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Meyer's Pond
Meyer's Pond
On this postcard, Emil Sigwalt is pictured on the left at Meyer's Park and Pond and Edwin Meyer is pictured on the right with a dog.
Meyer's Pond
Meyer's Pond
1883
Meyer’s Pond
Meyer's Pond was a gathering place for people young and old. The park and pond were located along State Road (now called Arlington Heights Road) and Davis Street. In 1883, J. A. Kennicott, Chris Geils and Henry Meyer purchased the property which they developed into Meyer's Park and Pond. They deepened the natural pond on the grounds, so that in the winter ice could be cut for family iceboxes. Over the years an ice house was added. By 1891, Henry Meyer (the local Blatz beer distributor) bought out the other owners and built his home on the front of the land at 11 South State Road and added the dance pavilion in the rear. The dance pavilion had sides which could be opened up for dances, picnics and even wedding receptions. Meyer's Park and Pond provided many hours of social activities: singing, dancing and even political rallies. In the later years there was a roller rink as well.
According to Mickey Horndasch, curator for the Arlington Heights Historical Society, in the summer, local residents and visitors who took the train from as far as Chicago used it as a place for fun, camaraderie and cooling off. In the winter months, the pond was filled with ice skaters, in addition to being a source to pull ice from to fill ice boxes at home.
Meyer's Pond was filled in when State Road was widened in 1934 and the Meyer home was torn down in the 1960s. Today the property is home to the Arlington Heights Village Hall, which stands at 33 S. Arlington Heights Road,
Who was Henry Meyer
Who was Henry Meyer
Henry Meyer was born on August 17, 1847, in Germany. He came to the United States when he was 20 years old. He first lived in, Wisconsin, where he worked as a bricklayer and stonemason. In 1870, he moved to St. Louis and then came to Chicago just after the big fire in 1871. He married Louisa Sieburg on December 5, 1872. She had been born in Arlington Heights. Together they had eight children: Minnie, William, Emma, Lizzie; Edward; and Rose. Two children preceded Henry in death and are buried in St. Peter’s German Lutheran cemetery.
He was a mason and brick contractor in Arlington Heights and the region. He built the Brick Block on Dunton Street, the old foundry and many other buildings. He was proprietor of the Union Hotel for 13 years. He was Village Trustee serving four terms.
In 1883, Henry Meyer and J.A. Kennicott and Chris Geils purchased property south of the railroad tracks and east of State Road (now Arlington Heights Road) and deepened a natural pond to use for ice for family iceboxes. By 1891, Henry bought out the other owners and built a home on the front of the property. A dance pavilion was added to the back of the property. Meyer’s Pavilion and Park was popular for various activities and the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad even ran excursions from Chicago on Sundays throughout the summer to the park.
Henry died November 26, 1903.
Jack Musich's "Meyer's Pond" Mural at Village Hall
Jack Musich's "Meyer's Pond" Mural at Village Hall
"Meyer’s Pond” is the name of a painting done by local Arlington Heights artist, Jack Musich. The painting was transformed into a 12 ft. by 17 ft. mural on the second floor of Arlington Heights Village Hall. The colorful mural was unveiled on Friday, April 20, 2018. A dedication was held for the mural, which depicts a turn-of-the-century scene from Arlington Heights’ early days.
Jack Musich worked as a commercial artist and also painted historical scenes of Arlington Heights, where he lived for six decades with his wife and family.
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