Mayor's Welcome
January 2009
"Without a vision . . . the people perish".
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Welcome to Franklin
Grove via our official web site. Please visit all our links to
attractions and activities and follow the links to other interesting
sites that will present our community to you. I hope your visit to
our website will pique your interest and lead to a visit to our
community. Check our events calendar for a schedule of special events.
We stand at the
threshold of a new era, requiring a new vision . . . a vision to
build today, a future for our community and our children, set
securely on the solid foundation prepared by generations of
predecessors, who instilled within us an heritage of faith, a
pioneering spirit, an unwavering patriotism, a solid work ethic, and
a desire to do the best we can individually and as a community.
There is within our
village a contagious spirit of volunteerism that has infected many of
our own people, and has also effected the involvement a host of
volunteers from throughout the surrounding communities of north
central Illinois, to assist in the restoration of several historic
buildings, create an early 1800's pioneer village, and to organize a
number of societies to promote our rural Mid-American natural and
cultural heritage. Farming Heritage, Inc. brought a crown jewel to
our town when they secured the National Headquarters of the Lincoln
Highway Association.
Five seasonal events
make a visit to Franklin Grove an experience you will remember.
In early spring Farming Heritage draws maple syrup from trees from
all over town and boils it down to provide the syrup for the American
Legion Pancake and whole hog sausage breakfast.
The 30th Franklin Grove
Summer Harvest Festival, one of the premiere small town family
festivals held in northern Illinois each summer, will take place over
the July 31-August 2 weekend and is held in conjunction with the
Living History Antique Equipment Association Show where hundreds of
tractors, implements, trucks and tools that were used to build rural
mid-America are on display in working exhibits.
The second Battle of
Chaplin Creek, a Civil War reenactment battle will take place in and
around Chaplin Creek Village, the time-period village under
restoration by the Franklin Grove Area Historical Society. The Rebels
and Yanks will fill the country side with black powder smoke during a
weekend yet to be determined during the summer.
Special fall activities
bring folks to town for Autumn in the Grove on the third Saturday in
September. Virtually the entire business community comes together for
Christmas in the Grove on the second Friday of December.
An independent spirit
drives the Franklin Grove business community engine. Economic
conservatism shields the community to a degree from outside economic
forces, but we expect to face some of the effects of the declining economy.
The village has
recently completed its first Comprehensive Plan and will soon submit
its application to be recognized as part of the Illinois Competitive
Communities Initiative. Several small businesses have moved to larger
premises in order to expand including Atkinson Trucking and From Me
to You Gift Shop. Affordable Memories Antique Store opened last
summer. The village is served by a host of well stablished
commercial enterprises. The Village Board seeks to create a climate
wherein a vibrant business community can flourish.
There is land currently
available on the outskirts of our community for residential,
commercial, and with rezoning, parcels that could be zoned
industrial. We are here to create situations where private
individuals and private enterprise can come build their future with us.
Sincerely,
Bob Logan
Mayor
Franklin Grove, Illinois
