1958 Letter from Village President

To the Residents of Midlothian,

As the President of the Board of Trustees and the Village of Midlothian, I am proud to send you this report of what your local government has been doing during the past year.

Midlothian continues to grow in population and in importance in this southwest portion of Cook County. It is fast becoming a significant shopping center; a village of homes with ample school and recreational facilities; a village with improved roads, plenty of water and adequate sewers; a village protected by a top-notch volunteer fire department and an efficient police force.

Significant I think, is the work of all members of the Board of Trustees who devote their time and energies without remuneration to the welfare of the residents of Midlothian. We have a strong board – ready to work together after decisions have been made – but unwilling to act without full discussion and careful planning.

I hope you will all study this report and make use of it.

Respectfully submitted,

Henry J. Milen
Village President

1958 Village of Midlothian Board

President - Henry J. Milen

Trustee - Ch. Finance – John F. Goonrey

Trustee - Ch. Public Safety – Vernon G. Swillum

Trustee - Ch. Building – Walter B. Samet

Trustee - Ch. Roads and Drainage – Fred Massat

Trustee - Ch. Water and Sewer – Roy Steffen

Trustee - Ch. Public Relations – Wilbert E. Scharlau

Clerk - Nelle E. Burton

Treasurer – Glen L. Pyles

Police Magistrate – Louis Sannito

Attorney - Walter B. Briody

Engineer - Raymond W. Robinson

Chief of Police – John A. Ward, Jr.

Captain - Anthony Dell

Lieutenant - Walter Pence

Sergeant - Dominick Chiaro

Chief of Fire Department – Frank J. Wiswell

Chief of Fire Prevention – Charles N. Anderson

Superintendent of Public Works – William E. Bay, Jr.

Building Inspector – Martin Steinhagen

Zoning Board Chairman – John S. Knight

Zoning Board Secretary – James N. Lesparre

Police and Fire Commissioners – Charles B. Largen, James M. Kennedy, Louis M. Kalis

Health Officer – Carl E. Smith, M.D.

Civil Defense – Louis M. Kalis

Library Board Chairman – Albert Clifton

Business Office (Office) Manager – Kay Skedd

Business Office Relief Clerk – Laurane Tull

Secretary - Elaine Hoeltgen

1 View of the History of Midlothian from 1959-1960

(This history was reproduced from the 1959-1960 Midlothian Annual Report)

History of the Village of Midlothian

Before the turn of the century neat farm houses dotted the country-side in this general area. Transportation was by means of wagon and buggy, and the Rock Island Railroad made a milk stop in the morning at the 149th Street and Crawford Avenue “milk platform,” and again in the evening.

In 1898 several wealth Chicago businessmen, including one George Thorne, President of Montgomery Ward & Co. decided to locate a new golf club “way out on 147th Street” about two miles from where the Rock Island crossed through town. This club is one of the first here golf clubs in the Chicago area. The beautiful, spacious club house was built, and as this was prior to the invention of the automobile, the Midlothian and Blue Island Railway Company was formed with a short-line railroad north of Hamlin Avenue to 143rd Street, thence west to the club grounds. Facilities consisted of an old steam locomotive and two passenger cars. At each end of the line the locomotive woud be turned around on a “turn-table” to face back in the other direction. This was later replaced by an electric trolley, which operated until the line was discontinued in 1928.

Golf being a Scotch game, the country club chose the name “Midlothian” from Sir Walter Scott’s novel “The Heart of Midlothian.” Their emblem is the same as the one in the square, the original site of the ancient Dolkeith prison in the shire of Midlothian in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. There are three “Lothian” shires, east, west and mid in Edinburgh.

The Rock Island decided it was time to erect a station for the convenience of the Country Club set and a large yellow frame building, complete with pot-belled stove was built – not on the site where it now stands – but on the other side of the railroad tracks with a wooden foot bridge to cross the creek. For many years the station agent and his family lived in the depot.

About 1915 sub-dividers became interested in this locality and real estate offices came into being. The tracts of farm land owned for many years by the origina German and English Settlers became new sub-divisions with blocks and lots;and a few homes and business establishments came into being.

The nearest schools were built of native limestone and were one-room schools. On was located two miles west at 147th and Central Avenue and stil stands. It was used as a residence until it was gutted yb fire about a year ago. The second school, enarly two miles northeast was located at old Midlothian turnpike and Turner Avenue and was later utlized as Robbins Village Hall.

The first local community public school was one room, built by public subscription and contributed labor about 1919, and in later years it was convertd into a public library at 146th and Springfield Avenue. About 1922 the two-room Len Small School was built by School District No. 143 on the northeast corner of 147th and Crawford, and St. Christopher’s new parish braved a four-room school and combined convent.

The first store was in an old barn at 147th and Kildare and at the time of incorporation of the village the business district consisted of five or six stores, two garages, one barber shop, one restaurant and one coal yard.

In the year 1924 Midlothian Development Association was formed with thoughts of incorporating as a village. The first move to incorporate was put to a vote and lost. Residents went to the polls again on March 17, 1927 and voted in favor of incorporation. The village of Midlothian became a reality. The following month 421 voters went to the polls and elected the following officials:

President John H. Hamilton
Trustee M.E. Schooler
A.K. Robinson
George Fikrle
I.S. Schwartz
Nicholas Kremer
Joseph L. Reischel
Clerk Richard J. White
Police Magistrate Frank P. Stuart

The year the Village was incorporated was the same year that Charles Lindbergh flew the ocean and the country was prosperous. The depression came in the early 1930’s and people lived through it. Then came the years of World War II. Time continued to march on and the village took all this in stride.

