Have you ever heard of a town that was built for veterans? Hometown in Illinois was just that. It was developed right after World War II by Joseph E. Merrion. He created affordable duplex houses for former soldiers and their families. Hometown quickly became a popular place to live. Its population peaked at over 7,000 people in 1958. That makes it a pretty large village for Illinois. It’s located in Cook County and is just a short drive from Chicago. Today, it is still a close-knit community with a population of about 4,300. The town is known for its strong sense of community and its commitment to family values. But its early history wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. A tornado ripped through Hometown in 1967. It was rated F4/F5 on the Fujita scale, which means it was one of the strongest ever recorded. The tornado destroyed 86 homes and damaged over 500 others. Luckily, no one was killed. What a disaster! Hometown recovered quickly from the tornado, though. It quickly rebuilt itself back and still remains a vibrant community to this day. So next time you are in Chicago, take a drive down to Hometown. You’ll find a charming place with a lot to offer. You might be able to find some historical relics too.
Congregation Or Torah
Rabbi Zvi Engel’s leadership guides Congregation Or Torah. This impressive Modern Orthodox Synagogue stands proudly in Skokie Illinois. It’s one