Crete library hosts program on rail history

CRETE | During a recent Crete Public Library program, “Along the Chicago South Shore Rail Line," historian Cynthia Ogorek presented interesting stories and facts about the last electric interurban rail, the Chicago South Shore and South Bend rail lines.

Crete library hosts program on rail history

Cynthia Ogorek gives a presentation on the South Shore Rail Line to patrons of the Crete Public Library.

Marshall Field's department store focus of Crete library program

The Crete Public Library held Remembering Marshall Field's with historian Leslie Goddard on March 6. The presentation included a detailed and entertaining slide show and lecture plus a table of memorabilia that included fashionable ladies' dress hats, hat boxes, gloves, books and plates.

Marshall Field's department store focus of Crete library program

The Crete Public Library held Remembering Marshall Field's with historian Leslie Goddard on March 6. Goddard traced the Chicago store's history from the beginning to 2006, when it was officially renamed Macy's.

Marshall Field's department store focus of Crete library program

CRETE | The Crete Public Library held Remembering Marshall Field’s with historian Leslie Goddard on March 6.

Women's dugout canoe, lake voyage featured in museum exhibit

VALPARAISO | The story of two young Northwest Indiana women — and a tree that became a boat — made its debut at the Porter County Museum of History Sunday afternoon.

Women's dugout canoe, lake voyage featured in museum exhibit

Amy Lukas, right, and Mary Catterlin talk Sunday about their dugout boat, Mekeba, carved from a cottonwood tree, along with other items they used to circumnavigate Lake Michigan last summer, during a new exhibit at the Porter County Museum of History in Valparaiso.

Women's dugout canoe, lake voyage featured in museum exhibit

Mary Catterlin, right, started hand-carving a cottonwood tree into a dugout canoe, then she and friend Amy Lukas, left, circumnavigated Lake Michigan in the boat this past summer. The boat is now on exhibit at the Porter County Museum of History.

Celebrate Lansing’s history with us today

I’ve been looking forward to this afternoon’s festivities for a few weeks now. Monday is the date the vote took place to incorporate Lansing and the nearby communities of Bernice and Oak Glen into the village of Lansing in 1893. Can you imagine what life must have been like back then?

Mall memories tie together community

By now I’m sure you have read or heard that Sears in River Oaks Center is scheduled to close in June. Last week I wrote a column that mentioned Siam Marina restaurant pulling out of its River Oaks location to move to Tinley Park.

Lansing to commemorate 120 years

LANSING | Lansing Historical Society board member Don Olsen shows off a new donation to the Lansing Historical Museum, a hat worn at the 1954 centennial celebration. That centennial marked 100 years since the first settlers arrived in Lansing.

Lansing to commemorate 120 years

Lansing Historical Society board member Don Olsen shows off a hat worn at the village's centennial celebration in 1954, marking 100 years since the first settlers arrived in the south suburb. The village is gearing up for its 120th anniversary event on March 3 marking its incorporation.

The village of Lansing to celebrate 120 years

It was back in 1996 when I first joined the Lansing Historical Society and I’ve learned so many fascinating things about this place in that time.

Students learn about local history

Veterans Day ceremony today at airport

Today is Veterans Day, when we recognize the service of all U.S. military veterans. Show your appreciation by attending the Southland Community Veterans Day ceremony at 2 p.m. today at the Lansing Veterans Memorial, located at the Lansing Municipal Airport at Burnham Avenue and Glenwood-Lans…

Newspaper from ‘50s offers glimpse of Hegewisch's past

In Hegewisch in 1959, 16 rolls of toilet paper cost $1 at Aniol’s Hardware and Paints on Baltimore Avenue. Leaders of the Hegewisch Little League worried that the program would have to fold due to lack of umpires, and the Hegewisch Chamber of Commerce met to form a plan to stop the extension…

Crete library offers program into women's role in local history

CRETE | On Oct. 3, the Crete Public Library went back in time when Carol Perry portrayed her grandmother, Ida Adams, in “Without Women, Crete Could Be a Ghost Town."

Crete library offers program into women's role in local history

Historian Carol Perry, standing, portrayed her grandmother, Ida Adams, in "Without Women, Crete Could Be a Ghost Town" on Oct. 3 at the Crete Public Library. Dressed in vintage attire, Perry took the audience back in time to the 1800's and early 1900's with a convincing portrayal of the life…

Former Homewood race track to receive state historical marker

HOMEWOOD | The Washington Park Race Track will receive its rightful recognition at 2 p.m. Oct 28 when the village of Homewood Heritage Committee dedicates an Illinois State Historical Society Historic Marker at 17800 Halsted St.