Village of Bridgeview history

The accompanying 1886 real estate map shows the distinctly rectangular pattern of land subdivision and roads.

August Belke and his wife originally bought the land in 1905.

When their home burned down in 1911, Belke erected a house he purchased as a unit from Sears Roebuck & Co.

The effects of the Great Depression slowed development, but in 1936–37 the Bartlett Real Estate Company resumed building houses.

The Bridgeview Community Club, founded in 1938, became the center of local activities.

Bridgeview resident John Blaha helped in the removal of the rails along Harlem Avenue in 1942.

In 1947 voters decided to incorporate as a village of approximately 500 residents.

The dream of a library for Bridgeview began its journey into reality early in March, 1965, when the Bridgeview Chamber of Commerce and Industry spearheaded the effort.

The park was named in 1968 after Edward Wierzba, the first local fatality in Vietnam.

Over 200 honored guests were present on Sunday, November 29, 1970 as the Bridgeview Public Library was dedicated "to serve the community as a center for educational and cultural development and enrichment."

In 1972, one of the baseball fields at Weirzba Memorial Park was named after David Montez, who was the first male Park District employee and a volunteer fireman on the Bridgeview Fire Department.

In 1973, some of the parks were still marsh land.

In 1979, the steps to develop began.

In the spring of 1980, the district received word that Bridgeview was one of the few park districts whose grant had been approved in an amount exceeding $100,000.

Tax relief by the Park District was 10 years ahead of Cook County when in September of 1981, the Park Board boldly announced a tax levy decrease of $42,000.

The facility would include an outdoor pool, a new home for the administrative offices and preschool classes, a weight room, a multi-purpose room for crafts and meetings, exercise area and locker rooms. Its concept was announced in the spring of 1984.

The answer to that question came in October 1995 when the Park District purchased the Saints Spectrum Ice Arena.