♪♪ >> WHEN MANY PEOPLE THINK OF THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS, THIS IS THE IMAGE THAT COMES TO MIND... WOODFIELD MALL, SURROUNDED BY HIGHWAY INTERCHANGES, PARKING LOTS AND SPRAWLING SUBDIVISIONS.

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THE REGION IS AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE.

LAND, THAT ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO WAS FARMS, IS NOW HOME TO SOME OF THE FASTEST GROWING COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE.

IT'S TEMPTING TO THINK THAT HISTORY BEGINS HERE WITH THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH AFTER WWII.

BUT AS YOU'LL SEE, THIS IS A REGION RICH IN HISTORY, THAT GOES BACK MUCH FARTHER THAN THAT.

WE'LL VISIT O'HARE AIRPORT, NAMED FOR A DOWNED WWII FLYING ACE, WHOSE FATHER WAS IN BUSINESS WITH AL CAPONE.

WE'LL GO TRACKSIDE AT ARLINGTON PARK.

AND LEARN HOW SOUTH BARRINGTON BECAME THE HOME OF ONE OF AMERICA'S LARGEST CHURCHES.

THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS GAVE US THE HANDHELD CELLPHONE, THE FIRST MCDONALD'S FRANCHISE AND THE WEBER GRILL.

A HOST OF CHARACTERS PLAY A ROLE IN THE STORY FROM HILLARY CLINTON, TO DICK TRACY, TO BABY FACE NELSON, WHO MET HIS END IN BARRINGTON.

YOU'LL MEET A POWERFUL MAYOR WITH A PRICELESS COLLECTION OF HUMMEL FIGURINES-- AND ANOTHER MAYOR, WHO WAS A FAMOUS SINGING COWBOY.

YOU'LL SEE HISTORIC MOVIE PALACES AND OTHER ARCHITECTURAL GEMS, BOTH HISTORIC AND MODERN.

WE'LL RIDE ALONG ON A FOXHUNT AT A SPRAWLING HORSE FARM, AND SEE SPECTACULAR NATURAL AREAS ARE RESTORED AND PRESERVED.

I'M GEOFFREY BAER, JOIN ME FOR A SURPRISING JOURNEY NORTHWEST OF CHICAGO.

♪♪ OUR TOUR BEGINS IN PARK RIDGE.

FROM THERE WE HEAD NORTHWEST VISITING O'HARE AIRPORT AND THE COMMUNITIES ALONG I-90, INCLUDING ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, SCHAUMBURG AND HOFFMAN ESTATES.

THEN WE'LL DOUBLE BACK TO PALATINE AND FOLLOW THE ROUTE OF A LONG-FORGOTTEN STEAM RAILROAD THAT RAN NORTH THROUGH LAKE ZURICH TO WAUCONDA.

RETURNING TO PALATINE, WE'LL PICK UP THE HISTORIC NORTHWEST HIGHWAY, AND VISIT COMMUNITIES FROM INVERNESS AND BARRINGTON, THROUGH CRYSTAL LAKE, ALL THE WAY TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION, THE LOVINGLY PRESERVED HISTORIC TOWN OF WOODSTOCK.

♪♪ WE'RE STARTING OUR TOUR AT A HIGH POINT...

LITERALLY.

THIS IS HIGH GROUND HERE IN FRONT OF THE PICKWICK THEATER IN PARK RIDGE.

IN FACT, MANY PEOPLE TOLD US IT'S THE HIGHEST GROUND IN COOK COUNTY.

ACTUALLY, WE CHECKED THAT OUT WITH THE ILLINOIS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND FOUND OUT THE HIGHEST ELEVATION IS IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE COUNTY NEAR BARRINGTON.

SORRY GUYS.

THIS MAY NOT BE THE HIGHEST GROUND, BUT SETTLERS IN THE 1800S KNEW IT WAS A LOT HIGHER THAN SWAMPY CHICAGO, SO IT WAS GOOD PLACE TO BUILD A TOWN.

IT WAS GIVEN THE NAME PARK RIDGE, AS A WAY TO REMIND PROSPECTIVE LAND BUYERS OF ITS HIGH AND DRY LOCATION ABOVE THE SWAMPY PRAIRIE.

BY THE WAY, THE NAMES ARLINGTON HEIGHTS AND MOUNT PROSPECT WERE CHOSEN FOR THE SAME REASON.

THE FIRST SETTLERS CAME TO THIS REGION IN THE 1830S.

THEY WERE FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK AND NEW ENGLAND.

BUT MANY OF THEM DIDN'T STAY LONG.

IT WAS THE GERMANS WHO PUT DOWN ROOTS.

THEY CAME IN THE 1840S, FLEEING POLITICAL TURMOIL IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY.

HERE THEY CREATED FARM TOWNS, WITH CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND NEWSPAPERS, JUST LIKE THOSE THEY HAD LEFT BEHIND.

♪♪ SOME OF THE TOWNS, WE'LL ON THIS TOUR, WERE VIRTUALLY ALL GERMAN.

BUT PARK RIDGE ALWAYS HAD A MIXTURE OF GERMANS AND YANKEES.

AND IT WASN'T EXCLUSIVELY A FARM TOWN, EITHER.

GEORGE PENNY ESTABLISHED A BRICKYARD HERE, IN THE 1853.

IT WAS SO IMPORTANT THAT LOCALS NAMED THE TOWN, PENNYVILLE.

BUT PENNY BALKED AT THE NOTORIETY AND THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO BRICKTON.

PENNY PERSUADED THE RAILROAD TO STOP IN BRICKTON, BY BUILDING THEM A DEPOT... OUT OF BRICK, OF COURSE.

THE NAME PARK RIDGE WAS ADOPTED WHEN THE VILLAGE INCORPORATED IN 1873.

IF YOU EVER RUN ACROSS A PIECE OF JEWELRY OR A HOUSEHOLD ITEM AND YOU TURN IT OVER AND YOU SEE THE WORDS, KALO AND PARK RIDGE STAMPED ON THERE, AND YOU CAN AFFORD IT, BUY IT.

WHAT YOU'LL HAVE IS A RARE AND VALUABLE PIECE FROM THE LEGENDARY KALO STUDIO.

IN 1905, A SILVERSMITH NAMED CLARA BARCK WELLES, MOVED TO PARK RIDGE AND ESTABLISHED KALO, WHICH IS GREEK FOR "BEAUTIFUL."

IT WAS A UTOPIAN COMMUNITY OF ARTISANS THAT SET THE STAGE FOR PARK RIDGE TO BECOME AN INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN ARTIST'S COLONY.

CLARA BARCK CAME TO CHICAGO IN 1898, FROM OREGON, TO STUDY WITH ARTS AND CRAFTS MASTERS AT THE ART INSTITUTE.

SHE MARRIED A WEALTHY PARK RIDGE BUSINESSMAN AND AMATEUR SILVERSMITH NAMED GEORGE WELLES, IN 1905.

TOGETHER, THEY BOUGHT THIS PROPERTY, WHICH GEORGE HAD LOST IN A DIVORCE, TO SERVE AS THEIR HOME AND WORKSHOP.

CLARA WAS DETERMINED TO PROVE THAT HAND-MADE ITEMS COULD BE PROFITABLE.

AS THE BUSINESS GREW, SHE EMPLOYED 25 SILVERSMITHS, MOSTLY FROM SCANDINAVIA-- AND A STAFF OF "KALO GIRLS" AS SHE CALLED THEM, WHO DESIGNED THE PIECES.

WELLES WAS A PERFECTIONIST AND SHE DEMANDED THE SAME OF HER STAFF.

THE WHOLE OPERATION WAS THROWN INTO DISARRAY IN 1914, WHEN GEORGE ANNOUNCED HE WANTED A DIVORCE AND HE WANTED THE KALO BUILDINGS AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT, ACCORDING TO DARCY EVONS WRITING IN THE PARK RIDGE HERALD.

CLARA MOVED THE WORKSHOPS TO CHICAGO.

JUST TWO MONTHS LATER, GEORGE DIED ON THE GOLF COURSE AT PARK RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB, ACCORDING TO EVON.

CLARA WELLES TURNED THE BUSINESS OVER TO HER FOUR MOST TRUSTED SILVERSMITHS, IN 1959, AND SHE DIED IN 1965.

THE KALO SHOPS CLOSED IN 1970.

ALTHOUGH KALO LEFT PARK RIDGE IN 1914, A NUMBER OF ARTISANS REMAINED THERE AND CREATED AN ARTIST'S COLONY THAT ATTRACTED SILVERSMITHS, JEWELERS AND OTHERS, WELL INTO THE 1920S AND 30S.

BEFORE HE PAINTED AMERICAN GOTHIC, GRANT WOOD WAS PART OF THE PARK RIDGE ARTIST'S COLONY.

HE OPENED A STUDIO THAT MADE COPPER AND SILVER JEWELRY.

IT WENT BANKRUPT DURING WWI AND WOOD LEFT FOR HIS NATIVE IOWA TO FOCUS ON PAINTING.

THE ARTIST WHO CREATED THE FAMOUS SPRITES FOR FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT'S MIDWAY GARDENS IN CHICAGO, LIVED IN PARK RIDGE FOR MANY YEARS, ITALIAN-BORN, ALFONSO IANELLI.

WRIGHT INVITED HIM TO COME TO CHICAGO FROM CALIFORNIA, IN 1914, TO WORK ON MIDWAY GARDENS.

LATER, IANELLI WORKED ON PAVILIONS AT CHICAGO'S 1933 CENTURY OF PROGRESS WORLD'S FAIR, CREATED CONSTELLATION RELIEF SCULPTURES AT CHICAGO'S ADLER PLANETARIUM AND THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR ON THE PRUDENTIAL BUILDING.

HE EVEN DESIGNED SUNBEAM TOASTERS AND COFFEEMAKERS!

♪♪ IANELLI MADE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS OWN TOWN TOO.

THIS FOUNTAIN IN HODGES PARK IS DEDICATED TO THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS.

ANOTHER ONE, AT THE LOCAL COUNTRY CLUB, DISAPPEARED FROM ITS BASE AND LOCALS HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR IT FOR YEARS.

MOST FAMOUSLY, IANELLI DESIGNED THE SPECTACULAR INTERIOR OF THE HISTORIC PICKWICK THEATER, WHICH IS NOW A NATIONAL LANDMARK.

THE PICKWICK OPENED IN 1928, AS A MOVIE AND VAUDEVILLE HOUSE.

THE SPECTACULAR ART DECO STYLE DESIGN INCLUDES A 100-FOOT TOWER, TOPPED WITH AN ORNAMENTAL IRON LANTERN.

THE PICKWICK THEATRE'S MASSIVE WURLITZER ORGAN STILL WORKS!

TALKING PICTURES MADE IT OBSOLETE, SOON AFTER THE THEATER OPENED.

BUT AFTER YEARS OF NEGLECT, IT WAS RESTORED IN THE 1960S.

THE THEATER ITSELF WAS RESTORED IN 1980.

IT NOW HAS MULTIPLE SCREENS, BUT THEY'RE IN THE BACK, SO THE MAIN AUDITORIUM REMAINS INTACT.

ONE OF THE KIDS WHO USED TO GO TO THE MOVIES HERE, IN THE 1960S, GREW UP TO BE FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES AND A DEMOCRATIC U.S.

SENATOR.

BUT WHEN HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON WAS GROWING UP IN PARK RIDGE, SHE WAS A STAUNCH REPUBLICAN.

SHE WAS TAKING AFTER HER FATHER HUGH, WHO OWNED A DRAPERY BUSINESS IN CHICAGO.

CLINTON WROTE, "MY MOTHER WAS A DEMOCRAT, ALTHOUGH SHE KEPT IT QUIET IN REPUBLICAN PARK RIDGE."

BIOGRAPHER NORMAN KING DESCRIBED YOUNG HILLARY AS A "MINIATURE WHIRLWIND WHO WANTED TO EXCEL AT EVERYTHING."

BEGINNING AT AGE 13, SHE WORKED SUMMERS FOR THE PARK DISTRICT, CARRYING PLAYGROUND TOYS BETWEEN HER HOME AND A NEARBY PARK.

HER SENIOR YEAR AT MAINE SOUTH, SHE HEADED THE COMMITTEE THAT ORGANIZED THE HOMECOMING PARADE, DANCES, PEP RALLIES, AND PROMS.

CLINTON GRADUATED IN THE TOP FIVE PERCENT OF HER HIGH SCHOOL CLASS.

OF COURSE, THERE WAS A SOCIAL COST TO BEING AN OVERACHIEVER.

HER HIGH SCHOOL NEWSPAPER PREDICTED SHE WOULD BECOME A NUN, AND WOULD TAKE THE NAME "SISTER FRIGIDAIRE."

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON ISN'T THE ONLY LUMINARY FROM PARK RIDGE.

HARRISON FORD GREW UP HERE AND IN NEARBY MORTON GROVE.

HIS FATHER PRODUCED TV COMMERCIALS FOR A CHICAGO ADVERTISING AGENCY.

THE FUTURE FILM STAR GOT MEDIOCRE GRADES AT MAINE EAST HIGH SCHOOL IN THE LATE '50S, AND WAS A TARGET FOR BULLIES BECAUSE HE WAS A SCRAWNY KID.

I GUESS HE SHOWED THEM!

THE FIRST AMERICAN TO BE NAMED A SAINT IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, MOTHER FRANCIS XAVIER CABRINI OWNED A FARM IN PARK RIDGE-- IT SUPPLIED FOOD TO HER HOSPITALS AND ORPHANAGES DURING WWI.

THE DESIGNER OF MANY OF THE FAMOUS ART INSTITUTE THORNE ROOMS WAS FROM PARK RIDGE.

EUGENE KUPJACK, WHO DIED IN 1991, WAS KNOWN AS THE "MASTER OF MINIATURES."

>> ♪ DO THEY STILL PLAY ♪ ♪ THE BLUES IN CHICAGO?

♪ >> PARK RIDGE ALSO GAVE US THE LATE SINGER-SONGWRITER, STEVE GOODMAN.

AND THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE ROCK GROUP "CHICAGO," TROMBONIST JAMES PANKOW.

WINDING THROUGH THE FOREST PRESERVES ON THE WESTERN EDGE OF PARK RIDGE, IS THE DES PLAINES RIVER.

EXPLORERS WHO CAME TO THIS REGION IN THE LATE 1600S, THOUGHT THE DES PLAINES RIVER WAS PART OF EITHER THE CHICAGO OR THE ILLINOIS RIVER.

IN THE LATE 1700S, WHEN THEY DISCOVERED IT WAS A SEPARATE RIVER, THEY HAD TO CALL IT SOMETHING.

THERE ARE SEVERAL THEORIES ABOUT WHERE THE NAME COMES FROM.

FRENCH CANADIAN FUR TRADERS MAY HAVE NAMED THIS RIVER, "PLEIN"-- SPELLED P-L-E-I-N, MEANING FULL.

NOW THAT'S NOT EXACTLY TRUTH IN ADVERTISING, SINCE RIVER LEVELS HERE CAN VARY WIDELY.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE GROUND I'M STANDING ON IS COMPLETELY UNDER WATER.

BUT AT OTHER TIMES OF THE YEAR, THE RIVER IS BARELY A TRICKLE.

ANOTHER THEORY IS THAT THE NAME DERIVES FROM A VARIETY OF MAPLE TREE.

FOLLOWING THE DES PLAINES RIVER SOUTH, THROUGH THE FOREST PRESERVES, WE COME TO ROBINSON WOODS, A PLACE THAT HAS BITTERSWEET HISTORY FOR NATIVE AMERICANS.

THIS IS WHERE YOU'LL FIND THE GRAVE OF POTAWATOMIE INDIAN, CHIEF CHEE-CHEE-PIN-QUAY, AND HIS FAMILY.

HIS ENGLISH NAME WAS ALEXANDER ROBINSON.

CHEE-CHEE-PIN-QUAY WAS GIVEN THIS LAND IN EXCHANGE FOR SAVING THE LIFE OF THE FAMOUS CHICAGO SETTLER, JOHN KINZIE AND HIS FAMILY DURING THE FORT DEARBORN MASSACRE OF 1812 AND FOR URGING HIS AND OTHER TRIBES NOT TO FIGHT IN THE BLACKHAWK WAR OF 1832.

SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THIS WAS THE SPOT WHERE THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MADE ITS FINAL PAYMENT TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS AS PART OF THE TREATY OF 1833, THAT BANISHED THE INDIANS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

ROBINSON WAS ALLOWED TO STAY BECAUSE HE WAS HALF-WHITE.

HE FARMED THIS LAND UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1872, AT A REPORTED AGE OF 110.

ROBINSON'S LAND COVERED A LARGE PART OF TODAY'S SCHILLER PARK AND A SMALLER PART OF FRANKLIN PARK, TWO SUBURBS JUST WEST OF THE FOREST PRESERVE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SCHILLER PARK, STRADDLING I-294, IS A NEWLY REMODELED ICON OF CHICAGO-AREA TOLLWAY TRAVEL, AND A SIGHT THAT IS COMPLETELY FOREIGN TO MOTORISTS FROM ANYWHERE ELSE.

CHICAGO'S FAMOUS OASIS RESTAURANTS ARE THE ONLY OVER-THE-HIGHWAY RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE IN OKLAHOMA.

