Country Club Hills

Country Club Hills Drinking Water Report Info
Country Club Hills began in 1955 when nearby engineer J. E. Merrion satisfied his vision of roomy, moderate, center income homes with a country-like climate. This zone, originally known as "Cooper's Grove", had been involved by German ranchers, who chose the land in the 1800s. Their children went to a one-room school building, situated in the southeast corner of what is now 183rd and Cicero. In 1872, a portion of the pilgrims founded their congregation and school, which they named St. John's Lutheran Church and school. According to a book arranged in 1976 by the Country Club Hills Bicentennial Commission of the American Revolution, "Stone squares for the building (church) were pulled from the Joliet quarry by groups of 24 donkeys out travelling lasting a few days. The squares were moved by log rollers as they were unreasonably overwhelming for any wheeled vehicle. The entire building was lifted by hand with only the utilization of ropes and pulleys." The congregation was finished in 1873 and will praise its 134th anniversary this year. New families were drawn to this territory, enticed by the huge, half-section of land parcels, grant-winning home styles, and sprawling roads. By 1956, around 117 homes were finished, and a new gathering, the Country Club Hills Homeowners Association, pushed for incorporation. On July 12, 1958, the citizens of this growing territory cast a ballot to incorporate as a City with a Mayor-Aldermanic Council sort of government. The primary election was held in August of 1958. The newly chosen officials had a lot to do. Evenings were spent drafting up ordinances to begin a working City Government that could begin receiving the assessment monies that the budding City needed to develop and prosper. It was not unusual for these officials, who got $1.00 every year, to have an extraordinary meeting each evening that went on until two o'clock in the morning. This was after they had spent the day at their standard employments and a short timeframe at home with their families. The main City Hall was a multi-year-old homestead house situated at 177th and Crawford. The City installed indoor plumbing, renovated the interior, and rented the four sections of land ranch, total with apple plantation, for $1.00 every year. In April of 1972, a new municipal unpredictable, situated on 175th Place, was committed. This is the current site of the Police Department. The principal Police Department was housed in one room of the City Hall, a converted ranch house. In 1961, it was moved to an abandoned carport, likewise situated on the homestead house property. During the initial three years, the patrolmen worked without compensation. They needed to supply their uniforms and guns. The main business building grant was given in November 1961 for a Marathon service station, situated at Flossmoor Road and Cicero Avenue. In February of 1963, the main alcohol license was given to Garofalo's Family Foods, which was the City's first market and was situated at 183rd and Pulaski, the current site of Home Furniture. In December of 1963, the City's first drug store, O'Brien and Flynn, opened next to Garafalo's. The primary expense upheld building constructed was the Civic Center, situated at 187th and Baker, which was devoted in September 1964. We owe many thanks to these founders, who designed the City Government that serves us today. The following comments are from a chronicled book about the city called "From Coopers Grove to Country Club Hills". Country Club Hills has progressed toward becoming what it is today a result of the willingness of its residents to donate their time and talents to the building of a city of which they can be glad. Individuals working together to assemble a congregation, paying little mind to confidence; a community working to construct a Civic Center and Library; neighbours helping out when a family comes into some tough occasions; individuals responding to a community request for blood to address the issues of a young hemophiliac; this is the soul upon which Country Club Hills was made..