Williams Street. The woman always wore a babushka and towered over her husband. One of my favorite stores was The Silent Woman. Anyone remember it?

I found this picture of the pond at Veteran's Acers on the CL Park District's Web site. It's a fair representation of how it looks now. It's all kind of overgrown with grasses and pond plants.

Hey, Ginny, wasn't that the house that was moved from Grant street , down behind the houses on CL ave. next to the now Park district  bldg., which used to be a bank?

Ginny,

  I remember that couple you were talking about that would walk up and down Williams Street. They were extremely nice people.  And Paul, you were quite the busy little boy weren't you!!! I remember going down to VA in the winter to ice skate, but don't recall every breaking any ice! When I was in junior high, I spent a lot of time with Marcia Krchak. We would be down at VA the entire day and loved every minute of it!!!! Always skating however, never did much sledding. In the warmer months, we would ride her horses. I remember one time while we were in a full canter, my saddle slid off to the side of the horse. Thank goodness Marcia was able to stop him. I got off, tightend the sinche and hopped back on. Don't think I would do that now. We had no fear when we were younger, but then we really didn't need to watch down every street for a stranger or someone cruising in a car to pick us up. I also remember following the fogging machine in the summer when they were spraying for mosquitos.....what were we thinking? We weren't!!!!! That was a great time, no worries or fears. And having days off of school, they were practically non-existent. Now they are off at least one or more times a month. I feel sorry for the parents who have to either find someone to watch them on those days off or be the one watching everyone elses kids like my daughter does.

Linda

Gerry,

  They still rent boats down at the beach I believe. I haven't taken one out but from the shore the lake is pretty much the same. The houses on the North Shore are bigger and better than when we were growing up. It is still a beautiful lake.

Linda

I do remember the fogging machines!  That was the highlight of an evening when they came.  Everyone in the neighborhood in the Vista ran after them,,, there was a yellow glow, and it felt like we were in the clouds.  Of course, later we realized we had been playing in DDT!  Between that and the second hand smoke from my dad, and some other crazy stuff that got inhaled after high school, it is amazing that I am in really good health!

I sure do remember renting those old boats.  In addition to Johnny Dahl - does anyone remember his brother, Bismark?  He used to drive a Winter's Cab during spring and summer, write bad checks and get tossed in jail for the winter months (just like Mayberry) so he'd have somewhere warm to stay. 

Does anyone remember Malcolm?  Very strange guy.  What about Billy something - he used to ride his bike around with the streamers on the handle bars.  How about "Stubby" - Fred something or other who worked at the place that sold newspapers, including the Racing Form - uptown.  He had a bad arm or hand - he also called my parents and told on me when I tried to get free matches to go smoke cigarettes I'd pilfered from my Dad's carton.

I couldn't get away with anything in that town.

Hey Kathy,  "Bsmarck", taught me all I needed to know about driving cab in cl.  It was a trip, whatta guy

Is this the Twilight Zone? Who are these people? Did we grow up in the same town?

Hey Paul, isn't it about time you fessed up?  I've been doing some research, and it seems that there is a common thread with all these people and the Fruins. Look out my friend there is a signpost ahead, time to come clean.

Busted, yeah, I guess they're all cousins Charlie! And there but for the grace of God go I!

Paul...when do you sleep?

This is really fun....

The Sports store was Dave's Sports Store owned by my first husband's Dad (Dave Donner)

The men's store was Tobers and do you remember the Silent Woman (now The Cottage)

Johnny Dahl was buried in a Crystal Lake Central Letterman jacket. He never missed a game!

Also...next to "The Greeks" used to be a ladies store named  Louise Quinns. Anyone remember

Amdures (not sure of the spelling) clothing store as well?

Yes, Heisler's is still in business..over 100 years. Just received an award from CL Chamber.

I talked w/ Grandma Heisler last week. I think she's around 100 years old & sharp as a tack!!

The older couple that used to walk arm in arm were Janie and John. Don't remember their last names. They were so sweet. Both are gone now from what I undersand.

I used to walk (alone) on the Northwestern Railroad tracks to go Downtown shopping. Never really worried about any danger. However, there was a hobo living under the tracks by the bridge by my Mom and Dad's house. Used to sneak him leftovers.

