Frank Smith
Norwell, MA
2/28/05

Oh, my little old Lisle! Where to start? Back in 1955, my parents Frances &
James P. Smith bought a farmer's building lot at 625 Hitchcock. My Dad's
buddies at the Merchandise Mart said he was crazy for moving so far from the
city, but he told them the Burlington was close by and if he wanted to, he
could drive in. My Dad also knew that moving to Lisle would be the best
thing to raise our family, and sure enough, he was right! He told me when I
was younger that he remembers Ogden Ave. being a plank road when he first
came to Lisle. Remember the view of St. Joan church at the top of Ogden
going west with Lockformer on the left? Very picturesque back then...

We always had something fun to do... playing games outside till dark with
the Krezels, or hunting rabbits with Mike & Tom Venard, or making go-carts
with Mike Sumner, or mini-bikes with Jim Poaello (sp). And who could forget
refrigerator races in St Joseph's Creek on a hot summer day -- what fun!

Yes we went downtown every chance we could to buy as much candy as we could
and maybe buy a new TV tube that blew out at Ben Franklin. I remember the
tube tester being so cool to run and watch it make the tube light up or not
thus solving the mystery of why our black & white TV wouldn't work. We
didn't have a lot of money, but we were happy in our town.

I remember when the National Food store, Gary's, as well as Culps & Jewel,
were built. Outside Gary's was a good place to hang out and see what other
people were doing to entertain themselves. Culps had the best burgers, malts
& fries--I can still taste them. The old Lisle Drive-In also served some of
the best food, especially after a Scout paper drive I decided to go on at
the last minute. Gyros at the Lisle Bowl during college and after were also
tops on our list after long poker games. Does anyone remember all the pool
tables and all the tough guys us young kids were afraid of that hung out
there? On our way home we would look at the wrecks that Mr. Reidy would
light up at night if they were really bad. He probably thought it would
slow us down and it did, temporarily .

--The 60's & 70's were great to grow up -- in we just didn't know it ! My
older sisters Kathy and Margaret were very hip and had boy friends calling
on them daily. Most of them drove cool cars and I was exposed to the new
clothing, hair dos, & music! Who could forget the famous tire commercial
with "These Boots are Made for Walking " and all the other great Motown
hits: James Brown, the Supremes, etc. Back in '72, Bill Holub helped me
land a job pumping gas at Smitty's Standard on Rt. 53 & Maple. When you said
" fill it ," we not only filled it, we checked all the fluids, put air in
the tires, cleaned the glass and put new wiper blades on while you waited!
Try that now at a self serve joint.

Bill and I had a lot of fun being gear heads, swapping engines in Mopars &
GM cars. Every time I see the movie "The Blues Brothers" I think of how
great things used to be there. John Belushi (from Wheaton, IL.) believe it
or not is buried in Martha's Vineyard, which is about an hour from here. I
guess that's why I like the small town atmosphere around here and the
country feeling. I miss Lisle and all the people I knew, but when I do visit
I feel like Rip Van Winkle and I feel sad because things are not the same.
But time marches on and things can't stay the same way. I'm so pleased and
thankful you created this grand web site so my wife and son know that I'm
not making up stuff like the "Weiner" mobile in our parades! Sorry if got
long winded here writing about our "Mayberry" but I'm excited to share my
memories about our town. My sister Margaret (Smith) Daugherty told me
about your site last Sunday, and she heard about it from her friend Jeanie
in Colorado. Small world stuff gets around! Keep up the great memories!

Pam Zielinski (Smith)
2/20/05

What a great idea this website is. I remember so many of the names and
faces and places. I'm Pam Smith Zielinski. We live in Schaumburg now, but
my folks, Les and June live in Naperville so I run through town often. My
dad and Jim Sikorski were the first mail delivery men in Lisle. Until then,
you had to go to the Post Office and get your mail. He and Jim had badges
number 1 and 2. Those numbers were retired when they left.

I have so many memories of Main Street School and all of the teachers there.
I, too had Mrs. Clendenning and remember telling her on the first day of
school that I heard that she was mean, but I knew I was going to like her
and I did in the end. Actually I lived in mortal fear of Mrs. Borg.
Sometimes I was brave enough to eat hot lunch. The trouble was, if you
didn't like something and left it on your tray, you would get a pretty good
scolding. The trick was you had to finish your milk, put half of the yucky
stuff into your milk carton and mix around the rest enough so that it looked
like you ate most of it. A teacher that had the most impact came later. I
had Mrs. Driggett for English in 7th and 8th grade. I was really thankful
that Jr. High was only 2 years! Lo and behold, my sophomore year at LCHS,
there she was! Arghhh! I ended up having her for the next three years for
English or French. I remember when the Beatles were popular, her cry was
" Eradicate the Coleoptra!" One of her pet phrases was, "Do I have to do
jumping jacks to get you to learn this???" Finally the day came. I recall
sitting in French class and we just weren't getting it. Mrs. Driggett
stood up in front of the class - doing jumping jacks - singing, "There is no
" a le" in French. There is no "a le" in French. There is no "a le" in
French. There's only "au". I don't remember a lot of French, but that rule
has stuck with me for 36 years! She drove me crazy, but probably pushed me
more than any other teacher and was one of the best I ever had. I'm sure
the great teachers I had in Lisle had a lot to do with my going into
teaching.

I was talking to my dad last night and we were reminiscing about Gumba and
his goats. We lived on the corner of Main and Southport. Gumba lived
behind Casino's house which is the big white house on Main that is now the
Bridal Mansion. He was an uncle, I believe, and didn't want to live in the
big house, but in his little shack in the back with the goats in his yard in
a pen. Sometimes the goats would get loose and one day one of them was
chasing Maria Mulacek down the street and trying to butt her. Dad had to go
out and help get the goat back into the pen.