The municipal building now located at 14801 S. Crawford Avenue was built and dedicated in1949 and for the first time in the village’s history all of the services of fire, police, water/sewer and administration were combined under one roof.

Today the Village of Midlothian is one of the better communities in which to live southwest of the windy city of Chicago.

1958 Midlothian Police Deparment Report

The Police Department of Midlothian now has four full time police officers and ten Reserve officers. The Reserve men serve without pay and are required to work no less than 6 hours per week.

The chief has been commissioned by the Family Court of Cook County as a Juvenile officer, which means it is not necessary to turn our juveniles over to an outside agency. A great many of the cases can be taken care of locally.

Speed in the village is controlled by the use of Radar in the main thoroughfares as well as on the side streets. The use of Radar has reduced the number of accidents thus making the streets safer for everyone.

The police radio operates 24 hours a day and is used to facilitate the work of the fire department as well as the public works department during breakdowns or in an emergency. Our radio operators also handle the police calls for five other nearby villages.

All the regular full-time officers and most reserve officers have attended FBI training courses. Each officer has been trained by the Red Cross in first aid. The chief and captain have attended Northwestern University, the lieutenant was sent to the Illinois police academy in Springfield and the Sergeant received special training at the Chicago police officers training school.

Midlothian’s police department is one of the most modern and best trained in the area. Two squad cars are on 24 hour duty patrolling the village. In addition to the squads, four of the officers’ private cars are radio equipped for use in investigations.

Fine moral support and financial aid has been given the Police Department by the Police Wives Association.

The department has modern up-to-date equipment, including, tear-gas, riot guns, criminal investigation field kit, high power rifles, walkie-talkie, portable public address equipment, etc. A great deal of the equipment was purchased with funds from the police association thus giving the taxpayers better protection at no increase in costs.

Statistics for 1958

Total number of arrests 1,776, and increase over 1957 of 298
Total number of parking tickets issued 169
Total number of auto accidents 116
Total number of auto-pedestrian accidents 2
Total fatal accidents 2
Total number of non-vehicular accidents 6
Total complaints received by the department 1,520
Total fines collected for the year – $18,522.00. This is an increase of $827.00 over 1957.
Total number of juveniles called to the attention of the department for one reason or another 169
Total number of juveniles referred to the Family Court 10
Approx. number of miles driven by both squads in patrolling the Village 100,000 miles
Train Wreck 1
Total hours worked by Reserve personnel without pay, this incudes duty on train wreck, carnivals, church and school 3000 hours
Total number of hours worked by Reserve personnel for which they were paid, this includes vacations of regular men, radio time, week-ends and sick leave of regular men 2500 hours
John A. Ward
Chief of Police

1958 Midlothian Fire Department Report

Midlothian Fire Department

In 1925, two years before the incorporation of the Village of Midlothian, the Midlothian Fire department was founded. Its first piece of equipment was a Model T Ford with chemical tanks and a small assortment of fire fighting tools. Since that time the department has grown and developed into one of the finest departments in this area. It now has two modern Seagrave fire pumpers and a squad truck equipped with over 200 items that responds to all fire calls. Two other pumping engines are maintained and kept ready at all times. All apparatus, including the chief’s car, is radio equipped.

The Departent is composed of 5 officers and 25 men, all volunteers, a well trained and disciplined group who respond to the alarms and take cre of the administration and maintenance.

Supporting the men is the Women’s Auxiliary of the Fire Department. Its members, besides working to raise funds for the purchase of equipment and other items needed by the firemen, also respond to the alarm, on all large fires, providing coffe and sandwiches for the fire-fighters.

Another important division of the Department is the Fire Prevention Bureau, which, through its inspections and recommendations on fire safety, has accomplished much in keeping our fire loss to a minimum.

Because of the efficiency of this modern Department, a class 5 rating for fire insurance purposes is enjoyed by the people of Midlothian. Few towns in Cook County have been able to attain this high rating which means a lower fire insurance rate.

Our fire station is modern and compete in every way. Twice in the last few years the Fire Department has had to expand. First the rear wall of the fire garage was extendd to make room for additional apparatus. This summer the volunteer firemen extended the southeast corner of the building to provide necessary office space for the administration of the department. A three-story training tower has been erected by the firemen and is used for the practice of fire routines.

During the year the department answered a total of 255 alarms of all types as follows: Fires 146, Scares 32, Inhalator calls 48, Special duty alarms 22, False alarms 7. On 14 occasions the department answered two alarms at the same time.

Midlothian alarms totaled 127, Crestwood 28, and 69 in the unincorporated area. 31 calls for mutual aid were received and answered by the MFD. On six alarms it was necessary to call for ssistance which brought department from eight neighboring towns.

A total of 3,159 men answered the alarms and worked a total of 282 hours and 33 minutes. This is equivalent to over seven weeks (40 hours) of work. Mileage of all fire trucks totaled 1,207 miles. Pumping time amounted to 51 ½ hours. 20,475 feet of hose was laid and 674 feet of ladders were raised.

Inhalator calls Increased by 25% . Results as follows: Relieved 26 person, revived 3, not revived 10 and on nine calls no service was rendered.

While the number of alarms for fire was increased by only one call over 1957, fire losses for the year are up. There were fewer prairie fires but an increase in the number of building fires.

Everyone is welcome to visit at the station and let us explain our work and efforts to keep you safe from fire. You can help too by observing our slogan – “Be Fire Minded.”

Frank J. Wiswell
Fire Chief