Photo credit to Schaumburg Public Storage. 1200 W. Irving Park Road, Schaumburg.

A while back one of my fellow librarians asked me if I knew where I could find a lighthouse in Schaumburg Township. I had no idea until he pointed out to me that the Schaumburg Public Storage at 1200 W. Irving Park Road has a lighthouse as part of its facade. The location is in the triangle of Irving Park, Rodenburg and the Illinois Route 390 tollway.

So many times we drive by various businesses without taking a moment to notice the icons that have been in the landscape for years. The following icons are some of those that came to mind when I considered the parameters of the township boundaries.

These HOT and COLD water tanks on Wise Road are just west of the Roselle Road intersection, on the south side of the road. They have been there for years and the humor in the "hot" and "cold" labels is unparalleled in this list of images.

Schaumburg Boomers water tower.

This local water tower is also near the Illinois Route 390 tollway on Rodenburg Road. Originally painted with the Schaumburg Flyers logo on it in 2000, a column by Diana Wallace in the March 1, 2000 Daily Herald notes that the tower was erected in 1978. Ms. Wallace also wrote, "The bulbous top section will also be painted to resemble a baseball--red stitches and all..."

When the Flyers ceased operations in 2010, the logo was repainted in 2012 after the team became the Schaumburg Boomers. According to a photo in the July 30, 2012 issue of the Daily Herald, the logo measures 27 feet by 25 feet. During the course of the repainting, the "stitches" were also painted over.

Hoffman Estates water tower

The Hoffman Estates water tower that sits adjacent to Hoffman Plaza is the oldest of the icons. It was erected in 1955, four years before Hoffman Estates was incorporated. It is one of the few in the area on "four feet" as Haileng Xiao told Pat Barch, the Hoffman Estates Historian, for her August 2010 column.

Built by the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company for Citizens Utility, it was the tallest structure in Schaumburg Township for a number of years--and it still stands tall over its immediate area.

Woodfield water tower

The Woodfield Mall water tower has been in the area since 1971 and is in its third paint scheme. Erected as a necessary prelude to the mall itself and the coming development, this tower was long known for its very 70s vibe of alternating orange and yellow colors. Even though this theme has been on the tower for 15 years, it is the first style that remains so beloved--especially since it lasted 24 years.

Clock tower at Schaumburg and Roselle Roads. Credit to Schaumburg Township District Library

This recent iconic structure can't be missed in the heart of Schaumburg Township. Built as one of the cornerstones of the redeveloped Town Square in 1997, the 66-foot clock tower not only is a practical timepiece but the area around it also serves as home to the village's Veterans Gateway Park. Per the village website "The gardens, flag poles and seating areas encircling the clock tower create a unique space devoted to our war veterans."

WGN tower. 720 Rohlwing Road, Elk Grove Village.

The WGN tower along Rohlwing Road is behind a gated fence and west of the art deco style building that WGN built in 1938. The whole setup was originally designed to keep a broadcast on the air in the event of electrical, mechanical or human failure. If the power supply failed, a selector switch in the building would be flipped to trigger an auxiliary or emergency line. So, there was a backup to the backup.

You have to look closely to see that the mailbox has the address 720 on it. That is probably not a coincidence.

WGN transmitter sign. 720 Rohlwing Road, Elk Grove Village.

And, these days you have to watch closely as you drive by to catch the retro WGN sign. It was once easily visible along the road but is now hidden by the stand of shrubbery along the fence.

Wise Road sign, Schaumburg.

This is one of two signs of this style in the Wise Road commercial corridor. They have been there for many years and are indicative of another time period in signage in that they are not back lit. Their charm is the roof that covers and protects the signs. Again, you might not notice them as you drive by but their uniqueness stands out.

Hoffman Lanes. 80 West Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates

This is the most visible iconic sign in Schaumburg Township. Hoffman Lanes opened as the first bowling alley in 1961 and was a very popular spot for the bowlers in the area. It was a big era for the sport and, as the sign says, it began as an enduring venue for the Petersen Classic in 1994. The bowling alley closed in 2015, just shy of its 55th birthday.

When this blog began, I wrote a post in 2013 while the bowling alley was still open. You can see it here in this photo.

Hoffman Lanes

Are there other iconic spots in Schaumburg Township that have been missed? If you have any suggestions, please submit them in the Comments or in an email.

And, if you could send in your suggestions for the iconic buildings of Schaumburg Township, that would be appreciated too. Of course, the bonus would be if you have photos of some of these icons. I have my list of potential structures but I'm wondering what your ideas might be...

Jane Rozek
Local History Librarian
Schaumburg Township District Library
jrozek@stdl.org