I took this photo after work one day, on location in North Riverside Illinois. I was walking and exploring Commons Park on DesPlaines Avenue, and found the old neon sign from the legendary "Melody Mill Ballroom", in the public works little storage lot behind a chain link fence. The property that is Commons Park, was once a golf driving range. The old Melody Mill Ballroom was immediately adjacent to the property. The Melody Mill Ballroom was demolished around the late 1970's along with the golf driving range, and was redeveloped into todays Commons Park. There is a local Chicago ghost story, about how supposidly the apparition known as "Ressurection Mary" used to dance here and ask for rides home afterwards, only to dissapear into the night in front of Ressurection Cemetery. The Melody Mill was frequented by many older Chicagoans, and they would dance -socialize -and listen to 1940's swing / big band music.The old ballroom is long gone, but the old sign is sitting in limbo for the time being. I personally think that it would be nice, if they could "Restore" the old sign, and make it an exhibit in a future local Historical Museum of some sort. It would be very nice.
6 comments:
My parents and their friends used to dance at the Melody Mill! I'd like to get my hands on that sign.
i live there and i promise u there is no way u could get that sign. and the driving range was across the street not next to melody mill
i remember taking my girl friend to "the melody mill " in high school in 1953/54...that was the the place to take "that special girl" it's a long time ago but still fresh in my mind..............
The driving range was next door to the north!
The driving range was next to the mill. My dad use to go collect the balls that were aimed at the mill. Across the street was the old village hall/public works/ and police dept. Can you believe that it use to be all in one building. look how we have grown!
they have looked into fixing the sign and restoring it. Its a lot of money. The historical society wants to get the old pictures of the mill up on display then look into collecting money to see if it really can be saved. Would love to see that sign on display. The history is amazing its a shame the building had to come down. My grandma use to work there
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