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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to recognize communities within
4 the State of Illinois that have contributed to the rich history
5 of the State; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The history of Midlothian began in 1898 with the
7 establishment of the Midlothian Country Club on 147th Street,
8 about two miles from where the Rock Island Railroad crossed the
9 street; the club is one of the first three golf clubs in the
10 Chicago area; the Rock Island Railroad erected a station for
11 the convenience of the country club and the stop was named
12 Midlothian; the country club owned and operated a spur off the
13 mainline of the railroad for several years, giving the country
14 club the distinction of being the only one to have such a
15 convenience; and
 
16     WHEREAS, In 1915 sub-dividers became interested in the area
17 and real estate offices moved into the area; the tracts of
18 farmland owned by the original German and English settlers
19 became new sub-divisions with blocks and lots; a few homes and
20 business establishments were erected; the nearest schools were
21 one-room facilities, with one located two miles west and the
22 second nearly two miles northeast; the first local community
23 public school was one room, built by public subscription and

 

 

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1 contributed labor; and
 
2     WHEREAS, In the year 1924 the Midlothian Development
3 Association was formed with thoughts of incorporating as a
4 village; the first attempt to incorporate was put to a vote and
5 lost; residents went to the polls again on March 17, 1927 and
6 voted in favor of incorporation; the village of Midlothian
7 became a reality on March 22, 1927; the following month, 421
8 voters went to the polls and elected the following officials:
9 President: John H. Hamilton; Trustees: M. E. Schooler, A. K.
10 Robinson, George Fikrle, I. S. Schwartz, Nicholas Kremer, and
11 Joseph L. Reischel; Clerk: Richard J. White; and Police
12 Magistrate: Frank P. Stuart; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The village officials would meet around
14 pot-bellied stoves in any available storefront or cubbyhole;
15 more homes were built, the Kreis Brothers opened the Ford
16 Garage (where the fire truck was kept), Chuck Cavallini began
17 dispensing ice cream at a corner "Sweet Shop", and the first
18 copy of the Messenger was printed in the old Largent Home; the
19 municipal building now located at 14801 S. Pulaski Road was
20 built and dedicated in 1949; and
 
21     WHEREAS, The municipal building was enlarged in the late
22 60's and accommodated chambers and offices of the Sixth
23 District Court and State's Attorney Office prior to the

 

 

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1 construction of the Sixth District facility on Kedzie; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Beginning in borrowed space in the old Lions Club,
3 the Public Library was begun in 1931 as a project of the
4 Midlothian Womens Club; in 1943, Midlothian voters decided that
5 the library should become tax supported and elected a board of
6 trustees to oversee its management; and
 
7     WHEREAS, In 1953, Midlothian voters approved creation of
8 the Park District as a separate taxing body to provide for the
9 recreational needs of the community; the 1960's saw the
10 village's greatest housing boom with the development of Jolly
11 Homes, Timber Hill, and homes in the northwest section of the
12 village; and
 
13     WHEREAS, In 1970 the Village of Midlothian formed, along
14 with the City of Markham, the Mid-Mark Water Commission; direct
15 lines were installed to the City of Chicago and Midlothian had
16 an abundant supply of clean, pure Lake Michigan water; in 1960
17 the village had storage facilities for just over half a million
18 gallons of water; with the completion of the James M. Kennedy
19 Reservoir at Claire Boulevard and Springfield Avenue in 1972,
20 the storage capacity increased to 4 million gallons; and
 
21     WHEREAS, In 1973 the Village of Midlothian held the first
22 Highland Games as a celebration of the village founding; the

 

 

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1 games were held in Midlothian for a period of ten years, when
2 they moved to Grant Park in Chicago and, ultimately, to the Oak
3 Brook Polo Grounds where they are still held; after trying for
4 a number of years to bring the "games" back to Midlothian, the
5 Village of Midlothian began its own celebration in 1998,
6 holding the first annual Midlothian Scottish Fair and Celtic
7 Celebration; and
 
8     WHEREAS, In 2002, as the Village of Midlothian celebrated
9 its 75th birthday, Provost Sam Campbell and his wife, Beth,
10 came from Midlothian, Scotland to celebrate at the Midlothian
11 Scottish Fair; and
 
12     WHEREAS, The Village of Midlothian is known for its
13 outstanding services, volunteers, small town atmosphere,
14 affordable living, excellent transportation, and access to all
15 major interstate highways; therefore, be it
 
16     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
18 recognize the Village of Midlothian and its history and
19 congratulate its citizens on having such a fine community to
20 work, play, and live in; and be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22 presented to a representative for the Village of Midlothian.