Obviously...we all remember the New Place.

Anyone remember the Tiger's Den (downtown on Brink) I THINK we were just a bit too young for that place. Was told they had go go dancers dancing in there. Oh My! Crystal Lake was pretty racey!  There was also Harry's Hope in Cary. Lots of great folks singers performed there.

I remember the Silent Women...I can remember quite a few of the girls got some really neat shoes there. I wanted a pair but they were not cheap so needless to say...I didn't get them. Susie, you are terrific!!! I don't know how you can remember all of these things. Keep the info coming because you are right, THIS IS FUN!!!! Carolyn Behling Guss and I used to walk down route 14 at night. We would buy red licorice and walk between the little store on 14 (can't remember the name...it was where Jani's Bridal used to be) and the freeze. Actually at one time a very long time ago, my grandfather had a store in that same place. Very old fashioned back then. He moved here with my mom's family and when he set it up he made it very similiar to a fish store that he had in Chicago. I remember it vaguely, wooden floors and smelled like fish!!!!

Paul,

I think that was Joe Scotillo's Barber Shop - appropriately named: Joe's.  He was near Don and Lou's and Lu Quinn's dress shop.  I too remember Don and Lou's as this is where my Mom took me when I was young.  By the time I was about 6 and aready 5' tall, i was shopping at Gieske's.  Remember that store.  And how about Hart's Finer Foods.  So many great memories...

Hi Linda, 

I totally remember the Silent Woman- it was owned by a Mr. Kennedy.  I wonder if the name was sexiest! He was a friend of my Mom's and I loved the way the store smelled.  They had lots of peter pan collar blouses and cardigan sweaters.  Kilts too.

I think Louis Quinns was at the other end of the street from The Greeks - Nick can confirm as his aunt and uncle owned it (I think).

Gieske's, Walgreens, that great bakery that made cream cones, the Lake Theater, Hart's Finer Foods, The Pantry (great cherry cokes).  CL had a great down town - not like some of the strip malls of today. 

Wasn't Lou Quinn's at the "top end" (I think that would be South?) of Main Street, on the right hand side and across the street from the theatre as you go toward the railroad tracks? And what was in that big old white house kitty corner from the theatre? That had some kind of shop/s in it as I recall?

Is Colby's Chrysler/Dodge in business anymore - maybe under another name if yes? And Reichert's Chevrolet on Main and would it be Gate's Street? (With all the dealerships being closed maybe they're gone now if they weren't already?) How about Conlin Collins out on 14 and 176?

And Martinetti's? I think the building's still there but something different is in it? And the Piggly Wiggly shopping Center? Piggy Wiggly? (Does that chain still exist?) And what's where the Pure Oil building was? That was torn down right? How about the old gravel pits - did they ever make that into a lake with luxury homes surrounding it? Is The Pinemoor building still there? That was behind the COngregational Church right? And they made GREAT pizzas there before take out pizza was that popular.

Remember that little store on the corner of 14 and Dole, diagonal from the sporting goods store, that made great Italian Beef sandwiches? And what wsa the name of that restaurant right next to the sporting goods store? What wasthe name of the sporting goods store?

OK Susie and Charlie, there's some good work for you!

Colby's  is gone.

Reicharts moved to woodstock.

Martenellis is gone, the motel too.  Now a gmc, etc' dealer.

Piggly Wiggly still exists in the southwest.

The pure oil building was east of Pig Wig,, it became MCC,  while the college was being built.  Is now, Hobby Lobby, Jewel , etc..

The gravel pits are now owned by crystal lake, they have been going on for years about what to do with them,  I think they have a plan now, but?

The Pinemoor burnt down years ago, and couldn't rebuild on the site, because they were grandfathered in. They were too close to a school to have a tavern. Dickie has opened a shop in the plaza that still serves Pinemoor pizza,  it's still the best, but you have to ask for extra sausage.

Best beef in town?  Mr. A's, located at dole and virginia, across from the schwinn dealer that I bought my sting ray from, which then became the Village Peddler, 

The restaurant next door was called Bill's Grill,  now it's called Andy's,  still a great place to eat. 

Awesome Charlie! Way to get right on it! Yes, Mr. A's! Surely it's not still there? And Bill's Grill, I loved to have breakfast at that place!

