Stories of Elk Grove
Project Information
Stories of Elk Grove is a cooperative project between the Elk Grove Historical Museum and Historical Society that explores the history of Elk Grove through interviews with current and previous residents. Each interview reflects the memories and stories from individual participants about Elk Grove prior to its incorporation in 1956 and its development as a suburb. All interviews are recorded and copies are available for the public to listen to at the museum. In some cases, a transcript (full text version) of an interview is available for viewing. Below is a full list of all individuals interviewed to date and whether a transcript is available. Press the play arrow to the right of the name to listen to sound clips from selected interviews.
List of Interviewees (in ABC order) with overview of topics featured.
| Gertrude Behrens |
|
Transcript Available |
Gordon von Bergen and his family purchased land on the Southwest corner of Arlington Heights Road and Biesterfield Road in 1947, where they lived until 1962. This interview focuses on memories of Henry Schuette Jr. and living in the area both prior and after Elk Grove became a suburb.
| Howard Biermann |
|
Transcript Available |
Evelyn Beese
(nee Heimsoth) |
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| Clarence and Martha Biesterfield |
|
Transcript Available |
Delores Brinkman moved to Elk Grove Village with her husband, Emil, in 1962. She started working at the Jarosch Bakery around 1964 as a sales girl and continued to assist at the bakery as needed until 2010.
*Interviews with Allen Busse are not formal question and answer. Rather they are ongoing conversations about primarily his wife, Marge Scharringhausen, and her family. Some include memories of his service in WWII and living on the farm in Elk Grove.
Josephine grew up in Itasca moved to Elk Grove after her marriage to Elmer who attended Biesterfield School.
Esther grew up on farm located in Schaumburg Township on the West side of Rohlwing Road (Old Route 53), about 1 block from Biesterfield Road. She was part of the last graduating class of Biesterfield School in 1948.
Marie Gehrke
(nee Winkelman) |
|
Transcript Available |
Alfred grew up on a farm on Section 15 in Elk Grove Township just East of the intersection of Arlington Heights Road and Algonquin Road.
Barbara Holtz
(nee Schnell) |
|
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Scott is the youngest son of Elk Grove's first mayor, Charles "Chic" Hodlmair.
Betty was the wife of Herb Jarosch and together they joined his parents, George and Kathe, in opening the Jarosch Bakery in Elk Grove Village on October 15, 1959.
Ken is the son of Herb and Betty Jarosch. Ken and his wife Kathy became owners of the Jarosch Bakery in late 1989 - early 1990.
Irene Kruckman
(nee Scharringhausen) |
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Irene Kuhlman
(nee Rodewald) |
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Ruth and Marion Luehring were two of the daughters of Clara (nee Schuette) and Henry Luehring. Interview includes their memories of the Henry Schuette house, which is now part of the museum, and the memories of the Schuette family.
John "Allen" Mergens was the first chief for the Elk Grove Village Fire Department.
Jean Mueller
(nee Scharringhausen) |
|
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Anthony and his wife, Terri, were the last owners of the Schuette house which is now part of the museum. They purchased the property to build the Grove Memorial Chapel.
Willis and Scott Nieman
(with contributions by John Cordell) |
|
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| Mary Ostrowski |
|
Transcript Available |
Gertrude Roman
(nee Sokolowski) |
|
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Employee with Jarosch Bakery since the 1970's. She currently serves as one of their cake decorators.
| Pearl Scharringhausen |
|
Transcript Available |
| Robert Schnell |
|
Transcript Available |
Joseph and his wife, Dolores, became partners of the Jarosch Bakery with Herb and Betty Jarosch in 1968 until 1987.
Helen Warke
(nee Jarosch) |
|
Transcript Available |
Interviews in this collection are protected by copyright and PERMISSION TO PUBLISH MUST BE REQUESTED from the Elk Grove Historical Museum.
Are you a storyteller? If you are interested or know of someone who would be interested in being interviewed about their memories of Elk Grove, please contact the Museum Coordinator, Sandy Denninger, at 847-690-1440 or sdenninger@elkgroveparks.org
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