Mount Prospect Historical Society

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Rails and Wright!

Join the Mount Prospect Historical Society at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025 for a day-long bus trip, first to Union, IL for a morning tour of the Illinois Railway Museum, followed by an afternoon tour of one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian homes in Hampshire.  Between tours the group will stop for lunch where there is the option to purchase food at Hampshire’s Copper Barrel restaurant. You can pre-check the menu at www.barrelonstate.com.

Tour-goers will have plenty of time at the Railway Museum to peruse and possibly ride (on their own) the many trains (both diesel and steam) and streetcars on display there. Then, after lunch they will tour Frank Lloyd’s Wright’s Muirhead Farmhouse, built in 1951. Unlike the Wright homes in Chicago, Oak Park and River Forest which display Wright’s early “Prairie style” of architecture, this farmhouse shows his later Usonian architectural style. Wright built most of this style of homes outside of Illinois, so it is a treat to see one here.

Participants should be aware that the trip requires considerable walking and the ability to climb and descend bus stairs.

The cost for the day is $100 for Mount Prospect Historical Society members and $115 for non-members.

To reserve your space, please register and pay online here. Phone 847-392-9006 with questions.

“Lucille Ball” Scheduled to Visit the Mount Prospect Historical Society

Leslie Goddard as Lucille Ball
Leslie Goddard as Lucille Ball

Leslie Goddard, a well-known and talented portrayer of historic women, will visit the Mount Prospect Historical Society’s historic Central Schoolhouse, 103 S. Maple St., at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 15, 2025 for a first-person presentation on the life of comedienne Lucille Ball.

Attendees will enjoy tea, pastries and other treats during the presentation. 

In the 1950s, Lucille Ball captured the hearts of television audiences across the nation.  Her wacky hijinks and fearless enthusiasm kept thousands laughing.  Off-screen, she and her real-life husband Desi Arnaz launched their own television studio and pioneered new technologies.  But what does it mean when an on-screen legend clashes with her off-screen reality?

In this historic portrayal, historian and actress Leslie Goddard brings Lucy to life, paying tribute to both the true comic legend and the real woman behind the scenes.

Goddard is an award-winning actress and scholar who has been presenting history programs for more than 20 years.  She holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, specializing in American studies and U.S. history, as well as a master’s degree in theater.

A former museum director, she is the author of three books on history and currently works full-time as an author and public speaker, portraying memorable women from the past and telling historical stories so that lessons from the past are more entertaining, educational and inspiring.

The cost of the tea is $25 for Society members and $30 for non-members, plus an on-line handling fee. Take note that attendance is limited to 36 people, ages 18 and over. Advance registration is required and there are no refunds.  Visit www.mtphist.org/afternoon-teas/ to register.

Mount Prospect Historical Society Book Club will Discuss Memoir About Growing Up in the Village

David Hoppe, an author of numerous essays, columns and works of short fiction, grew up in Mount Prospect during the 1950s and 1960s and one of his published works covers life in the Village during his formative years.

“Midcentury Boy: My Suburban Childhood from Ike to the Beatles” provides a glimpse into Mount Prospect’s history through the perspective of a young Baby Boomer. Hoppe’s family moved to Mount Prospect in 1950 and in the book, he recalls witnessing the transformation of the cornfield behind their new house into Prospect High School; how his mother frequented Meeske’s for groceries; and his time in the Cub Scouts.

He and his family, along with their Mount Prospect neighbors, shared shock at Kennedy’s assassination; argued about racism during the March on Washington; and realized that the Beatles signaled the end of an enforceable school dress code.

Hoppe explores a fascinating time in Mount Prospect that is often glossed over in local history books, so it is enjoyable to be privy to his point of view.

The Mount Prospect Historical Society will hold a discussion of Hoppe’s book at 7 p.m., Thursday, November 14, 2024 in the Society’s 1896 schoolhouse at 103 S. Maple St. And most exciting – the author will participate in the discussion and read passages of his book — by Zoom.

“We will discuss his experiences growing up in Mount Prospect where he participated in community activities and how he experienced rapid change like the replacement of farm fields with Randhurst Mall and Prospect High School,” explained Martha Nelson, professional librarian and member of the Society’s Board of Directors.

He also discusses how a principal of Central School unsuccessfully tried to impose a dress code rule there after The Beatles with their long hair appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.

“He couldn’t see that the world he had been trained to perpetuate was already in the rearview mirror,” Hoppe stated in his book.

“Hoppe also discusses how he and his family observed and interpreted cultural change in their own lives,” Nelson continued. “His family owned and operated a small factory in Chicago, employing Black and Hispanic workers. Hoppe said his father had to give up his own pay raise to give the workers an increase, raising the anger of his grandfather.”

This book discussion will offer a unique opportunity to delve into the rich history and personal anecdotes that shaped a generation. Whether you grew up during the Baby Boom or are simply interested in Mount Prospect’s history, this event promises to be enlightening and enjoyable.

If you wish to participate, sign up at www.mtphist.org/mphsbookclub/. The suggested donation for the discussion is $5. You may also phone 847-392-9006 for more information.