HR0748 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0748 LRB095 13946 KXB 39740 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to recognize communities within the State of Illinois that have contributed to the rich history of the State; and

WHEREAS, The history of Midlothian began in 1898 with the establishment of the Midlothian Country Club on 147th Street, about two miles from where the Rock Island Railroad crossed the street; the club is one of the first three golf clubs in the Chicago area; the Rock Island Railroad erected a station for the convenience of the country club and the stop was named Midlothian; the country club owned and operated a spur off the mainline of the railroad for several years, giving the country club the distinction of being the only one to have such a convenience; and

WHEREAS, In 1915 sub-dividers became interested in the area and real estate offices moved into the area; the tracts of farmland owned by the original German and English settlers became new sub-divisions with blocks and lots; a few homes and business establishments were erected; the nearest schools were one-room facilities, with one located two miles west and the second nearly two miles northeast; the first local community public school was one room, built by public subscription and contributed labor; and

WHEREAS, In the year 1924 the Midlothian Development Association was formed with thoughts of incorporating as a village; the first attempt to incorporate was put to a vote and lost; residents went to the polls again on March 17, 1927 and voted in favor of incorporation; the village of Midlothian became a reality on March 22, 1927; the following month, 421 voters went to the polls and elected the following officials: President: John H. Hamilton; Trustees: M. E. Schooler, A. K. Robinson, George Fikrle, I. S. Schwartz, Nicholas Kremer, and Joseph L. Reischel; Clerk: Richard J. White; and Police Magistrate: Frank P. Stuart; and

WHEREAS, The village officials would meet around pot-bellied stoves in any available storefront or cubbyhole; more homes were built, the Kreis Brothers opened the Ford Garage (where the fire truck was kept), Chuck Cavallini began dispensing ice cream at a corner "Sweet Shop", and the first copy of the Messenger was printed in the old Largent Home; the municipal building now located at 14801 S. Pulaski Road was built and dedicated in 1949; and

WHEREAS, The municipal building was enlarged in the late 60's and accommodated chambers and offices of the Sixth District Court and State's Attorney Office prior to the construction of the Sixth District facility on Kedzie; and

WHEREAS, Beginning in borrowed space in the old Lions Club, the Public Library was begun in 1931 as a project of the Midlothian Womens Club; in 1943, Midlothian voters decided that the library should become tax supported and elected a board of trustees to oversee its management; and

WHEREAS, In 1953, Midlothian voters approved creation of the Park District as a separate taxing body to provide for the recreational needs of the community; the 1960's saw the village's greatest housing boom with the development of Jolly Homes, Timber Hill, and homes in the northwest section of the village; and

WHEREAS, In 1970 the Village of Midlothian formed, along with the City of Markham, the Mid-Mark Water Commission; direct lines were installed to the City of Chicago and Midlothian had an abundant supply of clean, pure Lake Michigan water; in 1960 the village had storage facilities for just over half a million gallons of water; with the completion of the James M. Kennedy Reservoir at Claire Boulevard and Springfield Avenue in 1972, the storage capacity increased to 4 million gallons; and

WHEREAS, In 1973 the Village of Midlothian held the first Highland Games as a celebration of the village founding; the games were held in Midlothian for a period of ten years, when they moved to Grant Park in Chicago and, ultimately, to the Oak Brook Polo Grounds where they are still held; after trying for a number of years to bring the "games" back to Midlothian, the Village of Midlothian began its own celebration in 1998, holding the first annual Midlothian Scottish Fair and Celtic Celebration; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, as the Village of Midlothian celebrated its 75th birthday, Provost Sam Campbell and his wife, Beth, came from Midlothian, Scotland to celebrate at the Midlothian Scottish Fair; and

WHEREAS, The Village of Midlothian is known for its outstanding services, volunteers, small town atmosphere, affordable living, excellent transportation, and access to all major interstate highways; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the Village of Midlothian and its history and congratulate its citizens on having such a fine community to work, play, and live in; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to a representative for the Village of Midlothian.