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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate the citizens of the
4Village of Western Springs as they prepare to celebrate the
5Village Quasquicentennial on January 30, 2011; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The Village was incorporated by the State of
7Illinois in 1886 and the first election for Trustees was held
8on January 30, 1886; Western Springs is named for the mineral
9springs that were found in the area by the early settlers;
10Western Springs is still one of the only municipalities in Cook
11County that utilizes its own deep wells for the municipal water
12supply; and
 
13    WHEREAS, The Water Tower is the Village's most distinctive
14landmark and was built in 1892; Western Springs was dubbed the
15"Queen of the Western Suburbs" by the Chicago, Burlington, and
16Quincy railroad in the 1800s; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Outstanding citizens from the early years include
18Thomas C. Hill, W.B. Wickersham, who served as the Secretary of
19the Chicago Public Library, and Benzette Williams, Chief
20Engineer of the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Chicago; and
 
21    WHEREAS, One of the first businesses in town was a general

 

 

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1store owned by August Ekdahl at 810 Hillgrove Avenue; later
2this building served as the first Post Office; the building now
3stands on Wolf Road on the municipal grounds and is a historic
4museum for the residents to enjoy; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Western Springs was one of the first
6municipalities to offer emergency medical services to its
7residents; the Village still operates a Paid-on-Call Fire
8Department; the Village recently rebuilt its train station,
9which is a replica of the first station; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The current population of the Village is 12,493
11citizens; on January 31, 2011 they will gather to enjoy a
12salute to the 2010 Citizens of the Year, a giant tower cake,
13ice skating, choral performances, ice carving, storytelling,
14and a bonfire for the grand finale; therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
16NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
17we congratulate the citizens of Western Springs on this
18historical occasion and wish them the best for years to come;
19and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21presented to Western Springs President William Rodeghier as a
22symbol of our respect and esteem.