Palatine commemorates 150 years with time capsule, song

It may have taken 150 candles to warm up the crowd of Palatine residents who gathered to celebrate the official sesquicentennial of their community Saturday. But the wind and snow didn't put a damper on what was just the first of several events to mark the milestone.

Mayor Jim Schwantz walked residents through a short history of the community's incorporation on April 2, 1866. Local citizens at the time voted 73 to 20 in favor of the idea. Myron Lytle was the first person to occupy the office of mayor. Schwantz said the village's 150 years of history, and the commitment to preserving that heritage, give Palatine a feel no other community can match. It's a feeling other communities envy, he said.

"Their downtowns are basically defined by three strip malls on a major road," Schwantz said. "We have a credible downtown. We embrace our history."

Fifty year from now, residents of the village will get a sampling of what modern history entailed in Palatine circa 2016. Officials buried a time capsule outside the George H. Clayson House Museum, which dates back to 1873. The time capsule contains a variety of information and trinkets donated by the villages churches, charities and governmental bodies. The library donated a tote bag with the words "Read into the future" scrawled upon it. There was also a farmers market brochure, local school handbooks, a sample 2016 voting ballot and even a copy of a current property tax bill placed into the time capsule.

The Allegro Community Chorus performed an original song composed by David Reiser, a retired choral teacher at Palatine High School. The Official Palatine 150th Song will be a familiar tune to residents by year's end as about two dozen community organizations plan to host their own sesquicentennial events throughout the year.

There will also be two "signature" events: A Good Old Summertime Festival on June 5 and the Palatine Sesquicentennial Ball: Through the Ages on Oct. 22.

For more information on the history of the village and sesquicentennial events, check out the official 150th anniversary website at: palatine150.com.