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Dear Village Resident,
The Village of Spring Grove's Community Engagement Committee invites you to the Second Annual Oktoberfest event being held this Saturday, September 30th from 4pm to 9pm at Horse Fair Park.
Enjoy German Beers including a release from our own Pratt Brewing, German food straight from OMA's recipe book, entertainment from Die Kenosha Musikanten and games including a Stein Holding contest, Hammerschlagen and Cabbage Bowling!
This is a 21 and over event. Admission is FREE.
Click here for the menu.
Sign up now for CABBAGE BOWLING! The top 4 teams of two with the highest score after 10 frames will compete in a bowl off! Email your team name to info@springgrovevillage.com, or sign up at the event!
This is a cash only event, there will be an ATM on site
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Village Stickers
Have you purchased your 2023-2024 village sticker?
The vehicle sticker fee will double on October 1st to $40 per vehicle and if not purchased by November 10th, tickets will also be issued. The police will be making subdivision checks to make sure stickers have been purchased for all vehicles and that they are being displayed properly. Drop the envelope in the Municipal Centre drop-box, purchase in person, or make a payment on-line here.
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Springdale Trails Park Improvement Project
Recently, a private citizen approached the Village about donations for improvements to Springdale Trails Park. As of this newsletter's date, $45,275* of a $100,000 goal has been raised toward adding new swings, climbing structures, slides, benches and an improved playground surface.
This is where your help is needed! A very generous donor offered to match any donations received between now and October 18, 2023.
Donations can be made at this link (choose the option to make a one one-time payment) or in person at the Village Municipal Centre, 7401 Meyer Road. Please note on your check or donation "Springdale Trails Playground". For more information please visit our website.
*as of 9/27/2023
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Richardson Adventure Farm
Maze 'til Midnight!
The Richardson Adventure Farm grounds, including the corn maze and activities, will remain open until midnight this Friday, September 29th and Saturday, September 30th.
A wristband must be purchased at admissions for entry to the grounds.
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Fire Department Pancake Breakfast
The Spring Grove Fire Department Explorers will be hosting their annual Pancake Breakfast, Sunday, October 8th from 8:00 a.m. to Noon at the Spring Grove Fire Station, 8214 Richardson Road. Adults $6, Child $4.
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Recreation Department Art Classes
Creative Kiddos 7+ come and express your creativity through this fun and engaging art class! These classes are held Tuesday, October 10th, Wednesday October 18th, or Monday, October 23rd from 5-7 pm. Your little artist will leave the class with an art creation that was completed that day. You child will enjoy an intimate art class experience with specialized attention. There is a min of 3 students per class and a max of 6. Classes are held at Black Walnut Ridge, 405 N Lake Ave., Twin Lakes. Cost is $25.00 per student per class.
Sign up here or at the Village of Spring Grove Municipal Centre.
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Friends of Hatchery Park
Planting Day!
Friends of Hatchery Park (FOHP) Volunteers recently had a flower planting day at Hatchery Park! Siberian Irises, Black-eyed Susans, Astors and more were planted to help beautify the park. Public Works has also been busy cutting down overgrowth, like Phragmite, which is a tall, invasive grass that threatens wetlands and shorelines in our region. FOHP is looking for new members to help with enhancement projects at the park! Interested folks, please text Ron Erdmann at 815-861-9925
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Photo of the Week
The boys headed to their favorite local stop for mid week veggies. Photo submitted by Coryn Pierotti. If you have a photo of Spring Grove you would like to share email it here.
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Snapology Fall Programs
Join Snapology for some Fall Fun!
Click here to sign up for Monster Mania, DC vs. Marvel and a Christmas Workshop! Location information is listed in the details of each event.
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English Prairie Farms Tack Sale
The Second annual Tack Sale at English Prairie Farms will be this Saturday, September 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. English Prairie Farm is located at 2117 English Prairie Road.
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Document Destruction Day
Saturday, October 7th from 9:00 a.m. to noon bring your sensitive and private documents for secure, on-site document destruction by Flood Brothers Disposal Co. The event will be in the Spring Grove Municipal Centre Parking Lot located at 7401 Meyer Road. Click here for details and here for FAQ's.
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Textile Recycling
In conjunction with our Document Destruction Day at the Village Hall, Helping Hands Recycling* will be on site to collect items such as clothing, small home goods, kitchen items, and toys. See a complete list here of what they will accept.
