Chronology 1920-1929

1920 (January 16)  The 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, prohibiting the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages, becomes effective. Niles Center counts sixty-one prohibition speakeasies. (League of Women Voters of Skokie-Lincolnwood, op.cit., p. 12 / Omnibus, Emerson, op.cit., p. 26).

St. Peter Catholic Church, under the pastorate of Rev. Anthony Wolfgarten, begins the transition from German to English language services. (Buisseret et.al., op.cit., p. 5, 7 / News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 96).

The Samuel Insull interests moved into the Niles Center area to begin a real estate boom. (Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, p. 21 / News (Skokie), January 16, 1975, p. 3 / Omnibus, Emerson, op.cit., p. 24 / Villager, July 3, 1958, p. 13).

Bill Strum became Niles Center's first motorcycle policeman at a monthly salary of one hundred dollars. (News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 7).

Population of Niles Center is 763. (Omnibus, Emerson, op.cit., p. 27).

Teachers in District 69 threaten to quit unless their salaries are raised. Salaries increased to at least $100.00 per month. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 4).

Bradley and Haben Funeral Home Construction Photograph, 1920s 1923 Bradley & Haben Funeral Home is established in Niles Center at 8038 Lincoln Avenue. Telephone number is 27 J. (Witry, op.cit., p. 135).

AprilMayor John E. Brown Portrait, 1923  John E. Brown, the son of Niles Center's second Village President, is elected Niles Center's 6th Village President. (Whittingham, op.cit., p. 112).

Dr. Melvin Little constructs a home on Lucille Court n/k/a Concord Lane at Kenton Street. It is constructed of logs and granite and it cost $45,000.00. (Central United Methodist Church, Its first Sixty-five Years, 1930-95. Ardis Coninx, p. 2).

1924   (March 16)  The Niles Center Press begins publication. (Niles Center Press, March 16, 1934, p. 1 / Rosche, op.cit., p. 10).

April 4  The Chicago North Shore and Northern Railroad begins construction to extend the Skokie Valley Route to Dempster Street in Niles Center. This part of the elaborate interurban system contains some difficult construction problems. (North Shore; America's fastest interurban. William D. Middleton, Golden West Books, San Marino, CA., 1964, pp. 48-54).

October 18  Harold "Red" Grange scores 5 touchdowns to lead the University of Illinois to a 39-14 victory over Michigan. (Chicago Tribune, Bill Jauss, August 10, 1997, Sports page 3A 3.)

December  District 69 School Board of Trustees convenes a special meeting of the Board for the purpose of responding to a citizen petition requesting a referendum to determine whether a new school site (the location of the present Lincoln school) should be purchased. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 4).

Aerial Photograph of Niles Center, Illinois, 19271925 (January 20) A special election is held. District 69 voters approve the purchase of land at present-day Babb Avenue and Lincoln Avenue. The 8.8 A site is purchased for $9,742.70. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 4).

March 21  The Village adopts the motto "Niles Center -- We Do". (Greater News (Skokie), January 29, 1926, p. 8).

April 17   The Skokie Chamber of Commerce is formed under the name "Niles Center Businessman's Club". George Busscher, Jr. is first president. (Greater News (Skokie), January 29, 1926, p. 8 / News (Skokie), February 3, 1955, p. 22 / News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 51 / News (Skokie), May 13, 1965, p. 16.

November  Evanstonian, Charles Gates Dawes, is elected Vice-President of the United States. He also receives the Nobel Peace Price for conceiving the "Dawes Plan" for the reconstruction of Germany after World War I. (Whitney, op.cit., p. 13).

Bootlegging is at its highest peak in Niles Township communities. (Greater News (Skokie): see 1926 issues / Omnibus, Emerson, op.cit., p. 26 / Skokie, Illinois Community Development Department, Planning Section, 1964, p. 4).

The News begins publication. (News (Skokie), January 7, 1932, p. 1 / News (Skokie), open house sec., November 2, 1951, p. 2 / Rosche, op.cit., p. 10 / Sunday Life (Skokie), sec. 1-A, January 17, 1971, p. 8).

Installation of a sewer system costing $39,000 begins in Niles Center. (News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 5 / Villager, June 26, 1958, p. 15).

The Village issues its first building permit for a gas station at the corner of Niles Center Road and Church Street. (Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, p.64 / News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p.36 / Skokie, Illinois Department of Community Development, Planning Section, 1964, p. 2-3 / Sunday Life (Skokie), sec. 1-A, January 17, 1971, p. 8).

Aerial Photograph of Lincoln Avenue and Oakton Street, 1930Reflecting the growth of Niles Center as a suburban community, Mayor John E. Brown and the Village board complete many water, sewer and paving improvements. Agitation for these improvements had begun after the 1910 fire. (Beaudette, op.cit., p. 2 / Greater News (Skokie), January 29, 1926, p. 1 / Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, p. 43 / News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 5 / Villager, June 26, 1958, p. 15).

