Chronology 1960-1969
1960 (February 1) The Skokie Public Library opens its new award-winning building at 5215 Oakton moving from its old location at 4913 Oakton Street. (Life (Skokie), April 21, 1960, p. 1 / News (Skokie), January 28, 1960, p. 5 / News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 17).
February 6 A referendum to build a third Niles Township High School, Niles North, passes. (Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, p. 43 / News (Skokie), February 11, 1960, p. 1).
June Skokie Police Chief Louis G. Hennig resigns. His brother, Arthur Hennig, had been indicted by the grand jury in May. Chief Hennig was indicted in late June. (Life (Skokie), February 18, 1960, p. 1 / News (Skokie), February 18, 1960, pp. 3, 5 / News (Skokie), June 9, 1960, p. 1 / News (Skokie), June 30, 1960, p. 1 / Sunday Star, June 12, 1960, p. 1).
June 21 At a special election, the citizens of Skokie vote in favor of establishing a village court to be staffed by two judges. The vote is 2,670 in favor and 540 opposed. (Cert. Copy of Tabulated Statement of Returns dated December 16, 1960, Archives, Skokie Historical Society / Life (Skokie), Issues of June 23, 1960, p. 1, January 17, 1963, Sec. 3, p. 67/ News (Skokie), Issues of June 23, 1960, p. 1, July 3, 1963, pp. 37, 94 / Sunday Star, January 7, 1962, p. 1).
September Old Orchard Junior High School opens at 9300 Kenton. (News (Skokie), May 12, 1960, p. 7).
September The Skokie Department of Engineers is created. (Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, p. 45).
October The Skokie Post Office dedicates its new building at 4950 Madison, the former site of the Niles Center Public School. (Life (Skokie), September 29, 1960, p. 1 / Coninx, op.cit., p. 13 / News (Skokie), June 23, 1960, cover / Skokie Review, October 26, 1960, p. 1).
November 6 Fire Station No. 3, located on Gross Point Road north of Dempster Street, is dedicated. (Skokie Fire Dept. Photographs, Archives, Skokie Historical Society).
December Voters elect Irving Goldstein and Harold Sullivan to the new Village Court defeating Simon S. Porter and Joseph J. Witry. (Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, p. 67 / News (Skokie), June 23, 1960, p. 1 / News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, pp. 37, 94 / Sunday Star, January 7, 1962, p. 1).
Population of Skokie is 59,364. (Angle, op.cit., p. 491* / Chicago Tribune, July 7, 1963, sec. 10, p. 1 / Nonwhite population changes in Chicago's suburbs. Illinois Commission on Human Relations, op.cit., p. 7 / Skokie, Illinois. Community Development Department, Planning Section, 1964, p. v.).
The first annual Skokie Outdoor Art Fair, sponsored by the downtown merchants of the Skokie Chamber of Commerce is held. (News (Skokie), March 26, 1970, p. 20.
There are 17,165 homes in Skokie. (Skokie Life, sec. 2, July 3, 1969, p. 1).
Direct long-distance dialing begins. (News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 99).
Ten percent of the total number of new homes built in the 129 suburbs of Chicago between 1950 and 1959 were started in Skokie, Morton Grove, Lincolnwood and Niles: 20,082 single-family dwellings. (News (Skokie), February 4, 1960, p. 5 / News (Skokie), June 20, 1963, p. 14).
The Skokie Park District constructs the Oakton Community Center and Oakton Park Pool. (History of the Skokie Park District, p. 10, Archives, Skokie Park District).
1961 (March 4) Township voters approve funds to erect a building for Niles North High School on Lawler Avenue west of Old Orchard Shopping Center. (Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, p. 43 / News (Skokie), March 9, 1961, p. 3 / Skokie Review, March 9, 1961, p. 1).
March 28 The President and the Board of Trustees of the Village adopt the first revision and codification of the general ordinances since the inception of the Village in 1888. (Municipal Code of the Village of Skokie, Illinois, 1961, unpublished).
April Myron Greisdorf is elected the 13th Village President. (Whittingham, op.cit., p. 113).
April 16 The Chicago Black Hawks win their 3rd Stanley Cup defeating the Detroit Red Wings. (Chicago Tribune, April 17, 1961).
June 13 The Skokie Human Relations Commission is created. (Sunday Star, June 18, 1961, p. 1).
July Radio Skokie Valley, WRSV-FM, with offices at 3611 Oakton, goes on the air. (News (Skokie), July 13, 1961, p. 1 / News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 76 / News (Skokie), August 26, 1971, p. 4).