I remember Dr. Seredynsky,who lived across the street, coming to our house
in the middle of the night when I had the croup. I could hardly breathe and
couldn't talk, but I knew I didn't want that shot! When was the last time
you had a Doctor stop by.

Several people mentioned the town picnics at Four Lakes in the summer. How
about the year one of the fireworks came down the hill instead of going up
into the air. Luckily no one was injured, but their were windows blown out
in the pub.

I hope I haven't rambled disastrously. Please keep up the good work on this
site. I plan to check in often.

(R.L.:Pam! You are the first visitor to bring up "Gumba!" The old house? The goats?? YES!! I would dedicate an entire page to him, Rosie and Alice if I had enough info. Also, do you remember the little green paper weight rock at the main check-in window in Dr. Seredynsky's office? And those pictures on the wall in the waiting room? I'm pretty sure she delivered half the kids in Lisle?)

Sherry (Lockett) Ligeski
2/17/05

What a GREAT website! I got this from our 'bestest' friends who still live in Lisle. We moved to northern California in the fall of 2001, but I'm a native Lisle-ite and always will be, no matter where I'm living!

I just finished reading all the other letters you've received and was enjoying all the memories. My dad, Harry Lockett, ran the old Phillips 66 gas station on Ogden Ave. We lived in the house right behind the gas station - next to the cemetary! A lot of people thought that was really weird, but we never thought anything about it. My mom, Elaine Lockett, worked as a secretary in the Lisle schools (I enjoyed seeing her name mentioned in one of the letters -- so will she!). I actually followed in her footsteps and was a secretary at the junior high (the old LCHS) for 16 years!

I loved reading all the comments about the Book Nook - but wonder how many people out there remember the PRE-Book Nook era of Reynolds Drug Store?!?! Now THAT was a penny candy display case! Decisions-Decisions!

I loved the whole block between Ogden and School St. that bloomed with the dark pink, light pink and white peonies. As a matter of fact, when they dug up that field (for 'progress'), we got 3 of those plants and put them in our yard (they died!).

My uncle, Les Smith, who was a mailman in Lisle for years, saved a couple of the bricks from Main Street School for us last summer and we brought them back here to California and have them sitting in our garden.

As Bob Hope would say -- "Thanks for the memories".

(R.L.: I can still hear your Mom saying... "Heeellooooo!" Please give her our love! And, ask your dad if he has any pictures of the old Phillip's 66 station.)

Valerie Knopp (Smith)
2/17/05

Hi, my name is Valerie Knopp maiden Valerie Smith. We lived on Main St and South Port. My dad Lester Smith a mailman in Lisle used to cook at the Fish Frys at the original VFW on Main. He did cook a little at the new one. We used to have a great time helping in the kitchen with getting things ready. I had a older sister Pamela Zielinski maided Pamela Smith and twin Brothers Scott and Steve. We all pitched in. It was fun. They were the best fish frys.

(R.L.: You got that right!)

Dorothy (Wetterquist) Wilgus
2/13/05

I love your website! It has brought back so many good memories. My family moved to the Meadows in 1967. We lived on 59th Street. I went to Meadows School. Does anyone remember that the fifth grade classes were in the portables and that "special class" of special ed boys that would be integrated into our gym classes? Or how about those of us that went to Main Street School and had Dino the bus driver? I still come to Lisle every year to go Choice Optical to the same doctor I have been seeing since I was 9. I always tease him about that. The sad part is I didn't even notice that the building right across the street was gone.

Adolph's Daughter Letter

Desiree LaBianco-Reynolds

My name is Desiree LaBianco-Reynolds and I was raised on Main St. behind Adolph's Barber shop. Wayne Janowski sent me your web site and so many memories came back. It was so nice to see my father's barbershop, which is still in Lisle and going strong. My father sold the business in the late 80's but still owns the building. On January 21.2005 Adolph LaBianco passed away, just a few hours short of his 50th Wedding Anniversary. So for me, this web site was a great gift. I only wish that my Dad could have seen this. He would have loved it.
Living on Main St. was always an adventure. I remember it all, the Poppy field turning into the A&P, the street dances, parades, Lisle's Diner. All the owners knew who my brother and I were, and unlike today, treated us like their own kids. I remember Rosie and Alice. I know everyone picked on Alice, especially when she got older and the alcohol had taken control. But not my Dad. He used to let her sit in his shop, out of the cold, no matter how badly she smelled, and would go to the bank and cash her checks for her, when the bank wouldn't cash them. I remember when I was older, probably around 19, my Mom called me and asked if I wanted my Pom Pom boots because my Dad said Alice was walking around in the snow with big holes in her shoes. Two weeks later, I saw her walking down Main St. in those boots, blue tassels and all. But that was my Father, always giving to someone who needed it.
I remember Halloween a lot, not just the bon fire and costume contest. That was the night that kids loved to soap the windows on Main St. One year my Dad decided to fight back. So he hooked up a string with a rubber spider on the end that he could lower onto some unsuspecting kid with a bar a soap. He sat in the darkness of the shop and scared the heck out of them. But after that year there was no soaping Adolph's windows.
Thank you for this wonderful site, and for including Adolph's in the pictures of Lisle's heritage. My father would have been so proud.

(R.L.: I can still feel the tickle of your dad's electric shaver "cleaning up" the back of my neck. And I loved that chair that would raise you higher and higher! Desiree, your Dad and family were an institution in Lisle. Everyone remembers "Adolph's."

Hollywood had "Floyd's Barbershop." But your dad gave Lisle the real thing!
I'm sure many of us will be pausing for a moment to remember him and thank him.