THE STANDARD OIL COMPANY OF INDIANA, BUILT THE ORIGINAL FIVE MODERNIST STYLE OASES, IN 1959.

THEY FEATURED FRED HARVEY RESTAURANTS WITH TABLE SERVICE FROM WAITRESSES IN CRISP WHITE UNIFORMS.

LATER HOWARD JOHNSON'S TOOK OVER THE RESTAURANTS, ADDING THEIR SIGNATURE ORANGE ROOFS, AND STILL LATER THEY BECAME MCDONALD'S, WENDY'S AND BURGER KINGS.

AS OF 2004, THERE WERE SEVEN OASES, SIX OF WHICH WERE BEING REBUILT.

THE NEW STRUCTURES ARE MORE THAN TWICE AS TALL AS THE OLD ONES, WITH SOARING 30-FOOT CEILINGS AND 360-DEGREE GLASS TO CREATE A MUCH MORE OPEN FEELING.

THE O'HARE OASIS OVERLOOKS THE NEXT PLACE WE'LL VISIT ON OUR TOUR, O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

[ENGINE REVVING] IF YOU'RE LIKE MOST PEOPLE, YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE MAN, O'HARE AIRPORT IS NAMED FOR.

AND EVEN IF YOU DO KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT WWII FLYING ACE EDWARD "BUTCH" O'HARE, CHANCES ARE, YOU DON'T KNOW THAT HIS FATHER WAS IN BUSINESS WITH AL CAPONE, INFORMED ON THE MOB, AND WAS THE VICTIM OF A GANGLAND HIT.

IN THE AIRPORT'S TERMINAL 2 THIS GRUMMAN F4F-3 WILDCAT IS PAINTED TO RESEMBLE THE ONE BUTCH O'HARE FLEW INTO HISTORY ON FEBRUARY 20, 1942 IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC.

ON THAT DAY, O'HARE WAS LEFT TO FACE THE ENEMY ALONE, WHEN ANOTHER AMERICAN PILOT'S GUNS JAMMED.

O'HARE DOWNED FIVE JAPANESE BOMBERS AND ALMOST CERTAINLY SAVED HIS AIRCRAFT CARRIER FROM DESTRUCTION.

O'HARE'S CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION CALLS HIS ACTION, POSSIBLY THE MOST DARING IN THE HISTORY OF COMBAT AVIATION.

JUST A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, AT AGE 29, BUTCH O'HARE WAS KILLED LEADING THE FIRST EVER COMBAT MISSION LAUNCHED AT NIGHT FROM AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

IT'S POSSIBLE HE WAS DOWNED BY FRIENDLY FIRE.

BUTCH O'HARE'S FATHER, EDWARD O'HARE SR., WAS IN THE DOG-RACING BUSINESS WITH AL CAPONE AT HAWTHRONE RACETRACK.

LATER, HAWTHRONE SWITCHED TO HORSE RACING AND O'HARE BECAME ITS PRESIDENT.

REPORTS VARY ON WHY EDDIE O'HARE STARTED INFORMING ON THE MOB.

ACCORDING TO ONE THEORY, IT WAS PART OF A DEAL TO GET HIS BELOVED SON BUTCH ACCEPTED AT THE PRESTIGIOUS ANNAPOLIS NAVAL ACADEMY.

WHATEVER THE REASON, THE ELDER O'HARE'S EVIDENCE LED TO CAPONE'S FAMOUS CONVICTION IN 1932, ON CHARGES OF TAX EVASION.

NINE YEARS LATER, EDDIE O'HARE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE RACETRACK WHEN HE WAS KILLED BY SHOTGUN BLASTS FROM A PASSING CAR.

SO WHY DO O'HARE LUGGAGE TAGS BEAR THE INITIALS ORD?

WELL, THEY STAND FOR ORCHARD FIELD.

THAT'S WHAT THE AIRPORT WAS CALLED, WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN 1942, FOR THE WAR EFFORT ON THE SITE OF AN OLD ORCHARD AND FARM TOWN.

ORCHARD FIELD WAS PART OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST AIRPLANE FACTORY.

AFTER THE WAR ENDED, THE CITY OF CHICAGO BOUGHT ORCHARD FIELD AND 7,000 ACRES OF SURROUNDING LAND.

THEY WANTED TO EASE CONGESTION AT MIDWAY, WHICH IN THOSE DAYS, WAS THE BUSIEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD.

A LOT OF PROPERTY WAS MOVED IN ORDER TO EXPAND ORCHARD FIELD INTO A COMMERCIAL AIRPORT.

A HUNDRED HOMES, A CHURCH, EVEN A CEMETERY.

BUT THIS CEMETERY, ST. JOHN'S WAS LEFT RIGHT WHERE IT WAS AND AIRPORT BUILDERS JUST PUT A FENCE AROUND IT.

THE AIRPORT OPENED TO COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC IN 1955, WITH A FLIGHT TO CAIRO, EGYPT.

BY 1962, ALL THE COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS HAD MOVED FROM MIDWAY TO O'HARE, MAKING THE NEW AIRPORT THE WORLD'S BUSIEST.

PRESIDENT KENNEDY DEDICATED IT THE FOLLOWING YEAR CALLING IT, "ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE MODERN WORLD."

OVER THE YEARS, SOME OF THE ORIGINAL MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE BY THE FIRM OF C.F.

MURPHY, HAS BEEN SUPPLEMENTED OR REPLACED ALTOGETHER BY FLASHIER TERMINAL BUILDINGS.

ACCLAIMED CHICAGO ARCHITECT, HELMUT JAHN, DESIGNED THE UNITED TERMINAL COMPLETED IN 1988.

THE 744-FOOT LONG NEON SCULPTURE BY MICHAEL HAYDEN, MAKES THE LONG UNDERGROUND TREK BETWEEN UNITED CONCOURSES DOWNRIGHT ENTERTAINING.

JAHN ALSO DESIGNED A NEW CONTROL TOWER, AND A CTA STATION WHEN THE "L" WAS EXTENDED TO O'HARE IN 1984.

NOTED CHICAGO ARCHITECT, RALPH JOHNSON'S INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL OPENED IN 1993.

AS OF 2004, THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF DEBATE GOING ON ABOUT WHETHER O'HARE COULD STILL BE CONSIDERED THE WORLD'S BUSIEST AIRPORT.

IF YOU'RE MEASURING BUSY-NESS BY THE NUMBER OF ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES PER YEAR, O'HARE IS STILL TOPS.

BUT IF YOU'RE COUNTING THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PASSENGERS PER YEAR, ATLANTA'S HARTSFIELD AIRPORT HAS BEEN BUSIEST SINCE 1998.

WHETHER OR NOT IT'S THE WORLD'S BUSIEST, O'HARE NEEDS A MAJOR EXPANSION ACCORDING TO MAYOR RICHARD M. DALEY AND CHICAGO'S DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION.

THEIR 6.6 BILLION-DOLLAR PLAN TO BUILD NEW RUNWAYS AND A WESTERN TERMINAL WILL SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE DELAYS AT O'HARE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO ITS PROMOTERS.

BUT THE PLAN IS CONTROVERSIAL, BECAUSE IT WOULD GOBBLE UP MORE THAN 400 ACRES OF ADJACENT LAND, INCLUDING THAT CEMETERY WE SAW EARLIER.

AND OPPONENTS SAY THE PLAN WILL COST FAR MORE THAN PROMISED AND WON'T REDUCE DELAYS.

JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE END OF AN O'HARE RUNWAY SITS THE ALLSTATE ARENA, FORMERLY THE ROSEMONT HORIZON.

SOME PEOPLE SUSPECTED THAT VIBRATIONS FROM A LOW FLYING AIRPLANE CAUSED THE AUGUST 1979 ROOF COLLAPSE, DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE ARENA.

THE DISASTER KILLED FIVE WORKERS AND INJURED 16.

BUT A GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE ACTUAL CAUSE WAS MISSING BOLTS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO HOLD UP THE ROOF DURING CONSTRUCTION.

>> (SPORTS ANNOUNCER) SHOOTS, HE SCORES!

>> TODAY, ALLSTATE ARENA IS HOME TO SPORTS EVENTS, CIRCUSES, ICE SHOWS AND BIG NAME ROCK CONCERTS.

ROSEMONT HAS BEEN AT THE CENTER OF A CASINO CONTROVERSY FOR YEARS.

THE STATE HALTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF ONE CASINO, BECAUSE OF ALLEGATIONS OF MOB INVOLVEMENT.

THEN IN 2004, THE CHOICE OF ROSEMONT AS THE SITE FOR A NEW CASINO, TOUCHED OFF A GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION AND PROTESTS FROM RIVAL TOWNS.

ROSEMONT WAS FOUNDED IN 1956 AND IT'S MADE THE MOST OF ITS LOCATION, ADJACENT TO O'HARE AND AT THE CENTER OF A MASSIVE HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE THAT TAKES UP NEARLY HALF OF THE VILLAGE'S 2.5 SQUARE MILES.

ITS HUGE CONVENTION CENTER IS THE CHICAGO AREA'S SECOND LARGEST AFTER MCCORMICK PLACE.

THERE ARE ALSO SPRAWLING FIRST CLASS HOTELS AND OFFICE BUILDINGS, AND A GLITZY THEATER.

ONE MAYOR PRESIDED OVER ALL THAT GROWTH.

DONALD STEPHENS WAS ELECTED IN 1956, AND AS OF 2004, HE WAS STILL SERVING.

BUT IN ADDITION TO GOVERNING, STEPHENS HAS ANOTHER PASSION... HUMMEL'S!

HIS COLLECTION IS SO BIG, THAT IT NOW FILLS A MUSEUM IN ROSEMONT.

THE FIGURINES WERE INSPIRED IN THE 1930S, BY DRAWINGS OF SISTER MARIA INNOCENTIA HUMMEL.

THE YOUNG NUN HAD GRADUATED FROM ART SCHOOL AND DREW PICTURES OF CUTE BAVARIAN CHILDREN AND RELIGIOUS SUBJECTS TO GIVE AWAY AS REWARDS TO HER OWN ART STUDENTS.

AMERICAN SOLDIERS STATIONED IN BAVARIA AFTER WWII, STARTED SENDING THE FIGURINES HOME, AND THEY BECAME A HIT IN THE STATES.

MAYOR STEPHENS FELL IN LOVE WITH HUMMELS ON A TRIP TO EUROPE IN THE 1960S.

AS HIS COLLECTION GREW, HE STARTED HUNTING FOR THE RAREST PIECES, LIKE THIS ONE CALLED, "CINDERELLA WITH FOUR BIRDS," WHICH IS VALUED AT MORE THAN $20,000!

STEPHENS DONATED HIS COLLECTION TO THE VILLAGE OF ROSEMONT, IN 1984.

THE MUSEUM IS THE LARGEST PUBLIC DISPLAY OF HUMMELS IN THE WORLD.

WE'LL NEED AN I-PASS OR A POCKET FULL OF CHANGE FOR THE NEXT PART OF OUR TOUR.

WE'RE HEADING OUT ON I-90, THE NORTHWEST TOLLWAY.

THERE YOU GO.

>> THANKS, HAVE A GOOD DAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BYE, BYE.

>> WHEN WE COME BACK...

THE WORLD'S FIRST MCDONALD'S FRANCHISE IN DES PLAINES.

A BLIND ROLLER DERBY CHAMPION IN MOUNT PROSPECT, IMPORTED ELK IN ELK GROVE VILLAGE, A TASTE OF JAPAN AND WORLD CLASS HORSERACING IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.

AND A HUNDRED-YEAR-OLD FAMILY-OWNED NEWSPAPER DYNASTY.

THAT AND MUCH MUCH MORE!

>> THE NORTHWEST TOLLWAY OPENED 1958.

BACK THEN, IT WAS A RURAL HIGHWAY CONNECTING NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS WITH MADISON, WISCONSIN.

IT ONLY HAD TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION AND FEW INTERCHANGES.

BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

IN THE 1980S, THE STRETCH OF I-90 BETWEEN O'HARE AND ELGIN WAS NICKNAMED THE "GOLDEN CORRIDOR."

THE NAME IS A REFERENCE TO THE POWERFUL ECONOMIC POTENTIAL THAT BEGAN TO BE REALIZED AFTER WWII, WHEN VETERANS AND CITY DWELLERS STARTED MOVING OUT HERE IN BIG NUMBERS.

AND THE NORTHWEST TOLLWAY WAS THE KEY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE REGION.

OUR FIRST STOP ALONG THE GOLDEN CORRIDOR IS DES PLAINES.

♪♪ THIS IS WHERE YOU'LL FIND MCDONALD'S STORE #1.

BUT LET'S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT A FEW THINGS.

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S NOT A WORKING MCDONALD'S-- IT'S A MUSEUM.

BUT IF YOU REALLY HAVE A CRAVING FOR A BIG MAC, YOU CAN GET ONE RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.

SECOND, IT'S NOT ORIGINAL.

IT'S A REPLICA OF THE MCDONALD'S THAT WAS BUILT HERE IN 1951, WHICH WENT THROUGH NUMEROUS REMODELINGS.

IT WAS TORN DOWN IN 1984.

THE SPEEDY ROAD SIGN THOUGH, IS ORIGINAL.

THIRD, IT WAS NOT ACTUALLY THE FIRST MCDONALD'S.

IT WAS THE NINTH.

BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST MCDONALD'S FRANCHISE OWNED BY RAY KROC.

KROC WAS A MILKSHAKE MACHINE SALESMAN, IN 1954.

HE WAS AMAZED WHEN A SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA HAMBURGER STAND, RUN BY BROTHERS MAC AND DICK MCDONALD, NEEDED FIVE OF HIS MACHINES TO KEEP UP WITH BUSINESS.

HE CONVINCED THE BROTHERS TO TAKE HIM ON AS A FRANCHISE AGENT.

BY 1961, HE HAD OPENED MORE THAN 200 RESTAURANTS AND BOUGHT OUT THE BROTHERS FOR $2.7 MILLION.

IN 2003, MCDONALD'S GENERATED $17 BILLION IN REVENUES FROM MORE THAN 30,000 RESTAURANTS IN 119 COUNTRIES.

A FEW OLDER ESTABLISHED DES PLAINES EATERIES HAVE SURVIVED THE COMPETITION FROM RAY KROC'S LITTLE HAMBURGER STAND.

THE SUGAR BOWL OPENED FOR BUSINESS IN 1922.

AT ONE TIME, THEY MADE HAND-DIPPED CANDY AND OFFERED THE EIFFEL TOWER-- TEN SCOOPS OF ICE CREAM HELD TOGETHER WITH SUGAR WAFERS.

NOWADAYS, THE FAVORITES ARE HAM AND EGGS AND HOMEMADE CAKE.

ANOTHER DES PLAINES RESTAURANT THAT'S STILL CHUGGING ALONG, IS THE CHOO-CHOO!

THIS IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.

A HAMBURGER AND FRIES DELIVERED BY A MODEL TRAIN.

HOW CAN YOU BEAT IT?!

WHAT DID YOU GET, THE GRILLED CHEESE?

ALRIGHT!

JAMES AND MARILYN BALLOW OPENED THE CHOO-CHOO IN 1951.

ACCORDING TO MARILYN, RAY KROC HIMSELF CAME INTO THE RESTAURANT ONE DAY TO ASSURE THEM THAT HIS NEW MCDONALD'S WOULD BE NO COMPETITION.

HE SAID HE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO SIT DOWN, LET ALONE A MODEL TRAIN TO DELIVER THE FOOD!

THESE LITTLE TRAIN LOVERS PROBABLY HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THE REAL RAILROAD SHAPED DES PLAINES'S HISTORY.

IT'S WAS ONE OF A STRING OF RURAL TOWNS, ESTABLISHED BY THE ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN RAILROAD, LATER CALLED THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN.

THE ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN WENT INTO BUSINESS IN 1851, AND SENT AGENTS TO LAY OUT TOWNS ALL ALONG ITS PROPOSED ROUTE FROM CHICAGO TO JANESVILLE.

THERE WAS ALREADY A SMALL SETTLEMENT HERE CALLED RAND, NAMED FOR SOCRATES RAND.

NOW HE IS AN EARLY SETTLER WHOSE NAME POPS UP AGAIN AND AGAIN IN THE HISTORY OF THIS AREA.

HE RAN A TAVERN HERE WHERE RAND ROAD CROSSES THE DES PLAINES RIVER.

HIS SISTER, HARRIET, RAN THE FIRST MAINE TOWNSHIP SCHOOLROOM IN A CHEESE HOUSE ON HIS PROPERTY.

AND IN 1850, HE WAS NAMED THE FIRST MAINE TOWNSHIP CHAIRMAN.

RAND HELPED BUILD THE RAILROAD BETWEEN HERE AND CHICAGO.

BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME TO NAME THE STATION, THE RAILROAD CALLED IT, "DES PLAINES," AFTER THE RIVER.

SOON THE TOWN OF RAND CHANGED ITS NAME TO CORRESPOND TO THE STATION AND POOR OLD SOCRATES WAS LEFT WITH ONLY A ROAD NAMED IN HIS HONOR.

ON JULY 30, 1942, ARNOLD AND PAULINE KRAUSE OF DES PLAINES, GOT THE SURPRISE OF THEIR LIVES.

