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Mount Prospect Organizations Page 1
Camp Fire Girls
Downtown Business Association
Ehart Girls
Garden Club of Mount Prospect
Mount Prospect Baseball Association
Mount Prospect Business and Professional Women's Association
Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce
Mount Prospect Citizens Band
Mount Prospect Community Band
Mount Prospect Drum and Bugle Corps
Name of organization Campfire Girls
When was the organization founded 1926
Does the organization still exist No
What is/was the main goal of the organization WoHELO (work, health, love)
What is/was the organizations address in MP
Does MPHS have a list of members No
Does MPHS have photos of organization Yes
Is organization responsible for
landmarks in MP
Yes, responsible for the Native American street names
in the southern half of Mount Prospect.
History and interesting stories
about the organization:
In the winter of 1926, Bertha Ehard and five women founded
the Mount Prospect chapter of the Campfire Girls; however, it was not until a
year later in 1927 that the National Council of Campfire Girls granted them a
charter. Following the club's induction into the national organization, members
petitioned to be officially known as the Potowatomi Campfire Girls. Supposedly,
"potowatomi" translated to "people of the place of the fire" and was in
reference to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Serving primarily female members,
the club strived to uphold their adopted motto: "worship God, seek beauty,
pursue knowledge, be trustworthy, hold onto health, glorify work, be happy." In
fact, this motto had served as a focal point for the club's various activities.
For instance, to preserve health, members spent a majority of their time
outdoors camping, hiking, and ice-skating. In the pursuit of beauty, they
planted a Horse Chestnut tree on Central School grounds in the fall of 1928.
With each passing year, the club grew in popularity among the
Mount Prospect and Des Plaines districts. By 1967, enrollment had blossomed
into 637 active members. To determine whether someone was a fellow member, the
word "WoHELO" (a combination of Work, Health, and Love) was often used in
greeting. If the person in question replied back "WoHELO," then a Campfire Girl
was at hand.
Name of organization Downtown Business Association of Mount Prospect
When was the organization founded
Does the organization still exist Yes
What is/was the main goal of the organization To promote the interests of the downtown area
What is/was the organizations address in MP
Does MPHS have a list of members No
Does MPHS have photos of organization No
Is organization responsible for landmarks in MP
History and interesting stories
about the organization:
The Downtown Business Association is a non-profit
organization that was founded by various Mount Prospect downtown merchants.
This organization, also known as "Do It Downtown," attempts to build
partnerships that will benefit the Mount Prospect downtown area with consistent,
long-term growth. The organization's activities include aiding the expansion of
existing businesses, recruiting new businesses, and encouraging the competition
between the downtown merchants.
Name of organization E-Hart Girls
When was the organization founded 1967
Does the organization still exist No
What is/was the main goal of the organization S.T.A.R.S (service, training, arts, recreation, social graces)
What is/was the organizations address in MP
Does MPHS have a list of members No
Does MPHS have photos of organization Yes
Is organization responsible for landmarks in MP No
History and interesting stories
about the organization:
The E-Hart Girls was a state-chartered, non-profit
organization named after Bertha Ehard, founder of the Campfire Girls of Mount
Prospect. Originally chartered by over 50 adults, the organization's goal was
to be self-sustaining, raising funds through sponsored sales and local bridge
parties. The organization was fixated on the acronym S.T.A.R.S. utilizing it
for their goals (Service, Training, Arts, Recreation,
Social graces) and their age group names (Starlighters, Twilighters,
Auroras, Radients, Spectras). In the club's early years,
members participated in various activities that fulfilled at least one of the
S.T.A.R.S. goals. For instance, to fulfill the service goal, members made
treats for nursing homes and worked with handicapped children. Activities that
qualified for social graces included meeting a former state beauty queen and
learning to set a proper table.
