The Western Springs Historical Society is celebrating its 40th anniversary in grand style with a new exhibit showcasing several aspects of Western Springs' history. Visiting the second floor of the Water Tower Museum promises visitors a nostalgic journey back in time, to the beginnings of Western Springs business, commerce, recreation and daily household life.

Sponsored by the Western Springs Business Association, much of the new exhibit focuses on showcasing early business and the beginnings of economic growth in the Village.

Visitors can learn about several famous entrepreneurs such as J. C. Vaughn, whose humble beginnings included a small seed company with only five employees. Over several years, Vaughn grew his company to include over  100 acres, employing dozens of local residents. Vaughn's nurseries continued to blossom, and even received notoriety at the 1933 World's Fair.

Visitors can get up close and personal with several antique business machines, including a time keeping journal used in 1882, a punch clock, typewriter, mimeograph machine and an address machine from the 1600's.

Mr. Keil, the local pharmacist, also makes an appearance in mannequin form while he sits at his desk working on his typewriter. Visitors might wonder if he is hard at work perfecting his formula for ginger ale using local spring water that he sold to residents. 

There is also a replica of the first grocery store, showcasing shelves of early food products in original packaging. A far cry from today's hurried excursions to Jewel or Dominick's, early Western Springs residents would visit the local grocery with a handwritten list, hand it over to the shop owner, and sit and socialize. Upon leaving, they would either bring some of their products home or have them delivered by the shop owner personally, carried to their doorsteps by bicycle and handmade wooden crate.

The motto, "a woman's work is never done," rang true in the early days of the Village, where the average Western Springs' housewife reportedly spent an average of 58 hours a week tending to the home. Visitors to the museum can get a glimpse at some of the early tools used to clean, wash and maintain the household. 

Recreation also played a large part in Village life, and on display is a large collection of photos showcasing early residents participating in sports such as tennis and baseball. A variety of children's toys, such as dolls, playing cards, and an authentic Magic Lantern, one of the earliest slideshow projectors, are all on exhibit.

This new permanent exhibit is brought to life entirely by the generous donations of several  local residents. Kimberly Knake, WSHS trustee and chair of the Exhibits Committee, spent countless hours researching and organizing the donations over the past three months to bring the exhibit together.

Knake, who has been past president and is a current volunteer with the Historical Society, is thrilled about the launch of the new exhibit.

"This exhibit shows a different side of Western Springs; it showcases its history in a different light," said Knake.

It is Knake's hope that both children and adults will visit the new exhibit and take away a new appreciation for local history. 

For more information, visit www.westernspringshistory.org.