History Repeats Itself ... Again & Again

Four times in the last 19 months, a car has climbed the curb and struck the Village True Value Hardware store on Lawn & Burlington. In most cases, the accidents have involved drivers who mistakenly hit their accelerator instead of their brake. Fortunately, there have been no serious injuries. But Linda Johnson, store owner, must feel that people are aiming for her.

While so many accidents in one location is probably unprecedented, cars have been “climbing the curb” in Western Springs for many years. Many residents will remember the day in 1987 when an errant automobile hit “Glen’s Local TV” store at 923 Burlington. It not only struck the front of the building, it actually entered the store and pinned Glen’s wife, Camille, in the wreckage. She had to be extricated by Western Springs firefighters. While she was able to return to work after two months of recuperation, she suffered back and leg pain long after the incident.

But, perhaps the most spectacular sidewalk incursion occurred in 1956. That’s when a truck driver lost control of his vehicle in the 800 block of Hillgrove Avenue, just west of Wolf Road. His truck ended up pushing two parked cars into Thorsen’s Realty office. Second photo. Fortunately, the truck driver sustained only minor injuries. No pedestrians were injured.

So, pedestrians, be aware of your surroundings. And, with luck, future “drive in” motorists will be confined to the drive-up windows of our local banks.

Photos:

Boarded-up Entry at Village True Value

Two Cars pushed by a truck onto Hillgrove Avenue sidewalk

Each week, the Western Springs Historical Society presents a “Blast from the Past”. To view prior stories, visit us at www.westernspringshistory.org or just click on the author’s name shown above