Name of organization Garden Club of Mount Prospect
When was the organization founded 1963
Does the organization still exist Yes
What is/was the main goal of
the organization
To conserve, to beautify, to protect and promote
plants
What is/was the organizations address in MP
Does MPHS have a list of members No
Does MPHS have photos of organization Yes
Is organization responsible for
landmarks in MP
No
History and interesting stories about the organization:
The Garden Club of Mount Prospect was established May 8, 1963
and is affiliated with the Federated Garden Clubs of Illinois. Throughout its
existence, the Garden Club has been a part of various projects involving the
Mount Prospect community. Whether it is distributing trees on Arbor Day,
beautifying the tollways, or organizing civic projects with the Girls Scouts of
America organization, the Garden Club is committed to supporting their village.
In 1992, the club won honors for their garden restoration work at the Dietrich
Friedrichs Museum. Four years later in 1996, the organization was awarded the
PETALS (Protect the Environment Through Action, Learning, and Service) grant
from the National Council of State Garden Clubs and the Shell Oil Company for
the completion of a booklet that identifies all the trees in Mount Prospect.
Name of organization Mount Prospect Baseball Association (MPBA)
When was the organization founded
Does the organization still exist Yes
What is/was the main goal of the organization To teach children teamwork and baseball
What is/was the organizations address in MP
Does MPHS have a list of members No
Does MPHS have photos of organization Yes
Is organization responsible for landmarks in MP No
History and interesting
stories about the organization:
Originally known as the Mount Prospect Baseball Association for
Boys, the last two words were dropped in the 1970s when girls were invited to
participate in the organization following Congress's passage of Title IX in
1972. With the aspiration to teach children teamwork and the fundamentals of
baseball, MPBA has specifically customized programs for six to sixteen year
olds. For instance, the T-Ball division teaches six and seven year olds the
fundamentals of the game; while, the Colt division allows high school students
to play baseball in the summer. In cooperation with the Mount Prospect Park
District, teams associated with the MPBA are permitted to use the park
district's facilities and to play upon its various baseball diamonds.
Name of organization Mount Prospect Business and Professional Women's Club
When was the organization founded 1960
Does the organization still exist Yes
What is/was the main goal of
the organization
To further women in professions and to provide a positive
environment for women in professions
What is/was the organizations address in MP
Does MPHS have a list of members No
Does MPHS have photos of organization No
Is organization responsible for landmarks in MP No
History and interesting stories
about the organization:
The Mount Prospect Business and Professional Women's Club is a
chapter of the Illinois and the National Federations of Business and
Professional Women's Club. The Federation itself was started in 1919 in an
effort to denounce the prevailing attitude of a woman's place being in the
home. The club was organized through the collective efforts of its first
president Kathaleen Walters and Mary Ruth Hilligoss-Schmidt. In the 1970s, the
club's theme was "Era of responsibility: Enrich, Renew, Act." This theme served
to reinforce one of the club's main goals of furthering women in professions.
During that "era," scholarships were formed and awarded to fashion design
students and working women who desired to pursue their education further.
Throughout its years, the club has become a role model for other women groups
and has sponsored similar clubs in Crystal Lake and the Elk Grove, Barrington
region.
Name of organization Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce
When was the organization founded 1927
Does the organization still exist Yes
What is/was the main goal of the organization To aid and advocate for local businesses
What is/was the organizations address in MP 111 E. Busse Street
Does MPHS have a list of members Yes
Does MPHS have photos of organization Yes
Is organization responsible for landmarks in MP No
History and interesting
stories about the organization:
The history of the Mount Prospect
Chamber of Commerce is a history of leadership. Throughout the seventy-five
years of the Chamber's existence, it has pioneered many of the programs that
Mount Prospect residents have come to know as a part of the cultural landscape
of their village. From honoring Mount Prospect's seniors to entertaining the
youngest citizens, the Chamber has taken a leading role in fostering community
loyalty.
In 1926, the village was developing so quickly that the Cook
County Herald gave it the title: "Mount Prospect: The City of Progress." In
this year, the businessmen in Mount Prospect took it upon themselves to form an
organization that would help give direction to the development and promote Mount
Prospect. Meeting for the first time on September 16th in Kruse's Restaurant
(now Mrs. P and Me's), these community leaders decided that there was a need to
establish a forum for the discussion of commercial and community matters.
