The specifics are still to come, but Clarendon Hills is definitely planning to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2024.
“Everybody loves a celebration, an excuse to get together, tell stories, make new friends,” said Chuck Brand, president of the Clarendon Hills Historical Society. “It’s something special for the children. Every city, town and village in this country has celebrated milestones since this country began.”
Brand said the Historical Society is in the process of updating the 1974 50th year Clarendon Hills History publication.
“In addition, we are working on an eight-part centennial film series,” he said. “There will be activities planned by the Historical Society, but we are still in the discussion stage.”
One thing that has already happened is the creation of a special 100-year logo, designed by Clarendon Hills resident Dan Cosgrove of Cosgrove Design in a volunteer effort.
“We felt the logo was a nod to the 1920s since we were established in 1924, but it kept the feel and the recognizable parts of the village,” said Vicki Pries, executive assistant in the village manager’s office. The logo has been shared with local organizations to use for their 100-year events.”
Recently, Village President Eric Tech has been organizing a formal 100-year Committee, with Mike McCurry, resident and local realtor, as chairperson. Village and chamber staff are waiting to see what the committee comes up with, but meanwhile are working on some things that have been previously discussed.
Pries said Village staff brought up the 100-year celebration with the Village board prior to the April 2023 municipal election at past strategic planning and budget sessions.
“Their direction was that the village should be financially responsible, but celebrate by adding to the existing events, hoping to keep added staff hours and costs minimal while still commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the village,” she said.
Pries said she met a couple of times in 2022 with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society, library, and a few longtime residents to discuss the 100-year celebration.
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“We discussed the Village board and staff intent, and a uniform decision was made that the organizations would do the same thing — enhance what they were already doing, with the possibility of taking advantage of the celebration to add additional fundraising events for their nonprofits,” she said. “Keeping in mind that Village staff and taxpayer dollars should be considered when planning these events.”
Village staff asked local organizations to go to their members for planning of events for the 100-year celebration, in hopes of not stepping on each other’s toes.
” (The) Village will keep a special 2024 calendar with all the 100-year events on it,” Pries said.
One likely consideration will be adding to the Chamber of Commerce’s funding so that it could book a more prominent band for one of its summer Dancin’ in the Street concerts, as part of the 100-year celebration. Village staff also has reached out to the Hinsdale Golf Club to discuss the addition of fireworks during the Fourth of July event for the 100th-year celebration in 2024.
“This would be the most cost-effective way for the Village to add to the Hinsdale Golf Club’s already planned fireworks,” Pries said. Since they are having an additional display this year for their 125th anniversary, we will be able to see how that goes and know what that would actually cost, to see if it’s the route we want to go.”
Village staff also has suggested to the Chamber of Commerce that it holds a Village block party, possibly in September.
“This seems to be a possible path they are excited about, even going so far as to make it a roaring 20’s themed event,” Pries said.
Other ideas under consideration by village staff are:
Full-size flags for Village municipal buildings with the 100-year logo
Special color addition of the Trustee Topics newsletter
Special concert for the celebration, as part of Dancin’ in the Street, or separately
T-shirts
Small yard flags for residents
Commemorative coin and/or pins
Pet parade
Have a larger Christmas tree for the Chamber’s Holiday Walk. The Historical Society will also be selling a special Christmas ornament.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.