What do a lumberman, a temperance movement, and a high school basketball team all have in common? The answer, my friends, lies right here in Harvey, Illinois! Founded in 1891 by Turlington W. Harvey, a wealthy Chicago lumberman, Harvey was envisioned as a model town. It was rooted in Christian values and, believe it or not, was one of the Temperance Towns.
The idea was to create a community free from the evils of alcohol. Think of it, a town built on the principles of hard work and clean living! Now, those principles attracted a specific type of resident – skilled laborers seeking a better life. The Illinois Central Railroad even divided Harvey into residential and industrial sections, a testament to the town’s focus on both work and family life.
But Harvey, like any good story, has its twists and turns. By 1900, despite the town’s pious beginnings, residents voted, albeit by a slim majority, to allow saloons. So much for the dry life! Temperance dream dashed, Harvey moved on, growing steadily through the early 20th century. By the 1920s, the population boomed, reaching over 16,000, boasting a thriving downtown, and a mix of housing for everyone from factory workers to Chicago commuters.
And how about this for a claim to fame? During the Great Depression, when spirits were low, Harvey’s high school basketball team, led by future Major League Baseball star Lou Boudreau, provided a beacon of hope by becoming state champions! A true underdog story for you right there in the heart of Harvey!