Des Plaines Turns 175

Since 1935, Des Plaines has celebrated its anniversary every 25 years, in 1935, 1960, and 1985; so this year, we are once again due to continue this tradition. It's not immediately obvious why 1835 is considered our founding date. The first settlers arrived here in 1833; Des Plaines was incorporated as a village in 1869, and the Town of Rand was incorporated in 1857. The best explanation I can find is that Socrates Rand, by any account the first real community leader, came here in 1835. So 1835 it is - stitched on our flag, celebrated as our anniversary.

It seems like an apt time, then, to look back at how we've handled this anniversary in the past.

1935 - 100 Years

Des Plaines Centennial Celebration Booklet, 1935
Des Plaines Centennial Program

Des Plaines held a week-long jubilee celebration from Tuesday, June 25 to Sunday, June 30, 1935, thanks to the Lions club.

On opening night, despite a torrential rain, festivities opened with a parade of hundreds of cars with historical floats, with prizes for the best historical float, oldest auto (remember, this was 1935!), oldest vehicle, and more. This culminated in the coronation of the The Queen of Des Plaines, Margaret Toepper, chosen from about 60 contestants, and a contest for the best drum and bugle corps was also held. On Thursday a banquet honoring the oldest settlers was held at First Congregational Church. Friday had an old fiddlers' contest, Saturday afternoon had a pet and costume parade for children followed by a free matinee at the Des Plaines Theatre, while Saturday night had the Centennial Ball at Maine (East) High School. Sunday, Homecoming, featured special services at all churches with a huge band concert in the afternoon. There was also a daily Street of Fun, with rides, bingo, and games, and the businesses displayed antiques and had Centennial sales.

The centerpiece of this was a pantomimed historical pageant at Earle Field, presented four times, at 8:30 on the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th. This pageant featured five hundred people, weaving together a story of important events throughout local history.

Des Plaines Centennial Celebration Booklet, 1935
Pageant Script

The 1935 Celebration left behind the above-linked program, a valuable document of the city's view on history in that time. It also resulted in the first Des Plaines Historical Society, which lasted less than 10 years but made valuable contributions by documenting much local history that would otherwise have been lost.

1960

The 1960 Celebration, Centi-Quad-O-Rama, was handled by the Chamber of Commerce, which set up a 125th Anniversary Association, with numerous subcommittees.

Centi-Quad-O-Rama: Des Plaines 125th Anniversary 1835-1960

Des Plaines again crowned a "Queen of Destiny", Margi Koehler, and set up a week of celebration, from August 23rd-28th. In many ways, the celebration mirrored 1935.

It kicked off on Monday, the 22nd, with a History Essay contest for schoolchildren. Tuesday had a Kitty Bike and Pet parade in the afternoon, and another pageant kicked off that evening at Maine East Stadium, with repeat performances on Wednesday and Friday; Thursday featured a "Water Thrill Show" at Rand Pool and a Ballroom Dance contest at Maine East Fieldhouse.

The big day, Saturday, kicked off at 10 a.m. with the exciting judging of the Beard Growing Contest (my personal favorite). Over 100,000 outside visitors were expected for this day of celebration. The centerpiece was a parade, touted as the Chicago Suburbs' "biggest ever" parade, led by the Governor and featuring 4,000 marchers among 100 units. Later came a Drum and Bugle Corps contest at Maine East Stadium. The day closed out with the 125th Anniversary Ball at the "beautiful new O'Hare Inn" (now demolished). That night, the new city flag (Yes, we do have a city flag! But it's not on the city website,) designed in a contest by resident Arthur Wetter.

The week closed out with an exhortation to attend the church of your choice; also during the week the Art Guild fair and Garden Club shows were held.

The lasting legacy of the 125th? A flag and a widely-distributed book.

1985, 150th - Sesquicentennial

This one was held September 6-15, 1985, administered by the Des Plaines Sesquicentennial Commission. A departure from the previous celebrations, SesquiFest was held at Maryville and was focused on live music, along with "games, contests, dancing, a fantastic carnival, souvenirs and commemorative items, arts and crafts show, fleamarket, business expo, food galore offered by more than 10 Des Plaines restaurateurs, free and continuous entertainment on three stages... raffle, rodeo, children's stage, petting zoo, and more... plus two gigantic, spectacular fireworks displays to rival any other." The week also featured an Up With People show at Maine West,  a parade, a High School Band show, dances, a Historical Panorama pageant program at Maine West, a foot race, a regatta at Lake Opeka, a flea market, and a golf tournament.

It also had a Miss Des Plaines pageant held in November, 1984, the Des Plaines Historical Hikes were introduced in July, and later in September were the Invitational Golf Tournament and Historical House Walk.

The legacy of the Sesquicentennial was the creation of two booklets on the history and state of Des Plaines, plus Sesquicentennial park, located at Grove Avenue and Sherman Place, near the intersection of Rand and River Roads.

2010 - The Demisemiseptcentennial (catchy name!)


Which brings us back to today. While 175 is probably considered a less significant milestone than 150 or 200 would, these past three events dictate a tradition - we should be celebrating. So far, plans for this year include a big fundraiser dinner for the Des Plaines Historical Society and a series of historical articles they are doing through the year that will appear in the Journal and be collected in a booklet at the end of the year. The clear leaders for a project like this aren't in the best positions - the Special Events Commission had its budget cut so far that there was no New Years Eve celebration this year, and is running on their escrow for the year; the historical society has to focus on making it through the year intact. But remember - we did it in 1935, in the middle of the great depression. And in 1960, we did it without the city, and the historical society didn't exist yet either. Will the many clubs, organizations, and businesses of our city band together and make something happen - and isn't this a golden opportunity for these organizations to promote themselves? The people with the right connections would have to take charge. Ex-Mayor Arredia is now Director of Government Relations at Maryville, which held the 1985 celebration; he talked about doing a New Years Eve event that didn't end up happening; how about this?

But what about leaving a lasting legacy? Wouldn't it be powerful to commemorate our 175th anniversary by finally giving long-overdue recognition and protection to our most significant places by establishing a Landmarks/Heritage Conservation Ordinance? The best way of all to honor our heritage is to make sure it still exists in the future.