From farm fields to gravel to asphalt: The evolution of Randall Road

Michael Magiera was interested enough in one of my column items about how Randall Road has changed over the years to do some extra research about our busy thoroughfare at the St. Charles Public Library.

"I don't know if you already know this, but about half of the current Randall Road did not exist over 60 years ago," Magiera passed along in an email.

That certainly makes sense, considering it was a gravel road where kids hung out with their first cars around that time.

The library has a copy of a Kane County property plat from 1950 and a county road map. Magiera said it was hard to decipher and compare to our current road alignments. But he theorizes that what is now Randall was probably a series of short gravel roads extending quite far north.

However, this particular plat showed nothing but farmland between McDonald Road and St. Charles, east of Crane Road. It showed some paved sections between what is now Main Street (Route 64) and Lincoln Highway (Route 38), but it was hard to tell if it was really part of what is now Randall Road.

The map also shows what Magiera believes was Miller Road behind the Kane County Fairgrounds. What is left of that road is now set behind Costco and the Harley-Davidson dealership on Randall.

This 1950 version of our roads also shows that Randall didn't really exist in Geneva or Batavia, but started up again around Mooseheart or Sullivan roads.

It is fascinating to wax nostalgic about how we used to get around so many years ago. For its part, Randall Road did seem like a commercial and retail explosion in the late 1980s and through the '90s.

Magiera is so fascinated by it all that he intends to hunt down a larger-scale Kane County map from 1950 to see if it reveals specific road names. Keep us posted, Michael, and thanks for sharing.

Color it a throwback

As far as trends go, this one is surely "a throwback."

Any adults enjoying coloring books these days have to admit it may have been some time since they previously spent time with crayons in hand. Maybe from when they were tots?

The Geneva Public Library is finding the activity to be so popular that it is offering its second adult coloring program from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, and a third one scheduled for the same time on July 21. Thirty-three adults showed up the first time the library offered the program, and gave it rave reviews as a relaxing and fun event.

"It's amazing how adult coloring, coloring books and coloring utensils have taken off," said Paula Krapf, the library's public relations and marketing coordinator.

The combination of it being something fun we remember as kids and its ability to relieve stress is a key factor, Krapf said.

"This information age we live in bombards us with information even when we aren't looking for it," she added. "Coloring allows us to stop and focus on something else."

Bringing in a Voice

TriCity Family Services added a nice twist to its upcoming gala fundraiser on Saturday by giving attendees a chance to bid for the opportunity to sit at the same dinner table with Jeffrey Austin.

Most of you know who Austin is, especially if you are a fan of "The Voice" singing competition on NBC. He's a St. Charles North graduate who made it to the final day of season nine under coach Gwen Stefani before coming up short to eventual winner Jordan Smith, whose album "Something Beautiful" was No. 2 on Billboard charts last week. Smith came up short of No. 1 because Stefani's new album has that slot.

But back to Austin. He'll be performing at the TriCity event and those wanting to bid for a spot at his table (there are 10 spots) can begin bidding tomorrow at https://e.gesture.com/events/4HA/

Event tickets have to be purchased separately on the agency website or by calling (630) 232-1070.

Not so retired

After 42 years of service to the Geneva Fire Department, Steve Olson surely has a retirement plan in place when his role as fire chief comes to end on June 30, right?

Traveling to sunny climates with his wife Beth, sipping cocktails and throwing his feet up in an easy chair perched on a beach?

Well, he has a plan in place, according to Beth. But it has very little to do with the beach scenario.

Steve already has consulting and teaching work lined up and remains involved in community theater. "Steve is definitely not one to sit around," Beth said. "He will enjoy his retirement doing these things, I assure you."

As for Beth, a longtime journalist and communications professional in the area, an even simpler retirement plan appeals to her.

"I'd enjoy myself knitting and reading."

Sounds like there will be room on a sunny beach for others.

No longer empty

For quite some time, the empty storefront at 116 W. Main St. in downtown St. Charles represented one of those modern retail mysteries, as in "What type of store could possibly go in there now?"

After all, it was Colson's clothing store for decades and then the Vertical Drop ski and outdoor furniture shop for a few more decades.

The Mixology Salon Spa is answering that bell, with owners looking to open the new business in August.

Here's to hoping a lot of women and men (yes, there is going to be an area for men as well) look to a business like this to get their faces and bodies looking good for special events - or just to look good in general.

One other restaurant

A reader informed me that I missed one former restaurant tenant at the 1 W. Illinois St. location now occupied by Charleston on the River. I mentioned Erik and Me, Sage Bistro and Top Table, but missed Bistro One West. So the location has had four previous suitors.

dheun@sbcglobal.net