| The Midlothian Fire Department was organized in
1924. By 1927, there were so many people living in the area that
community leaders decided it was time to formally organize the community
and incorporate it.
On March 17, it was incorporated as the Village of Midlothian,
taking its name from the golf course around which the community
had grown and prospered. The following month, John H. Hamilton was
elected as the Villages' first president. In the '30s and '40s,
homes continued to be built for people moving to and settling down
in Midlothian. The Kreis Brothers opened the Ford Garage (where
the village's fire engine was kept) and Chuck Cavallini began selling
ice cream from his corner "Sweet Shop" (the Cavallini
family would later own and operate the renowned Cavallini's Restaurant
- home of the "Chuck Wagon" dinners - which served patrons
from Midlothian, surrounding communities and even Chicago for a
half century before closing in 1989).
The first copy of The Messenger newspaper was printed in 1929 by
the Andrews brothers, above the old Largent store located on 147th
Street just west of Kildare. The first editor was Kevin McGann,
who later served as aide-de-camp to General Dwight Eisenhower during
World War II. McGann also worked with the General on his two books.
In 1949 Midlothian's present Village Hall was built at 148th and
Pulaski. It provided a permanent "home" for the village
staff.
The facilities have been expanded and recently renovated; the Village
Hall complex now houses the administrative staff, public works offices
and garages, the fire department administrative offices and Station
1, the police department administrative offices, records, communications
and investigative resources, a conference room and meeting room
used by residents as well as staff, and the Village Board Chambers.
Monthly hearings for parking tickets and housing-code violations
are also held in the Chambers. |