Helping Hands Recycling collects unwanted textiles effectively diverting millions of pounds of clothing from landfills, they will collect items until 1:00 p.m.
*Helping Hands Recycling is not affiliated with our local food pantry, Helping Hands Food Pantry. Please do not drop off items to be recycled at Helping Hands Food Pantry.
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Trunk or Treat!
The annual Trunk or Treat at Horse Fair Park is Saturday, October 28th from 2:00p.m. - 4:00p.m. Parking will be available in Horse Fair Park and Spring Grove Park.
Prizes will be awarded for best child & pet costumes and best decorated car, trunk or table! Admission is free!
Sign up here to be a trunk-er!
Trick or Treating in Spring Grove is Tuesday, October 31st from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
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Snowman Decorating Contest
The Community Engagement Committee is excited to announce their First Annual Snowman Decorating Contest! Decorate a Snowman for display at Horse Fair Park and various places around the community!
The sign-ups are coming in! There are only 25 snowmen available on a first-come, first-served basis. For a $30 non-refundable fee you will receive a 5' snowman painted white available for pick up after November 6 and for display from December 1 through January 2. For more information and to sign up, visit our website.
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Holiday Light Installation
Light Discipline is a Holiday/decorative light installation company who provides and installs professional quality LED, C9 light bulbs on residential and commercial properties.
Early installation discounts available. Click here for their flyer.
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Fall Recreation Program
The Fall Recreation Program is here!
Fall programs include:
Art Class
Dodgeball
Little Ninja
Ninja Zone White
Mini Kickers ages 3-4
Tumble 1
Men's Basketball
Visit our website to sign up.
We need youth basketball coaches,
click here to sign up
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Crossing Guard Needed
NOW HIRING... Dedicated Citizens needed!
Crossing Guards for Spring Grove Grade School
· Serve the community and keep the children of Spring Grove Grade School safe!
· Work a BRIEF shift in the morning and in the afternoon.
· Training provided.
For more information see the flyer here or contact the Spring Grove Police Department at 815-675-2596.
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Blast from the Past - 1907 North Street
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The east side of 1907 North Street
during renovations
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New siding being installed over the
clapboard siding in 1948
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Current view of 1907 North Street | |
Ben and Emma May 50th wedding anniversary in 1967 | |
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Last week we learned that Ben J. May bought the old St. Peter’s rectory/school building and moved it to 1905 North Street in 1948. But first, Ben purchased the home at 1907 North Street from Al Schmeltzer, (the manager at the old Tibbets Cameron lumber yard). 1907 North Street was a rental house when Ben bought it, and right away, he went to work updating it, installing indoor plumbing and adding a kitchen and garage addition on the back. There was an old summer kitchen on the west side of the house which was removed and the front porch was enclosed.
That year he also purchased one lot west of the house from Schmeltzer, and one lot east of the house from Jake Freund. It was on that lot east of 1907 that he had a basement poured, which the Catholic school building was placed on, and he added a garage to the back.
On April 1 of 1948, Ben retired from dairy farming. The land he farmed was at the Pirie Brothers farm, (of Carson Pirie Scott & Co. department store fame), located in the Sundial Farms neighborhood off Wilmot Road. (The original farmhouse and most of the other original farm buildings are still standing at the Meadowsweet Ranch there.) He was 53 and moved his family into the newly renovated house. Ben was the Burton Township Road Commissioner for 12 years and the Township Supervisor from 1963-1971. He was a member of the Holy Name men’s group at St. Peter’s as well as a church usher. He died in 1971, his wife, Emma Freund, died in 1974, and his oldest daughter, Arlene died in 1975.
At that time, John & Joan May Popelka (Ben’s youngest daughter) purchased both houses and lots from the estate. Joan had moved into 1907 North Street at the age of nine with her parents and her first impression of the house before it was renovated was not a good one!
1907 North Street was built around 1902. It had clapboard siding and an open front porch with turned columns, stick and ball brackets and decorative fretwork at the front gable peak. One photo shows new siding being installed over the old clapboard siding. There was an outhouse in the backyard which was razed when the home finally got two bathrooms: a half-bath on the second floor and a full bath on the first floor, which probably greatly relieved little Joan.
Although John and Joan never moved into the house, they have been great up-keepers, as they live very close by in a home that we’ll discuss next week!
Story by Laura Frumet
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