Businesses of Mount Prospect

Does MPHS have photographs: Yes

Address: 600 S. See Gwum

Is building standing: Yes

What is at site: Mount Prospect Park District

When was business founded: 1926

Is business still operating: Not in its original form

If no, when did it close: 1930

Who owned business: Axel Lonnquist

Interesting stories, facts, history:

The Mount Prospect Country Club was started by a developer named Axel Lonnquist. He purchased the farms of Fred Schaefer and Henry Menshing in 1925. His plan for the area was different from earlier sub-developments in Mount Prospect. What he planned was “a luxury community.” He wanted to utilize both the natural beauty of the area and the modern ideas of suburbs for this sub-development. In his advertisements, he heralded the semi-rural landscape with the proximity to the scenic Weller Creek, safe from the hectic pace of the city. He also advertised he numerous trains in and out of the city for the working professionals. This was meant to be a push and a pull with the ideas of getting away from the pace, and corruption of the city, and getting to the bliss of the quite country home. This is sub-development drew together all of the 1920s ideas of suburbanization and put it in the reach of the middle classes in Chicago. He specified the lots in the sub-development were to be larger and be able to support both a comfortable home and good-sized yard. The crowning glory of this development however, was to be the Northwest Hills Country Club. His idea was that membership in this would be associated with owing a lot in his development. He opened the Country Club in 1926, although it was then only a nine-hole course. He later expanded it to an 18 hole course and in 1929 opened the Club House.

As a progressive developer he thought beyond his own sub-division. He spoke publicly, at both national and local events about the responsibility of developers to think in terms of the larger community. He wanted to work with the other developers in the community to coordinate efforts at improving the village and the services offered to residents. This sub-development and the ideas of the luxury suburbs with country clubs and coordinated services redefined the way Mount Prospect saw its self and the way it was seen by outsiders. This was probably the way in which Lonnquist was most influential in the community. He made people think of the suburbs as better than living in the city. Transportation resources and new municipal services would offer all the resources and comforts of the city while also allowing a relaxed area with access to nature and luxury leisure pastimes.

Although Axel Lonnquist was able to redefine Mount Prospect, he was not able to make a lot of money on the endeavor. Due to the timing of his investment, he did not sell most of his land before the crash of 1929 and the depression that followed. The great depression was not the best time to be selling luxury suburban lots. He sold his property in Mount Prospect at huge discounts in 1931 to cover debt. In the time that he owned the land, he had been able to plat the streets, build the country club and a few demonstration homes, but he built very few homes that are standing today. He continued to hold onto some land in the community until 1946, when he left the land in trust to his children.

The history of his developments following his departure is also quite fascinating. After Lonnquist sold the land, it was purchased by a man named Harold Wilson who changed the name of the club to the more familiar Mount Prospect Country Club. He made it a semi-private club with annual dues and held onto it until 1950, when he sold it to Henry Sophie. Sophie ran the club for a few years and then in 1958 he sold the course to reputed gang member Richard Hauff. Hauff was unusual character in the history of Mount Prospect. He had been born in Iran and was orphaned at a young age. He was found wandering in the desert by a couple of U.S. Army Engineers who were there during WWII. He was later adopted by one and brought back to Arlington Heights. He showed great potential as a golfer in high school but at some point ended up associated with members of organized crime. To this day, no one really knows where he got the money to purchase the course in 1958 but it is suspected to have Mafia ties. He had the course redesigned and hosted the women’s Master’s PGA tournament in 1959. This certainly put Mount Prospect on the map, however it was not very profitable for Hauff. He declared bankruptcy in 1960 and put the course up for sale. After an involved fight to pass a referendum, the Mount Prospect Park District finally purchased it in 1961, making it a public course and what we all know today. Much as Axel Lonnquist had intended, his sub-division and golf course, helped redefine the community and became a great asset to the community as a whole.

Does MPHS have photographs: Yes

Address: 3 E. Northwest Highway

Is building standing: Yes, but now on Pine Street

What is at site: Condos

When was business founded: 1882

Is business still operating: No

Who owned business: John Conrad Moehling

Interesting stories, facts, history:

John C. Moehling owned the first general store in Mount Prospect. It was a small store located at the corner of Main Street and Northwest Highway. The store was originally started by Cook County Commissioner Christian Geils, who did not enjoy the store. In 1882 Moehling bought it from him. He found that he enjoyed being a store keeper and he soon became an major part of the community. He began selling farm tools, coal, seed, feed, groceries, shoes, etc. and built a warehouse along a side track to help bring in and ship out materials.