Below is a picture of you and your brother at Economy foods. The second picture below shows your dad's barbershop in the early years. (Just to the left of Ben Franklin) That one picture just says so much!
Thank you Desiree for contacting us and sharing the memory of your dad with us all. )

The original Adolph's can be seen just left of Ben Franklin. (What an awesome picture huh?)

Adolph's Barbershop today on Main St.

Tom Vodicka Jr.
Belgium, WI
2/6/05

I love the site! Please, keep up the good work.

I went to St Joan and then Proco (Benet) last 2 years and graduated in 69. I moved from Lisle about 5 years later. I will have to check and see what photos I and the family have and send you a few.

I remember my father building our house on Warrenville road when I was about 5 (or so). When the phone was installed the Lisle phone book was 8 mimeographed pieces of paper.

Thanks,

Gary P. Ireland
Dean of Students
North Central College
2/5/05

Thanks for the memories! I agree with everyone who says Lisle was a great place in which to grow up. This site has brought back hundreds of memories...Culps, Gary's Drugs and National Food Store (and the carnivals in the parking lot where a Walgreens now stands), Halloween bonfires and the burning of the witch, penny candy at the Book Nook, the King's Palace. I had vague memories of roller skating in a tent as a young kid...thanks to this site I know I wasn't dreaming. Does anyone remember the hobo parades the Park District use to sponsor? Not exactly the most politically-correct event! How about the dance class you could take at Lisle Junior High. I think it met on Monday nights every other week...that's probably why we called it Fortnight. After two years of
dance classes the boys (including me) always did the same silly two-step dance at the "Snowball Dance" that ended every class. I remember climbing the pear and mulberry trees at the Methodist church (they're still there and they look exactly the same). I also remember playing in the corn field and having "farm league" baseball games in the area that is now I-355. The totem pole still greets people coming into Lisle on Maple Ave from the east. That totem pole and fire ring have been there 40 years or more and I never remember seeing a single fire built there.

Thanks again for the memories. I lived in Lisle from 1963 until I went off to college in 1981. Moved back a few years ago to take a job at North Central College. It's good to be back in Lisle...even if things have changed.

Gary Ireland

(R.L.: The "totem pole? Wow! I forgot about that one. Thanks for the letter Gary!)

King's Palace Letters

(R.L.: The following are letters from former "Lisle-lites" trying to shine a little light onto where the legendary SAM SUTTER is today. Again, he remains a mystery! Read some of these. Notice that they all have "The King" placed in different places! Again I ask... What is it about this guy? And can someone tell me what kind of cologne this man wears? I have to get some!
If you've had a "Sam Sutter sighting," please write and let us know. Photos would really be appreciated!)

Dorothy (Wetterquist) Wilgus
2/13/05

Sam Sutter currently owns/operates a bar on the outskirts of Sandwich called
The Hideout. It's the only place in the area open past 1 AM and it is always
hopping.

Kathe (Buss) Keeler
2/9/05

What a wonderful site! You can spend hours! Thanks for the gift!

Here is some news on Sam Sutter...... He owns the new restaurant/bar -- BRASS
in South Barrington just off I-90, across from the Mill Rose Brewery. I think
he still even sings there on occasion.

I teach at Barrington High School and had the pleasure of his grandson, Nick in
my Film class. Nick is the spitting image of Gus (except blonde)! I saw his
face, heard his last name, and just knew he was one of the Lisle Sutters! I
have fond memories of the Sutter boys on their motorcycles in the Buss
driveway, picking up my sisters. I was only about 9, but I had such a crush on
George!

Mary Ellen (Fischer) Johnson
2/5/05

To help solve the mystery....I worked at the "Palace" as a cocktail waitress, I dated Randy Sutter for most of my high school days, having lots of memories at that house on the hill.... They now own Café La Cave in Rosemont, IL. and most of the kids work there...even Kim...Rose, unfortunately passed away this last year..she was a sweet and hard working lady...as far as Sam goes I heard he had a bar somewhere..not sure where though....This is a great web site..Hope this helps.. I'll share more another time...

Rick Incrocci
2/5/05

Last I knew of, Sam was in Ottawa operating a bar/pub called, I think "Cheetah" (not sure of spelling.
Prior to that, he had a restaurant in Lombard, then he sold cars, then he had a pub called "Sam's Place" in St. Charles, then a place in Sandwich, Illinois.
He moves around a lot - but he's always into something other than retirement.

"Mafia"
2/5/05

Randy Sutter is now running the Cafe La Cave located at
2777 Mannheim Rd DesPlaines
His mother Rose died earlier last year and used to own and operate this restaurant.
Randy's x girlfriend and homecoming queen Mary Ellen Fischer is now living in Michigan and is happily married with 3 kids. ( none are Randy's). They remain friends to this day.

Bill Holub
2/1/05

Do you remember the big snow of ’67? Here is a picture taken at Ogden and Yender Ave.

(R.L.: You bet? 1978 was a blast as well! Thanks for sharing Bill! )

Irene (Carney) Krumm
1/31/05

Words can't express how I feel when I looked into the past in Lisle. I used to live in Lisle from 1954 to 1974. My address was 591 Front Street. My name was Irene Carney; now Irene Krumm. Tears came to my eyes when I visited my old home town via your Internet site. It was such a joy of nostalgia. Thank you for making such a wonderful web site. I am not happy that they are changing the buildings. By the way, who are you? I am very interesting in knowing?

Patti Riebow
1/29/05

Hello, I wanted to thank who ever is behind this wonderful web sight. My name is Patti Riebow. I ended up moving away from Lisle in 1970. My friend Irene Carney, also lives here in Minnesota. We were told about this sight by Steve Espersen. I returned to visit Lisle in April 2003 to attend a funeral. My brother Bob and I drove down Main Street and of course stopped in to see the Book Nook. It still smelled the same way! I am wondering who you are? Well Thank you who ever you are. This was fun to see.

