Wilmette: 1949/1999
Our third grade class used the Wilmette Historical Society to research information to discover how Wilmette has changed in fifty years. We looked at newspapers and photographs from 1949. Our class went on a bus/walking trip around Wilmette to compare the Wilmette of 1949 to the Wilmette of 1999 and made the following conclusions:
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Conclusion: The biggest change since 1949 has been that stores don't sell just one kind of clothing, such as hats and handbags. You can buy hats in a store that sells lots of other things. |
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Conclusion: Recreation for children has changed a lot since 1949. For example, sport teams used to have sponsors and only boys could play. Today, the park district has teams but no sponsors and lots of girls play. The Girls Scouts had to wear their full uniforms, but today they just wear a vest or sash. Also, the troops all belong to one big council. |
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Conclusion: In 1949 the place to see movies was a fancy, brick building with ushers in the front waiting for people. Today the building is a grocery store and the movie theater is in a small building next to other stores. People do many other things for entertainment instead of seeing movies. |
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Conclusion: The city services have changed a lot in the last 50 years. For example, in 1949 there was 60 miles of water mains. Today there is 106 miles. In 1949 the police and fire departments were together in the same place. Today each one has their own department and buildings. |
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Conclusion: The businesses in Wilmette have changed in many ways. For example, products that people buy are modern and improved, or they are completely changed. Also, many different things can be bought in one place instead of only one type of thing. The business hours and days that they are open are different. The stores are larger and more open. |
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Conclusion: Buildings in the Wilmette area have changed on the outside and the inside since 1949. Some of the changes have been: the landscaping is more attractive, the rooms have more detail, are less plain, and with more colors. Some buildings have become larger and are more expensive. The places of worship have not changed very much. |
| last update: 6/12/99 | send us email | © Wilmette Public Schools |