Mount Prospect Historical Society

Titanic Experience Recreation
sponsored by MPHS and River Trails Park District
to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Maiden Voyage

A century ago, the R.M.S. Titanic departed from Southampton, England on a brisk April afternoon and sailed into the arms of history. The voyage remains one of the most storied, romantic tragedies of the 20th century.

If you had been on a transatlantic ocean voyage a century ago, do you picture yourself living the high life at the Captain’s Table or would you have been rollicking down below in steerage?

You might want to give it some thought because the Mount Prospect Historical Society and River Trails Park District are planning a unique party on Saturday, April 14 at the Rob Roy Golf Course clubhouse, 505 E. Camp McDonald Rd., Prospect Heights, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

Those attending will have the opportunity to either dress elegantly and enjoy a gourmet meal at the Captain’s Table, personally prepared for you by “Ship’s Chef” Dave Esau of Dave’s Specialty Foods of Mount Prospect. This luxurious menu features boneless, tender beef short ribs with classic Lyonnaise brown sauce, potatoes with fresh herbs in the Parmentier style, and seasonal cream of barley soup “a la chef du H.M.S. Titanic.” All recipes will be inspired and prepared in accordance with the surviving First Class menus from the fateful voyage.

If rubbing elbows with the High Seas Victorian elite isn’t for you, dress more comfortably, sit at the steerage tables, and enjoy a fun buffet of corned beef and cabbage, as well as Shepherd’s Turkey Pie, catered by Rob Roy’s 10th Hole Bar and Grill of Prospect Heights.

Tickets at the Captain’s Tables, where you will be able to converse with “Captain Edward J. Smith” and maybe even enjoy the company of the “Unsinkable Molly Brown,” are $75 per person. Tickets for the more casual and down-to-earth steerage tables, on the other hand, are $25 each, according to Greg Peerbolte, executive director of the Mount Prospect Historical Society.

But no matter where you choose to sit, he added, you will enjoy period classical music during the cash bar and dinner; some Titanic trivia, photo opportunities, and Titanic exhibits; and later, the authentic maritime and Irish pub music of “Merry Measure,” a Chicago-based trio. The festivities will begin at 6 p.m.

Tickets are limited and may be reserved individually or in tables of ten. For more information phone 847-392-9006, Tuesday through Friday during office hours.

24th ANNUAL HOUSEWALK TICKETS GO ON SALE NOVEMBER 1

Lussow House

In a new twist, the Mount Prospect Historical Society’s 24th annual Holiday Housewalk will be held on a Sunday afternoon for the first time since 1996. The walk will be held from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 4 and tickets for the tour go on sale Nov. 1 at eight local businesses.

This year’s Housewalk will feature Golfview Estates, the subdivision located along the southern edge of the Mt. Prospect Golf Course and just east of Busse Road which was built in the 1950s by The Annen and Busse Company on 30 acres of the Louis Meier farm.

The interiors of five private homes, including two that directly border the golf course, will be featured on the walking tour.

Doucette House

The homes featured this year are: 619 S. Glendale Lane, owned by Leo and Barbara Burns; 1500 W. Blackhawk Drive, owned by Emo and Mary Dellanina; 1540 W. Blackhawk Drive, owned by William and Pamela Doucette; 1531 W. Blackhawk Drive, owned by Eric and Christine Lussow; and 616 S. Edgewood Lane, owned by Ken and Debbie Morton.

All of the homes will be exciting to tour in their own ways, thanks to lovely decorating and either vintage touches or the renovation work (total reconstruction in one case) that has been done, according to Jill Tumberger, Housewalk co-chairperson.

Tour-goers will pick up their programs at a tent on South Ojibwa Trail where there will also be refreshments, raffles and a museum store.

Dellanina House

Commentary in the homes will be provided by volunteers from local organizations, schools and the community. Local florists and homeowners will provide the decorations. This year’s featured florists are Busse Flowers and Gifts, and Native Floral (inside Costco), both of Mount Prospect; Gigi’s Blossoms and Baskets of Des Plaines; and Amling’s at Sylvia’s and Mariano’s, both of Arlington Heights.

Tickets will be sold for $20 each through Dec. 3 at First Merit Bank, 50 N. Main St.; Mt. Prospect State Bank, 20 E. Northwest Hwy.; Busse Flowers and Gifts, 100 E. Northwest Highway; Elements Diet and Fitness, 106 S. Emerson St.; River Trails’ Weiss Center, 1500 E. Euclid Ave.; Lions Park, 411 S. Maple St.; Dave’s Specialty Foods, 105 W. Prospect Ave.; and the Dietrich Friedrichs House museum, 101 S. Maple St.

Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the walk, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the tent on South Ojibwa Trail, just north of West Blackhawk Drive. But the cost will be $22 per person at that time.

Burns House

“The Housewalk is the Society’s largest fund-raiser of the year,” explains Tumberger. “Its proceeds support the many educational endeavors of the Society and help to pay for upkeep on our more than 100-year-old museum. We urge the public to support our effort to preserve local history through enjoying the Housewalk and our other activities throughout the year.”

Phone the Society at 847-392-9006 for more information.

Morton House

This year’s walk is sponsored by Novak and Parker appliances of Mount Prospect.