1926 (February)   The first trains run on Niles Center elevated lines extending Chicago Rapid Transit Company operations from Howard Street to Dempster Street. (Chicago Transit Authority. Research and Planning Department, 1968, p. 5 / Greater News (Skokie), January 8, 1926, p. 8 / Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, p. 14 / Middleton, op.cit., p. 51 / Omnibus, Emerson, op.cit., p. 27 / Skokie, Illinois Department of Community Development, Planning Section, 1964, pp. 3-4 / Sunday Life (Skokie), sec. 1?-, January 17, 1971, p. 8).

1926  (September)  Mildred Tess becomes employed as a teacher in District 69. She begins a long tenure with District 69 and High School District 219. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 5).

November 22   Classes start in the new Bronx public school, on Dempster Street, for kindergarten through the third grade. (Greater News (Skokie), November 19, 1926, p. 1). Margaret McGuire is hired as teacher. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 5).

The Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railway use the Chicago Rapid Transit Authority lines to Milwaukee. (Chicago Transit Authority. Research and Planning Department, 1968, p. 7 / Greater News (Skokie), see 1926 issues / Middleton, op.cit., p. 52 / Skokie, Illinois Department of Community Development, Planning Section, 1964, p. 4).

Niles Center's first Dollar Days are held. (Sunday Life (Skokie), sec. 1-A, January 17, 1971, p. 8).

July     $500,000 in water, lighting and sewer contracts are let by the Village. (Greater News (Skokie), July 23, 1926, p. 1).

September 10  A tentative zoning plan for the entire village of Niles Center is presented to the public by the Niles Center Zoning Commission. (Greater News (Skokie), September 26, 1926, p. 1).

October  Building permits issued in this month by the Village Clerk push the dollar value of construction for 1926 over the total for the previous record year, 1925, as intensified residential development continues in the Village. (Greater News (Skokie), November 5, 1926, p. 1 / Skokie, Illinois Department of Community Development, Planning Section, 1964, p. 3).

Niles Center Woman's Club Photograph, 1930sNovember The Woman's Club of Niles Center (now the Woman's Club of Skokie) is founded (incorporated: 1929). Eleanor Walter,** Woman's Club of Skokie, 1967: June 21, 1978 / News (Skokie), January 6, 1950, p. 7 / News (Skokie), February 3, 1955, p. 38 / News (Skokie), January 16, 1975, p. 14 / Skokie Life, October 27, 1949, p. 1 / Skokie Life, October 30, 1941, p. 6).

November 21  College Hill School is dedicated. (Greater News (Skokie), November 12, 1926, p. 1).

November 22  Classes started in the new Bronx public school for kindergarten through the third grade. (Greater News (Skokie), November 19, 1926, p. 1).

Armond D. King Portrait, 1957Armond King, sent by Krenn & Dato to manage Devonshire Manor, establishes a real estate business in Niles Center. (Witry, op.cit., 141 / Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, p. 2 / News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p.12 / Omnibus, Emerson, op.cit., p. 24).

Niles Center has four public schools:

  • Niles Center: 166 pupils
  • Fairview: 39 pupils
  • East Prairie: 104 pupils
  • Sharp Corner: 74 pupils

Total public school student population is 383. (Greater News (Skokie), January 8, 1926, p. 6).

Excavation for Niles Center Municipal Building on Oakton Street Photograph1927  (February)  District 69 Board of Trustees receives a petition requesting the construction of a building at the Babb Avenue school site purchased after the 1925 election. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 5).

The Municipal Building (Village Hall) is built at 5127 Oakton. (League of Women Voters of Skokie-Lincolnwood, op.cit., p. 17 / Rosche, op.cit., p. 3).

Bronx Building Photograph, 1926The Bronx Building, considered one of the most magnificent suburban structures at the time, is built at Bronx and Dempster, at a cost of $170,000 to give the image of prosperity to future residents. (Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, p. 8 / Sunday Life (Skokie),* sec. 1-A, January 17, 1971, p. 8 / Villager, Feature Sec., April 14, 1958, pp. 20, 21).

September  Dr. Melville Little sells his log cabin home to the North Shore Military Academy which opens in Niles Center. It is this log building that will become the original building for the Central United Methodist Church. (Greater News (Skokie), December 30, 1926, p. 1 / Greater News (Skokie), August 24, 1928, p. 1 / Ardis Coninx, Central United Methodist Church, Its first Sixty-five Years, 1930-95, p. 2).

September 22   Gene Tunney defeats Jack Dempsey at Soldier Field for the heavyweight boxing title in the "the long count" match. (Chicago Tribune, Bill Jauss, August 10, 1997, Sports page 3A 3.)

1928 Niles Center has a building volume of more than $2,000,000 with the construction of 162 new homes. (News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 3 / Omnibus, Emerson, op.cit., p. 27 / Skokie, Illinois Department of Community Development, Planning Section, 1964, p. 3).