THEY WERE EXPECTING THEIR FOURTH CHILD.

INSTEAD, THEY GOT THEIR FOURTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH!

THEY NAMED THE TRIPLETS, TOM, DICK AND HARRY.

THE LOCAL KIWANIS CLUB BECAME THE TRIPLETS' GODFATHER AND MADE THEM THEIR CLUB PROJECT, PROVIDING CLOTHING, TRANSPORTATION AND DAY CARE.

SO MANY PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE THE TRIPLETS, THAT ARNOLD INSTALLED A WINDOW IN THEIR BEDROOM DOOR AND SET UP A GUEST BOOK.

WHEN ARNOLD'S UNION WENT ON STRIKE IN 1947, PAULINE OPENED A HAMBURGER STAND IN THEIR DES PLAINES HOME TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY.

SHE CALLED THE RESTAURANT TOM, DICK AND HARRY'S.

ALL THREE TRIPLETS SERVED IN THE NAVY IN VIETNAM.

TODAY, LIKE MANY OF ITS NEIGHBORS, DES PLAINES IS SPRUCING UP ITS POST-WAR ERA DOWNTOWN.

FOR A TIME, IT LOOKED LIKE THE OLD DES PLAINES THEATER WOULD BE TORN DOWN AS PART OF THE REDEVELOPMENT-- BUT THE THEATER IS DOING A BOOMING BUSINESS TODAY, SHOWING INDIAN MOVIES.

THE OWNER SAYS THE THEATER DRAWS EAST INDIAN AUDIENCES FROM ALL OVER THE CHICAGO AREA.

FASHION DESIGNER EILEEN FISHER, CREDITS HER SUCCESS TO HER UPBRINGING IN DES PLAINES.

SHE CALLS HER SIMPLE DESIGNS "SOPHISTICATED SUBURBAN...

COMFORTABLE CLOTHES FOR REAL WOMEN."

SHE STARTED HER LINE IN 1984, WITH $350.

BY 1995, SHE WAS RUNNING A 560-PERSON OPERATION WITH $154 MILLION IN SALES.

TODAY, THREE OF HER FOUR SISTERS WORK IN HER SHOPS IN AREA MALLS.

THE MOST EARTH-SHATTERING EVENT IN DES PLAINES HISTORY HAPPENED 15 MILLION YEARS AGO.

THAT'S WHEN GEOLOGISTS SAY A METEORITE SLAMMED INTO THE EARTH, RIGHT ABOUT HERE, WHERE THE TOUHY TOLL PLAZA IS TODAY.

IT LEFT A CRATER FIVE MILES WIDE.

OF COURSE, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF THAT ON THE SURFACE ANYMORE, BUT DEEP UNDERGROUND, THE LAYERS OF ROCK STILL SHOW SIGNS OF THE IMPACT, AND THE WATER TABLE HERE IS 1,500 FEET UNDERGROUND, INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 11 TO 70 FEET.

CHRISTMAS IN 1978, WAS A GRIM TIME FOR DES PLAINES POLICE.

JUST DAYS EARLIER, THEY HAD DISCOVERED ONE OF THE MOST HORRIBLE MASS MURDERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY, WHEN THEY ARRESTED A LOCAL BUILDING CONTRACTOR AND PART-TIME BIRTHDAY PARTY CLOWN, NAMED JOHN WAYNE GACY.

THE POLICE HAD CONNECTED GACY TO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF A LOCAL YOUTH.

THEY GOT A WARRANT TO SEARCH GACY'S HOME-- CHICAGO'S NORTHWEST SIDE.

IN THE BASEMENT CRAWL SPACE AND OTHER AREAS, THEY UNEARTHED THE BODIES OF 29 YOUNG MEN MURDERED BETWEEN 1972 AND 1978.

GACY HAD DUMPED FOUR OTHER VICTIMS IN THE DES PLAINES AND ILLINOIS RIVERS.

GACY CONFESSED, BUT SAID THE MURDERS WERE COMMITTED BY HIS ALTER EGO, JACK HANLEY.

JOHN WAYNE GACY WAS EXECUTED MAY 10, 1994.

THE NEXT TOWN ON OUR TOUR, MOUNT PROSPECT, HAD A LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE AUTOMOBILE LONG BEFORE I-90 WAS BUILT.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE TOWN'S LEADING PROMOTER, WILLIAM BUSSE, WAS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS AREA'S FIRST MAJOR AUTO ROAD, THE NORTHWEST HIGHWAY.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1922, ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS FROM CHICAGO'S JEFFERSON PARK TO BARRINGTON.

IT BECAME PART OF U.S. HIGHWAY 14 THAT TOOK EARLY MOTORISTS ALL THEY WAY TO YELLOWSTONE.

WILLIAM BUSSE GREW UP ON A MOUNT PROSPECT FARM, OWNED THE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE, AND LOVED CARS.

IN 1908, HE AND A FRIEND SAW A CAR IN THE WINDOW OF A BUICK DEALERSHIP ON CHICAGO'S FAMOUS MOTOR ROW.

THEY POOLED THEIR MONEY AND BOUGHT IT.

HE LIKE THE CAR SO MUCH, THAT HE WROTE AWAY TO THE MANUFACTURER AND OFFERED TO SERVE AS A LOCAL SALES AGENT.

THEY TURNED HIM DOWN.

TWO YEARS LATER, BUSSE WAS UP ON THE ROOF OF HIS BUILDING DOING SOME REPAIRS, WHEN A BUICK AGENT CAME UP THE LADDER AND OFFERED HIM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP.

HE WAS SO EXCITED, HE SIGNED THE PAPERS WHILE HE WAS STILL ON THE ROOF, ACCORDING TO THE MOUNT PROSPECT HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

AT FIRST, BUSSE OPERATED THE DEALERSHIP OUT OF HIS HARDWARE STORE.

HE ROLLED THE CARS ONTO THE STREET EACH MORNING AND BACK INTO THE STORE AT NIGHT.

BUT SOON ENOUGH, A BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED FOR BUSSE BUICK.

WILLIAM BUSSE BECAME THE TOWN'S LEADING CITIZEN.

HE FOUNDED THE MOUNT PROSPECT SATE BANK, WHICH FINANCED HOUSING BOOMS IN THE 1920S AND 1950S.

AND HE SERVED AS THE TOWN'S FIRST MAYOR AND AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

HE OWNED THE MOST IMPRESSIVE HOUSE IN TOWN, WITH A SUNKEN GARDEN FOR ENTERTAINING POLITICOS AND BUSINESS PROSPECTS.

TODAY, IT'S A LOCAL LANDMARK.

WILLIAM WASN'T THE ONLY MOUNT PROSPECT MOVER AND SHAKER WITH LAST NAME OF BUSSE.

THE FAMILY IS A DYNASTY IN MOUNT PROSPECT.

WILLIAM BUSSE'S GRANDPARENTS, FRIEDRICH AND JOHANNA, WERE AMONG THE FIRST IMMIGRANTS TO THIS GERMAN SETTLEMENT, IN 1848.

OVER MORE THAN A CENTURY AND A HALF, FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN PROMINENT FARMERS, LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS.

BUSSE FLOWERS, WHICH WAS FOUNDED IN 1916 BY WILLIAM'S COUSIN AND HIS SON, IS CURRENTLY RUN BY THE FOURTH GENERATION OF BUSSES, AND A MEMBER OF THE FIFTH GENERATION IS ALREADY WORKING THERE.

AND ALONG A SECTION OF NORTHWEST HIGHWAY, THE INTERSECTING STREETS ARE NAMED FOR BUSSE FAMILY MEMBERS.

THE FAMILY'S 1998 REUNION, CELEBRATING 150 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST BUSSES CAME TO THE UNITED STATES, MADE THE GUINESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS AS THE LARGEST FAMILY REUNION EVER!

TWO THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-NINE DESCENDANTS OF FRIEDRICH AND JOHANNA CAME FROM 48 STATES AND SEVEN COUNTRIES.

OF COURSE, THE BUSSES WEREN'T THE ONLY FAMILY IN TOWN.

DIETRICH FRIEDRICHS BUILT THIS FARMHOUSE, IN 1906.

TODAY, THE LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY HAS RESTORED IT AS A MUSEUM TO PRESERVE THE HERITAGE OF THIS OLD GERMAN SETTLEMENT.

A MAJOR EFFORT IS ALSO UNDERWAY TO RESTORE THE CENTRAL SCHOOL, BUILT IN 1895.

OVER THE GENERATIONS, IT HAS SERVED AS A LIBRARY, FIRE DEPARTMENT, LUTHERAN CHURCH AND MOVIE THEATER!

THERE ARE FEWER THAN TEN ONE-ROOM SCHOOLS LEFT IN COOK COUNTY.

RANDHURST, COMPLETED IN 1962, WAS THE FIRST SHOPPING MALL ON THE GOLDEN CORRIDOR.

IN FACT, IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST INDOOR SHOPPING MALLS IN THE COUNTRY.

IT WAS THE LARGEST AIR-CONDITIONED SPACE IN AMERICA, WHEN IT WAS CONSTRUCTED.

ENORMOUS CROWDS CAME FROM ALL OVER THE CHICAGO AREA TO SEE IT.

IT HAD A COLD WAR ERA BOMB SHELTER UNDERNEATH IT, DESIGNED TO HOLD THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF MOUNT PROSPECT!

FOR MANY YEARS, THERE WAS A HOT DOG STAND IN MOUNT PROSPECT, OPERATED BY A ONE-OF-KIND RETIRED SPORTS HERO.

SAMMY SKOBEL HAD BECOME A ROLLER DERBY HALL-OF-FAMER EVEN THOUGH HE WAS LEGALLY BLIND!

SKOBEL GREW UP ON CHICAGO'S MAXWELL STREET AND LOST MOST OF HIS EYESIGHT WHEN HE WAS JUST FOUR YEARS OLD FROM SCARLET FEVER.

BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP HIM FROM TRYING OUT FOR THE ROLLER DERBY, LATER ON.

HE JUST DIDN'T TELL THEM ABOUT HIS VISION PROBLEM.

OVER HIS CAREER, HE EARNED MULTIPLE MVP AWARDS.

HE STILL HOLDS THE WORLDS RECORD FOR THE ROLLER DERBY MILE, TWO MINUTES AND 33 SECONDS, SET AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN 1958.

AFTER RETIRING TO MOUNT PROSPECT, HE DID MORE THAN SELL HOTDOGS.

HE STARTED AN ORGANIZATIONS FOR BLIND GOLFERS AND THE AMERICAN BLIND SKIING FOUNDATION.

NEXT STOP IS ELK GROVE VILLAGE, WHICH YOU WOULD NATURALLY THINK IS NAMED FOR THE ELK THAT LIVE THERE.

AFTER ALL, YOU CAN COME HERE TO NED BROWN FOREST PRESERVE AND SEE THEM FOR YOURSELF!

BUT THERE WEREN'T ANY ELK HERE IN 1924, WHEN THIS FOREST PRESERVE WAS NAMED ELK GROVE.

SO THE COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT IMPORTED 14 OF THEM FROM WYOMING.

AT FIRST, THEY WERE ALLOWED TO ROAM WILD.

BUT THEY WANDERED TOO FAR AND WERE FINALLY PENNED UP INSIDE A 16-ACRE COMPOUND.

EVERY FEW YEARS, THE COUNTY TRADES AWAY ALL THE MALES FOR A SINGLE ADULT MALE FROM ANOTHER HERD.

ACCORDING TO CHICAGO TRIBUNE WRITER CARRI KARUHN, THIS PREVENTS INBREEDING AND KEEPS THE POPULATION DOWN.

THE COUNTY'S BIGGEST PROBLEM HERE IS NOT THE ELK, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO INSIST ON FEEDING THEM, DESPITE WARNINGS THAT IT COULD BE HARMFUL.

ELK GROVE WAS NICKNAMED THE "PEONY VILLAGE" IN THE MID-1950S, WHEN KLEHM NURSERY GREW PEONIES HERE BY THE ACRE.

THEY EVEN DEVELOPED AN "ELK GROVE PEONY."

IT WAS THE FIRST PEONY EVER TO BE PATENTED!

IT'S STILL AVAILABLE TODAY IN CATALOGS, BUT IT HAS A NEW NAME, PINK PARFAIT.

THE NURSERY ALWAYS SAVED ENOUGH THEM FOR THE JAYCEES TO USE IN THEIR ANNUAL PEONY PARADE.

ELK GROVE VILLAGE IS A PLANNED COMMUNITY, BUILT IN THE 1950S.

IT'S HALF RESIDENTIAL, AND HALF INDUSTRIAL.

ELK GROVE TOWNSHIP IS WHERE YOU'LL FIND THE HEADQUARTERS OF UNITED AIRLINES.

THE AIRLINE TRACES ITS ROOTS BACK TO A TINY AIRMAIL SERVICE FOUNDED IN 1926.

EARLY PASSENGERS SAT WITH THE MAIL SACKS IN CRAMPED, UNHEATED CABINS.

THE WORLD'S FIRST STEWARDESS WORKED FOR A UNITED SUBSIDIARY.

SHE WAS A NURSE NAMED ELLEN CHURCH.

IN 1931, SHE AND ONE OF THE AIRLINE'S MANAGERS, PIONEERED THE IDEA OF HIRING NURSES TO SERVE COFFEE AND SANDWICHES, AND MINISTER TO NERVOUS FLYERS.

UNTIL 1968, THE AIRLINE HAD A RULE THAT STEWARDESSES HAD TO BE UNMARRIED.

IN 1953, UNITED INTRODUCED "EXECUTIVE FLIGHTS" FOR MEN ONLY.

THEY, FEATURED COMPLIMENTARY COCKTAILS, STEAKS, BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS AND CIGARS.

THE PROGRAM LASTED UNTIL 1970.

UNITED WAS THE FIRST TO OFFER NON-STOP TRANSCONTINENTAL SERVICE IN 1954.

SEVEN-AND-A-HALF HOURS IN THE COMFORT OF A NEW FANGLED PRESSURIZED CABIN.

IN 1965, THE AIRLINE LAUNCHED ITS FAMOUS, "FLY THE FRIENDLY SKIES" SLOGAN.

IT WOULD BECOME THE INDUSTRY'S LONGEST-RUNNING MARKETING MESSAGE.

IT WAS RETIRED IN 1997.

SINCE DEREGULATION IN THE 1970S, THE AIRLINE HAS EXPERIENCED ITS SHARE OF FINANCIAL TURBULENCE.

IT BECAME EMPLOYEE OWNED IN THE 1990S, AND WENT THROUGH PERIODS OF BOTH RECORD PROFITS AND LOSSES DURING THAT DECADE.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 HIT ALL AIRLINES HARD.

IN THE AFTERMATH, UNITED POSTED A $2.1 BILLION LOSS AND BEGAN OPERATING UNDER CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION.

THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO VISIT JAPAN FROM THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS.

THE EXPENSIVE WAY, IS TO GET ON AN AIRPLANE AT O'HARE.

BUT WHY DO THAT, WHEN YOU CAN TRAVEL JUST A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS?

THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL FIND THE MITSUWA MARKETPLACE.

IT'S A JAPANESE HYPERMARKET THAT INCLUDES A GROCERY STORE, BAKERY, BOOKSTORE, TOYSHOP, TRAVEL AGENCY AND LIQUOR STORE.

YOU'LL FEEL LIKE YOU'VE BEEN INSTANTLY TRANSPORTED TO TOKYO, BECAUSE MOST OF THE CUSTOMERS ARE JAPANESE.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, PALATINE AND SCHAUMBURG HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF JAPANESE IN THE AREA.

MANY ARE IN THE U.S.

TEMPORARILY FOR THEIR JOBS.

♪ TRUMPETS ♪ ARLINGTON PARK IS THE CHICAGO AREA'S PREMIER RACETRACK, AND THE ARLINGTON MILLION IS THEIR BIGGEST DAY OF THE YEAR.

THE STANDS ARE PACKED.

AND IN THE SUITES HIGH ABOVE THE ACTION, THE GLITTERATI OF CHICAGO HORSERACING SCENE TURNS OUT IN FULL REGALIA.

HORSES AND JOCKEYS FROM AROUND THE WORLD COMPETE.

IT WAS AMERICA'S FIRST MILLION-DOLLAR RACE WHEN IT DEBUTED IN 1981.

>> (SPORTS ANNOUNCER) AND THEY'RE OFF... >> IT TAKES A HUGE BEHIND-THE-SCENES OPERATION TO RUN ARLINGTON.

MORE THAN 2,000 THOROUGHBREDS ARE STABLED ON THE PROPERTY.

GOATS BUNK WITH THE HORSES TO KEEP THEM CALM.

AND THEY GET LOTS OF ATTENTION FROM GROOMS AND BLACKSMITHS.

EXERCISE RIDERS ARRIVE AT DAWN TO PUT THE HORSES THROUGH THEIR DAILY WORKOUTS.

AND SO-CALLED HOT WALKERS COOL THEM DOWN AFTERWARDS.

JOCKEYS, WHO ARE FIERCE COMPETITORS ON THE TRACK, RELAX TOGETHER IN A LARGE ROOM.