Mount Prospect Historical Society to welcome
Randhurst Village with time capsule, book signing

Mount Prospect’s Randhurst, then and now: These images depict Montgomery Ward’s The Fair Store at Randhurst Center shortly before its Grand Opening in 1962 (“Randhurst 014”) and the new Randhurst Village today, as construction winds down (“RHV Oct 2011”) Photos courtesy of Mount Prospect Historical Society and Greg Peerbolte.

The wait is almost over.  Construction is wrapping up at Randhurst Village and the Mount Prospect Historical Society (MPHS) will be on hand to begin welcoming the new generation of Randhurst neighbors on Saturday, October 22^nd at Randhurst Village, on the corner of Rand and Elmhurst Roads, Mount Prospect.  In addition to holding a book signing event for a new book on the history of the famous Randhurst Mall, the MPHS will participate in the filling and sealing of a time capsule to preserve memories for posterity.

Many will recall that in August 2009, the MPHS held a “Randhurst Time Capsule Opening” event for the unveiling of a time capsule that had reportedly been placed in the center dome of Randhurst in 1962.  Unfortunately, no time capsule was ever found.

“Much to my chagrin, we were never able to locate the original capsule,” stated Greg Peerbolte, executive director of the Society.  “However, as Randhurst looks to the future, it is all together fitting and proper to ensure that old and new memories alike will be preserved in a new capsule.”

Consequently, submissions (printed materials only) from area communities and individuals are now being sought for inclusion in the capsule.

From 12-4 p.m. the public may visit the Mount Prospect Historical Society’s tent in Carson’s Court to view what has been collected for inclusion in this container before it is left to the Randhurst Village shoppers of the future.  Unique “sand sculptures” will be placed throughout the grounds of the Center, inviting shoppers and well-wishers to stroll the grounds of Randhurst Village for the first time.

Those who visit the tent may use the forms available to write down their Randhurst memory, and there is a chance it will be selected to be put into the capsule.  The MPTV studios will also be on hand to capture the Randhurst memories of area residents, as well as their reactions to the beautiful new Randhurst Village.

The Mount Prospect Historical Society will also allow the public an opportunity to have their memories of the Center included in the capsule through a unique Facebook promotion.  Simply login to Facebook and “like” the Mount Prospect Historical Society’s page.  On the Society’s “wall,” write your brief memory of Randhurst.  Selected posts will be printed on archival, acid-free paper and put into the capsule.

“Facebook has become such a dominant factor in the daily lives of so many people,” notes Society Director Greg Peerbolte.  “I think, from a historical standpoint, this is a great way not only to collect memories of Randhurst, but to present a snapshot of what impacts our day-to-day activities as human beings during our present time.  Who knows what Facebook will be like a century from now, or if it will even be around at all.”

Also during the Grand Opening, Peerbolte, who is the author of the recently-published book “Randhurst: Suburban Chicago’s Grandest Shopping Center,” will be on hand to sell and sign copies of the book and discuss aspects of Randhurst’s history.  The proceeds from the book, which sells for $20, will benefit the Mount Prospect Historical Society’s operating fund.

“Writing this book has been the most rewarding journey of my career,” reflects Peerbolte.  “I couldn’t think of a more appropriate occasion to officially introduce this work to the public.”

For more information about this event, or for information about submitting items to the Randhurst Time Capsule, contact that Mount Prospect Historical Society at 847/392-9006 or by e-mail at info@mtphistory.org.

Meet Sammy and Vee Skobel at the Mount Prospect Farmer’s Market
History Day and pick up a wearable piece of history

Sammy Skobel is seen here in his “Hot Dogs Plus” restaurant, formerly on the Northwest corner of Busse Avenue and Main Street, wearing the famous t-shirt that has been re-issued by the Mount Prospect Historical Society.

To help residents cool off in style this summer, the Mount Prospect Historical Society has teamed up with a local legend. The Society recently announced its re-issue of the classic t-shirt from Sammy Skobel’s “Hot Dogs Plus”. This former fixture of the community was recreated with the approval and assistance of Sammy and Vee Skobel themselves.

Sammy and Vee will be on hand at the Lions Club Farmer’s Market to greet well-wishers on “History Day,” Sunday, July 24th from 8 a.m. to noon. A historic display highlighting Sammy’s career will be at the event.

The colorful t-shirt will be available for $20, with all proceeds benefiting the Society. It features the original logo, complete with the famous hot dog on roller skates. If you don’t already know: Sammy Skobel is among Mount Prospect’s most famous residents and living legends.

He is a Hall of Fame Roller Derby Champion and MVP, an impressive feat on its own. However, Sammy accomplished this despite being legally blind. After his Roller Derby career, Sammy continued to inspire as a speaker and activist for the blind, and of course, as the operator of one of Mount Prospect’s favorite restaurants.

Generations of Mount Prospectors remember Sammy’s shop that was a fixture on the corner of Main and Busse throughout the 1980s. The shirts were expertly re-designed from an original shirt by Cliff Higley of U Keep Us In Stitches.

If you can’t make it to the Farmer’s Market on July 24, visit the Society at 101 S. Maple Street, Monday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. (calling ahead at 847/392-9006 is recommended) to pick up your shirt. T-shirts can also be ordered and shipped to anywhere in the country via PayPal on our website.