Patti

(R.L.: Hello Patti and Irene! Thank you so much for the kind words! My name is Michael Petry. (That's one of my "cool" school photos on the left.) I grew up in the large white house that is just south of what is now the Lisle Honda dealer. My mother still lives there today. Most of that area use to be beautiful country fields and small homes. The St. Joseph's creek ran through our back property. We had a giant yard with animals, garden, and six of us kids running around barefoot, laughing and entertaining ourselves. The only time we locked our doors was if we left to go on vacation.

I started this page last year after I learned about a situation concerning my mom and the house and yard we grew up in. The owner of the Honda dealership had bought all the property surrounding my mom's house. He then burned down the homes remaining on his new land. My mom's house is now completely surrounded by his land and her's will be the last parcel he needs in order to expand his empire south. Mom can accept his "pennies on the dollar" offers or she can just stay put and listen to the air wrenches buzzing twelve hours a day and the bright lights streaming into her windows all night. He's now waiting for her to die in order to get a good deal on her place.

When I learned of this situation, it literally jolted me into the realization of how much things (and times) have changed.
Sometimes the "bottom line" makes my stomach churn and it's sad to see how thoughtless it can sometimes be. It made me just want to sit down and start writing about a better time.

Lisle was and still is a wonderful community. Anyone that moved away can attest to it's uniqueness. And that is a large reason for this web site. If you take two people that had moved away from Lisle in the past... Put them together in a room and watch what happens!
Once they start talking about Lisle, they will go on till the sun comes up! No lie!
So I thought it would be cool to have a site that tries to capture some of the special things about Lisle's past. And not just a page dedicated to a "train station" from the 1800s.

The input and responses from so many of you has been incredible and has really made this site a lot of fun to do. I still have some cool stuff to post and look forward to continued submissions from people around the nation! (And the world for that matter.)
This site is truly being built by former and present Lisle-ites!
And it's kind words such as yours, Patti & Irene, that make it all the better. Thanks again!)

Michael Johnson (Atlanta, GA)
1/29/05

I grew up in Lisle (in the Meadows specifically). Our family moved there in 1962 and left in 1974. We had a large family so some of you probably knew my family. We lived on the top of South road and my siblings were graduating from South Downers Grove in the early sixties to Lisle HS in the mid 70's. As one of the younger kids in the family I remember a lot of you hanging around with my older brothers and sisters. I loved growing up in the Meadows. Hiking around Four Lakes before all the apartments were there along DuPage river, and
up along the Woodridge Golf course, and all the way up to the farmlands above and down to the Bird Sanctuary across 75th street were all part of our hiking terrain. We'd crawl through the Barn before it was burned down by some arsonist in the early 70's. And in the other direction, we'd hike all along the farmlands and along the creeks all the way to Burlington ave I believe before the subdivision south of the Meadows was built. We'd even be walking down the street with our guns to get to the fields and shoot rabbits back then.

When they built the Meadows pool, that became one of our hangouts in the summer when we weren't at our cottage up in Michigan. We even hung out there and ice skated at the pool in the winter. Does anyone remember when DuPage River flooded the surrounding valleys and it froze solid around 1972 or 1973? We'd ice skate for miles, and build fires on the ice and cook hot dogs! Or the sledding down the hill next to the Meadows Elementary school. We could slide all the way to the creek from the hill on good days. We even had competitions
to see who could get the farthest standing up on our sleds.

Some of your letters mention Rosey in downtown Lisle. When I was in 6th grade in 1969/70 I remember her as the old lady who many kids picked on and even threw rocks at. I was intimidated by some of the kids at Main Street School. I knew many of the kids from the Meadows, but not from the surrounding neighborhoods on the other side of Maple street.
Some of them seemed so big and tough. But when I saw how some of them treated that old lady I couldn't take it anymore and got in a few fights over it. They used to call her the crazy rock lady or something like that. She'd be shuffling along pushing a shopping cart down the street behind Main Street school, and she seemed like she could barely hold herself up with that cart. She was always alone, and never said a word. She'd just keep on walking while the kids would taunt her. I hated those bullies. I got in several fights
because of those bullies and quickly learned I was tougher than I originally thought. I guess all that hiking and climbing trees in the Meadows and along DuPage river made me strong.
So when I read some of your stories, all those memories came back.

Thanks for putting together this website and thanks for sharing your memories!

Michael Johnson

Al Gonda
1/3/05

Hi,
Just got your article and it was great to relive the old days. I still live in Lisle....wouldn`t live anywhere else. I went to St. Joan of Arc school between 57 to 66, talk about fond memories in that old church. When you`re in 1st grade it is like being in the Sistine Chapel. How about once a month hotdog day at St. Joan, you got a hotdog, a Hostess cupcake a bag of chips and a carton of milk for a quarter......gourmet dining at it`s finest.
Does anybody remember going under the Main St. viaduct when there was the sidewalk under there too. Boy was it narrow. I wonder how many cars scraped and mirrors were broke off.
Thanks for the history
(R.L.: Yea Al... We flew under that viaduct many times on our bikes! Do you also remember that wooden walk-way that took you up to the train tracks above? I wonder who would have pictures of that?)

Amy (Recka) Malley
12/20/04

This site is WONDERFUL...makes me feel a little old, but brings back some
great memories. I was born in 1961 and moved to Lisle before my 1st
birthday -- one of the 1st houses in the Meadows. These pictures are great!
Thanks for taking the time to put this all together. Keep it going!
(R.L.: Wow! Thank you Amy for diggin' it as much as we do! Since you said you lived in The Meadows, here are some rare photos you might enjoy!)

