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February 21, 2024 Updated | |
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Dear Village Resident,
Helping Hands Recycling* will be hosting the first Textile Recycling Event of 2024 on Saturday, March 2 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the Village Municipal Centre located at 7401 Meyer Road. See the flyer for detailed information with a wide variety of items that will be accepted for collection. Clothing, shoes, household items, kitchen items, and toys are all included on the list!!
Together we can divert these items from going to landfills!! *Helping Hands Recycling is not affiliated with our local food pantry, Helping Hands Food Pantry. Please do not drop clothing items to be donated at Helping Hands Food Pantry.
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Happy 108th Birthday Drive-By Celebration - Sign up Today!!
The Village Board recognized a very special upcoming birthday for one of our residents!! Lillian Bennett is turning 108 years old this Saturday, February 24th. Help celebrate with her son, Dean De Pew, and join in reaching the goal of 108 car drive by birthday celebration at 12:00 p.m. this Saturday!!! Call or email for details and to book your spot 708-738-2617 or coltoncompanies@gmail.com
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Easter Egg Hunt
The Spring Grove Recreation Department, in conjunction with the Village of Richmond and Richmond-Burton Township are sponsoring our ANNUAL EASTER BUNNY EGG HUNT!!!! Join us at Thelen Park Football Field 8516 Winn Road on March 23rd at 2:00 p.m. (rain date March 30th). Pre-registration recommended, click here to register. Free entry with a canned FOOD ITEM to support the local food pantry!!!!
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Richmond-Burton Second at State!!!
We congratulate Richmond-Burton Senior, Gina Scichowski in placing 2nd in the state at the Illinois High School Association 2023-2024 Girls Bowling Championship in Rockford, Illinois. Gina has had much success since being adopted from China by her parents here in Spring Grove. After her adoptive father passing a few years ago, Gina represents the district on her own with the help her Mother. To name a few of her accomplishments, she placed first in IHSA Bowling Regionals 2 years in a row, first at IHSA Bowling Sectionals, and 2nd place at the IHSA State Bowling Tournament. She holds 1 PBA JR Championship title, One Wisconsin Youth Bowling Tournament Championship title, and Three Illinois State Scholarship Tournament Titles. She has two 300 games and an 804 high series as well. She was chosen as Greater Lake County USBC Star of Tomorrow, as well as the Illinois State USBC Star of Tomorrow. She was on the first place Team for Greater Lake County USBC Youth. She also took first place in the Pepsi USBC Youth Championships for Zone 1. We are happy to share her mother's email address if you would like to send a congratulatory message to recognize her success!!! dawnski16@hotmail.com
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Horse Fair Park 2024 Rentals
Planning a party in 2024? Horse Fair Park, located at 8105 Blivin Street, is now open for 2024 reservations for residents and non-residents. Amenities include the indoor/outdoor pavilion with a refrigerator, freezer, oven, microwave, bar, picnic tables, outdoor grill, port-a-potty, and volleyball & basketball courts with equipment, Rental fees are $275 for residents, and $450 for non-residents. View more information here.
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Snapology Fundraiser
Snapology is hosting a fundraiser at Rockin the Spectrum is this Sunday, February 25th from 1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Drop in and make a LEGO creation!!! Registration not required. $10/person benefits Rockin the Spectrum. 2020 Route 12 Suite Q. Everyone is welcome!!!!
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Photo of the Week
Thank you Nigel5!! Thank you Marty Eckes!!
If you have a photo of Spring Grove you would like to share email it here.
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RBCHS Musical
The students at RBCHS have been working hard to prepare for a great, kid friendly show this March!!!! Seusical the Musical will have three showings. March 1st at 7:00 p.m., March 2nd at 2:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m., and March 3rd at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are discounted for students and seniors!!! 8311 State Route 31 in Richmond.
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Recreation Program - Gymnastics
Spring Grove's Recreation Program is offering two gymnastics programs in January and February. Gymnastics One for age 6+ is currently full, and there are limited spaces open for Pre-K Gym ages 3-5. Sign up here and click flyer for details.