VALETS AND MANAGERS TEND TO ALL THEIR NEEDS, SO THEY CAN STAY FOCUSED ON RACING.

JUST 26 DAYS BEFORE THE RUNNING OF THE FOURTH ARLINGTON MILLION IN 1985, A MASSIVE FIRE REDUCED THE GRANDSTANDS AND CLUBHOUSE TO A PILE OF TWISTED STEEL AND SMOLDERING ASH.

BUT THE PARK'S OWNER, RICHARD DUCHOSSOIS WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RACE WOULD GO ON.

IN JUST THREE WEEKS, AN ARMY OF WORKERS CLEARED THE DEBRIS AND ERECTED TEMPORARY STANDS.

THE RACE THAT YEAR WAS CALLED THE "MIRACLE MILLION."

THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND FANS WATCHED TELEPROMPTER BEAT GREINTON BY LESS THAN A LENGTH.

AFTER REBUILDING ARLINGTON PARK FROM THE ASHES, DUCHOSSOIS HIMSELF, CLOSED IT IN 1997, WHEN THE ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY REFUSED TO ALLOW SLOT MACHINES AT THE TRACK.

HE SAID, ARLINGTON WAS LOSING TOO MUCH MONEY TO NEARBY CASINOS.

THAT WASN'T THE FIRST TIME OR THE LAST, THAT ARLINGTON PARK'S FUTURE LOOKED DOUBTFUL.

BUT FOR 80 YEARS, THIS TRACK HAS BEEN A SURVIVOR.

CURLY BROWN WAS THE MAN WHO BUILT ARLINGTON PARK.

HE HAD BUILT TRACKS IN OTHER CITIES, SO HE KNEW HOW TO SWEET TALK POTENTIAL INVESTORS.

ACCORDING TO AUTHOR TOM GAUGHAN, CURLY BROWN TRACKED DOWN LAURENCE ARMOUR OF THE FAMOUS MEATPACKING FAMILY AT A RACETRACK IN MEXICO.

HE WALKED UP TO HIM AND SAID, "AS ONE MILLIONAIRE TO ANOTHER, HOW WOULD YOU AND YOUR NORTH SHORE FRIENDS LIKE TO HAVE THE BIGGEST, FINEST, FANCIEST RACE TRACK IN AMERICA, JUST A FEW MILES FROM YOUR HOME?"

BY THE SPRING OF 1927, HE HAD RAISED ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY 14 FARMS AROUND ARLINGTON HEIGHTS.

AND WITHIN FOUR MONTHS THE TRACK WAS UP AND RUNNING.

TODAY, CHURCHILL DOWNS INC.

OWNS THE TRACK.

THEY RE-OPENED IT IN 2000 WITH DUCHOSSOIS AS CHAIRMAN.

THEIR NEW EMPHASIS IS ON FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT.

THEY USE DISNEY THEME PARK CUSTOMER SERVICE METHODS TO TRAIN THEIR STAFF AND PLAY UP THE POMP AND PAGEANTRY WITH A LIVE BUGLER, A PARADE OF JOCKEYS AND BEAUTIFULLY MANICURED GROUNDS.

AN ESPN COMMENTATOR CALLED IT "THE FUTURE OF RACING."

HORSE RACING IS SUCH A BIG PART OF ARLINGTON HEIGHTS' IDENTITY, THAT THEIR VILLAGE SHIELD HAS A HORSE ON IT.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS IS THE LARGEST OF THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS WITH A POPULATION AROUND 76,000.

IT HASN'T GROWN MUCH IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, BUT IT'S HAD AN EXTREME MAKEOVER!

DOWNTOWN HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO WHAT MODERN CITY PLANNERS CALL, A TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

THE NEW MID-RISE BUILDINGS THAT CONTAIN APARTMENTS AND CONDOS, STORES AND OFFICES ARE PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY AND CONCENTRATE THE POPULATION WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE OF SHOPPING, DINING, AND THE TRAIN STATION, WHICH WAS RE-BUILT IN 2000.

THE IDEA IS TO MAKE SUBURBANITES LESS DEPENDENT ON CARS!

AND OF COURSE, TO REVITALIZE THE DOWNTOWN ECONOMY.

THERE'S ALSO A BIG-TIME ENTERTAINMENT COMPONENT.

THE METROPOLIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER HOSTS SECOND CITY, APPLE TREE THEATRE AND AN ARRAY OF CONCERTS.

FOR ALL THE NEW CONSTRUCTION THAT'S GONE ON IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS RECENTLY, YOU CAN STILL FIND SOME HISTORIC BUILDINGS HERE.

JAMES DUNTON, BUILT THIS HOUSE IN 1869.

TWO YEARS LATER, DUNTON AND HIS FAMILY CLIMBED UP ON THE FLAT ROOF AND WATCHED IN DISBELIEF AS CHICAGO BURNED ON THE HORIZON, 22 MILES AWAY.

THE DUNTONS WERE ARLINGTON HEIGHTS' FIRST FAMILY, BOTH IN TERMS OF THEIR INFLUENCE AND CHRONOLOGICALLY.

JAMES DUNTON'S FATHER, ASA, WAS ARLINGTON HEIGHTS FIRST SETTLER.

HE CAME FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK IN 1837, HE WAS A STONECUTTER BACK THERE.

FOR A WHILE, THE TOWN WAS EVEN CALLED DUNTON.

JAMES'S BROTHER, WILLIAM DUNTON, PERSUADED THE ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN RAILROAD TO ALTER ITS PLANNED ROUTE AND PASS THROUGH THE SETTLEMENT ACROSS HIS OWN PROPERTY.

OF COURSE, THAT LAND PROMPTLY BECAME THE HOTTEST REAL ESTATE IN TOWN.

WILLIAM'S BARN SERVED AS THE TOWN'S FIRST CHURCH, UNTIL THE CONGREGATION BUILT A BUILDING ON PROPERTY HE DONATED TO THEM.

IT WAS NAMED THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

THAT OLD ORIGINAL CHURCH WAS REPLACED BY THIS ONE IN 1911, AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A FUNNY STORY THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.

WHILE THIS CHURCH WAS BEING BUILT, THE CONGREGATION MOVED THE OLD ONE OFF THE PROPERTY, SO THEY COULD CONTINUE HOLDING SERVICES IN IT.

BUT WHEN THE FIRST WEEKEND ROLLED AROUND, THE WORK GANG THAT HAD BEEN HIRED TO MOVED THE OLD CHURCH, HADN'T FINISHED THE JOB YET AND LEFT IT SITTING THE MIDDLE DUNTON STREET.

THAT WEEK, SERVICES WERE HELD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH CELEBRATES ITS 150TH YEAR IN 2005.

THE STORIES OF THE DUNTONS AND THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ARE AMONG MANY TOLD IN AN OLD SODA POP FACTORY THAT SERVES AS THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

IT'S PART OF A COLLECTION OF OLD BUILDINGS IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS' HISTORIC DISTRICT.

THE PROPRIETOR OF THE SODA POP COMPANY WAS F. W. MULLER, BUT EVERYBODY CALLED HIM, "POPS."

MULLER, WHO DELIVERED HIS SARSAPARILLA AND GINGER ALE ALONG RURAL ROADS, AND KEPT HIS CUSTOMERS INTERESTED BY CREATING EXOTIC NEW FLAVORS LIKE, KLONDIKE FIZZ AND BUFFALO MEAD.

THE OLD SODA POP COMPANY IS LONG GONE NOW.

BUT ANOTHER ARLINGTON HEIGHTS FAMILY BUSINESS HAS BECOME AN ICON IN THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS.

THE ROOTS OF THE DAILY HERALD CAN BE TRACED BACK TO DECEMBER OF 1898, WHEN HOSEA CORNISH PADDOCK BOUGHT A SMALL LOCAL NEWSPAPER FOR $275 AND SET OUT IN A HORSE AND BUGGY TO DRUM UP SUBSCRIBERS.

PADDOCK TRACKED DOWN FARMERS IN THEIR FIELDS AND REFUSED TO LEAVE, UNTIL THEY'D BOUGHT A SUBSCRIPTION.

SOMETIMES, THEY PAID HIM WITH A BAG OF POTATOES OR A BUSHEL OF APPLES.

AT FIRST, HE PRINTED THE NEWSPAPER ON A HAND-OPERATED PRESS WITH THE HELP OF HIS 16-YEAR-OLD SON.

IT'S A FAR CRY FROM TODAY'S OPERATION.

HIS MOTTO, WHICH APPEARED ON THE MASTHEAD OF THE PAPER WAS, "FEAR GOD, TELL THE TRUTH, AND MAKE MONEY."

SOON, HE WAS PUBLISHING PAPERS FOR MANY NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.

HE KNEW WHAT MATTERED TO HIS READERS-- LOCAL NEWS, FARM REPORTS AND PERSONAL INTEREST STORIES.

SO MANY FARMERS WERE FROM GERMANY, THAT HE PUBLISHED HALF OF SOME EDITIONS IN GERMAN.

HE ALSO HAD A CLEVER WAY OF KEEPING HIS SUBSCRIBERS HONEST.

IF THEY DIDN'T PAY THEIR BILLS, HE PUBLISHED THEIR NAMES ON THE FRONT PAGE.

THE FOUNDER PASSED THE NEWSPAPER CHAIN ONTO HIS SONS-- AND THEN IN THE 1960S, HIS GRANDCHILDREN TOOK OVER OWNERSHIP.

THEY PROMPTLY FOUND THEIR PUBLISHING COMPANY UNDER ATTACK.

MARSHALL FIELD AND THE SUN-TIMES STARTED A SUBURBAN DAILY CALLED, "THE DAY."

BEFORE LONG, THE PADDOCK PAPERS HAD LOST 40% OF CIRCULATION.

STUART PADDOCK JR. SAID, "WE HAVE TO GO DAILY OR DIE."

THEY DID, AND THEY WERE SO SUCCESSFUL, THEY EVENTUALLY BOUGHT OUT THE FIELD PAPER.

IN 1977, THE NAME WAS CHANGED TO THE DAILY HERALD FOR ALL EDITIONS.

BY 1978, THEY WERE PUBLISHING SATURDAY AND SUNDAY EDITIONS, PUTTING THEM IN HEAD TO HEAD COMPETITION WITH THE BIG CHICAGO DAILIES.

TODAY, THE DAILY HERALD IS THE THIRD LARGEST NEWSPAPER IN ILLINOIS, AND THE FOURTH GENERATION OF PADDOCKS IS RUNNING IT.

AND IN THE SPIRIT OF ITS FOUNDER'S PASSION FOR LOCAL NEWS, THE HERALD STILL CREATES ZONED EDITIONS FOR 27 DIFFERENT LOCAL AREAS.

STILL TO COME ON OUT TOUR... BUILDING THE AMERICAN DREAM IN ROLLING MEADOWS.

THE SINGING COWBOY, WHO BECAME SCHAUMBURG'S MAYOR.

MEMORIES OF POPLAR CREEK.

THE UNLIKELY ORIGINS OF THE WEBER GRILL IN PALATINE.

A CEMETERY BUILT TO STOP A RAILROAD IN LAKE ZURICH.

THE WORLD'S BIGGEST POST CARD COLLECTION IN WAUCONDA.

AND MUCH MUCH MORE.

IN SEPTEMBER OF 1982, A CRIME IN THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS OF CHICAGO SPARKED A NATIONAL PANIC, THE TYLENOL MURDERS.

SEVEN PEOPLE IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS AND NEARBY SUBURBS, DIED AFTER TAKING TYLENOL CAPSULES THAT HAD BEEN LACED WITH CYANIDE.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED SUDDENLY AND MYSTERIOUSLY ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1982, WAS ARLINGTON HEIGHTS POSTAL WORKER, ADAM JANUS.

ON THE EVENING AFTER HE DIED, HIS EXTENDED FAMILY GATHERED AT HIS HOUSE.

HIS BROTHER AND SISTER-IN-LAW WERE FEELING SO SICK WITH GRIEF THAT THEY EACH TOOK A CAPSULE FROM A TYLENOL BOTTLE THEY FOUND IN THE KITCHEN, AND THEY SOON DIED.

ANOTHER VICTIM WAS A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM ELK GROVE VILLAGE.

AND YET ANOTHER HAD JUST RETURNED HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL, AFTER GIVING BIRTH.

THE MANUFACTURER RECALLED MILLIONS OF BOTTLES OF TYLENOL.

INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THAT THE POISONER, PROBABLY REMOVED THE TYLENOL BOTTLES FROM STORES, TAMPERED WITH CAPSULES AND THEN PUT THE BOTTLES BACK ON STORE SHELVES.

THE MURDERER WAS NEVER CAUGHT.

THE LASTING LEGACY OF THE CRIME WAS TAMPER-RESISTANT PACKAGING, THAT NOW PROTECTS ALL KINDS OF DRUGS AND PACKAGED FOODS.

IN ROLLING MEADOWS, NEXT DOOR TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, YOU CAN TAKE A STEP BACK IN TIME BY VISITING THIS FULLY FURNISHED HOUSE MUSEUM.

IT'S IS AN EXACT REPLICA OF ONE OF THE FIRST HOMES BUILT HERE BY DEVELOPER, KIMBALL HILL, IN THE 1950S.

THE ROLLING MEADOWS HISTORICAL SOCIETY BUILT IT IN 2002 AND DECORATED IT WITH AUTHENTIC ARTIFACTS.

THEIR GOAL WAS TO CREATE A MUSEUM THAT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A MUSEUM TO TRANSPORT VISITORS BACK TO THE TIME, WHEN THE COMMUNITY WAS BRAND NEW.

THE MAN WHO BUILT THIS TOWN, KIMBALL HILL, WAS TRAINED AS A LAWYER, BUT WHEN HE COULDN'T FIND A JOB AFTER LAW SCHOOL, HE SWITCHED TO REAL ESTATE.

HE BOUGHT ABOUT 500 ACRES OF OLD FARMLAND FROM ARLINGTON PARK'S FORMER OWNER CURLY BROWN, AND DREW UP PLANS FOR A FULL-FLEDGED COMMUNITY.

THE TERRAIN WAS ROLLING, SO HE CALLED IT ROLLING MEADOWS.

ROLLING MEADOWS MIGHT NOT EVEN EXIST TODAY IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR ABOUT 200 YOUNG COUPLES WHO PACKED INTO A MEETING ROOM IN THE SPRING OF 1953, TO PLEAD THEIR CASE BEFORE A HOSTILE ZONING BOARD.

THE COUPLES HAD ALREADY PUT DOWN MONEY ON HOMES TO BE BUILT HERE, IN WHAT WAS PLANNED TO BE A MODERATE-INCOME DEVELOPMENT.

BUT MANY IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS OBJECTED TO DEVELOPER KIMBALL HILL'S PLAN, TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

AND THE SCHOOL BOARD SAID THEY COULDN'T HANDLE 1,500 NEW CHILDREN.

ONE BY ONE, THE YOUNG COUPLES WENT BEFORE THE ZONING BOARD AND SPOKE ABOUT THEIR DREAMS OF HOME OWNERSHIP.

WHEN IT WAS OVER, BOARD MEMBER ELIZABETH CONKEY WAS SO MOVED, THAT SHE CHANGED HER "NO" VOTE TO A "YES."

SHE SAID, "THESE VETERANS DID THEIR PART IN THE WAR, AND...

THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN HOMES AND LIVE WHERE THEY WANT."

WITH THE ZONING BATTLE OUT OF THE WAY, KIMBALL HILL STARTED BUILDING HOMES, ASSEMBLY LINE STYLE-- HE COMPLETING TWO PER DAY, 20 EVERY WEEK.

HE OFFERED TWO BEDROOM HOMES FOR $10,790-- THREE BEDROOMS HOMES WENT FOR $11,390.

THE DEVELOPER HAD TO TEACH NEW RESIDENTS, HOW TO USE THE AUTOMATIC WASHERS AND DRYERS THAT WERE STANDARD IN EVERY HOME, SINCE MOST HAD ONLY USED WRINGER MACHINES AND CLOTHESLINES.

NEIGHBORS POOLED THEIR RESOURCES TO BUY LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT AND HELPED EACH OTHER OUT ON HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.

EVENTUALLY THE DEVELOPMENT COVERED 1,200 ACRES AND CONTAINED NEARLY 4,000 HOMES.

HILL DONATED $200 PER HOME TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND BUILT TWO SCHOOLS AND A SHOPPING CENTER.

NOW MANY COMMUNITIES IN THIS AREA, PROMOTE ARTS AND CULTURE IN A BIG WAY.

BUT ONE GROUP IN ROLLING MEADOWS PRESENTS BIG ART IN A VERY SMALL WAY.

OPERA IN FOCUS PRESENTS A REPERTOIRE OF 50 SCENES FROM 30 OPERAS PERFORMED BY LAVISHLY COSTUMED ROD PUPPETS ON A FIVE-FOOT WIDE, TWO-FOOT DEEP STAGE.

THEY ALSO THROW IN SOME SCENES FROM JEANETTE MACDONALD AND NELSON EDDY MOVIES.

♪ SONG ♪ >> OPERA IN FOCUS CREATOR, WILLIAM FOSSER, IS A RETIRED THEATRE AND FILM SET DESIGNER, WHO'S HAD A LIFELONG FASCINATION WITH PUPPETS AND WITH OPERA.

