A visit to the home town, Park Ridge, IL

A visit to Park Ridge was in order on our way to the airport for our return flight to Fargo, ND.  This is the town where Sue's family lived until each member of the family moved away for college and work.

A sign with Park Ridge in the title.

How it looked when Sue and Ruth were living in Park Ridge.

Over the next decades, as Park Ridge established its identity as a residential community, its leaders sought to develop the look of a traditional New England town, with large homes on wide lots and a profusion of trees. Apartments were banned and industrial development discouraged.

Park Ridge experienced a major building boom during the 1910s and '20s. City dwellers discovered the pleasant surroundings and convenient commuter trains. From 2,009 in 1910, the population ballooned to 10,417 in 1930. Anticipating annexation pressure from Chicago, the village had reorganized as the city of Park Ridge in 1910. Maine Township High School and the landmark Pickwick Theater date from this era.

The depression of the 1930s halted the boom. During the 1940s, some housing for war-industry workers was built. However, significant expansion of Park Ridge did not begin until the 1950s, as part of America's postwar suburbanization. The population rose from 16,602 in 1950 to 42,466 two decades later. Aiding the growth was the opening of nearby O'Hare Airport, as well as the construction of two tollways and the Northwest (now Kennedy) Expressway.        http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2203.html

Downtown Park Ridge with the Pickwick Theater's tower in the background.  Many a happy time is remembered when the family went to see movies.  

 The theater has been restored to its original glory and still shows movies.

Remembering tickets purchased in years past.

The second floor of the theater is as Sue and Ruth remember it.  Their dentist was located near here.

A water fountain that did not work when they were young, and still doesn't.

A restaurant occupies the space that once held a drugstore.  Ruth ordered a special favorite.

A park that was the gathering point for many events.

A METRA train serving the north-west suburbs.

The Park Ridge train station and a west-bound train picking up passengers.  

The interior of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Park Ridge where the family attended. 

The sacristy has the altar moved forward towards the congregation and a hanging cross above.  When Sue and Ruth attended, it was in more of a traditional style with the altar back against the stained glass window and facing choir benches on each side. 

They both remember singing under the the direction of Jennette Lundgren.

 This virtually unchanged gymnasium, theatre and parish hall was part of an advertised community center that included a swimming pool, now removed.