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Archive for the ‘Nostalgia’ Category

Bison

A bison grazes in 2013 in a forest in eastern Poland. Kane County Forest Preserve Commissioners approved a plan this week to bring bison to the Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve. (Associated Press)

It’s been 200 hundred years since bison roamed the prairies of Kane County, but a new plan to reintroduce them into a local forest preserve may turn back the clock.

Kane County Forest Preserve commissioners approved a plan this week to bring a handful of bison to the Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve. The plan centers on one of the main ecological goals of restoring tallgrass prairie to the county’s preserves. Before the surrounding area developed, fire and the grazing habits of wild animals, such as bison, provided natural management of the grasslands. Preserve officials reintroduced controlled burns to the preserves many years ago.

Executive director Ben Haberthur told commissioners now is the time to reintroduce bison to restore the grazing aspect of grassland management. Up to 90% of the diet for bison is grasses.

“The grasses evolved with grazing,” Haberthur said. “So it actually promotes the soil microbiome to grow more. Bison are native to Illinois, and they are definitely native to this county. They will bring a big component back to the ecosystem, namely fertilizer.”

District officials experimented with the benefits of animal grazing in the preserves with cattle in the Aurora West Forest Preserve. That experiment resulted in the flourishing of the restored grasslands in the preserve. Officials see bison as the next step in returning the grasslands to their most natural state and care.

The Burlington Prairie Forest Preserve is in the Pleasant Valley Conservation Alley north of Huntley and in the northwest portion of the county. The plan calls for two paddocks of 30 acres each with an additional 89 acres seeded for pasture. For the safety of the animals and the public, the areas containing the bison would be fenced, which accounts for the bulk of the initial cost of the project.

Read more here.

Editorial note: As we’ve suggested before, there is ample acreage at Horizon Farm for the Forest Preserves of Cook County to consider such an endeavor.

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Glasses

Collectible Kentucky Derby drinking glasses are among the items available in the first of a dozen auctions of Arlington Park items. (John Starks | Staff Photographer)

Many of the visitors to the catacombs of Arlington Park’s shuttered grandstand Monday afternoon weren’t particularly interested in bidding on the gallons of Caesar salad dressing or red pepper flakes.

A few, though, were eying the stacks of china plates with the racetrack’s crest, upon which brunches were once served in the Arlington Million Room just a few floors above.

Horseplayers, former employees and fans of the Arlington Heights racing palace came to the lower-level kitchen for any glimpse of nostalgia, at what was the first in-person preview ahead of a dozen online auctions of the park’s assets through October.

As the first auction of more than 600 items, which started last week, is primarily commercial kitchen and food service equipment, many of those looking for a memento said they plan to come back when the other parts of the grandstand are opened for viewing of memorabilia, artwork and bronze that they can bid on.

“We’ll see what they offer up in the future and if there’s anything that piques my interest,” said Larry Moy of Arlington Heights. “I imagine we’re not the only ones, so I think some of the more recognizable items will probably get bidded up pretty high.”

The 647 lots available in the first auction range from a double stack portable conventional oven starting at $2,400 to a metal shelf/rack with a starting price of a dime.

Read more here.

Related:McMansion owners take note – Popcorn machine, pots and pans: Kitchen auction begins Arlington Park’s liquidation

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Mars

If you’re of a certain age, then chances are you might recognize this photo from when you toured the M&M Mars factory as Girl or Cub Scout, or you were lucky enough to have a teacher who took your class there on a field trip.

Mars Wrigley is closing a nearly century-old chocolate plant on Chicago’s West Side once hailed as the most beautiful candy factory in America.

Built in a Spanish-style architecture in 1928, the sprawling plant in the Galewood neighborhood bordering Oak Park employs about 280 workers and will be phased out over the next two years, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

What becomes of the employees and the unique factory — an intriguing part of Chicago’s rich candy history — remains to be seen.

“The company remains committed to the city of Chicago and intends to partner with the surrounding community on a future vision for the site,” a spokesperson for Mars Wrigley Confectionery said in an email. “As we continuously evaluate our footprint across North America, our Associates were informed of the decision to move the majority of operations to other facilities in the U.S. over the next two years.”

The U.S. headquarters for privately held Mars Wrigley moved to New Jersey in 2017, following Mars’ $23 billion acquisition of Chicago-based Wrigley in 2008. The Mars Wrigley global headquarters are located on Goose Island in Chicago.

Workers at the closing Chicago plant will be “encouraged to explore the opportunities to apply for open roles across our network, specifically in the Chicago area,” the Mars Wrigley spokesperson said.

Read more here.

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Herald

Lipofsky’s Department Store

From the Daily Herald:

“A year ago, the Daily Herald published a special magazine, “Remember When,” that highlighted suburban institutions that no longer exist. Among them were Hans Bavarian Lodge, Kiddieland, Crawford’s department store, Randhurst, Poplar Creek Music Theater and Bell’s Apple Orchard.

This year we’re doing Remember When … Revisited, and we’re hoping to share memories of even more places — such as the Forge Club, which was just razed in Vernon Hills. We are asking readers to send us a personal memory of any suburban icon that no longer exists, and to include a photo of yours we can use. We’re looking for your detailed memory — a couple of paragraphs or more about a specific place, not a list of places.

Please limit your remembrance to 300 words and make sure you email your photo to us in the largest file possible. Include the name of the photographer and some info about who is doing what in the photo. Don’t have a picture? Don’t worry. We might have one or know where to find one. Be sure to mention your name and town of residence. We’ll consider all submissions before Feb. 4. Just email it to rememberwhen@dailyherald.com.”

Editorial note: The Daily Herald got us thinking of all the memorable stores we frequented in Barrington over the years that are gone today, and here’s a very short list:

A&P Grocery Store, The Barn of Barrington, Barrington Saddlery, Baskin Robins 31 Flavors, The Bob and Betty Shop, Bockwinkel’s, Boloney’s Sandwich Shop, The Bread Basket, Chuck Hines, Darken’s Sporting Goods, Dog ‘N Suds, ESH Pharmacy, First National Bank of Barrington, Fresh Flower Market, The Jean Store, Jim Saine’s Tralee Farms, Hollywood Video, Last National Bank, Lipofsky’s, Norton’s USA, Pasquesi Home and Garden, Peter Daniel, Pohlman Pharmacy, Rexall Drugs, Richard Honquest, Seigel’s’  Lumber, Sydney Johnson Bookseller, Ten Pin Bowling Alley, Tuxedo Junction, The Village Cobbler, Village Liquors, Wenzel Jewelers and West End Video.

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