SCHAUMBURG, IS ONE OF AMERICA'S PROTOTYPICAL EDGE CITIES-- THESE ARE THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CENTERS THAT HAVE EXPLODED ON THE FRINGES OF BIG METROPOLITAN AREAS, IN THE LAST 20 OR 30 YEARS.

THE PART SCHAUMBURG'S STORY THAT I LOVE, IS THAT THE MAYOR WHO PRESIDED OVER MUCH OF THAT GROWTH ON THE SUBURBAN FRONTIER, WAS ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST FAMOUS SINGING COWBOYS.

♪ COUNTRY SONG ♪ >> BOB ATCHER, WHO SERVED AS MAYOR FROM 1959 TO 1975-- WAS BORN IN KENTUCKY.

HE JOINED THE WLS NATIONAL BARN DANCE IN 1948, AND BECAME ONE OF ITS MOST POPULAR REGULARS FOR A DECADE.

HE ALSO APPEARED ON TV FOR 22 YEARS.

ATCHER DIED IN 1993.

WHY DID THE SINGING COWBOY SETTLE IN SCHAUMBURG?

WELL, IT WAS STILL OUT IN THE COUNTRY WHEN HE MOVED HERE.

FOR THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF ITS HISTORY, THIS IS WHAT MOST OF SCHAUMBURG TOWNSHIP LOOKED LIKE.

THIS IS THE VOLKENING HERITAGE FARM, AT SPRING VALLEY NATURE CENTER.

IT'S A RE-CREATION OF THE GERMAN FARMS THAT COVERED THIS AREA IN THE 19TH CENTURY.

THE TOWNSHIP WAS FIRST CALLED SARAH'S GROVE BY SETTLERS FROM NEW ENGLAND.

BUT AS MORE AND MORE GERMAN IMMIGRANTS MOVED HERE, A MEETING WAS HELD TO CHANGE THE TOWNSHIP'S NAME.

LUTHERVILLE AND LUTHERBURG WERE DEBATED.

BUT THEN, FREDERICK NERGE STOOD UP, SLAMMED HIS FIST ON THE TABLE AND DECLARED "SCHAUMBURG SCHALL ET HEISEN!!"

WHICH IS GERMAN FOR, "IT WILL SHALL BE CALLED, SCHAUMBURG."

NERGE MUST HAVE BEEN A PRETTY INTIMIDATING GUY, BECAUSE THE NAME WAS ACCEPTED IMMEDIATELY, EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THE SETTLERS WEREN'T FROM THE SCHAUMBURG-LIPPE REGION OF GERMANY.

BY 1870, RECORDS INDICATE, GERMAN IMMIGRANTS OR THEIR DESCENDANTS, OWNED VIRTUALLY EVERY PIECE OF PROPERTY IN THE TOWNSHIP.

GERMAN WAS THE FIRST LANGUAGE OF MANY HOUSEHOLDS, WELL INTO THE 1950S.

ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCH, THE COMMUNITY'S OLDEST CHURCH, HELD SERVICES IN GERMAN AS LATE AS 1970.

THE INFLUENTIAL ARCHITECT, PAUL SCHWEIKHER, BUILT THIS VERY MODERN HOUSE OUT HERE IN THE COUNTRY, IN 1937, TO SERVE AS HIS HOME AND STUDIO.

SCHWEIKHER'S REPUTATION AS A CUTTING EDGE ARCHITECT HAD BEEN ASSURED FOUR YEARS EARLIER, WHEN HIS WORK WAS INCLUDED IN THE HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL EXHIBIT ON MODERNISM, AT NEW YORK'S MUSEUM OF MODERN ART.

WHEN SCHWEIKHER TOOK A JOB AS THE DEAN OF ARCHITECTURE AT YALE IN 1953, HE SOLD THIS HOUSE TO NUCLEAR PHYSICIST, NAMED ALEXANDER LANGSDORF AND HIS ARTIST WIFE, MARTYL.

ALEXANDER, WORKED ON THE MANHATTAN PROJECT.

MARTYL DESIGNED THE FAMOUS DOOMSDAY CLOCK.

SHE'S ALSO A PAINTER WITH WORKS AT THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO AND OTHER MAJOR MUSEUMS.

THIS IS SCHAUMBURG'S ONLY BUILDING LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY OF SLEEPINESS, THE NORTHWEST TOLLWAY SET THE STAGE FOR SCHAUMBURG'S GROWTH.

LOCAL LEADERS WISELY SET ASIDE LARGE TRACTS FOR INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE DEVELOPMENT.

IN THE HALF-CENTURY SINCE THAT TIME, SCHAUMBURG HAS GROWN FROM TWO-SQUARE MILES AND A POPULATION OF 130 TO MORE THAN 50 SQUARE MILES AND A POPULATION OVER 75,000.

A SCHAUMBURG-BASED COMPANY GETS A LOT OF THE CREDIT... OR THE BLAME... FOR OUR CELL PHONE SATURATED SOCIETY.

MOTOROLA HAS MADE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS, HAVEN'T THEY, SINCE THEY INTRODUCED THIS, THE WORLD'S FIRST HANDHELD CELLULAR PHONE, IN 1984.

IT WAS CALLED, THE DYNATAC AND WEIGHED IN AT A HEFTY 28 OUNCES!

HENCE ITS NICKNAME, THE BRICK.

THE COMPANY HAS A HISTORY OF INNOVATION ON DISPLAY AT ITS MUSEUM.

YOU CAN SEE ONE OF THE WORLD'S FIRST CAR RADIOS.

COMPANY FOUNDER PAUL V. GALVIN CALLED IT A "MOTOROLA," A NAME MEANT TO SUGGEST SOUND IN MOTION.

THE COMPANY ALSO PIONEERED POLICE RADIOS.

AS A KID, I LOVED THAT COOL MOTOROLA HANDSET ON ADAM-12!

THEY ALSO DEVELOPED WALKIE-TALKIES, PAGERS, AND ULTIMATELY MILITARY AND SPACE COMMUNICATION DEVICES.

MOTOROLA EQUIPMENT RELAYED NEIL ARMSTRONG'S FIRST WORDS FROM THE MOON TO EARTH.

>> THAT'S ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND.

>> THEY'VE WON SEVEN EMMY AWARDS FOR INNOVATIONS IN T.V.

TECHNOLOGY.

OF COURSE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CATALYSTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE REGION WAS THE OPENING OF WOODFIELD MALL, IN 1971.

THE NAME WAS CHOSEN TO FLATTER TWO ANCHOR TENANTS-- SEARS, WHOSE BOARD CHAIRMAN WAS ROBERT E. WOOD, AND MARSHALL FIELD'S.

THE MALL'S TRADITION OF STAR-STUDDED PERSONAL APPEARANCES, BEGAN WITH THE RIBBON CUTTING BY VINCENT PRICE AND CAROL LAWRENCE.

OVER THE YEARS, WOODFIELD HAS HOSTED PERFORMANCES BY THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY, THE RADIO CITY ROCKETTES, AND THE JOFFREY BALLET.

THE MALL EXPECTED JOHN TRAVOLTA WOULD DRAW A CROWD IN 1976.

BUT THEY WERE TOTALLY OVERWHELMED, WHEN AN ESTIMATED 25,000 PEOPLE SHOWED UP!

TODAY, AT 2.2 MILLION SQUARE FEET, IT'S THE LARGEST MALL IN ILLINOIS AND THE FIFTH LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY.

THE MALL'S RESTAURANTS CAME IN HANDY, WHEN A BLIZZARD IN JANUARY OF 1979 STRANDED 500 CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES OVERNIGHT.

THEY SLEPT ON BEDS AT SEARS.

EACH DAY, HOURS BEFORE THE RETAIL HUSTLE AND BUSTLE BEGINS, THE MALLWALKERS CLUB USES THE EMPTY CONCOURSES FOR EXERCISE.

THE MALL PROVIDES LOCKERS, AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE, FITNESS SEMINARS, BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS, A CONTROLLED CLIMATE AND ACRES OF FLAT SURFACES THAT OLDER WALKERS APPRECIATE.

ONE MALLWALKER, WHO HAS LOST A HUNDRED POUNDS, TOLD THE DAILY HERALD THAT SHE ENJOYS THE CHANGE OF SEASONS AS REFLECTED IN THE STORE'S WINDOW DISPLAYS.

SHE ESPECIALLY LIKES CHRISTMAS.

ONE OF THE LATEST BIG RETAIL DRAWS, IN SCHAUMBURG, IS THE HUGE IKEA STORE.

THIS IS THE SECOND LARGEST IKEA IN THE WORLD, BY SQUARE FOOTAGE.

THE ONLY LARGER IS IN STOCKHOLM.

IKEA WAS FOUNDED IN SWEDEN IN 1943.

THE NAME IKEA IS AN ACRONYM.

THE FIRST TWO LETTERS, I-K, ARE THE INITIALS OF THE FOUNDER, INGVAR KAMPRAD.

THE E AND A STAND FOR THE FARM, ELMTARYD, AND THE SMALL VILLAGE, AGUNNARYD, WHERE HE GREW UP IN SWEDEN.

THE COMPANY BUYS MERCHANDISE IN BULK AND SELLS PRODUCTS DISASSEMBLED TO SAVE COST.

RECENTLY, SCHAUMBURG HAS RESPONDED TO THE MOVEMENT THAT'S TAKING SHOPPERS AWAY FROM MALLS AND BACK TO MAIN STREET.

THEY'VE BEGUN RESTORING AND REDEVELOPING THE OLD SCHAUMBURG CENTRE THAT WAS ONCE A MARKET TOWN FOR LOCAL FARMERS.

SCHAUMBURG HAS ITS OWN MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM, THE FLYERS OF THE INDEPENDENT NORTHERN LEAGUE.

THEY PLAY IN THE 7,000-SEAT ALEXIAN FIELD.

BASEBALL MIGHT BE THE NATIONAL PASTIME, BUT THE MOST POPULAR SPORT HERE, COMES FROM MEDIEVAL TIMES.

♪ TRUMPETS ♪ THIS IS WHERE JOUSTING IS GOOD FAMILY FUN.

FOOD IS SERVED BY A WENCH AND EATEN WITH THE FINGERS.

EACH AUDIENCE SECTION ROOTS FOR A DIFFERENT KNIGHT.

NOW THESE COMBATANTS WEREN'T KNIGHTED BY THE QUEEN.

BUT THEY DID HAVE TO ENDURE 375 HOURS OF RIGOROUS TRAINING AS A SQUIRE, TO LEARN TO SAFELY HANDLE THE SWORDS, LANCES, MACES AND OTHER WEAPONS.

THE WEAPONS TAKE SO MUCH PUNISHMENT IN SIMULATED BATTLE, THAT THEY'RE REPLACED EVERY 12 WEEKS.

THE KNIGHTS ALSO LEARN TO RIDE THE REGAL ANDALUSION HORSES, BRED ON MEDIEVAL TIMES OWN RANCH IN TEXAS.

NEXT DOOR TO SCHAUMBURG IS HOFFMAN ESTATES, WHERE ON JUNE 6, 1980, JOHN DENVER TOOK THE STAGE BEFORE 20,000 FANS FOR THE INAUGURAL CONCERT AT POPLAR CREEK MUSIC THEATER.

IT WAS A DAY THAT SOME NEIGHBORS HOPED WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AND HAD FOUGHT HARD TO PREVENT.

WHEN POPLAR CREEK WAS STILL IN THE PLANNING STAGES-- A LAWYER NAMED, WILLIAM BRATHWAITE, SHOWED UP AT A PLAN COMMISSION MEETING WITH A TAPE OF ROCKER TED NUGENT.

HE WAS REPRESENTING THE NEIGHBORING BARRINGTON COMMUNITIES AND HE CRANKED THE TAPE UP FULL BLAST, TO GIVE THE PLANNERS A TASTE OF THE NOISE POLLUTION THAT HIS CLIENTS SAID POPLAR CREEK WOULD CAUSE.

THANKFULLY, HE DIDN'T DEMONSTRATE THE OTHER OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR HIS CLIENTS FEARED, LIKE PUBLIC URINATION AND MARIJUANA SMOKING.

IN THE END, A COMPROMISE WAS REACHED AND HOFFMAN ESTATES MAYOR, VIRGINIA HAYTER, WHO HAD SUPPORTED POPLAR CREEK, CHOSE JOHN DENVER AS THE OPENING ACT.

THE VILLAGE KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON POPLAR CREEK.

THEIR LAWYER REGULARLY CONSULTED ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE AND VARIETY, TO SEE IF ANY OF THE SCHEDULED ACTS WERE KNOWN FOR CAUSING TROUBLE.

BUT THE DEADHEADS CAUGHT HIM BY SURPRISE.

THE FANS WHO FOLLOWED THE GRATEFUL DEAD AROUND THE COUNTRY, CAMPED OUT ALL OVER TOWN.

POLICE ARRESTED SO MANY ON DRUG CHARGES, THAT THEY NEEDED A BUS TO TAKE THEM TO COURT.

THE DEAD WERE NEVER INVITED BACK.

JUST TEN YEARS AFTER THE BARRINGTON COMMUNITIES FOUGHT AGAINST THE OPENING POPLAR CREEK, THEY FOUND THEMSELVES OPPOSING A DEVELOPER WHO WANTED TO TEAR DOWN POPLAR CREEK TO BUILD A MUCH, MUCH BIGGER DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEY LOST THAT BATTLE TOO.

THIS IS PRAIRIE STONE-- A 786-ACRE DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S HOME TO SEARS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS.

THE BARRINGTON COMMUNITIES WORRIED ABOUT TRAFFIC AND DENSITY.

BUT TRUE TO ITS NAME, THE DEVELOPERS RESERVED MUCH OF PRAIRIE STONE FOR OPEN LAND.

HERE, OFFICE WORKERS CAN TAKE A BREAK ALONG MILES OF HIKING TRAILS.

THERE'S ALSO A FITNESS CENTER DAY CARE, AND A BRANCH OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION.

A MARRIOTT HOTEL STANDS ON THE SITE OF THE OLD POPLAR CREEK MUSIC THEATER.

THE PRAIRIE LANDSCAPE ISN'T JUST GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT-- IT'S ALSO COST-EFFECTIVE, BECAUSE NATURAL PRAIRIE DOESN'T REQUIRE AS MUCH MAINTENANCE AS TRADITIONAL LANDSCAPING.

HOFFMAN ESTATES HAS A LOT OF WIDE-OPEN SPACES.

IN FACT, IT HAS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF LAND DEVOTED TO FOREST PRESERVES OF ANY COMMUNITY IN ILLINOIS.

OF COURSE, NOT ALL OF HOFFMAN ESTATES HAS REMAINED UNDEVELOPED.

THIS OLD FARMHOUSE WAS ONCE SURROUNDED BY WIDE-OPEN SPACES.

A GERMAN IMMIGRANT NAMED JOHANN SUNDERLAGE, BUILT IT IN 1856.

WITH THE ONSET OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THE DESCENDANTS OF MANY LOCAL GERMAN FARMERS, SOLD THEIR LAND TO WEALTHY CHICAGOANS, WHO WANTED TO BE "GENTLEMAN FARMERS."

THEY KEPT THE FARMS RUNNING MOSTLY AS A HOBBY AND USED THEM AS COUNTRY RETREATS.

THE LAST PRIVATE OWNER OF THE OLD SUNDERLAGE PLACE WAS PETER VOLID, WHO MADE MILLIONS IN MARSHMALLOWS, THEN STARTED THE KING KORN TRADING STAMP COMPANY AND MADE ANOTHER FORTUNE.

AFTER THAT HE DEVOTED MUCH OF HIS TIME TO PHILANTHROPY AND FLYING HIS FLEET OF PRIVATE AIRPLANES.

AND AT AGE 69, HE EARNED A MASTERS DEGREE AND BECAME A MARRIAGE COUNSELOR.

HE SAID, THE FACT THAT HE HAD BEEN MARRIED FIVE TIMES, HELPED HIM EMPATHIZE WITH HIS CLIENTS.

VOLID SOLD THE FARM TO DEVELOPERS IN THE 1970S, BUT HE DONATED THE HISTORIC FARMHOUSE AND SMOKEHOUSE TO THE VILLAGE OF HOFFMAN ESTATES.

THEY'VE BEEN RESTORED AND THE SMOKEHOUSE IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

THE DEVELOPERS WHO BOUGHT PETER VOLID'S FARM AND MANY OTHERS IN THE 1950S, WERE SAM AND JACK HOFFMAN.

THEY CALLED THEIR COMPANY F&S, AS IN FATHER AND SON.

THEY TURNED THE LAND INTO HOFFMAN ESTATES.

♪♪ THE ULTIMATE SUBURBAN ICON IS THE BARBECUE.

AND THE ULTIMATE BARBECUE RIGHT HERE, IS THE WEBER KETTLE.

DID YOU KNOW, THAT THE WEBER KETTLE GRILL WAS INVENTED RIGHT HERE, IN PALATINE.

AND IT'S STILL MADE HERE.

THE PROTOTYPE GRILL WAS MADE IN 1952, FROM HALF OF A SPHERICAL METAL BUOY BY A MOUNT PROSPECT METALWORKER AND FRUSTRATED BACKYARD GRILLER, NAMED GEORGE STEPHENS.