Here's a photo of The Meadows shortly after it was built. This place was responsible for the term "subdivision" becoming a part of our vocabulary.It had sidewalks, paved roads (no gravel and tar), attached garages and the best basement parties ever experienced in Lisle! If you drive through The Meadows today, you'll realize why this is such a cool shot! Click here to enlarge.

Upon closer inspection of the shot on the left, I noticed the Lisle "city limits" sign that also shows the population. Does it say 3000 or 5000? You be the judge. Click here to enlarge.

Here is a real estate ad for a home in The Meadows. I'm not sure of the date... But every time I look at that price I get an urge to just run off and hurt myself!

Gary Klima
11/23/04

Jim Schultz mentions, in his message (see below) about a wooden sculpture. Believe it or not
I actually have a picture of it. It was created by a hermit type neighbor of
ours, who was a wood worker from Iceland. He lived in a simple, very primitive
rustic cabin. The large wooden sculpture sat in the middle of the woods, on his
property. People would come from all around to view it and wonder what the
" heck" it was. He later moved back to Iceland, where his works are proudly
exhibited in its museums. See, the following website, for his bio.

http://www.alvara.is/halldor/eheaevin.html

Gary Klima
12/06/04

Sorry for the delay. In regards to the mysterious, bizarre, wooden
sculpture located in the woods around Ohio Street and Indiana Avenue . I
have attached 2 photos. Photo #1 is of older vintage (probably late 60s).
Photo #2 was taken later and the sculpture has aged. People started taking
souveners from it.
I'm still rummaging through other old photos for something worthy.

Thanks

Photo-1 Click for larger view!

Photo-2 Click for larger view!

(R.L.: Thank you Gary for bringing this whole "Wooden sculpture" thing to our attention! It's items such as this that really makes this site fun!)

Jim McQueen
11/23/04

Hello, I just wanted to drop a note, as I lived in Lisle from 1963 until 1986. These pictures bring back such great memories. I went to 6th grade at Main street School, observed those parades, and bought many a piece of penny candy at the Book Nook. I remember Gary's drugs store, and my brother worked at the National Tea in the same plaza. I remeber the Sunoco gas station that was there on Maple Ave, before McDonalds was built there. I also remember having town pic-nics on the hills that eventually became 4 Lakes Village. I haven't been back in many years, as all of my family has followed me to Glendale Arizona. The last time I was back though, WOW have things changed. I can only imagine what it must be now. I remember Main street before it covered both sides of the street. Please Please keep updating the pictures on the site as I love looking at them. Take care, and Thanks for bringing back really great times.

Carleen Nelson (Class of 1967)
11/23/04

Greetings,

I just discovered this web site and must tell you I truly enjoyed the King's Palace article.

I grew up in Lisle in the 50's and 60's. I loved my childhood free of Computer Games and the modern items of today. I never remember being bored. Kids today have no idea how to use their imagination as we did. They are the losers with the modern world complete with Park District and Pool etc. We were thrilled to play outside all day summer and winter. We climbed trees., built tree forts, played in the leaves in the summer and went ice skating on St Joseph Creek and went sledding in the winter. It was a wonderful childhood. Christmas was fun filled going to the VFW (King's Palace later) to see Santa and to Four Lakes for theAnnual town picnic.

Marching in and watching the parades were town wide attended events. Neighbors were friendly and
interacted with each other regularly. We had sleep outs in the back yard and felt safe. Our folks left the door open so the cool night air could come through the screen to help cool the house as we did not have Air conditioning. Halloween was safe and our folks made the costumes.

I remember when Lisle's New Main Street was celebrated with a Street Dance led by a Fire Engine. The Street was blocked off and many were there to enjoy the bonfire. I remember other events usually Halloween time with the Bonfire's on the lot across from the Main Street School
where the witch was burned.

I remember when Lisle had 2 Police cars and an all volunteer Fire Department. I remember when the library was below the Book Nook and then moved to Front Street. The only thing to do in Lisle as a teen was to go to the Lisle Coffee Shop
and hang out or go to the Bowling Alley. We
managed to have a fun life with less.

I remember the Main Street School and stopped everyday on my way home and watched it come down. Memories flooded back from my school years there.
Money was not easy to come by and the school was not big enough. Kindergarten was held at the VFW and 1st grade was in the Congregational
Church. Then 2nd grade was a the Main Street school. I too remember Mrs. Borg and worked in the lunch room washing trays after lunch to get a free lunch. My brother Carl and I both did that. I remember Mrs. Caldwell the school nurse and Mrs. Lockert (secretary) with her wonderful smile. I remember many of the teachers. You know as the school came down I couldn't help it but think that they could destroy the school so easily but they can never destroy the memories of many people who attended there and all we were taught. More than memories we learned integrity and values far above what is going on today. We learned how to successfully co-exist with each other and respect each other. We learned things that can never be destroyed by the tearing down of a building.

I am glad to have grown up in the simpler era that I did and am sure others from that time feel the same way.

Thank you for this site.

Janet Cook Wilmoth
10/26/04

GREAT SITE!!!!

The original St. Joan of Arc church with the school attached. Trying to crawl 'up' the fire escape chute for a quick slide down was hours of fun (until the nuns opened the upstairs door and chased you away!).

The roller rink-in-a-tent that would set up in the summer time off Main Street, same place that the circus would set up.

The post office on Main Street run by the Sutters. Those little dials on the post office boxes.

The taxi stand next door to the post office....

Riedy's hardware store on front street....with its old hardwood floors and lots of drawers with nails, screws and whatever else.

Amazing.....