Quickly getting down to business the group picked a chairman, who was none other
than the host of the event, Rudolph Kruse.
The first thing that the new organization did was to call on
experts from neighboring communities. A prominent member of the Des Plaines
Chamber of Commerce came to Kruse's to give a presentation on the advantages of
business organizations. The members made a point of moving quickly but not
rashly, as they made sure that they had all of the information before they moved
into the organization.
The members present at this meeting then elected a committee
of five to draw up a preliminary constitution. These early beginnings of the
Chamber of Commerce foreshadowed its later importance to the village. The list
of founding members of the Chamber is virtually a who's who of the history of
Mount Prospect.
The news of this new organization spread quickly. By the
beginning of October, twenty-eight businesses had applied for membership in this
new Chamber. When one considers that Mount Prospect had a downtown that only
occupied a few blocks along Northwest Highway and a total population of around
one thousand people, this group of twenty eight is a remarkable turnout.
Many of these applicants were the most successful businesses
in Mount Prospect. All of the businesses in Mount Prospect that have survived
from the nineteen twenties were among the original members of the Chamber of
Commerce. Busse Flowers, the longest continually running business in Mount
Prospect was represented. Kruse's Tavern, which later became Mrs. P and Me's,
was represented. One of the early owners of Keefer's Pharmacy was present at
these early meetings. The founder and a number of employees of the Mount
Prospect State Bank were involved. The Mount Prospect State Bank later became
Bank One, which is not only still prominent in the community but now also houses
the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce offices.
The Chamber held it's first public event shortly there after.
With very short notice, the vice president and treasurer made a motion to have a
Halloween party. This event was to be put together by the wives of the officers
of the Chamber. Although they were given little time to prepare, the wives came
through in great style and produced a great party for the community. While this
first event did not start a long tradition of Halloween parties, it did begin a
number of traditions within the Chamber. These include a long tradition of
providing services and entertainment for everyone in Mount Prospect regardless
of the affiliation with the Chamber and a tradition of drawing on the wealth of
local support for Chamber programs.
These traditions of service to the community continued
throughout the early years of the Chamber. The men involved in the Chamber soon
took an active leadership roll in the community. Shortly after the Halloween
party the Chamber decided to donate a Christmas tree to the Village. This was an
act both of leadership and of tradition. In this early act, the Chamber both
forged ahead, showing itself as a leader in the community, and showed that the
organization was aware or the traditions of the community.
The Chamber's leading role in the community also included its
support of other organizations. Still in its first year, the Chamber made a
movement to be 100% behind the preservation of public playgrounds in the
community and sent a letter of such support to the village Board. Later, in
1927, the Chamber took this support a step farther and actually began buying the
equipment for playgrounds in Mount Prospect. They also supported the bond issue
for the construction of the new school in the community. This new school was the
second Central School and took the community from having one class room to
having five. This move greatly improved the conditions for children and laid the
foundations of a successful school system. Later in the same year, the Chamber
purchased educational films and new chairs to help the new school in Mount
Prospect, showing its commitment both to supporting the school and to keeping
Mount Prospect at the cutting edge of public education.
The village and the Chamber continued to develop in the
following years. Many of the early residents in the community watched this
extremely rapid growth with a sense of caution. Working to make the new
residents feel at home, the Chamber began a program sending letters of welcome
to new residents in August of 1930. A form of this program is still in operation
today. At the same time the Chamber worked to alleviate the nervousness of more
traditional residents by monitoring the booming real estate market and making
sure it did not fall victim to rampant speculation and corruption.
The efforts of the Chamber and Village to keep growth
reasonable in the boom years were well worth the efforts. The stock market of
1929 and following depression hit the manufacturing and professional industries
in Chicago very hard. Many of the people moving to the newly developed suburban
communities were coming out of these industries and thus many of the new
suburban developments found their incomes dwindling and their real estate
developers swimming in uncollected debt.