HE HAD A JOB WELDING THE BUOYS TOGETHER AT WEBER BROTHERS METAL WORKS IN CHICAGO.

IT WAS SUCH A HIT, THAT BY THE LATE 1950S, STEPHENS OWNED THE COMPANY AND HE WAS MAKING NOTHING BUT BARBECUE GRILLS.

THEY'VE TURNED OUT AN AMAZING ARRAY OF VARIATIONS ON THE KETTLE THEME, OVER THE YEARS.

STEPHENS DIED IN 1993, BUT THE COMPANY REMAINS FAMILY OWNED.

TODAY, WEBER IS A $160 MILLION ORGANIZATION WITH OFFICES AROUND THE WORLD.

I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT WEBER'S TOP SELLING PRODUCT THESE DAYS, IS A GAS GRILL.

PALATINE WAS ANOTHER TOWN LAID OUT, WHEN THE ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN RAILROAD CAME THROUGH IN 1853.

A LOCAL NURSERY OWNER, GEORGE CLAYSON, BUILT THIS HOUSE IN 1873.

IT'S BEEN RESTORED AS A MUSEUM AND IT'S NOW A NATIONAL LANDMARK.

THE POPULATION HAS GROWN ALMOST SIX-FOLD SINCE 1960-- AS OF 2000, IT WAS AROUND 65,500.

ONE FAMOUS PALATINE HIGH SCHOOL GRAD IS CHICAGO TV NEWS LEGEND, CAROL MARIN.

PALATINE IS HOME TO A LARGE NUMBER OF TV PERSONALITIES, WHO CAN BE SEEN MONTHLY ON THE MAGAZINE PROGRAM, KISS MY TV SHOW.

>> HI, THIS THE (INAUDIBLE) CABLE SHOW AND I'M THE HOST.

>> IT'S PRODUCED AT LITTLE CITY, A PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

THE SHOW IS BROADCAST ON CABLE OUTLETS AND FEATURES INTERVIEWS, MOVIE REVIEWS, COOKING TIPS, ADVICE AND HUMAN-INTEREST STORIES.

LITTLE CITY WAS THE DREAM OF A SMALL GROUP OF PARENTS IN 1959, WHOSE CHILDREN HAD MENTAL RETARDATION AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES.

THEY WANTED A SAFE, NURTURING, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONAL LIVING.

TODAY, LITTLE CITY PROVIDES SERVICES TO A THOUSAND CHILDREN AND ADULTS, ON ITS 56-ACRE CAMPUS AND AT HUNDREDS OF CHICAGO-AREA LOCATIONS.

ADULT RESIDENTS AT LITTLE CITY TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIVES.

THEY RECEIVE JOB TRAINING, AND WORK ON CAMPUS AND AT COMPANIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION, THEY'RE FULFILLING LITTLE CITY'S MISSION TO REMOVE LIMITS AND LET PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ACHIEVE THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL.

PALATINE IS ALSO THE HOME OF HARPER COLLEGE.

IT'S NAME IS A TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM RAINY HARPER, HE WAS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, WHO MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, HE PIONEERED THE IDEA OF TWO-YEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

LIKE ITS NAMESAKE, HARPER COLLEGE PROMOTES ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE.

IN THE FALL OF 2004, HARPER OPENED THE NEW $88 MILLION AVANTE CENTER FOR SCIENCE, HEALTH CAREERS AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, COMPLETE WITH HIGH-TECH "SMART CLASSROOMS" AND TRAINING FACILITES, THAT DUPLICATE STATE OF THE ART HOSPITALS.

IT'S A REFLECTION OF THE RECORD DEMAND FOR JOBS IN HEALTH CARE.

ENROLLMENT IS ALSO ON THE RISE AT COMMUNITY COLLEGES, BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST TUITION AT FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS.

A BUILDING THAT ONCE STOOD RIGHT HERE, IN THIS PALATINE PARKING LOT, WAS THE SCENE OF ONE OF THE MOST NIGHTMARISH EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS.

THIS WAS THE SITE OF THE BROWN'S CHICKEN AND PASTA RESTAURANT, WHERE SEVEN WORKERS WERE FOUND SHOT TO DEATH AFTER HOURS, ON JANUARY 8, 1993.

THE CRIME WENT UNSOLVED FOR NEARLY A DECADE.

FINALLY, A WOMAN CAME FORWARD AND SAID THAT HER FORMER BOYFRIEND HAD BRAGGED TO HER, THAT HE AND A 19-YEAR-OLD FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE RESTAURANT, HAD COMMITTED THE MURDERS.

SHE SAID SHE KEPT THE SECRET FOR TEN YEARS, BECAUSE HER BOYFRIEND HAD THREATENED TO KILL HER IF SHE TOLD.

AS OF FALL 2004, THE DEFENDANTS WERE AWAITING TRIAL.

THE BUILDING WAS TORN DOWN IN 2001.

THE WRECKING CREW SAID A PRAYER BEFORE BEGINNING WORK.

♪♪ THIS BIKE TRAIL IN PALATINE FOLLOWS THE PATH OF A LONG-FORGOTTEN STEAM RAILROAD.

IT WAS ONLY IN SERVICE FOR 15 YEARS, BUT IT WAS A RAILROAD WITH PERSONALITY.

THE PALATINE, LAKE ZURICH AND WAUCONDA RAILROAD MADE ITS DEBUT ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1911.

BUT IT DIDN'T GO VERY FAR THAT DAY.

TRACKS HAD ONLY BEEN LAID FROM THE CENTER OF PALATINE TO DUNDEE ROAD, ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF TO THE NORTH.

LOCAL CITIZENS WERE SO EAGER TO SEE THE RAILROAD SUCCEED, THAT WHEN CONSTRUCTION GOT BEHIND SCHEDULE, THEY PITCHED IN TO HELP LAY THE ROADBED THEMSELVES.

THE RAILROAD COULD ONLY AFFORD ONE STEAM ENGINE, AND IT WAS USED.

THEY AFFECTIONATELY NICKNAMED IT "OLD MAUDE," AFTER A MULE IN A POPULAR COMIC STRIP.

THE RAILROAD ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF PICNICKERS AND VACATIONERS TO THIS AREA.

BUT IT HAD ITS QUIRKS.

POOR OLD MAUDE HAD TROUBLE PULLING TRAINLOADS OF TOURISTS UPHILL.

RIDERS SOMETIMES HAD TO GET OFF AND WALK BEHIND THE TRAIN, UNTIL IT REACHED A DOWNHILL GRADE.

THE RAILROAD ALSO HAD NO SNOWPLOWING EQUIPMENT.

SO TRAINLOADS OF PASSENGERS WOULD SOMETIMES END UP STUCK AT ONE END OF THE LINE OR THE OTHER, IN WINTER STORMS.

AFTER ONE BAD BLIZZARD, A BAND OF LOCAL CITIZENS GOT TOGETHER TO SHOVEL OUT THE TRACKS, AND THEN THEY KEPT ON SHOVELING AS TWO MORE WINTER STORMS HIT.

DESPITE ALL THE HELP FROM LOCALS, THE RAILROAD WAS FIGHTING AN UPHILL BATTLE FROM THE BEGINNING, WITH THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULDN'T.

NOW, LET'S FOLLOW THE PATH OF THE OLD RAILROAD NORTHWARD, AND LEARN ABOUT ITS RISE AND FALL.

JUST NORTH OF PALATINE, THE TRAIN ENTERED WHAT IS TODAY, DEER GROVE FOREST PRESERVE.

BUT BACK THEN, IT WAS A PICNIC GROUND OWNED BY DR. J.W.

WILSON.

THE TRAIN LINE MADE IT SO POPULAR, THAT WILSON EXPANDED IT INTO AN AMUSEMENT PARK WITH A DANCE HALL AND RESTAURANTS.

BUT A FEW YEARS LATER, WILSON SOLD THE LAND TO COOK COUNTY, WHICH TURNED IT INTO A FOREST PRESERVE AND BANNED ALCOHOL.

THE RAILROAD SAW ITS DEER PARK SERVICE DRY UP.

♪♪ NORTH OF DEER GROVE, ALONG THE BORDER OF A SUBDIVISION IN KILDEER, YOU CAN STILL SEE A REMNANT OF THE ABANDONED RAILROAD.

TINY KILDEER WAS THE COUNTRY HOME OF NOTORIOUS GANGSTER, "TERRIBLE TERRY" DRUGGAN.

DRUGGAN AND HIS PARTNER, FRANKIE LAKE, INSPIRED THE MAIN CHARACTERS IN THE 1931 JAMES CAGNEY FILM, "THE PUBLIC ENEMY," ACCORDING TO FILM CRITIC RICHARD MALTBY.

AUTHOR CLAYTON BROWN WRITES THAT LAKE, "COPIED DRUGGAN IN EVERY MANNER, INCLUDING HIS CLOTHES.

DRUGGAN AND LAKE BECAME MILLIONAIRES DURING PROHIBITION.

AT ONE POINT, DRUGGAN AND LAKE WERE SENT TO THE COUNTY JAIL.

BUT THEY BRIBED THE SHERIFF AND HE LET THEM GO ON CONDUCTING BUSINESS AS USUAL, EVEN WHILE THEY SERVED THEIR TIME.

ACCORDING TO WRITER CLAYTON BROWN, A VISITOR SHOWED UP TO THE JAIL ONE DAY, AND WAS TOLD, "WE'RE SORRY, MR. DRUGGAN AND LAKE CAN'T SEE YOU RIGHT NOW...

THEY'RE DOWNTOWN AT A MEETING, THEY'LL BE BACK AFTER DINNER. "

EVENTUALLY, THE TWO GANGSTERS WERE SENT UP THE RIVER FOR TAX EVASION.

BY THE TIME THEY GOT OUT OF PRISON, THEY WERE HAS-BEENS.

THEY DIED, WITHOUT ANY NOTORIETY IN THE 1950S.

CONTINUING NORTH, THE PALATINE, LAKE ZURICH AND WAUCONDA RAILROAD RAN THROUGH LAKE ZURICH-- BUT WHEN THE LINE TRIED TO RUN ITS TRACKS ACROSS LAKE ZURICH GOLF CLUB, MEMBERS FOUND A CLEVER WAY TO BLOCK IT.

THEY PUT THIS CEMETERY IN ITS WAY.

SEE THE LAWYER, MEMBERS OF THE CLUB KNEW THAT CEMETERY LAND COULDN'T BE CONDEMNED.

SO THE DOCTOR MEMBERS GOT A HOLD OF FOUR CADAVERS FROM A MEDICAL SCHOOL, AND THEY HELD AN ELABORATE FUNERAL ACCOMPANIED BY A CHICAGO JAZZ BAND.

THE RAILROAD GAVE UP AND ROUTED ITS TRACKS AROUND THE CLUB.

THE TRAIN LINE WAS A BOOM TO LAKE ZURICH'S RESORT BUSINESS.

ONE RESORT OWNER DESCRIBED SEEING VACATIONERS RACE FROM THE TRAIN STATION AND LEAP OVER HIS FENCE TO CLAIM CABINS.

AFTER WWII, MOST SUMMER COTTAGES HERE WERE CONVERTED TO YEAR-ROUND HOMES.

LAKE ZURICH'S FIRST SETTLER HAS BEEN VARIOUSLY DESCRIBED AS A FREETHINKER, AN ABOLITIONIST, AND A CRAZY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER.

SETH PAINE MOVED OUT HERE IN 1836, FROM CHICAGO, WHERE HE'D MADE A FORTUNE AS A BUSINESSMAN.

BACK THEN, THIS WAS CALLED CEDAR LAKE, BUT HE RENAMED IT IN HONOR OF THE FAMOUSLY BEAUTIFUL LAKE IN SWITZERLAND.

ACCORDING TO AUTHOR CLAYTON BROWN, "PAINE CONSIDERED ALL CIVIL LAW, INCLUDING MARRIAGE AND TAXES, A FORM OF SLAVERY."

INSTEAD, HE LIVED BY A SET OF SPIRITUAL LAWS, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A HIGH PRIESTESS.

IN 1852, HE OPENED A BANK THAT ISSUED ITS OWN MONEY.

THE BANK REFUSED TO MAKE LOANS FOR THE KILLING OF ANY LIVING THING-- AND ACCORDING TO BROWN, HE LOOKED TO DEPARTED SPIRITS OF FORMER ILLUSTRIOUS BANKERS FOR COUNSEL.

BROWN WRITES THAT PAINE'S BUSINESS PARTNER "HAD HIM BROUGHT BEFORE A JUDGE AND DECLARED INSANE AND THE BANK WAS DISSOLVED."

LATER, SETH PAINE PUBLISHED A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO ATTACKING CORRUPT AND IMMORAL BEHAVIOR.

A FELLOW NEWSPAPER MAN CALLED IT, "THE BOLDEST, HONESTEST, CRAZIEST PAPER EVER PUBLISHED..." PAINE LATER RETURNED TO CHICAGO AND DEVOTED THE REST OF HIS LIFE TO PHILANTHROPY.

HE DIED IN 1871.

GEORGE ELA JUST MISSED BEING THE FIRST SETTLER OF LAKE ZURICH.

HE ARRIVED IN 1835, A YEAR BEFORE PAINE.

BUT HE SETTLED IN DEER GROVE, WHICH IS TODAY PALATINE.

THE TOWNSHIP IS NAMED FOR HIM, ANYWAY.

NOW LET'S VISIT THE LAST STOP ON THE OLD PALATINE, LAKE ZURICH AND WAUCONDA RAILROAD.

A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER OPENING DAY, THE LINE FINALLY REACHED WAUCONDA.

FOLKS HERE GREETED IT WITH CHURCH BELLS AND CELEBRATORY BLASTS OF DYNAMITE.

THESE NORTH WOODS STYLE CABINS ALONG BANGS LAKE, ARE REMINDERS OF THE DAY WHEN THIS WAS A POPULAR RESORT DESTINATION.

THE NATURAL GLACIAL LAKE IS NAMED FOR JUSTICE BANGS, WHO SETTLED HERE IN 1834.

WAUCONDA IS ALSO THE HOME OF THE LAKE COUNTY DISCOVERY MUSEUM, WHICH HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS HELP TO US IN RESEARCHING THIS PROGRAM AND OTHERS IN THE SERIES.

IT'S LOCATED IN LAKEWOOD FOREST PRESERVE, WHICH WAS A "GENTLEMAN'S FARM" IN THE 1930S, 40S AND 50S.

A HIGHLIGHT OF THE LAKE COUNTY DISCOVERY MUSEUM IS THE CURT TEICH POSTCARD ARCHIVE.

IT'S THE NATION'S LARGEST PUBLIC COLLECTION OF POSTCARDS.

YOU'LL FIND IMAGES OF MORE THAN 10,000 TOWNS AND CITIES IN NORTH AMERICA, AND OVER 87 FOREIGN COUNTRIES PRODUCED BY THE TEICH COMPANY.

AND ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF ROUTE 66, LINCOLN HIGHWAY AND OTHER TRAVEL-RELATED IMAGES.

THERE'S MORE OF OUR TOUR COMING UP-- INCLUDING THE DEMISE OF BABY FACE NELSON-- HOW JEWEL FOODSTORES INVENTED THE COFFEE BREAK.

BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED OPEN LANDS, A FOX HUNT, HORSE FARMS AND A MEGA-CHURCH, ALL IN THE BARRINGTON AREA.

ICE HARVESTING IN CRYSTAL LAKE.

STEAM TRAINS AND TROLLIES IN UNION ILLINOIS.

AND DICK TRACY, ORSON WELLES, AND A HOST OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN WOODSTOCK.

STAY TUNED!

♪♪ INVERNESS HAS POSSIBLY THE MOST UNUSUAL VILLAGE HALL IN THE WHOLE REGION.

IT'S MADE FROM FOUR HISTORIC SILOS, THAT WERE PART OF A WORKING FARM, ESTABLISHED IN 1838.

CHICAGO MOBSTERS ARE SAID TO HAVE BREWED BOOTLEG LIQUOR INSIDE OF THEM DURING PROHIBITION.

THE CENTER BUILDING THAT CONNECTS THE SILOS, WAS BUILT IN THE 1930S AS THE REAL ESTATE OFFICE OF ARTHUR MCINTOSH, THE MAN WHO CREATED INVERNESS.

♪♪ HE BEGAN BUYING FARMLAND HERE IN 1926, AND JOINED THE GROWING RANKS OF GENTLEMAN FARMERS IN THIS AREA.

HE STARTED DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY ON THE LAND, IN 1939.

MCINTOSH NAMED IT INVERNESS, AFTER HIS CLAN HOME IN SCOTLAND.

IT WAS PRICED FOR YOUNG MARRIED PROFESSIONALS WHO WANTED ELEGANT COUNTRY SURROUNDINGS, BUT COULDN'T AFFORD THE NORTH SHORE.

THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE WAS ONE ACRE.

THE DEVELOPER KEPT TIGHT CONTROL OVER EVERY ASPECT OF HIS NEW COMMUNITY.

FROM THE STYLE OF HOMES AND THEIR PLACEMENT ON LOTS, DOWN TO THE PAINT COLOR.

AND BUYERS WERE FORBIDDEN FROM EVER SUBDIVIDING THEIR LAND.