Kathy Schalkey Richardson
Naperville
10/21/04

I was just reading your site and I'm laughing at the memories of Rosie! No trip up-town was complete without a conversation with her! And the blind guy in the Book Nook ALWAYS scared me! He could tell what candy you were getting by the sound of you taking it from the jar.
I was remembering the street dances during Lisle Days. My Mom working at the Liquor Store and my Grandpa working as a police dispatcher. The parades with the high school band let by Mr.Bartelt, banging the drums under the railroad bridge while we were passing under. My Dad jumping in front of me to take a picture of me in my uniform.
I was also remembering Hanson's Grocery store at the end of town by Burlington. Also Economy Foods--- and when they had a fire while we were in school. One of my classmates, Debbie Dooley perhaps, father worked there and she was screaming she was so worried about him. He was fine and the fire was small (at least that's the way I remember it). And Alvina's Dress shop. I think I got a dragonfly pin for my Mom in there!
For those old-timers that went to Main St. School, Mrs. Clendenning was my lst grade teacher and Mrs. Rhodes my 2nd. Two of the most humorless women I have ever encountered. I can't IMAGINE yuppie moms of today putting up with their brand of teaching! I share with my kids about not being able to go to the bathroom except once a day when the whole class took a break. So too bad if you have to go sooner! (ha) And the "thinking chair" and "board of education"! (I preferred the thinking chair) Mrs.Healy my kindergarten teacher was great and Mrs. Wilhem for 3rd grade.
OH! And remember that goofy janitor Mr. Scalic (sp)? Now there was a strange individual. And Mrs. Borg the lunchroom nazi. (Go BACK and eat your BEETS!!)
Ahhh---the beloved people from our childhood.

Barb (Schalkey) Kwiatkowski
10/18/04

Nice web site, but when remembering Lisle we must not exclude the insane residents. The biggest coo-coo, who's name escapes me right now, but here's a trivia question, who was the nutty lady who carried rocks in her pockets so she would not blow away? Walked the downtown all the time.

My favorite happy soul was Ruth who worked the Ben Franklin. Ruth has a catch phrase, that she said to everyone, she just seemed to really love her job.

Another legend, Crazy Alice the drunkin' crossing guard at Rt. 53 and Burlington. Now she was fun to mess with as a child. My sister Margaret, Joey Gangler, Boog Gandafl and John John Krebs and of course me, use to terrorize this poor old woman. Once she tried to push me into route 53....Guess I pushed her a bit too far huh?

And lastly, Mr. Skubis and my mom working at Town Liquors. They would let me sit at the register and ring up the sales. Not the liquor of course, there was a deli there and a small grocery section. My salary? All the free Pretzel sticks I could eat. It was fun, and I loved that people would tell me that my mom made the best deli sandwiches in town.

Anyway, I'm sure there are more folks that would bring a smile but these are the ones that come to mind.

Barb (Schalkey) Kwiatkowski
10/21/04

Do you remember when the Book Nook was run by the blind guy and the deaf woman? Old grey haired guy with a walking stick, I think he lived in that back room, he use to be able to tell what candy you took by the sound of where you took it from.

The deaf woman was much younger, she could read lips but as kids we didn't realize she was deaf, she just wouldn't answer us when we were facing the candy jars.
Nothing got past those two.

anyway, I've shot this website over to a few of my old Lisle buddy's, they think it's great too. By the way, thanks for posting my memory. We lost my mom this year to a brain tumor and I like that she is mentioned in the "Remembering Lisle" website. Even if it was done by me, maybe it will spark a nice memory for some others.

Anyway, take care, and again, nice job.

Sue Houha (Tennyson)
10/5/04

Hi,
I am so excited to see this site. I was so excited to see the pictures so far, I had to write! My parents, Laura and Irv Houha owned the Lisle Coffee Shop from 1959 till the end of 1969. Talk about those old memories. I have So many. I used to have the best Birthday parties. Of course, it was always held at the Coffee Shop. All the juke box music, and all the people. So much fun I couldn't even begin to tell you, especially typing it all. I also was sad to see that old school come down. I even went and took a couple of bricks just for the memories. We went to the Lisle Smile Days this summer and the Chamber of Commerce guy asked me how I liked the new grass and all (refering to where the school stood) and I replied, I think it sucks. He asked me why, and I told him it was sad the see that old school go. So you see, I also have many, many memories of Lisle growing up. Thanks for doing something like this. Very enjoyable.

(RL: And thank you Sue! Oh by the way... Do you, or someone you know, have any pictures of that ol' coffee house? There are so many of us that would love to see them. Thanks for the visit!)

Ed Wright
10/4/04

Great site, thoroughly entertaining. It is a shame about Lisle not appreciating its history and deciding that the money earned in turning the school property into condos is indicative of the way of things today. Most city planners are just carpetbaggers who move into town and do their brand of "improvements" and then move to the next city where invariably they make a larger salary.
I went through Lisle last Summer (2003) and was so disappointed with what I saw. The "improvements" to the town has caused it to loose its charm. At the historical center, I found Yender's farmhouse. All I remember of old man Yender was having him threaten us young kids with buckshot if he caught us walking in his pastures playing our innocent youthful games. Of course his property is now an industrial park.
It is always hard to go home again. But in the case of Lisle, it is harder still. The new face of Lisle that seems to be planned will make it just one more shopping mall in the suburbs of Chicago. Sometime in some city, a planner will be hired who will understand that a city's heart is in the memories and places that should be preserved.
Thanks for your site.
Ed Wright, Kindergarten in the old VFW Hall on 53 and Warrenville 1955-56, Main Street School 1956-58. Tate Woods School, 1958-62, Schiesher and Lisle Junior High, 1962-64, Lisle Community High School 1964-68.