February 3 The Park District of Niles Center is founded. The first elected commissioners are:

  • Emil E. Blameuser
  • John Kalmes
  • Leo Heinz
  • A.C. Galitz
  • W.R. Nelson

(League of Women Voters of Skokie-Lincolnwood, op.cit., p. 23 / News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, pp. 3, 71 / Sunday Life (Skokie),* sec. 1-A, January 17, 1971, p. 8 / History of the Skokie Park District, p. 9, Archives, Skokie Park District).

September. Niles Center school enrollments are:

  • St. Peter Catholic School - 24322
  • Sharp Corner - 84
  • East Prairie - 93
  • College Hill - 50
  • <Niles Center - 202
  • Fairview - 40

Total pupils - 712 (Greater News (Skokie), September 7, 1928, p. 1).

September 4 The new Lincoln Avenue building of the Niles Center School opens with 202 students. It is known as the Niles Center School. (Greater News (Skokie), August 24, 1928, p. 1 / News (Skokie), February 3, 1955, p. 103 / District 69 Archives, This is Your Life, Lincoln School, Coninx, op.cit.).

October 3  The North Side Sewage Treatment plant, the largest of its kind in the world, is formally opened at McCormick and Howard in Niles Center. (Greater News (Skokie), September 28, 1928, p. 1 / Greater News (Skokie), October 5, 1928, p. 1).

October 14     Auxiliary Bishop Bernard J. Sheil, plus twenty other officials of the Catholic Church, dedicate the new 10-room building at St. Peter Catholic School on Niles Center Road. (Greater News (Skokie), October 12, 1928, p. 1 / Buisseret, et.al., op.cit., pp. 7, 92).

November 7     Niles Center firemen are granted a pay allowance of $1.50 for the first hour and $1.00 for each hour thereafter. (Greater News (Skokie), November 9, 1928, p. 1).

December 8     The National Bank of Niles Center, the first nationally chartered bank in Niles Township, opens for business just west of the NW corner of Lincoln and Oakton. Ferdinand Baumann is President. (Whittingham, op.cit., 75 / Greater News (Skokie), December 7, 1928, p. 1).

1929  (April)  The Cosmos Club of Niles Center (Club Scrapbook) is organized. It will meet on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Niles Center Municipal Building. The first President is Amelia Brooks Chase. (Cosmos Club Archives).23 / News, (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 64 / Niles Center Press, February 13, 1931, p. 1 / Selma Regan Petty, History of the Skokie Public Library).

April The Niles Township Boy Scout movement begins. (News (Skokie), February 3, 1955, p. 86).

May The new building at the Sharp Corner School is opened. (News (Skokie), open house section, November 2, 1951, p. 14).

July 26  The Cosmos Club announced that its mission will be the creation of a free public library for Niles Center to be called the "Niles Center Free Public Library". Mrs. S.A. Stenson will chair the committee. (Chicago Evening American, July 26, 1929).

July Bids to construct a four-room addition to Lincoln School are awarded. (Coninx, op.cit.p. 6).

September 7 The telephone company switching building at 8231 Niles Center Road is completed. Mayor John E. Brown places the first telephone call through the battery switchboard in the new building. There are 1,252 telephone customers in Niles Center. (News (Skokie), open house section, November 2, 1951, p. 14 / News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 99 / "Skokie and the Telephone", Illinois Bell Telephone, Archives, Skokie Historical Society).

September 25 The Cosmos Club takes possession of rooms on the second floor of the "National Bank Building". Dr. A. Louise Klehm donates the first books. Mayor John E. Brown leads efforts to raise money to fund the rent. (Niles Center News, September 27, 1929).

October 29  "Black Tuesday" on Wall Street. The Great Depression begins. Construction in the Village is halted. Niles Center is left with many vacant lots, equipped with paved streets, sidewalks, lighting, sewers and water. (Illinois Guide and Gazetteer, Rand McNally, Chicago, 1969, p. 475 / Skokie, Illinois Department of Community Development, Planning Section, 1964, p. 5 / Sunday Life (Skokie),* sec. 1-A, January 17, 1971, pp. 7-8).

Haben Funeral Home Building Photograph, 1950sRaymond Haben builds his funeral home at 8057 Niles Center Road on property previously purchased in 1928. (Witry, op.cit., p. 136).

Niles Center Lions Club is formed. (Greater News (Skokie), June 26, 1931, p.1).

Niles Center Park District purchases approximately 62 acres of land from the Cook County Forest Preserve District for $62,000.00. The land is bounded by Oakton Street on the north, Brummel Street on the south, Kenton Avenue on the east and Lincoln Avenue on the west. Part of this property is later ceded to High School District 219 for the construction of Niles Township High School. In addition, the Park District purchases the 5.3-acre Terminal Park site. (History of the Skokie Park District, p. 9, Archives, Skokie Park District / Greater News (Skokie), February 14, 1930, p. 1 / News (Skokie), January 16, 1975, p. 24).

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