OVER THE YEARS, INVERNESS AND THE NEARBY BARRINGTON COMMUNITIES, HAVE FIERCELY PROTECTED THEIR SPACIOUS PROPERTY AS DENSE DEVELOPMENT HAS ENCROACHED ON ALL SIDES.

WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.

PAST INVERNESS, THE NORTHWEST HIGHWAY TAKES US TO BARRINGTON.

JIM HOLLISTER, HAS WORKED AS A PROJECTIONIST AT THE CATLOW THEATER IN BARRINGTON, FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS.

BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL 1995, THAT HE FINALLY GOT SENIORITY.

THAT'S WHEN RAY JAHNKE RETIRED.

RAY HAD WORKED AT THE CATLOW SINCE THE DAY IT OPENED IN 1927!

JIM AND RAY HAD A BACK ROW SEAT TO A LOT OF HISTORY HERE OVER THE YEARS.

THERE WERE VAUDEVILLE ACTS IN THE EARLY DAYS, AND SALLY RAND, WHOSE FAMOUS FAN DANCE DREW CROWDS TO THE WORLD'S FAIR OF 1933 IN CHICAGO.

PERFORMERS FROM THE WLS NATIONAL BARN DANCE, INCLUDING GENE AUTRY, WERE POPULAR HERE, TOO.

AFTER ALL, THIS WAS A RURAL AREA.

LOCAL BUSINESSMAN, WRIGHT CATLOW, CHOSE TUDOR REVIVAL STYLE FOR HIS THEATER.

AND HE HIRED THE FAMOUS ARTIST, ALFONSO IANELLI, TO DESIGN THE INTERIOR.

IT COULDN'T BE MORE DIFFERENT FROM IANELLI'S ART DECO STYLE DESIGNS THAT WE SAW EARLIER AT THE PICKWICK THEATRE IN PARK RIDGE.

IT WAS ADDED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, IN 1989.

TODAY, IT'S BEEN LOVINGLY RESTORED AND IT'S ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING SINGLE-SCREEN THEATERS IN THE AREA.

SOME OF THE STORIES THAT TOOK PLACE WITHIN A FEW BLOCKS OF THIS THEATRE, ARE AS COMPELLING AS THE MELODRAMAS AND GANGSTER FILMS THAT PLAYED ON THE BIG SCREEN HERE.

THERE'S THE ROMANTIC STORY OF THE COUPLE THAT BUILT THIS HOUSE IN 1855, AS TOLD BY AUTHOR, BARBARA L. BENSON.

EDWARD LAMEY AND JULIA BYRNE WERE SWEETHEARTS IN IRELAND.

BUT THEY WERE SEPARATED IN 1852, WHEN HER FAMILY MOVED TO CHICAGO.

A YEAR LATER, 25-YEAR-OLD EDWARD MADE HIS WAY TO CHICAGO DETERMINED TO FIND HER.

EVERY SUNDAY HE WAITED ON THE STEPS OF A DIFFERENT CATHOLIC CHURCH AND IT WORKED.

HE SPOTTED HER COMING OUT OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH, WHERE THEY WERE MARRIED A YEAR LATER, AND THEN THEY MOVED TO BARRINGTON.

AND THEN, THERE'S THE STORY OF BABY FACE NELSON'S, LAST BLOODY GUN BATTLE.

IT HAPPENED IN 1934, RIGHT HERE, ALONG NORTHWEST HIGHWAY NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO WHAT IS TODAY, LANGENDORF PARK.

OF COURSE, NORTHWEST HIGHWAY WAS A LONELY COUNTRY ROAD BACK THEN, AND GANGSTER OFTEN USED IT TO TRAVEL BETWEEN CHICAGO AND THEIR HIDEOUTS IN THE NORTH WOODS OF WISCONSIN.

ON NOVEMBER 27, 1934, THE FBI GOT A TIP THAT NELSON WAS ON THE HIGHWAY HEADING TO CHICAGO.

ALSO IN THE CAR WAS ANOTHER GANGSTER NAMED, JOHN PAUL CHASE AND NELSON'S WIFE, HELEN.

SHE WAS A FORMER WOOLWORTH'S CLERK.

HE CALLED HER "MY MILLION-DOLLAR BABY FROM THE FIVE AND DIME," ACCORDING TO WRITER, VIRGINIA K. MOSELEY.

NELSON'S REAL NAME WAS LESTER JOSEPH GILLIS.

HE STOOD JUST 5 FOOT 4, BUT HE WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL AND HOT-TEMPERED OF ALL THE DEPRESSION ERA GANGSTERS.

AFTER THE FBI KILLED JOHN DILLINGER AND PRETTY BOY FLOYD, GILLIS BECAME PUBLIC ENEMY #1.

HE LOVED THE NOTORIETY.

ON THAT FATEFUL NOVEMBER DAY IN 1934, TWO FBI AGENTS CAUGHT UP WITH GILLIS IN BARRINGTON AND FORCED HIS CAR OFF THE ROAD.

THE GANGSTERS GRABBED THEIR GUNS AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND PREPARED TO SHOOT IT OUT.

NELSON APPARENTLY DECIDED HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE TAKEN ALIVE.

HE STOOD UP AND WALKED STRAIGHT INTO THE FBI LINE OF FIRE, WITH HIS GUNS BLAZING.

BOTH AGENTS WERE KILLED, BABY FACE WAS SHOT 17 TIMES, BUT SOMEHOW HE MANAGED TO STAGGER BACK TO HIS WIFE AND TO JOHN PAUL CHASE.

THEY LOADED HIM INTO THE DEAD AGENTS' CAR, AND SPED OFF.

BABY FACE NELSON DIED IN HIS WIFE'S ARMS.

SHE AND JOHN PAUL CHASE WERE CAUGHT AND SENT TO PRISON.

THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF THE AGENTS, WHO LOST THEIR LIVES HERE.

THE NATIVE'S GUIDE TO THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS DESCRIBES BARRINGTON AND ITS NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES OF SOUTH BARRINGTON, NORTH BARRINGTON AND BARRINGTON HILLS AS, "NORTH SHORE COMMUNITIES WITHOUT THE SHORE."

THE TOWN IS NAMED FOR GREAT BARRINGTON MASSACHUSETTS, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE WHERE THE FIRST SETTLERS WERE FROM-- IT DEPENDS ON WHAT HISTORY YOU READ.

THERE'S ALSO SOME MYSTERY ABOUT WHY THE TOWNSHIP HERE IS NAMED CUBA.

ACCORDING TO ONE THEORY, IT WAS A TRIBUTE TO THE CUBAN EXILES AND AMERICAN MERCENARIES, WHO WERE TRYING TO OVERTHROW THE ISLAND'S SPANISH COLONIAL RULERS, RIGHT AROUND THE TIME THE TOWNSHIP WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE EARLY 1850S.

IT'S SAID THAT THE COFFEE BREAK WAS INVENTED IN BARRINGTON AT THE JEWEL TEA COMPANY, WHICH IS THE FORMER PARENT COMPANY OF TODAY'S JEWEL FOOD STORES.

FOR NEARLY A QUARTER CENTURY, JEWEL TEA COMPANY'S OFFICE AND PLANT, WERE LOCATED IN A HUGE ART DECO STYLE BUILDING, ON 300-ACRE FORMER FARM.

IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SUBURBAN OFFICE CAMPUSES.

MANY JEWEL EXECUTIVES LIVED NEARBY, IN A NEWLY LAID OUT NEIGHBORHOOD OF BARRINGTON CALLED JEWEL PARK.

IT MADE SENSE FOR JEWEL TO OFFER EMPLOYEES A FREE CUP OF JOE, AS A PICK-ME-UP.

AFTER ALL, COFFEE WAS ONE OF THE PRODUCTS THAT GOT THE COMPANY STARTED.

BROTHERS-IN-LAW, FRANK SKIFF AND FRANK ROSS, STARTED OUT IN 1899 SELLING COFFEE, TEA AND SPICES DOOR TO DOOR, FROM A USED CART DRAWN BY A RENTED HORSE.

THE WORD "JEWEL" WAS POPULAR SLANG IN THOSE DAYS FOR ANYTHING SPECIAL, SO THEY CALLED THEIR COMPANY JEWEL TEA.

THEIR RURAL CUSTOMERS STARTED ASKING FOR MORE PRODUCTS, AND BEFORE LONG, THE TWO FRANKS WERE ALSO PEDALING DRY GOODS AND A WIDE RANGE OF GROCERIES.

THEY OFFERED PREMIUMS AS SALES INCENTIVE.

THEIR AUTUMN LEAF DESIGN TEAPOT IS A SOUGHT-AFTER COLLECTIBLE, TODAY.

SOON TRUCKS REPLACED CARTS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS NUMBERED IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS.

IN 1924, THE COMPANY CREATED THE "JEWEL LADY," WHO CO-AUTHORED COOKBOOKS AND GAVE HER SEAL OF APPROVAL TO MERCHANDISE.

TODAY, JEWEL LADY ITEMS ARE COLLECTIBLES, TOO.

THE COMPANY HEADQUARTERS MOVED FROM CHICAGO TO BARRINGTON IN 1930.

ABOUT THAT SAME TIME, THE COMPANY BOUGHT A GROCERY STORE CHAIN THAT WAS FAILING IN THE DEPRESSION ECONOMY.

BY THE END OF WWII, THE STORES WERE ON THEIR WAY TO OVERTAKING DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES AS THE COMPANY'S MAIN BUSINESS.

JEWEL TEA COMPANY LEFT BARRINGTON AND MOVED TO MELROSE PARK, WAY BACK IN 1950.

BUT THE OLD HEADQUARTERS BUILDING REMAINED STANDING HERE ON THIS PROPERTY, WHICH NOW BELONGS TO THE PARK DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY AFTER THAT.

PRESERVATIONISTS HOPED IT WOULD BE SAVED, BUT IT WAS TORN DOWN IN 2004.

BUT MANY OTHER HISTORIC BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN PRESERVED IN BARRINGTON.

THE OCTAGON HOUSE IS BARRINGTON'S MOST UNUSUAL HISTORIC HOME.

AND A COLLECTION OF 700 LETTERS WRITTEN BY TWO WOMEN, WHO LIVED HERE AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY GIVES US AN AMAZING INSIGHT INTO BARRINGTON AT THAT TIME.

IN ONE LETTER, HATTIE BROWN DESCRIBES AN ENTIRE DAY FILLED WITH CHORES LIKE MOPPING THE PIAZZA, MAKING CUSTARD PIES AND STARCH, AND WASHING CLOTHES, WHILE HER FATHER TURNED THE RINGER.

WHEN THE TRAIN LINE WAS BEING BUILT, HATTIE WROTE, "THE RAILROAD MEN ARE SO THICK ON THE STREETS AT NIGHT AND SO FULL AND MEAN, I DARE NOT GO ANYWHERE ALONE."

IN HER OCTAGON HOUSE LETTERS, EMALINE HAWLEY BROWN CALLED THIS HOUSE THE "GRANDEST IN BARRINGTON."

BANKER, JOHN ROBERTSON AND HIS WIFE, JULIA, INCLUDED A BALLROOM ON THE THIRD FLOOR WHEN THEY BUILT IT IN 1898.

JULIA WAS DESCRIBED BY HER NIECE AS HAVING THE BIGGEST HOUSE IN BARRINGTON, THE BIGGEST CAR, AND SOME SAID THAT SHE HUNG HER WASHING LENGTHWISE ON THE LINE, SO THAT SHE WOULD HAVE THE BIGGEST WASH IN TOWN TOO, ACCORDING TO WRITER, BARBARA BENSON.

ANOTHER ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDING IN BARRINGTON, IS THE PUBLIC LIBRARY ADDITION BY CAROL ROSS BARNEY.

IT'S THE WINNER OF A 1995 DISTINGUISHED BUILDING AWARD FROM THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS.

BUT FOR ALL THEIR BEAUTIFUL AND HISTORIC BUILDINGS, WHAT THE BARRINGTON COMMUNITIES VALUE ABOVE ALL ELSE, IS OPEN LAND.

GROUPS LIKE CITIZENS FOR CONSERVATION WORK TO PRESERVE OPEN SPACE AND RESTORE AREAS, WHERE PRAIRIE HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY FARMING AND DEVELOPMENT.

VOLUNTEERS HAVE LOGGED THOUSANDS OF HOURS CUTTING BRUSH, PULLING OUT NON-NATIVE PLANTS, COLLECTING SEEDS AND EVEN ASSISTING WITH PRESCRIBED BURNS.

THE ALL-VOLUNTEER BARRINGTON HILLS CONSERVATION TRUST, SHOWS LANDOWNERS HOW TO CREATE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT FOREVER LIMIT THE SUBDIVIDING OF THEIR PROPERTY.

IN ALL, THERE ARE MORE THAN 5,000 ACRES OF OPEN LAND IN BARRINGTON, BARRINGTON HILLS, SOUTH BARRINGTON AND OTHER NEARBY COMMUNITIES.

>> ♪ I DON'T WANT ♪ ♪ TO LIVE MY LIFE ♪ ♪ FOR ANYTHING ♪ ♪ LESS THAN THE REAL THING... ♪ >> THE TINY TOWN OF SOUTH BARRINGTON, IS HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST CHURCHES IN AMERICA.

THE INTERDENOMINATIONAL WILLOW CREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH IS OFTEN CALLED, A "MEGA-CHURCH."

NEARLY 20,000 PEOPLE ATTEND SERVICES HERE, EVERY WEEK.

IT BEGAN IN THE 1970S AS A YOUTH MINISTRY IN PARK RIDGE.

AS THEY EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ADULTS, THEY MOVED INTO THE WILLOW CREEK MOVIE THEATRE IN PALATINE.

THE LEADERS USED CONTEMPORARY MUSIC AND DRAMA TO MAKE BIBLE TEACHINGS RELEVANT TO SUBURBAN DAILY LIFE.

ONE OF THOSE LEADERS WAS THE YOUNG AND CHARISMATIC, BILL HYBELS.

>> THEY REPLACED THE 80 OR SO YEARS OF COMBINED PARENTAL WISDOM OF MOM AND DAD, FOR THE 15 YEAR OLD BRILLIANCE OF EDDIE, DOWN THE STREET... [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] >> TODAY, HYBELS STILL USES MANY OF THE SAME TECHNIQUES, AUGMENTED BY THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES IN VIDEO, SOUND AND LIGHTING.

SOME HAVE CRITICIZED CHURCHES LIKE WILLOW CREEK FOR OFFERING ONLY CHRISTIANITY "LITE."

BUT THE CHURCH CLEARLY ATTRACTS A MEGA-FLOCK OF FOLLOWERS.

THEIR TEN CHRISTMAS SERVICES DRAW 45,000 WORSHIPPERS.

BUT IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT SIZE AT WILLOW CREEK.

THE CHURCH OFFERS DOZENS OF SMALL MINISTRIES COVERING A BROAD RANGE OF RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL ISSUES.

♪♪ EVERY SO OFTEN, THE TRANQUILITY OF THE ROLLING COUNTRYSIDE IN BARRINGTON HILLS, IS BROKEN BY A FLASH OF VELVET JACKETED RIDERS AND THE BAYING OF HOUNDS AS MEMBERS OF THE FOX RIVER VALLEY HUNT GALLOP ACROSS HORSE FARMS AND ESTATES-- WITH PERMISSION FROM THE OWNERS, OF COURSE.

EACH YEAR, THE CLUB HOLDS A SOLEMN CEREMONY TO BLESS THE HOUNDS.

THESE ANIMALS ARE DESCENDED FROM THE CLUB'S FIRST PACK, WHICH CAME FROM BREEDERS IN ENGLAND, WHO WERE DESPERATE TO PRESERVE THEIR ANIMALS' BLOODLINE, WITH THE ONSET OF WWII.

THE HOUNDS WERE SENT TO AMERICA ABOARD A NAVY SHIP.

MODERN DAY FOXHUNTERS AREN'T ACTUALLY CHASING A FOX AT ALL.

THE HOUNDS ARE FOLLOWING THE SCENT OF WILD COYOTE.

NO ONE CAN REMEMBER THE LAST TIME THEY ACTUALLY CAUGHT ONE.

THE HUNTERS TELL US THEY REALLY DO IT FOR THE FUN OF RIDING AND THE LOVE OF HORSES AND HOUNDS.

FOXHUNTERS ARE JUST A SMALL SUBSET OF THE HORSE FANCIERS FOR WHOM BARRINGTON HILLS IS WIDELY KNOWN.

ONE REASON PROPERTY HERE APPEALS TO THE HORSY SET, IS THAT THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE IN FIVE ACRES.

THE COMMUNITY ACTUALLY SPRAWLS ACROSS FOUR COUNTIES!

COOK, LAKE, MCHENRY AND KANE.

THE ALL-VOLUNTEER RIDING CLUB OF BARRINGTON HILLS, MAINTAINS A SYSTEM OF BRIDLE PATHS THAT SNAKES THROUGH FOREST PRESERVES AND ACROSS PRIVATE LAND.

CLUB MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO AVOID RIDING ON PEOPLES WET LAWNS.

THE CLUB HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1937.

THEY SAY THEIR MISSION IS TO MAINTAIN THE OLD TRADITION OF NEIGHBORS, RIDING TO VISIT NEIGHBORS.