Gary L. Walkup
10/1/04

Hey, cool website! I moved to Lisle when i was in the
6th grade...like in 1963? WOW, has it been that long?
I started 6th grade at the old Main Street School,
until the Meadows school opened. I graduated from LCHS
in 1971, went to COD, and finally moved away to attend
SIU in 1973. Lots of awesome memories!

Carol Joswiak
9/12/04

So I'm reading through this amazing Lisle website, which couldn't have been more timely for me as I had just driven by the remains of the Main Street School (ugh. remains!), then around the corner to the remains of the old Lisle Library (!) and had been in a funk for days. I don't think it really bothers the others in my family who still live there, but it is like someone took away a part of my childhood.
(RL: I hear ya Carol...)

Beth Webster Gregor
8/1/04

Remember Vicky Shugart and Val Rios? They worked at the gas station on Ogden Avenue and wore bikinis. They made the news and the lines ran down Ogden of people were waiting to get in.

I remember going to Main Street School for 6th grade. That was when all 6th graders in Lisle went there. We played tether ball on the playground and thought we were cool. Main Street School had a lot of dark places. We would get lost on purpose going up and down different stairs and then appear back in class saying that we didn't know where we were!

I remember when Lisle Library was downstairs by Leo's Cleaners. There was only a few hours certain days of the week that it was open. We could not check out more than 2 books because they did not have very many books available. It was a big deal when it moved to the building just south of the tracks that is now (I think) a cable company.

I also worked a Jewel. It was one of the best paying jobs around. I went through college without any debt because of Jewel.

I remember open campus. What a big deal. We could go and smoke across the street (of course we really wanted to be seen by a select few) We could go to Dog and Suds or that chicken place for lunch. Open campus did not last long, because some of us did not come back to classes.

Paul Petry
7/23/04

I just love your Lisle website.

On the mystery.....

The King's Palace was the result of the old Lisle VFW hall being abandoned and the whole area around it becoming a bunch of overgrown weeds.
In fact, it sems like the King's Palace served as a harbinger of what was to come and the passing of what was once a more idyllic way of life - now gone forever.
A brash display of pretentiousness replacing the down home sensibilities forged out of the great depression and the WWII generation.
The end of my parents' marriage. The death of my grandfather a few years later.
Somehow, it seems like the tranquil small town life I remembered as a child started passing away when the King's Palace showed up.

Some of the things I remember before the King's Palace:

There used to be a baseball field behind the old VFW hall where they actually had ball games during the summer. There was a little metal shack, painted green, with a metal door that hand a chain crank that could lift up the door and it would serve as an awning. There was an old Pepsi cooler in there and they'd sell soda pop and hot dogs. After the games, they'd store the bases and the lime dispenser for making the baselines in that shack. I remember the ballgames then. Cars would be parked all over the grass. Parents and fans sitting along the sidelines smoking cigarettes and drinking Schlitz in cans or Miller High Life in bottles (no political correctness then). The players making a lot of "chatter": "Hey batter, batter - swing!" Dad taught me how to ride a bicycle on that ballfield. Over the years, they stopped having regular ball games there. The shack was abandoned. They put in the Standard gas station. We used to play in that old shack. One time, we packed the old metal shack with dried grass and set it afire. The shack was metal, so it didn't burn - but the burning grass made huge clouds of smoke that closed off Hwy 53. The police figured out, somehow, that whoever was behind it lived at the Petry house.

There were some woods that grew on the NW corner of Main Street and Middleton. Lots of old oak and box elder trees and black walnut trees. The walnuts, wrapped in a green cover that looked like limes and filled with a black tarry substance, used to fall on the road and get smashed by cars. For some inexplicable reason, one day someone bulldozed the woods into a big pile. They were left that way for a couple of years. Victor Chiapetta would heist a pack of Newport cigarettes from his mother's carton and we would hang out in a little secret spot in that pile of bulldozed trees and smoke. We'd smoke a whole pack of cigarettes in one sitting! Our little spot in those woods was littered with butts. I remember on hot summers going inside the cool darkness of the downstairs bar at the VFW hall. The smell of spilled beer and cigarettes. The pool table. The faces of the old guys sitting around - Mr. Chiapetta, Frank Schweir. On Friday nites, there was always a fish fry (in those days, the Catholic church required Catholics to eat fish on Friday). Sometimes Vic and I would collect up enough money to buy a plate of fried fish and french fries - man they were good - and then we'd sneak off to our little secret spot in the woodpile and eat, drink some soda pop, and smoke a bunch of cigarettes.

Circuses and carnivals would set up on the fields behind the VFW every summer. I remember waking up early in the morning hearing lions roaring, and looking outside my bedroom window to see a guy leading an elephant around the bases at the ballfield! Getting dressed and walking across the road to watch 'em hammer in huge tent pegs to put up the Big Top. The carnivals would come and Mom would always take us for rides and buy cotton candy. She loved to ride the Tilt-a-Whirl. I was always too scared to get on because I knew I'd just get sick. Well, one time, she talked me into it. The guy mercifully turned it off and I got off with my head spinning. I tried to run home, but I didn't make before I puked my guts out.

We used to hang out underneath the "Squirrel Cage" - that ferris wheel with the cages that spin around. When people would go upside down, a lot of times change would spill out of their pockets, and we kids would snatch it up. Easy money! But you had to watch out. Sometimes someone would get sick and throw up. If you were below, you'd get showered. Never happened to me though. I also remember the police showing up at the carnivals because the carnies were a rough bunch. Almost every night there would be knife fights between the carnies. Funny, but I even vaguely remember when the Lisle police went from a single red "gumball" machine light on the roof to a metal lightbar with two gumball machines, one on each end. Progress.

