Trout Park a "public disgrace" in 1889

Episodes

The big mailer transformed our city
6 Jun· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
The David C. Cook Publishing Company had a significant impact on Elgin. An echo from May 28, 2000 tells the postal side of the story.
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Sears Gallery, a highlight for art lovers
3 Jun· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
The Laura Davidson Sears Academy of Fine Arts, commonly known as the Sears Gallery, once housed an impressive art collection. Hear its history in this echo from October 29, 1995.
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Trout Park a "public disgrace" in 1889
30 May· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
What do you think? Was Trout Park named for a person or a fish? Find out the answer, along with some colorful history of the park, in this echo from November 30, 1982.
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May Happenings, Sears mowers on sale for less than $10 in 1941
27 May· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
Time for a report on Mays Gone By with Mike Alft; an echo from May 5, 1991.
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Spring thaw in 1881 led to big flood
23 May· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
Remember our earlier episode on the collapsing Chicago Street bridge? This echo from April 21, 1991 gives more detail on the 1881 flood that was to blame for one of those collapses.
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Laundry served Elgin before automatic washers
20 May· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
Handkerchiefs only 1 cent! Would you like them fluff dried or returned damp? Elgin Steam Laundry has you covered in this echo from May 25, 1997.
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The crazy trials and escapes of John Henry Wells
16 May· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
In response to his petition for divorce, Mrs. Wells of Chicago had her husband John Henry Wells declared insane and committed to the Illinois Northern Insane Asylum in Elgin. The story does not end there. This echo from April 19, 2008 tells the tale.
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Elgin claims two "Lady Elgins" as her own
13 May· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
More than just the name of a watch model, "Lady Elgin" has two other meanings among fans of Elgin lore. Tune into this echo from July 7, 1996 to find out those meanings.
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In memoriam of a good Civil War deed
9 May· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
This echo from May 27, 2002 recounts an event during the Civil War, proving that human kindness can exist, even in times of conflict.
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Elgin women took matters into their own hands
6 May· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
Perhaps you know that the 19th Amendment gave women (most women, and often only in a legal sense) the right to vote in 1920. But did you know that over 100 Elgin women first voted in April of 1899? Or that Elgin women once got tired of waiting for bureaucracy to fix a problem and did it themselves, aided by wheelbarrows, horse-driven wagons and numerous loads of gravel? This echo from November 28, 1999 tells the tale.
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It took 30 years, but Elgin got its bypass
2 May· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
Almost 26 years have passed since E.C. "Mike" Alft first told this story on October 24, 1999. That is still less time than it took for Elgin to move from concept to concrete on the IL Rte 20 bypass.
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Visitor mined Elgin pockets
29 Apr· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
If you invested in the Preston Reduction Company of Elgin in 1888, chances are you are still waiting for your dividend check. Investor, beware; reminds this echo from December 8, 1985.
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Elginites had no mercy for grave robbers
25 Apr· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
This echo from May 8, 1983 tells the tale of Frank Brown, grave robber.
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Elginites gave their lives in WWII "Victory at Sea"
22 Apr· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
Pearl Harbor, the U.S.S. Indianapolis, the Battle of Leyte...these are key points in the history of U.S. involvement in WWII. Elginites made the ultimate sacrifice in assuring a "Victory at Sea". Local Historian E.C. "Mike" Alft honors some of these sailors, by name, in this echo from May 24, 1998.
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Home took a dunking in 1889 move off of river's Goff Island
18 Apr· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
That one time a house fell off a barge and into the Fox River. An echo from August 16, 1982.
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Elgin Eagle beer once the brew of choice
15 Apr· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
Elgin Eagle Brewing Co. could trace its roots back to 1849. After all those years, it found a way to weather local and national Prohibition...sort of. Pour yourself a glass of "cereal beverage" and listen to this echo from February 8, 1998.
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1878 horse car line a mass transit flop
11 Apr· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
From 1878 to 1890 the fastest and easiest way to get around town was by taking a horse-drawn street car. Well...that was the plan at least. Tune in to this echo from August 9, 1982 for the real story.
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Fair share of passing fads caught Elgin's fancy
8 Apr· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
Surely, no one in Elgin fell prey to the streaking fad of the 1970's...right? Tune in to this echo from May 23, 1999 to check.
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Elgin airmen lost to dangers overhead
4 Apr· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
WWII was the first major conflict to include the use of planes. More than 40 Elgin airmen were among the pilots, bombardiers, navigators, radio operators and gunners who lost their lives in the war. This echo from May 31, 2004 recalls the abrupt loss of so many of our neighbors.
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Road shows brought first movies to Elgin
1 Apr· Echoes of Elgin: Timeless Tales from the Elgin History Museum
When was the first "talkie" shown in Elgin? Where were the first movie houses? Tune into this echo from November 9, 1981 to find out.
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Episodes

The big mailer transformed our city

Sears Gallery, a highlight for art lovers

May Happenings, Sears mowers on sale for less than $10 in 1941

Spring thaw in 1881 led to big flood

Laundry served Elgin before automatic washers

The crazy trials and escapes of John Henry Wells

Elgin claims two "Lady Elgins" as her own

In memoriam of a good Civil War deed

Elgin women took matters into their own hands

It took 30 years, but Elgin got its bypass

Visitor mined Elgin pockets

Elginites had no mercy for grave robbers

Elginites gave their lives in WWII "Victory at Sea"

Home took a dunking in 1889 move off of river's Goff Island

Elgin Eagle beer once the brew of choice

1878 horse car line a mass transit flop

Fair share of passing fads caught Elgin's fancy

Elgin airmen lost to dangers overhead

Road shows brought first movies to Elgin