Newspaper Clippings for
June, 1967
from the pages of the Waukegan News-Sun 16 June 1967
Historic Millburn Opposes Change
by Steve Sarich
MILLBURN - Some months back a meeting was called to talk
incorporation of this rustic community founded in 1838.
This community on Rte. 45 where Negro slaves were hidden in their
flight to freedom during the Civil War has retained its bucolic
personality despite industrial, commercial and residential growth
surrounding it.
While a negative tone apparently was established on incorporation
after the first meeting, the issue is far from dead.
Sparking the movement toward forming a village government is Ray
Bober, who leases the Millburn Country Store, better known to
pioneer Lake County residents as the Ed Martin Country Store.
Bober took over the landmark's operation several years ago. It is
a frame structure on the east side of Rte. 45 at the end of Loon
Lake Road.
It appears that Bober is alone in his attempt to incorporate the
town judging from conversation with some of its residents.
Bober does not intend to capitulate, however.
He plans a second meeting with the townspeople (the last count was
73) to tell them about the benefits of incorporation that would
lead to preservation of Millburn's rural atmosphere.
Here are some of the reasons he gives in favor of
incorporation:
--To protect the community from a population explosion.
--To retain the original stature of the area.
--To establish an oasis between Chicago and Milwaukee.
Reasons against his proposal to incorporate, he has learned, are
that taxes and cost of living would skyrocket and it would mean
residents would be told what to do.
"It would be tragic if this historical landmark would be swallowed
up by annexation by either Mill Creek on the east or Lindenhurst
on the west," Bober said.
"This is possible", he warned, "with the continued growth of these
villages."
Bober reported he is collecting information from county and state
sources on incorporation in order to have it available at the next
meeting which is several months away.
Across Rte. 45 on the west is an antique store operated by P. W.
Anderson, a former Waukegan resident, who opposes any
incorporation move.
"I would say there are only two supporters for Bober's plan," said
Anderson.
Anderson, who just opened a 100 year old house that he had
restored to its Mid-Victorian decor, said, "We'd like to stay as
we are."
Continuing, Anderson said: "When you talk incorporation, it's
expensive from the beginning in exchange for police and fire
protection."
Questioned about the threat by annexation by either Mill Creek or
Lindenhurst, Anderson declared:
"We'll be notified of this intent, and then we'll start to fight
this kind of movement."
Millburn, once thriving center of mill commerce and business is
now only a crossroads. Its founders were the Strang brothers who
farmed land grants in the surrounding countryside.
