Hanover Park to throw four-day party to celebrate 50 years

If one historian got it right, Hanover Park was born out of a crusade by Streamwood's leaders to grow.

"It was either incorporate or be swallowed up by Streamwood and forever lose their identity ...," Ralph Feeley wrote in his 1976 book, "From Camelot to Metropolis: a Chronical of Ontarioville and Hanover Park, Illinois."

On Aug. 14, 1958, in order to fend off encroaching development from Streamwood, which had incorporated a year earlier, residents on the Cook County side of a small community known as Ontarioville voted to incorporate.

The result was the village of Hanover Park, where horses still outnumbered a population of about 500 people. "Hanover" came from the name of the Cook County township and "Park"was added because there already was a Hanover, IL in far northwest Illinois.

The DuPage County side of the village, still called Ontarioville, would annex to Hanover Park in 1982.

Half a century later, nearly 40,000 residents call the suburb home. Hanover Park's 50th Anniversary Family Festival kicks off today to celebrate the milestone.

"It's an exciting time for Hanover Park," said Village President Rod Craig. "I look at this as a new beginning, a celebration of who we are and what we represent."

Hanover Park is not without its quirky bits of history. According to the official village timeline, the nation's first pet cemetery in the U.S. was established in 1926, drawing burials from all over the U.S.

And on Feb. 6, 1970, President Richard Nixon visited Hanover Park to see its new Metropolitan Water Reclamation plant.

With schoolchildren, governors and members of the U.S. Cabinet and U.S. Congress gathered at Schaumburg Airport, Nixon spoke about the future of the environment.

Nixon said, "(This) must be an age of restoration, restoring the natural resources of this country so that the younger generation will not inherit a country in which the air is filled with smog, the water is polluted, and our parks are desolate because we didn't do the right planning."

Nixon's speech was not without a hitch. He had to use a bullhorn because the public address system wasn't working.

While this week's events are meant to celebrate the village's history, they'll also showcase Hanover Park's progress.

"For many years people looked at us as a bedroom community but we're continuing to build and improve," Craig said. "We've evolved into a community of great diversity, a place where people can afford to bring their families."

The festivities, which span four days, are expected to draw more than 50,000 people. Party Central is the park district's Community Park at Maple and Church streets, where the carnival, beer garden, food and activities take place.

That's also where an impressive group of headliners take center stage.

Hanover Park has secured Classic Rock All Stars; jazz rockers Blood, Sweat and Tears; and surfer music pioneers Jan and Dean starring Dean Torrence.

Another big name includes Grammy winner Survivor, best known for the Rocky III theme song, "Eye of the Tiger."

Of the total $170,000 budget, about $100,000 was spent on the music lineup, according to Kim Benedix, executive coordinator to the village manager.

Craig said the village will spend under $200,000 on all 50th anniversary festivities, which also include a gala, fine arts fair and holiday party.

"I think (the cost) is justified to bring some pride to our community," said Craig. "We've been pretty frugal, actually."

A parade featuring many youth organizations will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Community Park. On Sunday, nearly 300 vehicles are expected at the 50th anniversary car show, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Metra lot, Barrington Road and Lake Street.