August 1 There are 11,773 single-family homes, 571 two-flats, 118 three-flats, 397 co-ops and 164 townhouses in Skokie. (Skokie Review, September 7, 1961, p. 1).
September District 69 opens Madison School. (News (Skokie), August 24, 1961, p. 14).
October 10 The Village Board passes an ordinance creating the Skokie Youth Commission. (Sunday Star, October 15, 1961, p. 1).
December A Village-wide discussion ensues over the placement of a Nativity scene on the Village Green. The Village enacts an ordinance permitting displays on the Village Green. (Life (Skokie) / December 7, 1961, p. 1 / News (Skokie), December 7, 1961, p. 3 / Skokie Life, sec. 2, July 3, 1969, p. 1 / Skokie Review, December 7, 1961, p. 3 /Sunday Star, December 3, 1961, p. 1).
December 2 Ground is broken for the Skokie Valley Community Hospital at Gross Point and Golf. (Life (Skokie), December 7, 1961, p. 1 / News (Skokie), November 30, 1961, p. 1 / Skokie Review, November 30, 1961, p. 3 / Sunday Star, December 3, 1961, p. 1).
December 7 At the age of 85, Alma Louise Klehm, pioneer Skokie school teacher, is chosen "cover girl" for the First National Bank's 1962 calendar. (Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, p. 48 / News (Skokie), December 7, 1961, p. 3 / Skokie Review, December 14, 1961, p. 5).
Among community organizations formed is the Lyric Guild, Skokie Valley Chapter. (News (Skokie), December 30, 1971, p. 12 / Sunday Star, July 9, 1961, p. 1) and a second Skokie Art Guild is formed (News (Skokie), July 18, 1963, p. 3).
The Crawford Avenue Baptist church begins holding services in Highland School. (News (Skokie), May 27, 1965, p. 20).
1962 The Crawford Avenue Baptist Church is formally established with Reverend C. Orville Kool as pastor. (Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, p. 72).
April The Skokie Public Library building wins the "Chicagoland's Best" architectural award. (News (Skokie), January 3, 1963, p. 1 / News (Skokie), April 11, 1963, p. 1).
April The official Skokie motto, "Village of Vision", is adopted. (News (Skokie), April 19, 1962, p. 2 / Sunday Star, April 15, 1962, p. 1).
May The Chicago Specialty Manufacturing Company moves to 7500 Linder. (News (Skokie), January 16, 1975, p. 38).
June Rev. Gilbert Weisshaar becomes Senior Minister at Central Methodist Church. (Ardis Coninx, Central United Methodist Church, op.cit., 6).
June 26 The Skokie Village Board adopts a proclamation citing Skokie as the "World's Largest Village" -- its population passes Oak Park by 4,200. (News (Skokie), June 28, 1962, p. 1).
July 28 The formal festival celebrating Skokie's 75th anniversary, the Skokie Diamond Jubilee Celebration, opens the Village's yearlong celebration. (Chicago Sun-Times, July 11, 1962, p. 44 / News (Skokie), May 3, 1962, p. 1 / News (Skokie), July 26, 1962, p. 1) / News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 1 / Sunday Star, July 29, 1962, p. 1 / The Life (Skokie), January 17, 1963 Section 3).
Among community organizations formed are:
- Skokie Historical Society (Life (Skokie), sec. 3, January 17, 1963, pp. 9-10 / News (Skokie), January 3, 1963, p. 31 / Sunday Star, February 10, 1963, p. 1)
- Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra. (News (Skokie), January 3, 1963, p. 1)
- Skokie Valley Welfare Council, (News (Skokie), January 3, 1963, p. 1)
- Visiting Nurses Association of the Skokie Valley (News (Skokie), January 3, 1963, p. 1 / News (Skokie), October 10, 1963, p. 3)
The Skokie Park District constructs the Laramie Park Recreational Center. (History of the Skokie Park District, p. 11, Archives, Skokie Park District).
1963 (January 16) Harold Atchison, President of Thermal Equipment Company, a subsidiary of Farley Mfg. Co., Skokie, is installed as President of the Skokie Chamber of Commerce. (Skokie News, January 3, 1963, p. 3).
January 21 The Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Railroad closes down because of financial losses -"a victim of automobiles and the expressways." (Life (Skokie), January 24, 1963, p. 1 / News (Skokie), December 20, 1962, p. 1 / News (Skokie), January 24, 1963, p. 1).
April 1 Kassner's "California Men's Shop" opens at 4860 Oakton Street. (Sunday Star, April 7, 1963 / Archives, Skokie Chamber of Commerce).
Spring The Northern Illinois Gas Company holder, which had stood at McCormick and Oakton since 1911, is dismantled. (News (Skokie), November 15, 1962, p. 16).
