Carol Stream holding first historical tours

The Carol Stream Historical Society will provide its first tour this weekend that will give glimpses into the town's past.

The Heritage Tour on Sunday will introduce a busload of residents to the first home in Carol Stream, the 19th century St. Stephen Cemetery and the former Kmart site as part of the ongoing celebration of the village's 50th anniversary.

Jay Stream built the community in 1959 to encompass residents, businesses and light industry, said Barbara O'Rahilly, who is with the historical society.

"It was mostly to serve the average worker of the area," she said.

Stream named the town after his daughter, Carol.

The first home was built at Blackhawk and Mohawk drives, and the first village hall was also the sales office for the construction company that created the village.

O'Rahilly said the village hall - which is now a dentist's office but formerly also housed the library and police - will be pointed out on the tour, along with St. Stephens Cemetery.

"It was built back in the 1800s just off the Prairie Path," O'Rahilly said.

Many early residents of the area were buried in the cemetery that also was near a former Catholic church.

O'Rahilly said residents on the tour also will learn about the former Kmart that is now home to Wheaton Christian Church.

Although the current tour on Sunday is already booked, the historical society will have others in the summer to celebrate the anniversary.

"We just think it's a great town to live in," O'Rahilly said. "You can get on the train and be downtown in 56 minutes, yet we have an atmosphere of being in the suburbs and enjoying that type of life."

Besides the tours, the society also will host an appraisal fair at the historic farmhouse in April. Residents will be able to bring in antiques and see how much they're worth.

For information on anniversary events, call the society at (630) 665-0686.