How much do you know about Fox Valley 1958? Test your knowledge.

A popular feature during the 12 years I have written this biweekly area history column has been a year-end quiz. A number of readers have said they especially enjoy sharing these nostalgia questions with their holiday guests.

This year, this column looks at life in 1958. Nationally, the United States launched it first artificial satellite, Alaska became the 49th state, and the cost of a first class postage stamp went from 3 cents to 4 cents.

But what was happening locally in Elgin and the Fox Valley? Here are 20 questions to test your knowledge of this simpler time. And, whether you were alive in the area then or not, read on. These questions should be of interest to all.

1. "We, as a community, are failing if we do not cope with this problem," said the Elgin Area School District U-46 superintendent in 1958. What was he speaking of? A. High school drop-out rate; B. Lack of special education classes; C. Need for a new high school; D. School vandalism.

2. Elgin city officials were disturbed that the number of these in Lords Park had been reduced to one. What were they speaking of? A. Drinking fountains; B. Swans; C. Elm trees; D. Bears in the zoo.

3. Health officials reported that half of Elgin's youth had NOT done this. What was it? A. Had their tonsils removed B. Gotten a polio shot C. Been to the dentist in the last year D. Had a small pox vaccination.

4. During the inaugural day of racing at the Meadowdale International Raceway in Carpentersville, something happened that would not occur again in the track's 12-year history. What was it? A. Indisputable dead heat; B. Races canceled because of fog; C. Death of a driver; D. Electricity went out.

5. Elgin residents were reminded that city ordinances required them to do what between April and October? A. Keep their dogs on a leash; B. Mow their lawn; C. Extinguish trash fires before dark; D. Take cans and bottles to the city incinerator.

6. What project was undertaken by the Elgin High School Science Club? A. Monitored water quality in the Fox River; B. Established an official weather bureau substation; C. Launched a rocket; D. Began a tree planting program in the city.

7. The West Dundee village board voted unanimously to oppose what action? A. Uniting with East Dundee; B. selling liquor on Sundays C. Building a large shopping mall in the village D. Incorporation of the nearby village of Sleepy Hollow

8. Ground was broken for the Marie Grolich Park on the west side of the Fox River north of the new Route 20 by-pass. Who was Grolich? A. Pioneer Elgin teacher B. Longtime watch factory employee. C. First female to serve on the Elgin City Council D. Director of the YWCA.

9. Of the 539 fires reported in Elgin the previous year, 22 had this distinction. What was it? A. They occurred in a vacant house B. The call was turned in at one of the older boxes C. They were caused by arson D. They were begun by children playing with matches.

10. Elgin's neighbor Hoffman Estates was holding community meetings to discuss the possible adoption of what name for their village? A. Winston Meadows; B. Western Prairie; C. Twinbrook; D. Prairie View.

11. The "Let Your Light Shine" committee wanted to do what? A. Raise money to fight polio; B. Encourage motorists to keep their lights on at all times; C. Urge the city council to install modern street lighting; D. Increase church attendance.

12. This event occurred for the 38th consecutive year at Lords Park. What was it? A. Ice sculpture contest; B. Skating contest; C. Soap box derby; D. Bicycle race.

13. The Elgin city council turned down Sherman Hospital's request for this. What did the hospital want? A. Free water; B. Build a west side branch; C. Install a helicopter landing area; D. Level a city block for parking.

14. What prominent individual was present at the ground breaking of Santa's Village, a 42-acre theme park that opened in East Dundee? A. Illinois governor; B. Walt Disney; C. Vice President of the U.S.; D. Santa Claus.

15. The Elgin City Lines Bus Co. that operated the public bus transportation system in Elgin raised their fares. How much was a fare after the increase? A. 20 cents; B. 30 cents; C. 50 cents; D. 75 cents.

16. Elgin area education officials joined representatives of a local business to cut a large four-layer birthday cake in honor of this notable American. Who was the person? A. Abraham Lincoln; B. George Washington; C. Thomas Edison; D. President Eisenhower.

17. Consultants proposed what idea for Elgin's downtown in 1958? A. Eliminate all downtown bars; B. Install modern street lighting; C. Construction of a pedestrian mall D. Add another bridge across the Fox River.

18. What unusual event in 1958 involved the employees of Elgin's new car dealers? A. They walked off the job in a salary dispute; B. They were paid their weekly salary in $2 bills; C. They took the train together to the Chicago Auto Show; D. They handed out flyers encouraging people not to buy a Ford Edsel.

19. What action did the Elgin City Council take with the city vehicle stickers in 1958? A. Exempt people over 65 years old; B. Put a picture of the watch factory on the sticker; C. Raise the fee from $5 to $10; D. Eliminate them.

20. This Elgin business advertised that their product was "made in sight by men in white." What was it? A. Barbecue chicken; B. candy; C. doughnuts; D. Ice cream sundaes.

Bonus question: For years, Santa Claus made his annual day after Thanksgiving appearance at Fountain Square in Elgin's downtown coming by various means of transportation. How did he arrive in 1958? A. Fire truck; B. Street sweeper; C. Helicopter; D. Police squad car.

ANSWERS:

1. D. school vandalism. Damage was occurring at various buildings. Yes, children of years ago got into mischief, too.

2. B. Swans. Young boys were thought to be at fault.

3. B. Gotten a polio shot

4. C. Death of a driver. Roll bars and other safety devices of today were not generally in use.

5. A. Keep their dogs on a leash.

6. C. Launched a rocket. It "whistled off the ground at a terrific rate of speed," according to reports. The students calculated the angle of flight, and mathematically determined the rocket's landing place.

7. D. Incorporation of the nearby village of Sleepy Hollow.

8. D. Director of the YWCA. Grolich had passed away earlier in the year.

9. B. The call was turned in at one of the older call boxes. One is visible in the picture appearing with this story. None are found on the streets today, but readers can visit the Elgin Fire Barn Museum No. 5 to see one in action and view how alarms were received at the fire station.

10. C. Twinbrook. It was the name of the telephone exchange for the area. This begs another question for younger readers. What was a telephone exchange?

11. A. Raise money to fight polio. Households that wanted to donate were asked to leave their light on as a sign for solicitors to stop.

12. B. Skating contest. The 38th annual Tri-State Skating Championships sponsored by the VFW drew over 450 participants from across the Midwest.

13. A. Free water. The hospital felt nonprofit businesses should not pay for city water.

14. D. Santa Claus. Everyone got this one correct, right?

15. A. 20 cents, though, students could still ride for 10 cents and regular riders could buy tokens for 50 cents which gave them three rides.

16. C. Thomas Edison. The Elgin-based business McGraw-Edison Co. was formed in the 1950s when McGraw Electrical Co. purchased Thomas Edison Inc.

17. C. Construction of a pedestrian mall. The plan also called for development of the area north of the downtown area as a civic-cultural region.

18. B. They were paid their weekly salary in $2 bills. As they spent their money about town, proponents wanted to show the community how these workers supported the local economy.

19. D. Eliminate them -- believe it or not! City stickers were still required for trucks, however.

20. C. Doughnuts. Made by the Dixie Cream Donut shop on South Grove Avenue across from what is now Festival Park

Bonus question: A. Fire truck, though he's come by various other means over the years.