Mount Prospect was effected by market crash as well, however,
the planning of the Chamber and the community led it to be one of the most
financially stable communities in Illinois. In 1930, Mount Prospect was the only
municipal government that was not bankrupt in Cook County. The Mount Prospect
State Bank, which was being run by William Busse Jr., a member of the first
Board of Directors of the Chamber, remained solvent during these hard times.
This bank was one of few banks in the area that was able to offer uninterrupted
service during these years.
Throughout the hardest years of the Great Depression, the
Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce worked valiantly to keep the business
community together. They held fundraising events such as the first golf
tournament in September of 1931 and members worked with many of the other local
organizations on village wide projects. In the end however, there were too many
businesses cutting expenses or simply going out of business to support the
Chamber. At the end of 1932, the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce was forced
to go on a temporary hiatus, however like the phoenix; the Chamber would rise
again.
With the great depression followed by World War Two, Mount
Prospect grew very slowly. The fact that the community was growing at all during
this period is a testament to the long term, cautious development of the
community. Following the conclusion of World War Two, Mount Prospect quickly
entered its second major period of expansion. From 1940 to 1950 the population
more than doubled. In the following decade the population grew almost five
hundred percent. The village went from a semi-agricultural community to a major
post war suburb virtually over night. It was in this climate of rapid change
that the businesses in Mount Prospect again looked to the Mount Prospect Chamber
of Commerce to help give direction to this rapid development.
In 1947, Herbert Van Driel had a talk with Phil Jeuck of
Illinois Range Company and discussed the need for the creation of a
businessmen's association. The two agreed that the need for an organization
existed and sent out a call for participants to the businesses in the community.
Virtually every business in Mount Prospect responded and expressed an interest
in joining the fledgling new organization. It was clear that members of the
community saw a need for leadership in the rapidly expanding community.
In keeping with tradition, the business leaders of Mount
Prospect chose to meet at Kruse's Tavern. The group met three times in January
of 1948 and then appointed a committee to form a new constitution for the
organization. The new organization was again a blend of a leadership for the
future and awareness of the past, as it formed to help direct the changing
conditions of the village and simultaneously embraced the past.
Moving rapidly, this constitution was completed and adopted
by February of 1948, and within a few weeks the Chamber had become an important
force in northwest suburban politics. In the first few months of the new Chamber
they restarted the welcome services for new residents in Mount Prospect. By the
end of the year the Chamber had also decided to continue to pay for holiday
decorations for the village. Both of these actions demonstrate the Chamber's
continued support of community spirit.
The Chamber began a number of programs that have become
landmarks in Mount Prospect's community landscape. In 1949 the Chamber published
the first "Lets Get Aquatinted" guide to the village. Although the name and the
appearance has changed over the years, these Chamber guides have continued to
this day and are now considered essential to any active member of the
community.
In 1956 the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce organized and
held the first village wide Fourth of July parade. Through founding public
events and programs, the Chamber continued the tradition of leadership in the
community.
In 1958 the business community and the Chamber in Mount
Prospect took a giant leap forward. A developer announced plans to build a
massive indoor shopping mall at the corner of Rand and Elmhurst roads. With the
post war suburban boom this area was a hot market for developers. Randhurst was
completed on August 16th, 1962. Located on what had been a cow pasture,
Randhurst was the first indoor air-conditioned mall in the upper Midwest and was
billed the worlds largest air-conditioned shopping center. The administrative
offices of the mall quickly became involved with the Chamber and through the
years have been a major supporter of a number of programs.