Connie (Galloy) Blaney
7/15/04

I loved Lisle....I worked for the Lisle Park District for approx. 3 1/2
to 4 years. It was the best job I had. The people who worked there were like family to me. They had agreat Senior program run by Val Ensalaco who loved the Seniors dearly. I really felt like the town was home. Carlin Nally was also a great person to work for...he really tried to look out for the kids. Then progress set in and they decided to hire someone from outside Lisle....as you can imagine the
whole atmosphere changed. I left after that and I don't think I have ever felt the same about a town as I did about Lisle.

?
7/9/04

I believe that the Book Nook was originally named Ann's Pantry. Ann (who later married Walker Gamble, a former mayor and real estate agent in Lisle) also owned Ann's Cab company which is shown in your picture. Thanks for keeping the spirit of Lisle alive.

Suzie?
7/8/04

I do remember the parades that would come down Jonquil Ave.. They would throw candy. I remember my mom taking me to Village Inn for "Pigs in a blanket" after my Kinder bus dropped me off in front of our house. I loved my neighbors as we were all very close. We would pick berries to go on our cereal in the morning in the woods behind our house. I got my first Skipper Barbie and Colorforms at the Ben Franklin store.

Cheryl Williams (Meyer)
7/8/04

 I remember Halloween night by the old Main Street School the village always had a large fire out in the field , which ended with "the burning of the old witch"! I Live out west now, but, feel very privledged to have grown up in such a great small town. I visit yearly to see my family an walk down Main Street. Thank goodness the Book Nook is still there--------remember buying all that "penny" candy for a penny?
Don't forget about the old Dairy Queen (RL: I think you mean Dairy Castle?) which was west of town Ogden Avenue and Schwartz street. The Esposito family owned that for years, and everybody in town would pile in there on a hot summer night for a really good milkshake (made from real ice cream), and the 10 cent ice cream cones .

7/12/04
I am remembering the out door- roller skating rink. It was located just North of the railroad tracks, in back of the old Main Street school. It was run by the Maxwells, who also owned the old "Kulps" where a majority from Lisle High went for lunch. (Over by maple and 53). Don't know if I have pictures, but I will sure look! (RL: Thanks Cheryl! Photos of Culps or the Roller Rinks would be awesome!)

D.B
7/8/04

We moved to Woodridge, ("Winston Hills") in 1964 - we used to call it "Southern Lisle". We never felt like we lived in Woodridge since we did mostly everything in Lisle. I remember going to Lisle's library during the late 60's. It was in one of the buildings on Main Street in the basement! (close to Book Nook). I also remember the best chicken anywhere was at Culps! You could stop at
Open Pantry for a pop (we called it "Open Pants") (It was like the first Convenient!) Mr. Freeman had a shoe store and marionette puppets (creepy guy!) We shopped for makeup and 45 records at Gary's Drugstore (they had a hole-punch hole through them!) I guess those are some of my most vivid memories that still pop into my mind now and then about Lisle!

Debbie Rosser-Vest
Stilwell, Kansas
7/8/04

What a great website. Do you remember Mr. Maxwell (Randy's Dad) and the opening of Culp's? Pre-Dog'n'Suds-- also Mr. Maxwell's roller rinks? The first one was where at Warrenville Rd and Main? Then he had one next to the train tracks... Also Randy Sutter's Dad's place where it was New Years Eve every night??

Thanks for the trip!

I fondly remember Dog 'N Suds, but we also used to walk to Culp's and Gary's Drug Store, and to the carnivals held at the shopping center where Gary's and National (groceries) used to be. At Gary's, we'd get these colored paper square coupons for discounts on the rides at the carnival. I used to buy my 45's there, including most of my old Beatles 45's, and music magazines. I remember reading about Woodstock at the magazine rack at Gary's.

Shortly before it opened, I interviewed for my first job at the Jewel on Rt. 53 and Maple, and worked there till I went to college. Many of my best girlfriends and classmates worked at Jewel, too...Rich Francis, Gloria Galloy, Nancy Sumner, Lindy Evans, Mary Jo Saul, Amy Doerr, Sue Durham...and I know there were more than that.

Unfortunately, my only memory of Main Street School is a negative one, from 1980 when the building housed the Lisle Police Department and I had a "run-in" with the local law while I was in town for a brief visit. It was on a summer afternoon, and I had just arrived at O'Hare early that morning, after flying in on a sleepless red-eye from Arizona. I was 6 or 7 months pregnant with my second child and on my way to my sister-in-law's house where my daughter and I were staying that night. On the way, I decided to drive past my old house on Jonquil Lane and, while looking in the direction of the house, I did not see the road sign announcing that through traffic was not allowed on that street. It was just off Main Street and, apparently, many people used the route to by-pass the spot where Main Street merged with Rt. 53. A cop wave me over, along with several other people, on Oak View Drive, in front of my former neighbors' homes, and waited an eternity to find out why I was pulled over. When I found out why, I explained my ignorance of the local ordinance to the cop, told him I was just visiting, wanted to see the old house, etc. He had no sympathy, and then I just fell apart, sobbing...from disbelief, anger, and pure fatigue. I was so upset that I went over to the police station (at "Main Street School") that same day to plead my case, but I received no pity for my situation. In the end, I got the court case rescheduled so I could attend it and defend myself while I was still in the area, and I did get the citation dropped. But I swore I would never return to that &*#$@ hick town again. Of course, I did. (Thank you for letting me vent.)

By the way, an old friend of mine from Lisle who attended Main Street School told me that he was suspended (or was it expelled?) for saying the word 'fart" on the playground. Whoa, times have changed!

Crummel corn! (not sure of the spelling) It was the best sweet corn in the world! Their place was on north Main Street, toward Warrenville Road. If they are still selling it, those of you who are Lisle residents should go over and get some NOW. I would, if I could.

Mike, I think I met you at the reunion a couple of years ago. Thanks for doing this.