John C. Moehling was one of Mount Prospect’s biggest promoters. Throughout his career he worked hard to improve Mount Prospect and bring in new services and businesses. He persuaded John Meyn to move to Mount Prospect and start a blacksmith shop. Moehling also convinced the Chicago Northwestern Railroad to build a new Depot in Mount Prospect and was appointed the first depot agent, a position he held from 1887 until 1902. Moehling was also appointed the first Postmaster of Mount Prospect on December 31, 1885 and based the local post office in his store. He served as Postmaster for twelve years or until 1897. According to legend, Moehling was also the person who brought dairy cows to Mount Prospect. Seeing that the area was appropriate for milk cows, he went off in search of the best breed and eventually brought them back, kicking off Mount Prospect’s role as a major dairy center.

Does MPHS have photographs: Yes

Address: Central Road

When was business founded: Founded 1911, incorporated 1929

Who owned business: Otto and Oscar Milburn

Interesting stories, facts, history:

The main point of interest in the Milburn Brother’s Paving Company is that they paved the first stretch of road in Mount Prospect and what this symbolizes. In the 1920s, as the idea of a luxury suburb was beginning to develop in the minds of America, prominent developers in the Mount Prospect area, such as Axel Lonnquist, began paving roads. This signified a very different relationship with nature, landscape and transportation. It also signified a much more common ownership of cars. This radically changed Mount Prospect, Chicago and America. Keeping pace with the changes that were going on around, William Busse brought in the Milburn Brothers to start paving parts of Mount Prospect. This shows Mount Prospect’s adoption of Lonnquist’s concept and a different type of municipal government. William Busse, twenty years earlier, had convinced John Biermann to move to Mount Prospect and act as a the towns teamster, keeping the roads level and graded. John Biermann became a part of the community and eventually his son married William Busse’s daughter in William Busse’s parlor. The Milburn Brothers, on the other hand were treated as professional associates and were never considered anything else or expected to be anything else. They are symbolic of the shift from a small town to a suburban community. They later went on to pave part of O’Hare International.

Does MPHS have photographs: Yes

Address: 101 S. Main

Is building standing: Yes

What is at site: Central Continental Bakery

When was business founded: 1925

Is business still operating: No. Closed 1984.

Who owned business: Fred Meeske and family, sold in 1973.

Interesting stories, facts, history:

Meeske’s Market was a fixture in downtown Mount Prospect for 59 years. The store was begun in 1925, when William Busse Jr. sold the grocery part of his business to Fred Meeske. At that time, the market was located in the Busse Building on Main Street. In 1950 the building on the corner of Busse and Main was built to house what was then the main grocery store in Mount Prospect. The store was famous for its exceptional butcher shop and the family’s celebration of the community’s German roots. In 1973 the Meeske family sold the business, although the store maintained the name. The shop was closed in 1984 after going through a series of owners. The small locally-owned grocery store in downtown was not able to compete against massive chain stores in shopping plazas at the outskirts of town. After a renovation Central Continental Bakery moved into the space and has been there ever since.

Does MPHS have photographs: Yes

Address: 100 E. Prospect Ave

Is building standing: Yes

When was it built: 1902

What is at site: Mrs. P and Me Restaurant

When was business founded: 1923/1933

Is business still operating: No

If no, when did it close: Sold in 1977

Who owned business: William, Sophie and Henry Kruse

Interesting stories, facts, history:

Kruse’s tavern was an institution in Mount Prospect for over 50 years. The building housed the first restaurant in town, Behren’s Saloon, which was built in 1902. During Prohibition it became an ice cream parlor and lunch counter. Behren was not as excited about running an ice cream store and he sold it to William and Sophie Kruse in 1923. They ran a small sandwich shop and also sold homemade ice cream and candies. With the repeal of prohibition in 1933 William and Sophie’s son, Henry Kruse renovated it and turned it into a tavern. The family ran it trough most of the development of Mount Prospect until it was eventually sold in 1977 to Denis and Lynn Miller. The Miller’s did some renovations but left most of the tavern intact and opened it as Mrs. P and Me’s, which is still open today.