By the middle of the nineteen sixties, the Mount Prospect
Chamber of Commerce was entering a new phase of its existence. It now became
clear that the role of the Chamber was no longer simply helping to coordinating
the growth and development of the community but also to offer a number of
services to the residents and businessmen in the community. To be able to offer
such services the Chamber decided in the late sixties to hire its first
Executive Director, Matt Pryan. Under his direction the Chamber entered a more
formalized approach to their role in the Community. No longer simply a meeting
place for members of the business community, the Chamber became an active
lobbyist organization. Appearing publicly in both newspapers and at village
meetings, Mr. Pryan and the leadership in the Chamber fought for the rights of
local businesses and for the rights of local shoppers. In a village that had
seen such astronomical growth there were issues to be considered. With all the
new businesses downtown and the increased amount of traffic, where would people
park? The Chamber lobbied for widened streets with additional parking and areas
of the downtown set aside to be parking lots so that people could park their
cars and walk from store to store. With a new professional staff, the Chamber
did not forget its commitment to community. In 1971 Pryan pioneered and
cosponsored a bus service for Mount Prospect residents that would take shoppers
to different shopping areas in the community during the holiday season. For
children too young to drive, individuals without access to a car and those who
were nervous about driving in the bad weather, this service offered a way to
cope with the holiday season's demands.
After making the leap into a professional staff the Chamber
was able to attract some of the most talented and influential individuals in the
northwest suburban area. In 1972 the Chamber hired former mayor of Mount
Prospect, Clarence O. Schlaver who remained the Executive Director of the
Chamber until shortly before his death. C.O. Schlaver was one of the most
influential public figures in the history of the community. Not only had he been
a mayor of Mount Prospect, but he had also been on the Board of Directors of
virtually every charitable organizations in the community, was the former
President of the Mount Prospect Historical Society, and printed his own weekly
newspaper on local issues.
Under the leadership of Schlaver the Chamber sprung into
action. His connections to local businesses and elected officials allowed him to
give the Chamber a much greater presence in the community and increased the
public profile of the organization. With connections to many other
organizations, Schlaver also allowed the Chamber to sponsor more collaborative
projects and increase the reach of the organization. The Chamber of Commerce had
always acted as a leader in the community but with a person such as Clarence
Schlaver at the helm, the organization was brought to a position of great
political and social influence in Mount Prospect.
In the following decade the Chamber continued to grow.
Offering a variety of services to businesses and residents, beginning the annual
golf outing in 1974, and continuing to be local businesses best friend. However,
by 1979 Clarence Schlaver's health had begun to falter and he decided that it
was time for him to pass on the leadership of the Chamber. After an extensive
search, the Chamber found the new executive next door in village hall, Dolores
Haugh, who was at the time the Public Information Officer for the Village of
Mount Prospect.
Once onboard with the Chamber, Haugh expanded the influence
of the organization in every direction. She continued the programs that had been
started by her predecessors and worked to make the Chamber more accessible to
the community. In 1980, the Mount Prospect Chamber of Commerce started two of
the most widely known programs in the community and took over a third. Early in
the year, the Chamber began the Elderhonor awards program. This event recognizes
the immense value provided to the community by the numerous senior citizen
volunteers. By creating an institutional award that can be given to these
volunteers the Chamber both gave something back to these individuals who have
given the community so much and gave the village as a whole a way that we can
say thank you to some of our most valuable contributors. In the same year the
Chamber began a Christmas Shop Walk. This was originally meant to bring people
into the downtown and see the holiday decorations in the store windows. In part
due to Haugh's love of teddy bears and her close ties with the library, this
eventually evolved into the Library's Teddy Bear Walk, an annual event that is
recognized by any Mount Prospect resident with children. In the same year the
Chamber took over the weekly summer Farmers Market.
Also beginning in 1980, the Chamber began a major downtown
improvement program. Called the "Clean Up, Green Up" campaign it worked to
improve the look of Mount Prospect during the downtown redevelopment project.
The Chamber coordinated many different village organizations in beautifying the
areas around the shops. High school wood shops built planters for Main Street,
businesses then bought them at cost, Public Works planted flowers, and the Boy
Scouts watered them. All this helped to establish Mount Prospect as one of the
most beautiful suburbs of Chicago. This program continued through 1982 when this
revitalization program was completed. However, the seeds of community pride were
planted and the village has reaped the benefits for many years since.
