Mount Prospect Historical Society

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HS Board

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Preserving Religious Observances during a Pandemic

The staff of St. Raymond Catholic Church, 301 S. I-Oka Ave., worked hard throughout the pandemic to provide as many services and as much outreach as they could, despite severe restrictions from the Archdiocese of Chicago, based on health department guidance.  

Music, for instance, has continued to play an integral part in St. Raymond’s parish life.

“The biggest changes are that we have not been allowed to have choirs for the duration of the pandemic thus far and we have had to reduce the number of instrumentalists we would normally have,” explained Brian Fife, St. Raymond’s Director of Music. “Initially, we were limited to just a cantor and piano, but we have been allowed to add additional personnel on a very limited basis, as each person needs to be socially distanced.”  

During April 2021 Fife said that songs are still sung at some points during weekend masses, “but we try to avoid singing when there is movement in the pews, such as people coming up for communion or leaving church at the end.” At these times, the music is all instrumental.  

Because of the pandemic, Fife said that they don’t actively encourage singing in the pews and people are instructed to leave their masks on. So, it would seem that the very reason for music ministry — which is to lead and encourage the faith community in sung worship — is defeated. But that has not been the case.  “People are still expressing their faith in song.  It’s just a lot quieter, or they are doing it at home while watching the live stream.”

“Despite the changes, we have done our best to provide music that can encourage people in their faith, and though it is vastly different, music can still be a point of inspiration and encouragement to people in their faith. And judging by the response we’ve gotten, I believe that this has been happening,” he continued.

“We may not be able to proclaim our faith in song as an assembly as robustly and boldly as we did before the pandemic, but as the title of one of the songs we sing aptly expresses it, “How Can I Keep From Singing?”  Our communal faith experience may have outwardly changed, but I have seen the resiliency of faith more than ever during these challenging times.”

Communications have also been particularly important during this trying time. 

“I started at St Raymond in November of 2019, just a few short months before the pandemic started.  I was just getting my feet wet and learning the behind-the-scenes of all that’s involved in running a church.  I’m still learning,” said Brandi Sulak, Communications Coordinator. “The job description definitely didn’t include live streaming or audio mixing, both of which are now a favorite part of my job.  I love a challenge!”

“From the beginning of the pandemic, we worked to grow people’s faith by livestreaming Mass,” she explained. “The St. Raymond Parish took the initiative and started to stream weekend and Wednesday masses live for everyone, a part of our congregation or not, to continue to flourish in our faith despite the barrier that Covid-19 brought.”

“I also continued to create and share the parish bulletin, which brings information to the parish and updates them on the church, on the community and on the world. I soon realized that these two things brought the church community together more, despite the separation throughout the globe.”

“We also remodeled our website to be more user-friendly. Every live stream, every podcast, every zoom event: all located right there for individuals to discover, use and enjoy. That was definitely one of our successes during this time and I hope it continues to be one moving forward.”

“Overall, this pandemic, although painful and heartbreaking, has really brought the St. Raymond Parish together on a new level and I am forever grateful for all it has brought for me,” she continued.

“Personally, this time has been full of creativity, struggles and lots and lots of days wearing comfy clothes. But, as the months progressed, my family and I tried to think outside of the box as to how to preoccupy our minds while in quarantine. Along with all of our arts and crafts, new movie and television finds, and outdoor activities, we also found a new way to study and learn about the Lord. Especially during Easter last year, my family and I took a deep dive into what the holiday really meant,” Sulak added.

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2020 Pandemic Life at St. Emily School, Mount Prospect, IL

By Bonnie Eiffes / Administrative Assistant
St. Emily School

On Saturday, March 7th we gathered for the annual Trivia Night sponsored by St. Emily School. We had no idea it would be the final open event of the year. On Friday, March 13, we learned that school would be closed indefinitely, due to the pandemic. 

 The loss of personal contact was felt immediately during the school shut down. The faculty and staff devised a way to connect with students and families by hosting a drive through parade at school on April 17. It was a cold, snowy day, but many Eagle families showed their school spirit during our “We Miss You” parade. Following the parade, we learned that the Governor had announced that school buildings would be closed for the remainder of the academic year. 

The annual all-school May Crowning event went virtual. Each 8th grade student submitted a video of a presentation of flowers to Our Lady. 

Graduation in June was held outdoors, with timed presentation of diplomas, and an individual graduate photo op. 

Upcoming events, including the annual Track-a-Thon, Student Recognition Night and prekindergarten, kindergarten and 8th grade graduation programs and ceremonies will be adjusted to comply with CDC and Archdiocese Covid protocols. 

