Images: #TBT Gallery looks back at Mount Prospect
Posted January 14, 2016 12:00 am
Mount Prospect is a village of 56,000 residents located 20 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.
The village's downtown is bisected by Ill. Rte. 83 and U.S. 14 (Northwest Highway) and it is a stop on the Union Pacific/Metra Northwest line, originally the Chicago and Northwestern System.
According to the Mount Prospect Historical Society website, Ezra Eggleston was the person who decided to build a train station and town. He bought most of the land that later became downtown Mount Prospect in 1874.
He also gave the town its name. "Mount" was because the land sits on some of the highest land in Cook County, and "Prospect" was to proclaim that there were great prospects in this area, the historical society states.
The village was incorporated in 1917 and celebrated its golden anniversary in 1967.
Join us as we look through the Daily Herald's archive of historic Mount Prospect photos, many of which were taken during the 1950s and 1960s. The village experienced tremendous growth during this time period. As the infrastructure and services grew with the village, the police and fire departments expanded and purchased new equipment, and the water tower adjacent to downtown was built. Included in the gallery are views of the downtown that have since changed.
Got an idea for a suburban #TBT photo gallery? Share your ideas and photos with us at tbt@dailyherald.com. Share your favorite and memorable #TBT photos with us on Instagram using #tbtsuburbs.
Meeske's grocery store at the corner of Main and Busse in Mount Prospect.
Daily Herald File Photo
Fire equipment rests in Mount Prospect's then-new, $190,000 fire station on the south side of Golf and Busse roads. Photo dated March 18, 1965.
Daily Herald File Photo
New Plymouth Mount Prospect Police Department squad cars. Photo dated February 2, 1961.
Daily Herald File Photo
Daily Herald File PhotoView of a Mount Prospect Police Department jail. Photo dated January 13, 1977.
Officers walk past newly delivered Mount Prospect Police Department squad cars on Photo dated February 26, 1975.
Daily Herald File Photo
Mount Prospect Police Chief Bert Giddens reviews his men as the department holds its first uniform inspection. Photo dated October 31, 1972.
Daily Herald File Photo
New Mount Prospect Fire Department 1,250-gallon per minute pumper purchased for $47,000 for the village's Golf Road firehouse. Lt. Dennis Thill explains the new systems to Dell Ulreich and Steve Dumovich. Photo dated February 10, 1975.
Daily Herald File Photo
Village President William Busse cuts a ribbon in celebration of the completion of a street in Mount Prospect in the early 1920s.
Daily Herald File Photo
Charles Bruning Company's then-new 30 acre site in Mount Prospect on September 4, 1958.
Daily Herald File Photo
Machine framework is arc-welded in the Copyflex metal shop in Mount Prospect, on September 14, 1958.
Daily Herald File Photo
The structure at the corner of Northwest Highway and Emerson Streets in Mount Prospect was home to the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co. during 1927.
Daily Herald File Photo
Busse and Sons Grocery, Mount Prospect.
Daily Herald File Photo
Photo including old water tower and houses along Elm Street, looking north, in Mount Prospect during the 1940s.
Courtesy Mount Prospect Historical Society
Mount Prospect State Bank at the corner of Main Street and Busse Avenue.
Daily Herald File Photo
A new Mount Prospect emergency unit, a Buick station wagon which was purchased from Busse Motor Sales and was turned over to the volunteer fire department during a March 5, 1959 ceremony. Left to right rare Gerald Busse, Trustee C.O. Schlaver, Village President lams, Chief Edwin Harberkamp, Village Manager Harold Appleby, Assistant Chiefs Ralph and Roy Wille, Captains Bob Habercamp and Jack Mueller and Fireman Wallace Busse.
Daily Herald File Photo
The Mount Prospect Fire Department began operating with a full-time, paid staff to assist Chief Edwin Haberkamp during 1961. Shown with Smokey, the Dalmatian mascot are, left to right, Art Boesche, Ron Prokop, Robert Haberkamp, Larry Pairitz, Ray Kordecki, Henry Kaup and Gerald Fox. Photo dated December 28, 1961.
Photo by Robert B. Zilius/ Daily Herald File Photo
"Big, Red, and New," One of two of Mount Prospect's new fire trucks, this one being put into service on November 19, 1964. It was built by American-LaFrance Co. Shown are Lt. Larry Pairitz, on truck; Fireman Harold Barra; Volunteer Fireman Roger Neitzke, and Fireman Joe Pannhausen.
Daily Herald File Photo
Lonnie Jackson of Arlington Heights cruises back to Mount Prospect Fire Station No. 2 in the department's 1933 Howe fire engine. The engine was used to educate schoolchildren on the hazards of playing with fire and the history of fire fighting. Photo dated September 8, 1975.
Daily Herald File Photo
Mount Prospect Fire Department vehicles viewed from the top of the Mount Prospect State Bank building. Photo dated February 11, 1960.
Daily Herald File Photo
A Chicago and Northwestern commuter train powered by a Pacific-type steam locomotive passes onion sheds in Mount Prospect during the early 1950s.
Daily Herald File Photo
Aerial view of Mount Prospect from the southwest, taken on October 23, 1927.
Daily Herald File Photo/Chicago Aerial Survey
Portrait of Fred W. Busse at the family-run greenhouse business. Photo dated April 27, 1979.
Daily Herald File Photo
Nighttime view of Mount Prospect's business district, at the corner Busse and Main streets. Photo dated June 4, 1959.
Daily Herald File Photo
A new parking lot at the corner of Busse and Main streets in Mount Prospect. Photo dated November 19, 1964.
Daily Herald File Photo
View of downtown Mount Prospect, taken from the water tower, with Northwest Highway and the Chicago and Northwestern tracks prominent in the photo. Photo dated October 2, 1975.
Daily Herald File Photo
View of downtown Mount Prospect taken from the Chicago and Northwestern Railway signal bridge at Central Road, looking southeast. The water tower is decorated for the village's 50th anniversary, and the Jewel is still open, which indicates the photo was taken circa 1970.
Daily Herald File Photo
Wrecking crews take the first whacks at the Central School building in Mount Prospect and 48 years of brick and plaster came tumbling down. The building, boarded up since 1970, was considered an eyesore and a fire hazard. It was being torn down to make room for the new $3.2 million public library. Photo dated March 27, 1975.
Daily Herald File Photo
Unidentified members of the Mount Prospect Lions Club stand next to their sign in downtown Mount Prospect on August 5, 1965.
Daily Herald File Photo
Though photographed in black-and-white, this yellow ambulance is noticeably different and was part of the Mount Prospect Fire Department's changeover from traditional red to pale yellow for its emergency vehicles. The change in color schemes was to provide better visibility, but was short lived, and the village changed back to traditional red. Photo dated September 11, 1972.
Daily Herald File Photo
The Mount Prospect water tower was originally painted silver; it was then repainted gold for the village's 50th anniversary, which took place in 1967.
Daily Herald File Photo
The Schimming Oil/Conoco station was located southeast of downtown Mount Prospect on Northwest Highway.
Daily Herald File Photo
View of the Mount Prospect water tower under construction.
Daily Herald File Photo
Northwesterly 1960s view of Mount Prospect, with the water tower most prominent.
Daily Herald File Photo
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.