Continuing to work tirelessly for the Chamber, Dolores Haugh
remained with the organization for seven years. In that time she used started
numerous new programs and utilized every form of media. In 1981 the Chamber
began hosting a radio program on Sundays that highlighted local businesses. In
1983, the Chamber moved onto the silver screen, hosting a weekly television show
called: "Giving You the Business." This program highlighted local businesses and
new community developments. It provided information to the public through such
things as giving the public a tour of the recently built Kensington Business
Center and an interview with the general manager. Kensington was a major step
for the business community, brining national and international companies into
Mount Prospect. In the 1980s the Chamber also began the After Hours Mixers,
Party Time in the Park, the first business Expo, and an award program for local
businesses that showed community commitment.
In 1986 Chamber celebrated it's 60th anniversary
with a "Hometown Hoe-down" held at Randhurst. In 1987, Haugh stepped down as
director of the Chamber and passed the reigns on to Janet Hansen. Even with the
change in command, the Chamber remained in its position as a leader in the
community. Beginning to offer the Hometown Business of the Year award and
spearheading the "Shop Mount Prospect" campaign. Under new direction the
organization created a number of new committees that addressed concerns within
the Business community. Committees, such as the Women's Council gave voice to
the concerns of members of the community and allowed businesses and individuals
to come together and learn from their common experiences as well as their
different perspectives. Hansen continued to promote the local businesses for
thirteen years.
Name of organization Mount Prospect Citizen's Band
When was the organization founded 1927
Does the organization still exist Yes
What is/was the main goal of
the organization
To further the members' interest of music and to provide
entertainment for the community
What is/was the organizations address in MP
Does MPHS have a list of members No
Does MPHS have photos of organization Yes
Is organization responsible for landmarks in MP No
History and interesting
stories about the organization:
Prior to the Stock Market crash of 1929 and preceding the Great
Depression, assorted members of the Mount Prospect community pooled their
resources and musical abilities to form a citizen's band. Early members of the
band included the Oehlerking brothers, Henry Haberkamp, Martin Hasz, William
Genrich, Frank Gerkin Jr., Herman Meyn, and William Mulso. Initially, according
to the band's January 26, 1927 constitution, the band's membership was only open
to "Male Persons" not affiliated with any other bands. Also, anyone interested
had to apply to the band and be voted in by the majority of the members.
Name of organization Mount Prospect Community Band
When was the organization founded 1975
Does the organization still exist Yes
What is/was the main goal of the organization To perform in a group setting with enthusiasm
What is/was the organizations address in MP
Does MPHS have a list of members No
Does MPHS have photos of organization No
Is organization responsible for landmarks in MP No
History and interesting stories
about the organization:
The Mount Prospect Community Band consists of former high
school and college band members who enjoy playing in a group setting and as a
hobby. The band's founder, Ralph Wilder, formed the group while he was the band
director at Prospect High School. He recognized the need for a band that caters
to those individuals who take pleasure in performing with others and who, at the
same time, do not desire to pursue it professionally.
Name of organization Mount Prospect Drum and Bugle Corps
When was the organization founded 1961
Does the organization still exist
What is/was the main goal of
the organization
To provide a constructive program for Northwest
Suburban Youths
What is/was the organizations address in MP
Does MPHS have a list of members No
Does MPHS have photos of organization Yes
Is organization responsible for landmarks in MP No
History and interesting stories
about the organization:
Previously known as the Guardsmen Drum and Bugle Corps, the
corps is made up of Junior High and High school students from Arlington Heights,
Des Plaines, Elk Grove, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Rolling Meadows, and
other northwest suburbs. The corps was formed in 1961 in order to teach youths
qualities of strong and sound Americans such as teamwork, cooperation, fair
play, friendly competition, self-discipline, and respect for opponents. During
the summer months, the corps travels and plays in various locations from Indiana
to Wisconsin. In a span of two years from 1965 to 1967, its members performed
at an exhibition in Canada and took a tour of East Coast cities from Boston to
Washington DC.