So, who wants to have Pizza at The Pinemoor - or whatever Dickie calls it now? I'd love to see if that pizza is still as good as I remember! I'm salivating!

Hey classmates, were are the rest of you? We've had 198 views of this post but only 30 replies! Don't be shy - jump in and write something. If it's that much fun to read them, imagine how much fun you can have writing one! Try just hitting the Reply button and just write your name! Then we'll at least know you're with us! Once you get your toesies wet, maybe you'll want to put your whole foot in then your leg and soon you'll be writing up a storm. It's FUN, try it!

OMG - Bill' Grill - When I was about 5, I put on all my Mom's make up and took her fur coat and walked up to Bill's Grill and ordered a meal - the waitress knew me ( Mrs. Tilikey) and called my Mom and I was promptly picked up by my Mom - she wasn't too happy about the mink coat dragging along Oriole Trail and Dole Ave while I had walked to the resturant...

Didn't Martinelli's have a big gold fish pond in the lobby? I used to try and catch them with my hands on the guise of going to the ladies room.  I never actually caught one - but came close - too bad the manager reportd by fishing expeditions to my folks..

Mary Nan...good to hear that you left the fish in the pond at Martinetti's. Like Charlie said, it was torn down and now a car dealership is there. Reicherts was one of the dealerships slated to be closed, but I don't think they plan to totally close up. As for Conlon and Collins they are not around anymore either. We have  a lot of car dealerships in town but none of the old timers are still with the exception of Ormsby's (they only sell used cars) and of course Reicherts...did I miss any Charlie? Nick's parents owned the Metro Bowl which at one time as Susie had said earlier was above a store down on the North side of the tracks. I remember my mom bowling up there!!! They have been on Brink Street now for many years. Bill's Grill, I also remember that...and of course Mr A's...still the best beef!! The original McDonalds was torn down which was really sad because that was where we would spend our time cruising...a lot of good memories there. After a school dance, the first place we would hit was McDonalds or the Freeze. Remember the old Mobil station that Fritz Eibisch's dad owned on Brink Street? The old Home State Bank building on Williams Street is now a restaurant...but I had heard it might be closing. So many changes and so many houses!!!! But still a wonderful place to live...

Paul... Mr A's is the Italian beef place on the corner of Dole and 14.... When I am in CL. I stop there... they still use lots of beef,, with peppers or not.  Hooray for the non-chains!

Okay - here are a couple of teasers for you all!

Crystal Lake had its own jailhouse at one time - can anyone guess where it was (and still stands - although has been expanded)?  How about the old National Tea?  What about the IGA on Virginia Street where you could do your grocery shopping and get a haircut in back where the butcher was?

Who could forget Parkview Bakery and its chocolate covered long johns?  I had a few too many of those after receiving holy communion at morning mass.  Remember Haznow's?

We had a dog named Rusty who lived large behind these places - visiting for handouts.  He'd get picked up by the dogcatcher, who drove a little white paddy wagon - knew my dad, so Rusty would just get dropped off at home.

My gosh...all these memories...my old brain is in overload but enjoying every moment   I asked my Broker/Gail Plunkett about a grocery store where Jani's Bridal (Now a catering business stands) On Virginia (Rt. 14)  between Pomeroy and Dole..it was owned by Russ Hanson. She didn't remember the name but it was a convenient store that sold liquor as well.

I remember being at a slumber party at Wisocki's...and we all "Bugalooed down Broadway (In Lakewood ) in our PJ's in the wee morning hours.

Kathy,

I remember the bakery and the chocolate covered long johns.....I loved them!

Does anyone remember ice skating on Veteran's Acres pond?  That old house was where we went in to keep warm.  Is it still there?

Skating on the lit pond was so wonderful...very Currier and Ives!! The pond is still there but no more skating...it's a "nature preserve" now....all grown over and natural. And tobagganing down the hills and the tobaggan slide were great (and probably quite dangerous but we didn't care!)

I remembered the name of the store between Pomeroy and Dole...it was called The Open Pantry. Let's not forget Harts downtown (Pam Hart (class of 68) parents owned it.

Does anyone remember the Auto Dine Restaurant on Route 14?

