Businesses of Mount Prospect

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 through most of the development of Mount Prospect until it was eventually sold in 1977 to Denis and Lynn Miller. The Millers did some renovations but left most of the tavern intact and opened it as Mrs. P and Me’s, which is still open today.