HR0676 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0676 LRB103 40070 LAW 71563 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize the Niles Historical and Cultural Center (NHCC) building on the occasion of its 100th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Located at 8970 North Milwaukee Avenue, the NHCC building is one of the oldest municipal structures in the Village of Niles and serves as a vital piece of the village's history; although it does not have landmark status, it is a local landmark in the community; and

WHEREAS, The NHCC building was originally built in the unincorporated Maine Township to house the Cook County Highway Police Station #1, with its construction beginning in 1923 and the police station opening in 1924; and

WHEREAS, The NHCC building was later renamed the Cook County Sheriff's Police Department, serving as its headquarters until 1984, and during this time, the police department worked many high-profile cases, including the arrest of serial killer Richard Speck in 1966, the John Wayne Gacy case of the late 1970s, and the horrific crash of American Flight 191 at O'Hare Airport on the afternoon of May 25, 1979; and

WHEREAS, The NHCC building began its transformation into the Niles Historical Museum with the relocation of the Niles Historical Society's artifacts from a hallway at the Trident Center to 8970 North Milwaukee Avenue on March 25, 1985, and the museum hosted its grand opening and dedication on October 25, 1986; and

WHEREAS, Today, the NHCC building remains the headquarters of the Niles Historical Society and is open to visitors year-round with no cost for admission thanks to donations that fund its programs, exhibits, collections, and research; and

WHEREAS, The NHCC building's 100th anniversary in 2024 is a time to honor the political, cultural, and historical significance that it has had on the Village of Niles and suburban communities in Cook County; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the Niles Historical and Cultural Center (NHCC) building on its 100th anniversary and its importance to the Village of Niles and Cook County; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Niles Historical Society (NHS) as an expression of our esteem and respect.