Do you remember down by Route 14 & Route 31 when they had a go-cart track (I used to race-not well I will admit) and there were trampolines (ground level) that you could pay to jump on as well. Didn't last too long as I remember..probably too many broken and sprained bones!! A miniature golf course was there too.

When we were all "really little" there used to be a restaurant right across the railroad tracks from my Mom and Dad's called Margaret and Arnolds. Anyone remember that?? It burned down. I remember walking thru it with my Mom and Dad after the fire.

Dodge Trophy's (out by my parents house) manufactured the infamous "Oscar" Did you all know that??

That's it for now...really enjoying cleaning out the cobwebs in my brain. Absolutely laughed out load Mary Nan with your makeup/mink story. Sounds like something my grand daughter Lola would pull. I absolutely can picture it. Your Mom probably acted furious but got a good laugh out of it as well!

Til next time......

C.L. city hall used to be located on the corner of beardsley and north main, with the P.D. in the back and the courtroom above.  I remember being picked up for curfew by the then officer nygren, who became McHenry county sheriff. It was a great time having my dad pick me up there ,and then having to go up to that very intimigating courtroom and recieve my penance.

Anyone remember the riding stables at Pingree and 14?

I do remember the riding stables.  Used to go there quite a bit.  One time in high school, I was with a group of people riding, and my horse took a short cut by a tree, and if I hadn't lifted my leg in time, it would have been very injured.  Have had a healthy respect for horses since then. 

Hi there  -  you all fail at my little CL trivia test!  The Crystal Lake jail was located in what became McCormick Park, where the water tower is.  The once small stone building that has now been added on to, is actually the CL jailhouse - it's a visitor's bureau or something like that now.

The IGA isn't where the Open Pantry was - but in the vicinity of Herman's Drug Store  - which is also something else today.  The nuns from St. Thomas used to do their shopping there.  There was a fabric store not far from there - down the street a bit from Bills Grill (in the really old days it was Jimmy's Place).  I'm REALLY back in the mid 50's with these memories  -  we all would've been pretty little.

Hi Kathy,

Ok, you've stumped me with the jail. The building is now home for the

Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce. I bought a book last week on

Historical Crystal Lake. I must look that up and see if there's a picture.

Yes, I remember riding at the stables as well. Got bucked off a horse and landed

on the fence. Amazing that my daughter has such a love for horses...didn't

come from me!!

Did any of you know that Karen Morgan's grandfather and father owned the IGA in Crystal Lake? How the the A&P on route 14 where they gave out those stamps? That's right the Open Pantry....and Herman's Drugs. Now that is a medical supply store. I worked with the guy that owned the bakery...he has since moved to Fontana...they did have good bakery goods.

Anyone remember some of the songs we used to hear on the radio daily?

I remember "Cherish".  I'll have to think hard to name some more. 

There are so many songs that were fabulous back then. We'll be hearing them at the Reunion. Beach Boys were great...when I was sad I would listen to "In my room"

I bought 9 CD's for the Reunion plus Steve, who owns the hair salon I go to in CL (he's from Liverpool), burned me 6 more...I think we're all set on music!!

It's been four days since I've checked these blogs and just want to congratulate you all for doing such a good job - over 100 hits on this blog since then - but still only 16 posts and those were only done by eight of you! Come on all the rest of you "peeking" here - join in the fun! The 8-10 of us are likely to run out of memoreis pretty soon!

But not yet! Nan you are indeed THE piece of work! Possibly surpassed only by Winkle for his offer to have handed out the towells in the girls shower! I'm sure all us guys were thinking the same thing but only Winkle had the guts to say it! You anD Nan are blessings to our class and I'm SO happy you guys haven't changed! You know Nan, you'd better start practicing your bird call if you're out of practice because we're ALL going to want to hear it! Thanks for continuing to keep us in stitches you two - you did it then and you continue to! You guys HAVE to make sure you meet my sister Kathy at the reunion - you'd love her - she was just like you two in high school and continues to be today!

I'm still salvating over that Pinemoor Pizza! No one indicated yet whether they're still as good as they were 40 years ago? And now I'm also salivating for a Mr. A's (I actually think I stopped in there a few years ago when I was in town! And it WAS delicious!) 