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Volleyball Registration
Spring Grove Recreation is currently taking reservations for the volleyball clinic that will be offered on Wednesdays from March 13 - April 24th. Classes will be at Spring Grove Elementary with two groups, 3rd/4th grade, and 5th/6th grade. Register online here, or in person at the Village Hall. Resident Fee $50, Non-Residents $70.
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WAG Annual Health Clinic
Mark your calendar for the WAG Annual Health Clinic, located at 2807 Route 12. March 3rd, from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.. they will offer a variety of services, including vaccines, heartworm testing, eye exams, and more! Register here. Click here for directions.
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Premium Decking "Decks and Dogs Event"
Premium Decking Supply, located at 2221 Pierce is hosting "Fiberon's Decks and Dogs" on Wednesday, March 6th from 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. Spring is the time to learn about Fiberon's extensive product line-up for decking projects, and more!! Hot dogs, snacks, and drinks provided by Fiberon. Contact Sandra at sandra@premiumdeckingsupply.com to RSVP
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Paint & Sip Event
Sign up now for the next Paint & Sip- "Robin's Nest" 🐦on Sunday, March 24th from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at Magic Moon Gaming & Wine Bar
2020 Rt. 12, Unit M. Included: All painting supplies and guided instruction from a local fine artist, with room for choice! Cost is $35/Person, all seats are reserved in advance. Payable through Zelle or Venmo
(Painting clothes are recommended for this project). To Sign Up: Contact Little Mountain Art Call/Text (616)-528-2355
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Forest Ridge Estates HOA Meeting
Monday, March 18th at 6:30 p.m. will be the next Forest Ridge HOA quarterly meeting at the Nippersink Public Library. This annual meeting will include elections and all residents are strongly encouraged to attend.
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Blast from the Past - 7615 Blivin Street | |
7615 Blivin Street in 2000 | |
Lawrence's postcard of his dad and train | |
1940s aerial photo of property | |
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7615 Blivin Street was built in 1901, possibly for a Mr. Meredith, the first Spring Grove train station agent and telegraph operator for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. James Foulk was the second agent and he and his wife, Emily Price, moved to 7615 Blivin in 1910.
At that time, only the rail yard and train tracks separated the house from the train station. In the above photo, you can see a worn path in the grass that led from the house to the tracks. (The driveway wasn’t a straight line in those days, either, but went on an angle through the property next door.)
They had three sons, Lawrence, Lowell and Robert, born in 1908, 1912 & 1916. James and Emily had a furnace in for central heat and an inside bath and toilet installed, luxuries at that time. They also bought a 1916 Ford Touring car with side curtains for protection from the elements.
Being located next to the train station and fish hatchery afforded the boys many opportunities for adventures and exploration. They would play run-sheep-run and tag around the stockyards at dusk. The stockyards were where hogs and cattle would stay before or after being loaded or unloaded from the trains. The brothers would also feed frogs to the bass at the hatchery in the summer and ice-skate on the pond in the winter. The pickle factory was by the tracks, too, and they would eat the dill pickles straight from the vats, sometimes coming home with a stomach ache.
In the 1920s or 30s, a Ford Tri-motor plane landed in the field behind the house when the pilot and co-pilot got lost in a snowstorm and needed gas. And around 1923, a freight train accident occurred in front of the house in the middle of the night, which hauled a box car down the tracks for a mile. Strangely, none of the family was awakened.
James died in 1947 at the age of 75. Emily moved to the Richardson farm on English Prairie to live with her sister’s family. She did in 1964. In 1959 she sold the house to Arnold Buschman. He owned the Spring Grove Cash and Carry Lumber store that was built between her house and the tracks. For a time, the house was used as an office for the lumberyard. It was then a rental for many years and is now an owner-occupied home again.
The stately farmhouse retains all of the original exterior character, with a wonderful wrap-around porch and wood details. Lawrence visited the home in 2000 when he was 92 years old, and it still had all of its beautiful original interior trim and doors. He went upstairs to see if names they had written on the wall behind a closet door, and happily they were. The barn where they kept cows to milk also still stood behind the house, bringing back many happy memories for him, too.
Story by Laura Frumet
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