Following a building boom, Elburn retains its charm

In his book "44 Miles to Chicago," Donald Westlake reminisces about growing up in rural Elburn when only 500 people lived in the village. He talks about the warmth of village folk, caring teachers and friendly neighbors; playing in creeks and streams; and in the evening, hearing the chirp of crickets and croak of frogs.

Although Elburn experienced a big building boom in the 1990s, much of its small-town flavor and friendliness remains.

For example, Ream's Elburn Market on Main Street has been a meat market since 1904. The family-owned business is known not only for award-winning sausages and smoked meats, but also for its friendly service.

In 1930, the first Elburn Days and parade began a tradition that has continued for more than 70 years. Today with festivities held at Lions Park, Elburn Days is the biggest and most popular event of the year.

You'll find old-fashioned friendliness at Knuckleheads Tavern, a place where you can share a pizza with people you have never met, said Janice Burke, Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential. "The word stranger doesn't exist here."

Elburn's rural feel and friendliness make it a nice place to live, said Marie Leuer, broker-owner of Coldwell Banker Leuer Realty. "What's that saying, 'You're only a stranger once, and the next time people know you.'"

An agricultural area since its beginnings, Elburn grew quickly in the '90s when large tract home developments came to town.

In 2004, the 625-acre Blackberry Creek subdivision with more than 1,000 homes and its lakes and parks, became one of the largest residential developments in Elburn.

Newer subdivisions have sprouted up on the edges of town while older historical homes with mature trees sit in the downtown area. The older homes have really come up in value, Leuer said.

"They're in the $200,000s; people have been buying and renovating them, keeping the old flavor of the house and making them gorgeous," she said.

"Everyone used to be within walking distance of downtown," Leuer said. "But as the village has expanded, some homes are farther away now."

"Although the average sales price for a home is $358,000, you can come into Elburn and get something for less than $200,000, and you know you're in a good area," Burke said.

As Elburn's population grows, commercial development follows. In 1998, Elburn joined the big time with its first McDonald's on the southeast corner of Routes 38 and 47. Also at that intersection, an old restaurant/gas station in Elburn - once said to be one of Al Capone's hideaways - was removed and a new service station was built.

Also in the late '90s, the village government moved into a new building on North Street, a new library was built and a new post office opened.

"We're far enough west where we have a small-town atmosphere. Yet we have a lot of new places coming in to Elburn and the convenience of shopping and entertainment within 10 or 15 minutes along the Randall Road corridor," Burke said.

"We have a brand new Jewel, and we're going to have a Walgreen's. They're really looking to grow 38 and 47," Burke said. "You can go to Sears on Route 47 and buy a washing machine without even going to the mall."

An exciting new development for Elburn is the upcoming 682-acre, mixed use project that will include about 3,100 residential units, including apartments, duplexes and single-family homes north and south of the Metra station. The station is south of Route 38 and east of Route 47 on Railroad Avenue.

In 2006, when Metra began passenger service from Elburn to Chicago, residents welcomed being the last stop on the line.

"Since the train station came to the east side of Elburn, it has really given people access to towns east and to downtown Chicago," Leuer said. "A lot of people work in the suburbs, and they can just hop on the train and forget their worries."

Village facts and figures

Population: 4,721

Largest employers:

Jewel

McDonald's

Monitor Manufacturing

Village of Elburn

Favorite annual events:

Day in the Park

Elburn Days

Christmas Stroll

Historical timeline

1834: William Lance arrives in the Elburn area and builds a home. Shortly after, Henry Warne opens a stagecoach inn called the Halfway House because it was half way between Oregon, Ill., and Chicago. A stream of immigrants follow.

1854: Chicago & Northwestern Railroad builds tracks through the area with a stop called Blackberry Station, named after the township.

1886: Elburn incorporates.

1912: Village adds gravel streets as an amenity for residents.

1914: First motion picture theater in Elburn opens.

1927: Elburn paves Main Street.

1929: Elburn Lions Club charters with 15 members.

1930: First Elburn Days festival.

2006: Metra begins passenger service from Elburn to Chicago.

2007: Kaneland School District officials announce plan for a new Naillik High School with construction to start in winter of 2008