Kathy, I definitely remember the IGA, I think my parents did a lot of shopping there before the Jewell opened? I don't remember the barber shop in the back though? But do you all remember what was across the street from it to the south? Tin Pan Alley - the record store where they sold single play records - remember those? And all of us St. T'ers LOVED Parkview Bakery - and spent as much time there as we could get away with - before, after and sometimes during school! Bakeries made "real white" dough back in our early days before they started using that fake yellow stuff! And yes Diana, the long johns were the best but the jelly donuts were to die for!

Are you kidding me? You can't SKATE on the Veterans Acres pond anymore? What's wrong with you CL'ers who still live there? How could you possibly have allowed THAT to happen? I'm REALLY disappointed in you! That's just WRONG! A nature preserve? Give me a break!

I definitely remember the go cart track out on 31 & 14 but the tramps were the best! That WAS the best and did indeed not last long as those were the early days of personal injury lawsuits before anyone would even have thought of sueing McDonalds because they were too stupid not to pour boiling hot coffee on themselves and then expect someone else to pay for their idiocy!

Susie, do you remember the name of that restaurant on the NW corner of the 31/176 intersection? And remember the bowling alley on the NE corner? (Actually, that's a five way intersection so it's probaly inappropriate to use quadrants?) That was the first place close to where I lived that you could buy anything like candy, pop or chips! It was owned by the Bobeck's wasn't it? I remember when I got old enough to ride my bike down 176 to go there! There were no shoulders or anything on that road and the traffic was going at least 55! Parents probably aren't letting their kids do that nowadays! (Now that I'm thinking aobut it, I'm wondering if mine did either or if I just snuck out to go their on my own? Probably with my sister Kathy!)

And yes Kathy, I knew Bill's Grill had a differnt name - Jimmy's Place, that DOES go way back! Is the IGA building still there?

OK, "kids" thanks for these walks down Memory Lane!  

I loved " Cherish " too by the Association.  It was my first real concert.  My big sister was allowed to supervise me and Sandra Plodzien to the concert in Chicago.  I remember wearing a red suit and stockings and high heels, and taking the train.  It was all very grown up and wonderful.  Much different from the clothes I wore to see Led Zepplin and Jethro Tull with Debbie Visin and Jim Boss and Gerry Mueller in the summer of 69.... riding in a van to Chicago and sitting on the floor of the Electric Playground?  Many more concerts followed over the years.... but the best one ever was FINALLY getting to see the Rolling Stones in 1989!  Saw them many times after, even a few years ago in Toronto.  These days my concerts consist of my granddaughter Chloe's ballet recital.... for which,,, moms had to stand in line for hours!  So, some things don't change....

The bowling alley is still there...Crystal Bowl and Orv Bobek built it. He was my husband, Kar's former father in law as Kar was married to Cheryl.

The Tarreydale restaurant was on the corner. Maybe something before that but that's what I remember.

Just for the record "Jimmy's Place" was my grandfather and grandmother's' place!  Bill and Zora Aldridge, father and mother to my "uncle Bill Aldridge" and my mom of course.  They lived in the house above the place.  Bill was in class of 65'.

My mom did some waitressing there too.  We used to go there before I moved to CL, we lived over between Algonquin and Cary then.  Of course grandpa gave Mark and I free ice cream all the time.

The place burned down, but do not remember the year.  Like 3rd grade or so.  He rebuilt it, and thus "Bill's Grill" became the new name.  He sold the place but I do not remember why.  He bought the A & W out on 14 across from the Plaza and started the Pantry with my Uncle Chuck Aldridge, father to my cousin Ron Aldridge, who is in our class.  (Yes I told him to get registered!)

I worked some at all those places as dishwasher, cook, and register guy!!

I remember during the tornado recovery the whole Aldridge and Barchard clan kept the Pantry open 7x24 so the relief workers could have a place to go!  I went in at 5:00 AM to start dishes and it took me 3 hours to catch up to the traffic!   All the coffee was free to the relief workers!

Ron was working out at the A & W when the tornado struck that Palm Sunday.  He saw the Plaza get hit across the street and the cars were rocking back and forth under the carport there!

Also "Johnny" the mayor of Virginia Street, was a regular for years at both Jimmy's Place and Bills Grill.  My grandpa gave him many a meal!