Does MPHS have photographs: Yes

Address: Formerly 5 W. Prospect Ave, Currently 2012 E. Northwest Highway, Arlington Heights

Is building standing: Only the current building is still standing

What is at site: Keefer’s Pharmacy

When was business founded: 1949

Is business still operating: Yes but has different owners

Who owned business: Jack Keefer

Interesting stories, facts, history:

Jack Keefer was a World War II veteran, having served for four years on the crew of a PT Boat. After the war he and his wife moved to Highland Park and he worked in a pharmacy in Glencoe. After working for a few years, in 1949, he purchased a pharmacy in Mount Prospect from a man named Steve Brant, who had purchased the pharmacy from George Engblom. He soon became a fixture in the community. He was involved with many local organizations including the Mount Prospect Historical Society. In an interview in 1991, he remembered when he first started, being thrilled when he filled 15 prescriptions in one day. However he was here for the great boom in suburban development in the1950s and before he retired his record for prescriptions in one day had passed 285.

In 2017 Keefer’s moved to its current location at 2012 E. Northwest Highway in Arlington Heights.

Does MPHS have photographs: Yes

Address: 15 N. Elmhurst Avenue

Is building standing: No

When was business founded: 1916

Is business still operating: No. Closed mid-1970s

Who owned business: Henry Haberkamp, Edwin (son)

Interesting stories, facts, history:

Henry Haberkamp began his business in 1916 as a wholesale grower shipping flowers to the Chicago market for resale. Edwin, Henry’s son, worked with his father and when Ed married Irene Froemling in 1927 they took over the business upon Henry’s retirement. Irene became interested in arranging flowers and gradually the business became retail as well as wholesale. In 1949 the flower shop was built where the family home had been attached to the greenhouses. The need for more display space led the Haberkamps to close in one of the greenhouses.

During the war Haberkamp’s diverted their energies to growing vegetable plants for “victory gardens” and afterward continued with garden supplies. The retail business prospered and eventually the wholesale market needed to be discontinued. All during this time many activities were pursued by both Ed and Irene. Ed was a volunteer fireman from 1934 to 1960, and then became Mt. Prospect’s first full time fire chief serving from 1960 until 1970.” Irene taught “Flower Arranging for the Home for over 16 years in the Adult Education Program of High School District 214. Her classes were always in demand. She offered free lectures and demonstrations on the mechanics and basic principles of flower arranging to many community organizations. The annual 4th of July parades included beautiful floats made by Haberkamps. The Christmas Open Houses were anticipated each year by customers (people?)who were treated to a Christmas wonderland of displays.

Irene constantly read, studied at design schools, exchanged ideas with other florists and became recognized as an artist in her field. She gave credit to Allied Florists’ Association and the Florists’ Telegraph Delivery Association for helping her to grow in her design capabilities. Irene appeared numerous times as a presenter at design schools that took her to several states including Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Indiana. She served several years as a unit secretary for FTD and later as a director.

Haberkamp’s Flowers was sold in the mid 70’s and the new owner moved the business to Arlington Heights.

Does MPHS have photographs: No

Address: Corner of 83 and Rand

Is building standing: No

What is at site: Osco Pharmacy

When was business founded: Unknown

Is business still operating: No. Closed circa 1969

Who owned business: Jack Gunnell

Interesting stories, facts, history:

Gunnell’s Restaurant is an interesting business mostly because of what is not known about it. Many people who lived in Mount Prospect remember it and have given a few descriptions. According to some people’s recollections, it may have been there as far back as the early 1930s. This would be quite amazing, since it would have been in the middle of farms fields, in unincorporated Cook County, without a neighbor for a couple of miles. Supposedly, the building was a two story frame building with two large bay windows on the front and was quite attractive. Reportedly there was a bowling alley, as well as a restaurant in the building and gas pumps out side. We know where it was and we have heard a number of descriptions of it, but so far, not a single photograph or piece of memorabilia has turned up. The only proof that we have that it existed is a newspaper clipping about the demolition of the building in 1969. Considering how many people have remembered this business, how close it was to Randhurst in it’s heyday, and how long it was reportedly there, it is amazing that no one has a photograph of it or can tell us anything more about the history of the business.