Mt. Prospect Historical Society marks 70th anniversary of V-E Day

Posted May 04, 2015 11:00 pm

Submitted by Cindy Bork, Mount Prospect Historical Society

Mount Prospect Park District ballroom dancer instructor Joyce Smith dances with her student, Brett Rubin, to the delight of the crowd at the April 18, History in the Headlines fundraiser. Courtesy of Mount Prospect Historical Society

A large crowd of history-lovers gathered Saturday, April 18, at the Rob Roy Golf Course clubhouse in Prospect Heights to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, known at the time as V-E Day. The evening was the fourth annual History in the Headlines dinner, sponsored by the Mount Prospect Historical Society.

Many of the guests arrived in period-appropriate dress, adding to the fun of the evening.

The war against Adolf Hitler's Third Reich ended on May 8, 1945. There were wild celebrations in the streets of America, Britain, France and even Australia, as the lengthy war, which seemingly touched every family in one way or another, finally ended - at least in Europe. V-E Day was even an official holiday in most of those countries as families and neighborhoods gathered for elaborate meals to celebrate the victory.

Guests at the April 18 dinner were able to pose for photos in front of huge authentic headlines from that memorable day, read interesting history boards, view photos of GIs and their wives during the War, hear wartime stories from other guests and enjoy a delicious meal of food items that were enjoyed by revelers 70 years ago.

After dinner, dancers from the Mount Prospect Park District demonstrated dances of the era.

The Mount Prospect Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which is committed to preserving the history of Mount Prospect, through artifacts, photographs and both oral and written memories of current and former residents and businesspeople. On its campus in the heart of the village, the society maintains the 1906 Dietrich Friedrichs house museum and carriage house and an ADA-accessible education center. The society is also in the midst of an adaptive restoration of the 1896 one-room Central School, which was moved to the museum campus in 2008.

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Jill Friedrichs, dressed as Rosie the Riveter, and her husband, Mark Pope, dressed as a sailor, pose with Bob Roubitchek. All three are Mount Prospect residents. Courtesy of Mount Prospect Historical Society

Mayor Arlene Juracek of Mount Prospect and her husband, Ed, pose in front of the huge headlines of the day during the fourth annual History in the Headlines dinner hosted by the Mount Prospect Historical Society. Courtesy of Mount Prospect Historical Society

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