Fox Lake (Illinois) Historical Society Presentation on 'The Midway'

The Fox Lake Grant Township Historical Society will be having a presentation on a major village party area back around the early 1900s when folks would arrive by train from Chicago at a series of hotels, bars and dance halls in Nippersink Lake called "The Midway."

This area now has the Fox Lake Lakefront Park right by US-Highway 12 and is considered a fine example of what life was like during the area's Resort Era.

The presentationwill be given by Paul Jakstas whose family owned the famed Mineola Hotel for many years.

The presentation follows the General meeting at 9:30 am and will be held at the Grant Hall Museum at 411 Washington Street, Ingleside, Illinois.

Refreshments will be served.

--CootWay

Chicago's 'Pioneer' Locomotive

From same source as last post.

1923, 100 years ago.

"The locomotive that spearheaded  the growth of Chicago from a swampy village of 4,000  inhabitants to the transportation crossroads of the world  is being groomed to ride the rails again.

"The engine, the Pioneer, has been moved to the shops of the  Chicago and North Western railway system where it is being reconditioned for a key role in the railway's centennial celebration this year."

And, this locomotive still exists today at the Chicago History Museum.

Now There's a Bit of Chicago History.  Right Frank?  --GreGen

Even Back Then, 1922, 100 Years Ago: At the Time It Seemed Like the Thing to Do

From the November  29, 2022, MidWeek "Looking Back."  DeKalb County, Illinois.

"Six men, none of them believed to be over  35 years of age,  riding in a stolen Jordan sedan, crashed into a standing freight train at the Spring Valley tracks on the Lincoln Highway this morning at 4:30.  Three of the men were injured and were taken to the hospital, one was returned to jail with the other fellow who was too drunk to get hurt.

"The other two prisoners were under guard at the Glidden Memorial hospital.  One of the injured suffered a broken arm and a piece of the windshield jammed into his jawbone.  The other had his hand badly lacerated and required several stitches.

"The third injured man was cut  about thenhead and after being given surgical attention at the hospital, was returned to the police station.

"The Jordan sedan was badly wrecked, and the entire front end of thye machine was badly broken, although the engine would run."

Too Drunk to Get Hurt?

Boys Will Be Boys?  --Cooter

Fox Lake Historical Society Meeting-- Part 2: Talking About Dollar Lake and Beer Can Bridge

There was no presentation today because of the death of President Nancy Kubalanza.  Just didn't seem right to have one.

There is a movement to place historical markers around Fox Lake.

The site of Dollar Lake, now the plaza with the theater and Val's grocery store is scheduled for one.  Dollar Lake was shallow and filled in.  Paul Jakstas says there is no truth to there being any trains in the former lake (used as fill).  It was filled up partially with land from G.I. Hill

In 1954, Rollins Road came through to Fox Lake and the shopping centyer was built 1962-1963.  It used to have a small Sears store and a Woolworth's.

They also hope to put up anoher sign by what is locally called Beer Can Bridge which takes US Route 12 (Rand Road) over a channel between Nippersink Lake and Pistakee Lake.  It gets its name from all the beer cans placed on the underside of the girders by boaters passing under them.  

This is also by where the old Midway was located, an area of bars, hotels and amusements.

--Cooter

That's One Big Steam Locomotive-- Part 2

Not only are the locomotives big, but also they are very complex which makes restoring one extremely difficult.  They were the "pinnacle of steam locomotive design."

Union Pacific hasn't said how much the restoration cost, but estimates range around $4 million.

The last steam locomotive delivered to Union Pacific, the "Living Legend" Northern No. 844, has remained in service since 1944.  Big Boy No. 4014 will join No. 844 in publicity work as a railroad version of the Goodyear Blimp.

The two locomotives will tour the Union Pacific system throughout 2019 in honor of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869.

Few engineers these days know  what it's like to drive a steam locomotive.  The cab has no air conditioning and is right behind the big coal-fired boiler so it is hot and dirty.  Going through tunnels makes it especially bad.

However, Big Boy No. 4014 has been converted to burn fuel oil instead of coal so it won't be as bad.

Sure Like to See Big Boy.  --CootBoy

That's One Big Steam Locomotive-- Part 1

From the May 12, 2019, Chicago Tribune  "Steam locomotive makes big debut for transcontinental party" by Mead Gruver.

It's longer than two city buses, weighs more than a Boeing 747 fully loaded with passengers and can pull 18 Statues of Liberty over a mountain.

The Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive rolled out of a Union Pacific restoration shop in Cheyenne this month after five years of work.  It will then set out on a yearlong tour to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Transcontinental Railroad.

Big Boys hauled freight between Wyoming and Utah in the 1940s and 1950s.  Of the 25 built by the American Locomotive Co. in Schenecady, New York from 1941 to 1944, eight remain, but only No. 4014 is still fully operational.

They were engineered for steep mountain grades and each Big Boy had two huge engines beneath a 250-ton boiler able to hold enough water to cover an area the size of a basketball court to the depth of a high-top shoe.

That's One Big Boy!!  --CootLoc

Doughboy Convalescents Going Through DeKalb in 1919

From the February 27, 2019, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

"A special train of soldier lads went through here yesterday afternoon about four o'clock going west with Camp Dodge, Iowa, as their destination.

"The soldier lads were convalescents, as many of them were seen  with bandages on their  arms and heads and it is probable, they are some of the more recently returned boys  from over there, who 'got theirs'  from stray Hun bullets."

--Cooter

"Flu Masks" On the Train in Nov. 1918: Was This the Spanish Flu Pandemic

From the November 21, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"There is always a first time for everything, and passengers on the 7:40 this morning saw DeKalb people board the train wearing 'Flu' masks.

"This is the spirit of cooperation here in the city of DeKalb that is going to keep a serious epidemic from getting a foothold here."

Was this the Spanish Flu Pandemic near its beginning, or just a regular winter onset flu?  Sources say the first observed case took place in Haskell County, Kansas, in January 1918.  The first recorded victim of the flu was Army cook Albert Gitchell at Fort Riley, Kansas, on March 4, 1918.

If this "Flu" mask incident in DeKalb was the Spanish Flu it was way in advance of the bad breakout in 1919.

--Cooter

The Case of the "Rough Looking and Dirty" Fellows in 1918

From the August 29, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Four fellows, rough looking and dirty,  were lurking around the railroad station this morning and when they saw an officer coming, whose coat happened to fly open enough to show a star,  the boys very hastily made themselves absent.

"When the Sterling passenger train came in, they all boarded the train between the tender and first coach, and one was dragged a few feet before getting on the train.  It is probably a good thing for the city that they made their departure in this manner, as it would have been necessary to send them on their way had the police discovered them."

--Cooter

"Oh, Skinny, Run Like Ev'rything! Car of Watermelons!"

From the July 25, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Oh, Skinny, run like ev'rything!  Car of watermelons!    Such was the cry in the neighborhood of the North Western (railroad), while Corey & Evans men were unloading a big car of the kids' delight.

:"This is among  the first cars of such to be received here, and there was the usual aggregation of little folks hanging around the car, just hoping that one would slop from the hands of the men as they were loading the big truck.

Wonder If Any Watermelons Were Dropped?  --Cooter

Ten Offensive Things That Once Passed for Entertainment-- Part 1: Original Drive-By Shootings

From the August 13, 2018, ListVerse "10 Offensive Things That Once Passed For Entertainment" by Christopher Dale.

Remember, lots more information at the site.

10.  Poor Tours--  Rich folks touring poor people.

9.  The original drive-by shootings--  In the post-Civil War, people shooting bison from moving trains.

8.  Wild West Shows--  Whites had the valor, Indians were the barbarians.  Sorry Buffalo Bill Cody.

7.  Midget shows

6.  Premature babies

--Cooter

Spilling the Milk and Ink in 1917

From the February 15, 2017,  MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"Passengers waiting waiting at the depot in DeKalb this morning had the pleasure of seeing one commodity used daily take a drop -- but  not in price.

"The 9:05 train arrived at the station and unloaded a couple cans of milk, some ink and other articles.

"The truck man started to turn around and the truck tipped over, spilling one can of milk, and also breaking a bottle of ink.  The boys up and around the depot were having considerable sport with the truck man as a result of the accident."

And Quite a Mess to Boot.  --Cooter

The Great Gumball Heist

From the February 1, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago.

"In the men's waiting room at the depot in DeKalb there is a penny slot gum machine and this morning when the day force got on the job, it was found that the machine had been broken and almost $1.50 had been stolen.

"Officer Rowe got on the job and says he has the guilty party located, and it is probably that he will receive a reprimand for the petty theft."

Look for the Guy Whose Pants Are Falling Off With All Those Pennies, Officer Rowe!  --Cooter

Looking Back to 1916: President Wilson Passes Through DeKalb

From the November 2, 2016, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back.'