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Mount Prospect musician streamed in 80+ countries, dedicated “Royal March’ to Prince Philip

Mt. Prospect’s Robert Hurns second album Music From Imaginary Movies features the song “Royal March” he dedicated to Prince Philip.

By Diane Turner-Hurns

As the world mourns the April 9 death of Britain’s Prince Philip Mountbatten, married to Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years, Mt. Prospect musician Robert J. Hurns dedicates his instrumental song Royal March to his memory.

“Prince Philip led a long, extraordinary life. In many ways he was the embodiment of the concept of royalty,” said Hurns, who has been to Britain 11 times over the years and has attended Elizabeth II’s three Jubilees. “Royal March recalls the pomp and gravitas that must appear when royalty enters the room!”

Royal March, off Hurns second album “Music From Imaginary Movies,” is one of the most downloaded Hurns songs available off Spotify, Amazon, Tik Tok and music platforms worldwide. It can also be downloaded at the hearnow.com site https://bit.ly/2xoFIuM.

Hurns said songs off his four instrumental rock albums: 1) Crabby Road, 2) Music From Imaginary Movies, 3) Meet The Christ Stains! and 4) Castle of the Von Font Counters, may also help people get through the final days of this pandemic and the loss of a legendary figure.

“This instrumental rock takes you away, helps one think, makes one dance and brings a smile,” Hurns said.

Songs such as the top streamed Sonic Magazine, Winter, Battle Line and The Office from Crabby Road; Giant Monkey Island, Larry Blotter — Potions A’Poppin, Abbutt & Castello Meet Osama Bin Laden, Royal March, and Lunar Ocean from Music From Imaginary Movies; Twin Peeks, Last Day, Attack of the Giant Bumble Bee, and El Syd, from Meet The Christ Stains! and Dark Day Dance, Laudanum, The Inn Crowd and Message to Gort from Castle of the Von Font Counters are great, fans say.

The hearnow.com links for each album are Crabby Road — https://bit.ly/35ouKSH, Music From Imaginary Movies — https://bit.ly/2xoFIuM, Meet The Christ Stains! — https://bit.ly/3bQmcq2 and Castle of the Von Font Counters — https://bit.ly/3bVC7Ua. All are produced by Hurns’ Chicago-based Curio Cabinet Records.


CD.baby.com analytics show Hurns music has been downloaded by people in more than 80 countries. Fans are saying Hurns’ music is:

“A vast landscape punctuated with driving angular lines of sonic greatness”;

“Vampy industrial rock: (WZRD FM); “Makes you feel like you are free on a technicality — we bet you’ll plead insanity when you hear his latest” (The Entertainer); “Sly wiggly syncopated industrial pop performed on brightly toned synths and electric guitar by Hurns,” and; “Is a Kubrick-ish soundtrack for a mystical sci-fi flick; some songs are a metal cornucopia with raw, spare drumming, begs for dancing.”(local news reporter).

Hurns, also a lawyer, played in bands Radio Whip, the Texas Chainsaw Experience and the Tortfeasers. He created and performed Safety March, a theme for an international safety trade group’s 100th anniversary. A fifth album will be released later this year.

“We send our deep sympathy to Queen Elizabeth II and her family in the loss of Prince Philip,” Hurns said.

Copyright 2022 Daily Herald (www.dailyherald.com)

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Life of a Mom in the COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Kirsten Anzalone

Life at the beginning of 2020 seemed to run at a break-neck pace with little time left to fully process the events of the day. Our family schedule was a well-oiled assembly line: wake at 5:00 AM, breakfast, wish my husband a good day as he bolted out the door to catch the 5:25 AM metra, off to shower, make lunches, help the kids get ready for their day, drop the kids at school, go to work, run through the grocery store to pick up milk, greet the kids at school
pick-up, race to Irish dance practice, rush home to make and burn dinner, throw the children in the tub, clean the toilet, wipe the dust, run the dishwasher, read the kids a book, kiss them goodnight, check my text messages, remember that I forgot to pay a bill, promise to pay the bill tomorrow, tried to remember if I did shower that day, when was the last time I washed my hair, did I go to the bathroom today…maybe not. No joke. Can’t remember. Did I ask my husband how his day was? Opportunity slipped by – he’s already asleep. I’m off to bed, and I’ll do it all over again tomorrow!

Sometimes the days ran into each other. There were nights I realized I never fully looked my children in the eye that day. I never truly absorbed them. How could I let a day slip by without giving them a fraction of my full attention? I made false promises that the next day we would not be so crazed. And yet, there I was the following night, rerunning the crazy events of that day again in my head knowing full well that I did not fulfill my previous night’s promises.