March 23 Loyola University of Chicago, led by Coach George Ireland of Skokie, defeats the University of Cincinnati Bearcats 60-58 in overtime at Louisville's Freedom Hall for the NCAA Mens Basketball title. This team was the first nationally prominent collegiate basketball team to start four African-Americans. (Archives, Chicago Tribune, August 10, 1997, Bill Jauss).
March 23 President John F. Kennedy formally dedicates Chicago-O'Hare International Airport. It is named for naval war hero Lt. Commander Edward H. "Butch" O'Hare. The airport had been open to commercial air traffic since 1955 and was to become the major commercial airport of the Chicago area, bringing commercial opportunities to the northern suburbs including Skokie. (Illinois: Descriptive and Historical Guide, 1974, p. 53 / Illinois Guide and Gazetteer, op.cit., pp. 124-125 / D. Ray Wilson, Greater Chicago Historical Tour Guide, 1st Ed., 1989, Crossroads Communications, Carpentersville, IL., 1989, p. 228).
April As provided under Illinois law, all ten public school districts of Niles Township enter into a joint agreement and establish a Department of Special Education. (News (Skokie), April 4, 1963, p. 14).
April The Niles Township Real Estate Board changes its name to the North Suburban Real Estate Board. (News (Skokie), April 4, 1963, p. 61 / News (Skokie), July 3, 1963, p. 35).
April 8 The Skokie Public Library building is honored by the American Institute of Architects and the American Library Association. (News (Skokie), April 11, 1963, p. 3).
May 2 Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, on a state visit to the United States, is hosted at a reception at the Luxembourg Gardens in Morton Grove. (Witry, op.cit., p. 153).
June 3 Pope John XXIII dies in Rome. (Buisseret et.al., op.cit. p. 98).
June The Skokie Chamber of Commerce opposes the construction of an incinerator to be located at 3500 Jarvis, Skokie. (Skokie Life, June 27, 1963 / Archives, Skokie Chamber of Commerce).
July 20 Skokie's Diamond Jubilee Celebration draws to a close with a giant parade from Old Orchard Shopping Center past a reviewing stand near Oakton and Niles Center Road. (News (Skokie), July 18, 1963, p. 1).
September 1,270 children are enrolled at St. Peter Catholic School. (Buisseret et.al., op.cit. p. 98).
September The railroad crossing at Searle Parkway is opened to vehicular traffic. (Skokie Review, September 12, 1963 / Archives, Skokie Chamber of Commerce).
September 14 Skokie resident Joseph J. Witry is appointed by the Luxembourg government as its Consul General in Chicago, Illinois. and 5 neighboring states. (Buisseret et.al., op.cit., p. 98 / Witry, op.cit., p. 152).
November 3 The Skokie Valley Community Hospital is dedicated. (Life (Skokie), October 31, 1963, sec. 4, p. 3 / News (Skokie), October 3, 1963, p. 3 / News (Skokie), October 31, 1963, p. 1 / News (Skokie), January 16, 1975, p. 40 b).
November 22 President John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, TX by Lee Harvey Oswald. (Chicago Tribune, November 23, 1963, p. 1).
November 25 An official day of mourning for assassinated President John F. Kennedy. All Village flags are flown at half-mast for a period of thirty days. (Life (Skokie), November 29, 1963, p. 1 / News (Skokie), November 27, 1963, p. 1).
December 29 The Chicago Bears defeat the New York Giants 14-10 in Wrigley Field for the NFL title. (Chicago Tribune, December 30, 1963).
1964 (April) Skokie Swift Rapid Transit Service is inaugurated at the Dempster Terminal area. (Chicago Transit Authority. Research and Planning Dept., 1968, p. 34 / News (Skokie), April 16, 1964, p. 1 / News (Skokie), sec. 2, September 9, 1965, p. 12).
June 7 The largest 8th-grade class ever, 161 members, graduates from St. Peter Catholic School. (Buisseret et.al., op.cit., p. 99).
August A comprehensive amendment to Skokie's zoning ordinance is presented to the Village Board. (Life (Skokie), August 6, 1964, p. 1 / News (Skokie), August 6, 1964, p. 1).
November 1 Niles Township High School North, located immediately west of Old Orchard Shopping Center, is dedicated. (News (Skokie), October 29, 1964, p. 1).
Skokie has approximately 900 retail establishments with annual retail sales exceeding $175,000,000 and 350 industries whose gross product approaches $1,000,000,000. (Omnibus, Emerson, op.cit., p. 23).
Skokie has 21 public, 4 parochial primary schools, Orchard School for Exceptional Children and 3 high schools. There is a ninety-three man police department and an eighty-three man fire department. (Omnibus, Emerson, op.cit., p. 23).
