Parking Lot

Fenton High School

Park and Teen Center

 Evergreen and Park

Post Office

Anchorage and Castle

Before cars and trains were the popular mode of transportation, you wore out your shoe leather and went to...
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... the home and shop of the village cobbler. It was built around 1890 and was removed in 1975 for the Addison Street  commuter parking lot.
         Gustav Gutsche, the cobbler, was also the town lamplighter.

Bensenville by Martha Jones  page 20

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You can play all you want now, but it used to be "No Running Allowed". 
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From 1958 to 1983,   Bensenville's swimming pool used to be here at Church and Main. Mini golf used to be east of the parking lot and behind what was the Teen Center in the 1990's.
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Young minds flourish and grow here now, but it used to be...
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...Plentywood Farm and Nursery and home of the Grove family.  George Grove is on the right.  The man on the left is Ernst Mechlinberg.
 

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Pine Street meets Evergreen and Park, but it used to be lawn bowlers and singers would meet for picnics.

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This was Horseshoe Bend in 1919. The thick pine grove between Park and Evergreen Streets was a popular social spot in the late 1890's and early 1900's. 

Bensenville by Martha Jones pp.26-28

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Since 1974, you could get your mail and stamps, but for more than 50 years you came here for roses and carnations.

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It was originally  Duntemann's greenhouse, then Leider's. 

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The Anchorage and Castle Towers  are here now,   but it used to be...

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... the German Evangelical Orphan and Old People's Home, commonly called "The Castle". It stood from 1895 to 1975.
         For more information about "The Castle" click here.

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There hasn't been much change here since Bensenville's history is still tied to the railroad. This building was built in 197? to replace the old one. Do you recognize it?

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The photo above is the old depot in 1975 right before the present depot was built just east of it. Both depots stood side by side for a short time.

The photo above is the depot in 1908. If you have any information about the history of  these first two buildings, please send e-mail to proud_past@yahoo.com

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The northeast corner of Main and Addison has had a bank on it since 1919, 
but this corner used to be...

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...the home of a banker's brother. George Franzen's house was built on this corner in 1919. The Franzen bank was next door. This photo was taken about 1910. Albert Franzen is on the left and C.A. Franzen is on the right. The house was moved...

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to the 100 block of South Mason Street. It still stands today, but it was painted a different color in 2000.

These books from the children's department are about old houses. Check them out.

The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton  (Y+ Bur)
House, House by Jane Yolen  (Y974.4 Yol)