1916, 100 Years Ago

"The special train bearing President Wilson and his party passed through DeKalb this morning on the way back from the western trip where the nation's executive spoke before a large historical society yesterday."

--Cooter

Fox Lake Historical Society Meeting-- Part 3: Model Trains

Lionel Train headquarters is located in Concord, North Carolina, but all the items they make is made in China.

"N" and "Z" gauge trains are really small.  "Z" is about the size of your pinky.

Mr. Howe's most prized piece is his Yankee Zephry "S" gauge locomotive done in an art deco motif.

His daughters are always asking him when he is going to sell his train stuff.  he says to them, never.  he's taking it with him.  He plans to have train tracks laid out in his mausoleum and have his daughters come in once a month to run his trains.  After that, his executor will cut them a check.  (One way to get your family to visit your grave he says tongue-in-cheek.

Thomas the Engine has sparked some interest among kids in trains, but it is too bad they rarely if ever get a chance to ride one as he did while growing up.  he does wish that more kids would get involved with model railroading.

However, some city parks and amusement parks do have model trains you can ride on, like Goldsboro, North Carolina's Herman Park.

--CooterWooWoo

Fox Lake Historical Society Meeting-- Part 2: Model Trains, Quaker Oats?

American Flyer used "wide gauge."  Then there came an "HO Gauge."

During World War II, the government eliminated model trains and toys as materials were needed for the war effort.  No toys were made.  Lionel made compasses for destroyers, cruisers and battleships.

After the war came "S" Gauge.

Now model trains are high-electronics.  At one point Mr. Howe mention model car "trucks."  The question arose, what are train trucks.  Those are the wheel assembly of the cars.

The Marx Company sold their train-making operations to the Quaker Oats Company.  Marx also made toys, which was why Quaker bought it.

In 1967 Lionel bought American Flyer.

John Menard, of Menard's Home Improvement stores was a huge model train buff and would spent thousands of dollars at a hot on his hobby.

--DaTrainDaTrain

Fox Lake Historical Society Meeting March 19, 2016-- Part 1: Model Trains

Presentation by Phil Howe on Model Railroading.  he is president of the Lionel Operating Model Society which has 1900 members.

There have been trains around for almost 200 years.  Starting in the 1870s, there were model trains for kids brought over from Germany.  However, World War I proved a boom for U.S. model train makers since the ones from Germany could no longer be imported.

Electric model trains were made in Cincinnati in 1896. Joshua Lionel Cowen began making them in New York City.  He also invented flashlights and electric fans.  Two things that helped him with the model trains.

I wonder why he used his middle name instead of his last for his company's name.

He realized that merchants could sell more items if they had a model train running around display windows.

The Lionel Train Company headquartered in New Jersey.

The Ives Co. of Bridgeport, Connecticut had "O' Gauge.  Lionel had "standard gauge."

--Cootrain

The Five Deadliest Train Derailments in U.S. History

From the Dec. 2, 2013, Daily Beast.

What brought this article about was the Metro-North accident on Sunday back then in the Bronx which killed four and injured more than 60.

The first train derailment took place in 1833 with President John Quincy Adams on board.  He was not hurt.

1.  August 7, 1904--  96 dead, Eden, Colorado

2.  November 1, 1918--  102 dead, Brooklyn, New York

3.  September 6, 1943--  79 dead, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania   I wrote about this one today in my World War II blog.

4.  December 16, 1943--  72 dead, Rennert, North Carolina.  I wrote about this one, coming just months after the one in Philadelphia, yesterday in my World War II blog, "Tattooed On Your Soul."

5.  February 6, 1951--  85 dead, Woodbridge, New Jersey.

The article has more information about each one.

Looking Back to 1890-- Part 1: Don't Try to Beat the Train Across the Tracks

From the March 4, 2015 Mid Week  (DeKalb County, Illinois)

Some news from 125 years ago.

**  The riot case against Buntis Petrie and Chester Frane is expected to come before court this morning.  Riot Case?  Fighting each other perhaps?

**  The freight train on the C, St. P & KC Ry ran down a boy and a team at Wasco Sunday morning, killing the boy and both horses.  (So even horse and buggies tried to cross before the train got there.

**  The Women's Relief Corps will give a supper at the G.A.E. hall  (probably GAR Hall) Thursday 5-9 p.m..  For the benefit of the relief fund.  (The Women's Relief Corps was an auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic, the Union Civil War veterans group.)

Yum, Food!!!  --Cooter