Skokie voters pass a $2,000,000.00 bond issue which allows the Skokie Park District, in conjunction with the receipt of a $6,000,000.00 grant from the U.S. Dept. of HUD, to purchase and develop the following sites:
- Carol Park - .4 acres
- Coyle n/k/a Norman Schack Park - 4.2 acres
- Emerson Park - 5 acres
- Henry Gleiss Park - 4 acres
- Kostner n/k/a Donald Lyon Park - 4 acres
- Walter Lauth Park - 2.9 acres
- Main - Hamlin Tennis Park - .5 acres
- Skokie Park Tennis Center - 5 acres
(History of the Skokie Park District, p. 11, Archives, Skokie Park District).35
A survey conducted by the Church Federation of Greater Chicago describes Skokie religious composition to be 1 Protestant family to 2 Catholic families to 3 Jewish families. (Omnibus, Emerson, op.cit., October, 1964, p. 23).
1965 (April) Albert J. Smith is elected to the first of his 6 terms as the 14th Village President. (Whittingham, op. cit., p. 122).
May 26 At 9:10 a.m., a tornado touches down at Old Orchard Junior High School and rips off almost 80% of the roof. (Life (Skokie), May 27, 1965, p. 1 / News (Skokie), May 27, 1965, p. 1).
August 2 The Village Board issues a directive to the Board of Local Improvements to pave the last twelve miles of unpaved streets in Skokie. (News (Skokie), July 29, 1965, p. 1 / Sunday Star, August 1, 1965, p. 1).
November The Skokie Community Goals Commission holds its first meeting. (Sunday Star, November 28, 1965, p. 1).
U. S. Welders Supply Company moves to 9110 Terminal Avenue in Skokie. (News (Skokie), September 9, 1965, p. 18).
Skokie wins the 1965 "Award of Merit for Leadership" given by American City magazine for its development of the Skokie Swift. (Sunday Star, January 2, 1966, p. 1).
1966 (January 23) The Leaning Tower YMCA serving Skokie, Edgebrook, Golf, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles and Sauganash is dedicated. (Life (Skokie), January 20, 1966, p. 1 / News (Skokie), January 20, 1966, p. 1).
August 6 The Skokie Indians defeat LaGrange for the state baseball championship. (News (Skokie), August 11, 1966, p. 32).
August 8 Skokie Village Board votes to purchase "Duffy's Tavern" located at 8024 Lincoln Avenue for purposes of a public parking lot. (News (Skokie), August 11, 1966, p. 6)
November 24 Former Niles Township Democratic Committeeman Martin "Scotty" Krier dies at the age of 76. (News (Skokie), December 1, 1966, p. 1).
Skokie ranks second in the nation in terms of most telephones per hundred persons. There are also 60,000 cars registered. (Chicago's American, January 19, 1967, p. 48 / News (Skokie), January 20, 1966, p. 6).
Congregation Kol Emeth is established with Rabbi Nathan Levinson as its spiritual leader. (News (Skokie), March 13, 1975, p. 3).
Skokie schools include 12 public primary schools, 3 public junior highs, 3 public high schools, 3 Catholic grammar schools, 2 Jewish grammar schools, 1 Lutheran grammar school and the Hebrew Theological College. (Chicago's American, January 19, 1967, p. 48).
Community organizations form:
- Inter-Village Mental Health Association (Life (Skokie), May 5, 1966, p. 1)
- Skokie Choral Society (News (Skokie), January 16, 1975. P. 34)
- Skokie Fine Arts Commission (News (Skokie), March 24, 1966, p. 11)
- Women's Group of the Niles Township Regular Democratic Org. (Life (Skokie), February 24, 1966, p. 1).
1967 (January 10) The Niles Township Federation of Teachers (AFL-CIO) wins a resounding victory over the NTEA and is established as the bargaining agent for Niles Township High School teachers. (News (Skokie), January 12, 1967, p. 1 / Skokie Life, December 28, 1967, p. 1 / Skokie Review, January 12, 1967, p. 3).
January 26 26 inches of snow, one of the worst blizzards ever, strikes Skokie. (Chicago Tribune, February 19, 1967, sec. 7s, unp. / News (Skokie), February 2, 1967, p. 1 / Skokie Life, December 28, 1967, p. 1).
March Raymond C. "Tom" Klehm, son of George C. Klehm and Elizabeth Ruesch Klehm, Niles Township School Treasurer for 36 years, dies. (Coninx, op. cit., p. 15).