And then COVID came.

We had heard about COVID for the first time from my father who reads the daily news from multiple sources. He warned us about a virus traveling abroad from China that would soon lay its filthy hands around America’s neck. But life was moving so fast, I was not prepared. I still had my younger daughter’s 4th birthday party planned for March 15, 2020. It was not until two days before that we had heard of patients in Illinois being diagnosed with the virus. So, in an effort to be cautious, we cancelled the March 15 party not realizing this would be the last time for over a year that we would even have a party date on our calendar.

I work in the College and Career Center at Prospect High School. I missed seeing senior students who were set to celebrate their College Decision Day, prom, and graduation. Soon, school was moved remotely for the remainder of the school year. Event after event was cancelled. My own children, in pre-school and 2nd grade at St. Raymond School in Mt. Prospect, adopted a fully remote elearning schedule. We learned Zoom on the fly, mastering the mute buttons and automatic filters that made me look 5 years younger. Ta da! (One piece of Zoom I will never complain about.)

One night in May 2020, I asked my older daughter how her day was, and she said, “It was great, mom! I love that you are my teacher now!” I reminded her that Mrs. Mitchell was her teacher, but she said, “But not really, because she’s not here. You’re here.” And I realized I was truly “here” for her. For the first time in 8 years, I truly looked at my daughter. I saw her talents, her inner-beauty, I learned her better from the inside out. COVID restrictions requiring us to stay home allowed me to fully embrace motherhood, to explore nature with my kids. I watched our 4 year old master her alphabet, recognize letters, and ride a big-girl bike. We made homemade pie, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and learned how to finger knit, tie-dye, and paint on canvas. We played more board games than I could count. My husband, a first-responder with the Illinois State Police, continued to work at the Crime Lab every day while I had the joy of staying home with our kids. And I do mean “joy.” I am not writing that sarcastically. I was so lucky to be at home with them, to be their teacher, mentor, playmate, and mom.

COVID restrictions in Cook County came at a time that was convenient for me, we can’t deny that. My kids still found me fun. I sent positive thoughts to the moms with newborns and the moms with teens. What were they doing to stay sane? To keep themselves positive during the day? I was fortunate that at 4 and 8, my children still found me exciting to be with while they stayed safe at home.

And now, in April 2021, people are starting to venture out. For families like ours who have been very cautious, this is new territory. Can our kids have a friend over to play? Can I see a friend in person without a mask on? I’m not sure if I will ever feel 100% secure and safe again. This pandemic hit my mental health hard. My Tiger Mom came out in full-force: I just wanted to keep my kids safe. I think anyone with kids would say the same.

If someone asked me to think of one positive aspect of the past year, I would reflect on how the stay-at-home order for our family was the reminder to…slow…down. I finally could breathe. I was able to finally enjoy my children without a time clock ticking next to me. I don’t want our schedule to ever get as busy as it was prior to March 2020. I am so happy with a slower paced life and daily schedule. When life returns to normal, I will be sure to hit the breaks and pause button more often; I promise you all I will never run a daily marathon at a break-neck pace ever again.

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Summer 2021 Activities for Young Historians

History is for kids, too! The Mount Prospect Historical Society is pleased to announce the return of many of our popular summer programs, some with new, updated formats. Programs are for boys and girls age seven and up.

In adherence with current CDC guidelines, the programs will be held on a slightly different timetable than year’s past, with individual sessions being held every-other-week from late June through July. 

Our always popular Prairie Girl programs have been renamed Prairie Kids. Boys and girls are invited to take part in these fun, step-back-in-time experiences. Participants will try their hand at chores of yesteryear, explore what it was like to travel and live on the prairie, learn the importance of gardening and farming, and craft their own old-fashioned toys. Life as a Prairie Kid I will be offered on Thursday, June 17. Life as a Prairie Kid II will be held on Thursday, July 1. (Content for each of the Prairie Kid sessions is different.) *PRAIRIE KID II IS SOLD OUT*

Young Historians play a game at a previous MPHS summer program 

The exciting Science of History program is back, as well. This STEM-based interactive program has been delighting kids in past summers with themes such as catapults, waterwheels, log cabin building, and rockets. This year we’ll explore “Boats, Ships, and Other Things that Float”. Be sure to join in for oceans of fun on Thursday, July 15.  *THIS PROGRAM IS SOLD OUT*

To complement the science program this year, we’re presenting “Crossing on the Mayflower and Life in Plymouth “. Learn what it was like to be a kid on this famous cross-Atlantic trip. Experience what life was like in the New World when the Pilgrims finally reached land. This program will be held on Thursday, July 29. 

