This Saturday, the Illinois State Historical Society will honor several businesses, municipalities, libraries and non-profits that have been around for 100 years or more.
It's am impressive list, ranging from Wrigley Field and the Great Lakes Naval Base to the Illinois School for the Deaf and the country's oldest Dodge dealership.
"Some of these businesses are mom and pop operations and there are generations that have run them," said William Furry, the Historical Society's Executive Director. "It takes a lot of perseverance, a lot of hard work and a lot of luck to make a mom and pop business survive. Same goes for a large business."
If you know of an institution that will celebrate 100 years next year, an application is available to nominate them. This weekend's ceremony will take place at Lewis and Clark Community College in Edwardsville. More details at 217-525-2781.
Here is a list of this year's honorees:
Great Lakes Naval Base (103 years)
Wrigley Field (100 years)
The Illinois School for the Deaf (175 years)
University of Illinois Extension Service (100 years)
Edwards County (200 years)
Chicago Ridge (100 years)
Worth, Illinois (100 years)
Wyoming Public Library
Winchester Public Library
Metropolis Public Library
Heath Confectionery Company (100 years)
Illinois Valley Community Hospital (100 years)
Farmers State Bank, Pittsfield (100 years)
ACME Industrial Company, Carpentersville (100 years)
Chicago Embroidery Company (124 years)
Lundgren's Camera Company, Rockford (100 years)
Rotary Club, Springfield (100 years)
Schmiedeskamp, Robertson, Neu & Mitchell, LLP, Quincy (100 years)
Village of Palos Park (100 years)
Joseph Oliver Dodge Dealership (Belleville), (100 years old, and the oldest Dodge Dealership in the Nation)
Highland Park Fire Department (100 years)