March 21 An ordinance providing for the purchase of a fire station at 7424 Niles Center Road is published. (News (Skokie), March 21, 1968, p. 29).
May 25 The Niles Township Federation of Teachers strike over a salary dispute, the first teacher strike in community history. (News (Skokie), May 25, 1967, p. 1 / News (Skokie), December 28, 1967, p. 1 / Skokie Life, December 28, 1967, p. 1 / Skokie Review, June 1, 1967, p. 1 / Sunday Life, May 28, 1967, p. 1).
June 2 Skokie resident and longtime funeral director Raymond W. Haben dies. (Skokie News, June 8, p. 1).
June 5 Skokie resident Joseph J. Witry, Attorney, Bank Director, former 219 School Board Member, Judicial candidate and Consul General of Luxembourg, dies at the age of 61. (Skokie News, June 8, p. 1).
June 10 & 11 A devastating thunderstorm hits Skokie. (News (Skokie), June 15, 1967, p. 1 / U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, op.cit., pp. 32-33).
Summer Dr. Ralph Johnson succeeds George Savage as Superintendent of Education of District 69. (Coninx, op. cit., p. 15).
August The Skokie Village Board authorizes formation of the Flood Control Action Commission. (Skokie Life, August 3, 1967, p. 1).
October Skokie's first anti-discrimination housing ordinance is passed. (News (Skokie), October 12, 1967, p. 1 / Skokie Life, October 12, 1967, p. 1 / Sunday Life, October 8, 1967, p. 1).
October 27 Special election is held to increase District 69's tax rate. The proposal passes 635 to 486. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 16)
November 6 The multimillion-dollar Miller commercial development on the southeast corner of Skokie Boulevard and Golf Road, the site of the Skokie Fun Fair, is approved. (News (Skokie), November 9, 1967, p. 1 / Skokie Life, November 9, 1967, p. 1).
Skokie has 329 industrial plants within its boundaries and 900 commercial businesses, including Old Orchard Shopping Center. (Chicago's American, January 19, 1967, p. 48).
Sometime between February 1967 and August 3, 1967, "Duffy's Tavern" at 8024 Lincoln Avenue is demolished in favor of a public parking lot. (Skokie Life, February 23, 1967, p. 1 / Jean Doney Scrapbooks, 1967-69, Microfilm, SPL, Frame 676 / Jean Doney Scrapbooks, 1967-69, Microfilm, SPL, Frame 690).
1968 (July 25) An ordinance creating the Skokie Mass Transit District is published. (News (Skokie), July 25, 1968, p. 29).
September District 69 enrollment is 2,262 pupils. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 22).
November 21 The Jewish Community Center of Niles Township receives permission to erect a facility on Church between LeClaire and Lawler, extending north to Lyons. (News (Skokie), November 27, 1968, p. 1 / Sunday Life, November 24, 1968, p. 1).
December 2 A new Skokie Fair Housing Ordinance is passed prohibiting discrimination in housing by owners and realtors. The amended ordinance prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, lease or financing of housing accommodations because of race, religion, color, national origin or ancestry by owners and other persons. (News (Skokie), October 12, 1967, p. 1 / News (Skokie), December 5, 1968, p. 1 / Skokie Life, December 5, 1968, sec. 1, p. 1).
1969 Only six percent of the land in Skokie is vacant - available in scattered lots. (Skokie Life, sec. 2, July 3, 1969, p. 1).
February 2 Skokie's new Fine Arts Center, 10054 Skokie Boulevard, holds its first public open house. (News (Skokie), January 30, 1969, p. 1).
April Niles and Maine Township residents vote in favor of establishing a two-year junior college. District 535 is born. (Skokie Review, April 10, 1969, p. 3).
April 27 The stained glass windows on the north and south side of the sanctuary of Central Methodist Church are dedicated. Ardis Coninx, Central United Methodist Church, op.cit., 7).
May 13 The Cook County Policemen's Association demands that the Village Board recognize the union as the bargaining agent for unranked Skokie Policemen. The Board refuses. (News (Skokie), May 15, 1969, p. 7).
July 16 Apollo 11 Moon Mission is launched from Cape Kennedy. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins leave for the Moon. (Chicago Tribune, July 18, 1999, Section 18, p. 6).
July 20 The Apollo 11 "LEM", the "Eagle", lands on the moon. Neil Armstrong, by making one giant leap for mankind, becomes the first human being to walk on the lunar surface. (Chicago Tribune, July 18, 1999, Section 18, p. 6).
October Referendum to build a new junior high in District 69 loses. (Coninx, op. cit., p. 17).
December Special election is held to increase District 69's tax rates. All fail. (Coninx, op.cit, p. 17).
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