All sessions will be held on the Society campus (101 S. Maple, Street, Mount Prospect) from 9:30 to 11:30 am on their respective days. Space is limited to ten participants per session and registration is required. 

Cost is $25 per person for each session or $20 if registering for more than one program. 

We’re so thrilled to be opening our campus again and bringing history alive for all ages. We look forward to having many Young Historians join us this summer on our exciting adventures through time!

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Downtown restaurant survives with ingenuity

Michael Martin, owner of the Mount Prospect LePeep Café (847-797-9990) since 2005, suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, just like his fellow restaurateurs. With limited dining restrictions in effect, he had to turn to increased carry-out, curbside pick-up and deliveries for his restaurant at the corner of Northwest Highway and Route 83. It wasn’t easy, but limited openings during the summer and early fall gave him hope.

When the state shut down again in November, however, he knew he had to do something differently if he wanted his business to survive during the winter months. He had seen other restaurants pivoting to pizza kits and so forth to stay afloat, so he came up with his own unique service.

“I wish I would have thought of this early on because it might have helped me keep some people employed,” Martin said.

It occurred to Martin that after working hard all day, people probably didn’t want to go home and cook dinner. “This Pandemic has made a lot of people tired of coming up with ideas for dinner menus, going to the market, then prepping and cooking,” he explained.

So, Martin created “Meals, Made, Easy.” He planned the menu, then shopped for the food, prepped and cooked it. By Wednesday, every week through early April, he posted a new menu on Facebook with four different meal plans. The meals were created for two, four or six people, depending on the size of the family or the appetites. Orders were then taken through 2 p.m., Saturday and the prepared food was available for pick-up between 3 and 7 p.m. on Mondays. 

All customers had to do was order, re-heat, and eat. Customers could order for one night or up to all four meal plans and take care of dinners for the whole week.

“We have been doing this for 18 weeks and have offered roughly three to four different menus per week.  We have rerun our popular items a few times, but have tried to offer new items every week,” Martin explained.

“We ended up with between 15 and 20 regular customers, ordering between one and four meals a week,” he continued. “People could purchase one meal plan or all of them. We also offered ala carte items, salads, cold soups, egg salad, chicken salad, salsa, salad dressings, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, etc. The lasagna, meatloaf, sloppy joes, pot roast, tilapia, and all the Mexican items – tacos, enchiladas – were particularly popular.”

“In the beginning we tried to build it all around family meals based on four people.  But we got a lot of people asking about meals for two, so we tiered it for two, four or six people.  Meals for two was our most popular portion,” Martin stated.  

“The Monday after Easter was our last pick-up day for a while.  We have pivoted a lot with this concept, offering catering, frozen meals, ala carte items, and our regular meal plans,” he continued. “It’s a lot of work and currently society is trying to get back to some sense of normal.  We want guests to get out and support their local restaurants.  This idea was never to take the place of dining out.  The idea was all about saving people time, money and effort in their weekly planning of meals.  We will continue to work on the MME brand and again offer it to our guests in the future when we can.  It may return as a weekly feature down the road.  We may also continue to offer limited quantities of refrigerated and frozen meals to be picked up anytime during our normal business hours.”

“There is a lot of extra work required in the planning and production of the MME program and it has become even more challenging since we re-opened indoor dining.  Also, from an ordering standpoint we have had to purchase some things that aren’t on our regular menu and if we don’t sell them, we need to do something else with them,” Martin added. 

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Commemorative Randhurst T-Shirt Now Available!

Do you have fond memories of walking through and shopping at the old Randhurst Shopping Center in Mount Prospect?  Spending leisurely Saturday afternoons shopping and dining with your friends? Enjoying the many special events they held and taking your children to visit both Santa and the Easter Bunny? Can you name its various anchor stores as they changed over the years?

If so, take note that the Mount Prospect Historical Society has received permission from DLC Management, the current owners of the Randhurst property, to create and sell a blue and white t-shirt honoring Randhurst – the largest indoor, air-conditioned shopping center in the upper Midwest when it opened.

The permission has been issued for a very short period of time, so if you are interested, you need to jump on the opportunity, according to Emily Dattilo, director.

The new Randhurst t-shirt is now available for pre-order through April 19 on the Society’s website at https://www.mtphist.org/shop-2/.  The shirts come in many sizes and begin at $25. If you’d like to learn more about the history of Randhurst, you can purchase the Randhurst Bundle for $45. This deal includes a Randhurst t-shirt and a copy of the book Randhurst: Suburban Chicago’s Grandest Shopping Center by former Society Director Greg Peerbolte.  Orders are expected to ship the week of May 3rd.