THE RIDING CLUB WAS ALSO ONE OF THE GROUPS THAT BUILT THIS RIDING CENTER IN 1964.

IT HAS SINCE BEEN DONATED TO THE BARRINGTON COUNTRYSIDE PARK DISTRICT.

THE IMPORTANT MODERNIST ARCHITECT, EDWARD DART, DESIGNED HIS OWN HOUSE AND MANY OTHER IMPORTANT STRUCTURES IN THE BARRINGTON AREA.

DART IS BEST KNOWN IN CHICAGO AS THE ARCHITECT OF WATER TOWER PLACE.

WE'LL JUMP ACROSS THE FOX RIVER HERE AT FOX RIVER GROVE AND CONTINUE NORTHWEST...

BUT DON'T WORRY, WE'RE GOING TO TELL THE STORY OF ALL THE FOX RIVER COMMUNITIES IN A FUTURE PROGRAM.

HERE WE ENTER MCHENRY COUNTY, NAMED FOR COL. WILLIAM MCHENRY.

HE FOUGHT IN THE WAR OF 1812 AND IN THE BLACKHAWK WARS, AND LATER SERVED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND SENATE.

♪♪ IN 1835, ZIBA S. BEARDSLEY PASSED THROUGH THIS AREA AND OBSERVED THAT THE WATERS WERE AS CLEAR AS CRYSTAL.

THE NAME STUCK.

TODAY'S CRYSTAL LAKE IS MADE UP OF SEVERAL OLDER LOCAL COMMUNITIES, ONE OF WHICH WAS CALLED NUNDA.

IT'S NAMED FOR NUNDA, NEW YORK, WHICH WAS THE HOMETOWN OF COLONEL GUSTAVUS A. PALMER, HE BUILT THIS HOUSE IN 1858.

HE WAS GIVEN LAND IN ILLINOIS AS BOUNTY FOR HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE LITTLE-KNOWN PATRIOTS WAR OF 1837.

IN THAT WAR, AMERICAN TROOPS ACTUALLY INVADED CANADA.

THEY WERE TRYING TO SUPPORT FRENCH CANADIAN REBELS THERE, WHO WANTED TO OVERTHROW THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT!

THEY LOST, BUT COLONEL PALMER GOT HIS REWARD ANYWAY.

THE HOUSE WAS NAMED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, IN 1985.

IT WAS RESTORED AND IS NOW HOME TO THE CRYSTAL LAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

BEAUTIFUL CRYSTAL LAKE WAS EVENTUALLY DISCOVERED BY CITY FOLK AND BECAME A POPULAR RESORT.

BUT IN THE 19TH CENTURY, THIS WAS AN INDUSTRIAL TOWN.

AND THE BIG INDUSTRY WAS ICE CUTTING.

HUNDREDS OF MEN WORKED FOUR TO SIX WEEKS ON THE ICE HARVEST EACH YEAR.

THEY WOULD CUT ICE INTO FLOATING RAFTS, WHICH WOULD THEN BE DIVIDED INTO CAKES AND SENT UP AN ELEVATOR AND INTO HUGE ICEHOUSES.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPANIES, RUN BY THE DOLE FAMILY, HARVESTED 100,000 TONS A YEAR, SHIPPING AS MANY AS 45 TRAIN CARS OF ICE PER DAY, TO CHICAGO.

CHARLES DOLE BUILT THIS IMPRESSIVE MANSION IN THE 1860S FOR THE VAST SUM OF $100,000 ON 1,000 ACRES, OVERLOOKING THE LAKE.

HE HIRED EUROPEAN ARTISANS TO CRAFT THE MARBLE AND HAND-CARVED WOOD ORNAMENT.

THE SHEAVES OF WHEAT SYMBOLIZE HIS SUCCESS AS AN EARLY MEMBER OF THE CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE.

HE AND HIS WIFE, JULIA, ENTERTAINED LAVISHLY FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS HERE.

FOR THEIR DAUGHTER'S WEDDING, DOLE BUILT A PRIVATE RAILROAD LINE FROM THE NORTHWESTERN TRACKS, OUT HERE TO THE PROPERTY.

AND THEN, TO GET THE GUESTS THE REST OF THE WAY FROM THE TRAIN TO THE FRONT DOOR, HE BUILT A 750-FOOT LONG CANOPIED, CARPETED WALKWAY.

THE PROPERTY WAS LATER THE HOME OF THE CRYSTAL LAKE COUNTRY CLUB.

ONE OF THE INVESTORS WAS MRS. LOU RINGLING, A FORMER SNAKE CHARMER AND TRAPEZE ARTIST, WHO HAD HELPED HER LATE HUSBAND, ALBERT, START THE FAMOUS RINGLING BROTHERS CIRCUS.

STILL LATER, THE FRANCISCANS USED IT AS A SEMINARY.

IT WAS SAVED FROM THE WRECKING BALL IN 2002, WHEN A CITIZENS GROUP RAISED A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS IN 42 DAYS TO BUY IT.

THEY FORMED THE LEGACY LAKESIDE FOUNDATION, WHICH IS NOW TRYING TO RAISE MILLIONS MORE TO RESTORE IT, AND TURN IT INTO AN ARTS CENTER.

CRYSTAL LAKE'S OTHER BIG INDUSTRY SUPPLIED THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTATION, ON SOME OF CHICAGO'S MOST FAMOUS LANDMARKS, LIKE THE WRIGLEY BUILDING AND THE MERCHANDISE MART.

AMERICAN TERRA COTTA AND CERAMIC COMPANY, WAS RENOWNED FOR THE CLAY-BASED DECORATIVE MATERIAL, FAMOUSLY USED BY ARCHITECTS LIKE LOUIS SULLIVAN, DANIEL BURNHAM AND FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT.

OF COURSE, THEY SAVED SOME OF THE MATERIAL FOR USE RIGHT HERE, IN CRYSTAL LAKE.

♪♪ THE RESORT BUSINESS TOOK OFF AT TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

SOME RESORT BUILDINGS STILL EXIST, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE ALL PRIVATE HOMES TODAY.

LAKE SHORE HOUSE BUILT IN 1900 HAD A FAMOUS MINERAL SPRING.

THE PROPRIETOR OF THE LEONARD HOUSE, BUILT IN 1905, ADVERTISED THAT "NOISE AND DRUNKENNESS WERE NOT TOLERATED" IN HIS ESTABLISHMENT.

AND WHAT'S A RESORT TOWN WITHOUT A MOVIE THEATER?

THE SPANISH MISSION STYLE, EL TOVAR THEATER WAS BUILT IN 1929.

TODAY, IT'S BEEN RESTORED AS A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THANKS TO A GIFT IN 1996 FROM THE ESTATE OF LUCILE RAUE.

SHE WAS THE LAST SURVIVING CHILD OF A PROMINENT CRYSTAL LAKE WATCHMAKER AND MERCHANT.

THE RESORT INDUSTRY ENDED IN CRYSTAL LAKE AFTER WWII.

BEFORE WE VISIT THE LAST TOWN ON OUR TOUR, I CAN'T RESIST TAKING YOU ON A LITTLE SIDE TRIP.

IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT BY NOW, I LOVE TRAINS.

AND FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE TRAINS, UNION ILLINOIS IS THE PROMISED LAND.

IT'S THE HOME OF THE ILLINOIS RAILWAY MUSEUM.

>> THIS IS THE DISPATCHER, COME IN 308.

>> THE MUSEUM WEBSITE SAYS, IT IS POSSIBLY THE LARGEST OPERATING DEMONSTRATION RAILROAD SHOWCASE ON THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT.

>> (ENGINEER) WELCOME ABOARD, HAVE A SEAT.

YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THOSE BUCKET SEATS.

>> IT ALL BEGAN WITH AN EFFORT TO SAVE ONE ELECTRIC TROLLEY CAR, INDIANA RAILROAD CAR NUMBER 65.

IT WAS HIGHLY ADVANCED FOR ITS TIME, AND WAS ORPHANED WHEN ITS OWNER STOPPED RUNNING PASSENGER TRAINS.

BEFORE LONG, THEY HAD A GROWING COLLECTION.

THEY RAISED MONEY AND PURCHASED THE ABANDONED RIGHT-OF-WAY OF AN OLD RAILROAD NEAR UNION.

THE CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE CLUB, LAID THOUSANDS OF FEET OF TRACK, THEMSELVES.

OVER THE YEARS, THEY'VE BOUGHT MORE LAND AND LAID MANY MORE MILES OF TRACK.

THEY'VE BOUGHT MORE HISTORIC RAILROAD ENGINES AND CARS.

TODAY, IT'S A MUSEUM IN MOTION WITH MORE THAN 400 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT.

THE OLDEST PIECE IN THE COLLECTION, IS A CHICAGO HORSE DRAWN STREETCAR, FROM 1859!

HEAVY STEAM AND DIESEL TRAINS OPERATE ON A FIVE-MILE LINE.

STREETCARS, INCLUDING THE ONLY SURVIVING CHICAGO GREEN HORNET CAR, OPERATE ON A ONE-MILE LOOP.

THE TRAINS ARE OPERATED AND MAINTAINED ENTIRELY BY VOLUNTEERS, WHO HAVE TO PASS HOURS OF INTENSIVE TRAINING-- AND SAFETY IS THEIR NUMBER ONE CONCERN.

♪♪ THE LAST STOP ON OUR TOUR IS THE HISTORIC TOWN OF WOODSTOCK.

YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE THE TOWN SQUARE FROM THE MOVIE, "GROUNDHOG DAY," STARRING BILL MURRAY AND ANDIE MACDOWELL.

IN THAT MOVIE, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE PUNXSUTAWNEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOR WHAT LOOKS LIKE A QUAINT RURAL MIDWESTERN TOWN, WOODSTOCK HAS AN AMAZINGLY STAR-STUDDED HISTORY.

THE WOODSTOCK OPERA HOUSE IS WHERE ORSON WELLES MADE HIS STAGE DEBUT IN SCHOOL PLAYS DURING HIS YEARS ATTENDING WOODSTOCK'S TODD SCHOOL FOR BOYS.

ON THIS SAME STAGE, A YOUNG PAUL NEWMAN, GERALDINE PAGE AND OTHER STUDENTS FROM CHICAGO'S GOODMAN SCHOOL OF DRAMA, PRACTICED THEIR CRAFT AS MEMBERS OF THE WOODSTOCK PLAYERS.

IT CONTINUES TO BE USED FOR LOCAL AND TOURING THEATRE TROUPES AND CONCERTS.

THE OPERA HOUSE OVERLOOKS THE TOWN SQUARE, WHICH HAS BEEN THE FOCAL POINT OF WOODSTOCK FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS.

IT'S LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

EVEN THE CITY BAND IS HISTORIC.

THEY'VE BEEN GIVING SUMMER CONCERTS ON THE SQUARE FOR WELL OVER A HUNDRED YEARS!

THE TOWN IS VERY COMMITTED TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

A VOLUNTEER CITIZEN'S GROUP REVIEWS ALL PLANS FOR NEW BUILDINGS, REMODELING, SIGNAGE, AND EVEN LANDSCAPING!

THE CITY ALSO PROVIDES INCENTIVES FOR PRESERVATION.

THE LOCAL LIBRARY OFFERS WALKING TOURS OF HISTORIC HOMES.

♪♪ THE COURT HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1857, WHEN WOODSTOCK BECAME COUNTY SEAT.

THE TOWN WAS CALLED, "CENTERVILLE" BACK THEN, BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION IN THE CENTER OF MCHENRY COUNTY.

BUT LOCALS THOUGHT THE NAME WAS BORING AND RENAMED IT AFTER A TOWN IN VERMONT.

THE COURTHOUSE SERVED AS THE SEAT OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT, UNTIL 1972.

SINCE THEN, IT'S BEEN LOVINGLY RESTORED AND PLACED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

TODAY, IT CONTAINS AN ARTS CENTER, AND A RESTAURANT.

YOU CAN HAVE LUNCH OR DINNER IN A JAIL CELL AND THE GRAND COURTROOM UPSTAIRS IS AVAILABLE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

THERE'S ALSO THE DICK TRACY MUSEUM-- BECAUSE DICK TRACY IS ANOTHER CELEBRITY FROM THE WOODSTOCK AREA.

HIS CREATOR, CHESTER GOULD, DREW THE STRIP IN THIS FARMHOUSE IN BULL VALLEY, JUST OUTSIDE OF WOODSTOCK FROM 1935, UNTIL HE RETIRED IN 1977.

CHESTER GOULD WAS BORN IN OKLAHOMA, AND WON CARTOONING CONTESTS AS A TEENAGER.

AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS OF COLLEGE, HE MOVED TO CHICAGO IN 1921 WITH $50 AND ONE DREAM, TO BECOME A CARTOONIST FOR THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE.

HE BOUGHT THIS DRAWING TABLE AND RENTED A ROOM ON LASALLE STREET.

FOR TEN YEARS, HE SENT COMIC STRIP IDEAS TO EDITOR J.M.

PATTERSON, BUT ALL HE GOT WAS A JOB DRAWING ADVERTISING ART.

FINALLY, IN 1931, ON HIS 61ST TRY, HE GOT PATTERSON'S INTEREST WITH A STRIP CALLED, "PLAINCLOTHES TRACY."

IT WAS A NEW CONCEPT IN COMICS, AN ACTION-PACKED DETECTIVE STORY.

IT WAS THE HEYDAY OF CHICAGO GANGSTERS.

GOULD SAID, "I DECIDED THAT IF THE POLICE COULDN'T CATCH THE GANGSTERS, I'D CREATE A FELLOW WHO COULD."

PATTERSON THOUGHT THE NAME WAS TOO LONG, AND SUGGESTED "DICK," A SLANG WORD FOR COPS.

GOULD ENROLLED IN NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY CRIMINOLOGY CLASSES, AND BECAME A REGULAR VISITOR TO THE CHICAGO POLICE CRIME LAB!

HE BASED MANY OF THE CHARACTERS ON HIS OWN WOODSTOCK NEIGHBORS.

FOR EXAMPLE "TINY" WAS BASED ON THE 400-POUND LOCAL POLICE CHIEF, EMERY HANSMAN.

THE STRIP WAS NOTABLE FOR ITS HERO'S USE OF DEADLY FORCE AGAINST GROTESQUELY DEFORMED VILLAINS AND FOR HIGH TECHNOLOGY, LIKE THE WRIST RADIO, LEVITATION VEHICLES AND LASER WEAPONS.

1949, COLONEL ROBERT MCCORMICK GAVE GOULD A BLACK CADILLAC FOR HELPING TO INCREASE TRIBUNE CIRCULATION!

CHESTER GOULD DIED IN 1985.

A CONTROVERSIAL REAL-LIFE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, CENTERED ON A TYPEWRITER MADE IN WOODSTOCK.

IT WAS THE KEY PIECE OF EVIDENCE USED TO CONVICT STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL, ALGER HISS IN 1950, AT THE DAWN OF THE RED SCARE.

WOODSTOCK WAS THE HOME OF TWO TYPEWRITER COMPANIES.

THE ODD LOOKING OLIVER TYPEWRITER WAS MADE HERE, FROM 1896 TO 1926.

BUT THE MORE CONVENTIONAL WOODSTOCK TYPEWRITERS, BECAME STANDARD GOVERNMENT ISSUE.

AS A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL, ALGER HISS HAD A WOODSTOCK TYPEWRITER IN HIS OFFICE.

HISS WAS ACCUSED OF COPYING SENSITIVE GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS BY RE-TYPING THEM, AND THEN PASSING THEM ALONG TO A COMMUNIST PARTY ORGANIZER.

A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE THAT INCLUDED A YOUNG RICHARD NIXON, GOT A HOLD OF THE DOCUMENTS AND INVESTIGATED HISS.

SEVERAL WOODSTOCK TYPEWRITER OFFICIALS ANALYZED THE DOCUMENTS AND CONFIRMED THAT THEY WERE TYPED ON HISS'S WOODSTOCK MACHINE.

HISS WAS CONVICTED OF PERJURY AND SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN JAIL.

THE EVENT CATAPULTED NIXON TO NATIONAL FAME.

HISS WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON IN 1954 AND DIED IN 1996, STILL MAINTAINING HIS INNOCENCE.

THE SPRAWLING DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS HAS FINALLY COME TO WOODSTOCK.

AND NOW THIS COMMUNITY IS TRYING TO BALANCE THE SAME FORCES THAT HAVE HAD SUCH A POWERFUL EFFECT ON THE WHOLE REGION.

ALL ACROSS THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS, THIS BALANCING ACT BETWEEN PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVING HISTORY AND OPEN LAND, IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE IMPORTANT.

AS YOU'VE SEEN ON THIS TOUR, THE BOOMING GROWTH OF THE LAST CENTURY HAD ITS BENEFITS AND ITS COSTS.

NOW MANY COMMUNITIES NORTHWEST OF CHICAGO ARE CHOOSING SMART GROWTH.

THEY'RE PRESERVING NATURAL AREAS AND HISTORIC STRUCTURES, AND BUILDING NEW CITY CENTERS OR RESTORING OLD ONES.

IN THE PROCESS, THEY'RE CREATING HIGH QUALITY HOMETOWNS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.