The fairly large ad in the March 17, 1957 issue of the Chicago Tribune read:

GRAND OPENING

LARGE LOTS

First Time Offered

Our New Beautiful Medinah Sunset Hills

DRIVE OUT TODAY

$1800 AND UP

EASY TERMS

Office on Irving Park Road (Route 19) and Medinah Road (1 mile east of Roselle)

The Branigar Organization

Variations on this same ad ran for four more weeks. It was probably just enough to get the ball rolling on the new subdivision that was planned for the parcel north of Nerge Road, between Roselle and Plum Grove.

It is also possible that these ads drew Harold and Ava Gliot from Chicago to the Schaumburg Township countryside. Their grandson, Ronald D. Gliot, initially introduced us to their story and we've fleshed out some of the details with the help of his father, Ronald H. Gliot.

The Branigar Organization that advertised these parcels was owned by Harvey W. Branigar whose father and uncles formed Branigar Brothers around World War I. Both companies bought and developed multiple parcels of land around the Chicago area, including the Schaumburg Township subdivision that is now most commonly called Sunset Hills. Or Medinah Sunset Hills as it is formally known.

However, in 1956, prior to the purchase by Branigar, this plat map by Paul Baldwin & Son, shows that the property appears to have been owned by the Piskes, Mrs. John Homeyer and Walt Nerge. The Branigar Organization must have purchased the farms around this time and then divided it into individual plots that were sold--per the ad--upwards from $1800.

The homes were then custom built by contractors that were commissioned by the homeowners. It is also possible that the Branigar sales may have connected buyers to local contractors. Or, in the case of the Gliot family, Ronald D says, "The home was built by my grandpa and father.  It was a prefab kit home."

The Gliots built their 1500 square foot ranch with its one car garage in 1957, shortly after the ad ran. It was likely located on the former Nerge farm. In fact, Ronald H. said, "When [my parents] built the house they were indeed the first or second home to build there." Clearly, they got busy once the property was purchased.

Here, two gentlemen are getting ready to pour the cement for the basement. The framework is in and the cement truck is in the upper left of the photo.

In this photo, the basement has been poured and the Gliots have help putting up the framing for the house. It almost looks like a barn raising, doesn't it? The second man from the left is Harold Gliot and the fourth man from the left is his son, Ronald H. Gliot.

This photo was taken just moments later. The framework has been successfully secured in place. More nails are being added to make sure everything is steady. Notice the farmhouse in the back left of the photo. It is likely the Nerge farmhouse.

Here, the house is completely framed in and plywood has been installed on the roof. It appears they are tacking the tar paper on the sides of the house. A burn barrel sits in the middle of the photo along with a 1950 Chevrolet.

In the photo below, the home is finally finished--possibly, in the fall--and there still appears to be little development in the background. The only other element that tells us civilization is nearby are the utility poles behind the house and to the right. Judging by what we know about the location of the home, it is probable that those utility poles border Nerge Road.

Some basic landscaping is planted around the house and there is a propane tank in the backyard. Without underground gas lines, those tanks were the easiest way to provide both heat for the home and power for cooking--unless electric ranges were used. The large front window and the front door are very typically 50's and 60's style.

According to Ronald D., the well was in the front yard. Clearly the house had to have been on well and septic since there was no public infrastructure nearby at the time.

There is also a hose attached to the faucet on the side of the house. Water was probably used to mix with, what might be, the pile of cement on the right.

This photo was taken a few months later and, either sod has been laid or grass seed has been sowed. Whatever the case, the hose is still attached to the faucet and is probably being used to water the growing lawn.

There is also a cutout for what appears to be, a circular driveway. The Gliots were possibly waiting for a load of concrete or gravel to make its way to Schaumburg Township to finish the drive.

In the summer of 1958 this photo was taken from the opposite perspective. Now we can see that there was actually another house built at the same time.

The driveway of the ranch is, indeed, circular and looks as though it may be gravel. The garage door is open and so are many of the front windows. Two chairs sit on the front porch and flowers have been planted in the planter that borders the porch.

A car is in the garage and one is in the driveway. The latter is a two-tone 1958 Ford Fairlane. According to Ronald D., "My folks told me it was the first car they bought new, so they must have been visiting." Ronald H. added, "[We] bought the 1958 Ford in Roselle on the way home back to Chicago, after visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Sunset Hills."

Ronald D. said, "I am told that it was a very nice house, but Grandma and Grandpa didn't adapt to suburban living and sold it, and moved back to Norridge two years after building it..."

They might have run this ad or one like it in the classifieds of the October 15, 1958 issue of the Daily Herald:

Medinah Sunset Hills
By Owner

Custom built year old face brick ranch. Bsm't. garage, gas ht., liv. rm. 26x14, 3 lge. bedrms. Landsp'd. half acre, paved sts., Cook County. Low taxes. No assessments. $23,900. LAwrence 9-5302

Before they left the area, though, Ronald D. told me: "The story goes that Mom and Dad also bought a lot in that area with the intent to build a home, but Grandpa stumbled upon the Weathersfield models when going to buy eggs. Mom and Dad sold the Sunset lot and had the Weathersfield home built."

Ronald H. followed with this bit of information too, "Garfield Peterson was a contractor who began building homes in the area there, and my folks lot they sold, was bought by Garfield as well."

The story of the younger Gliots and their home will appear next week. First, though, I have a favor. If you or your parents were original owners in Sunset Hills, please share any details you might have about the house and the subdivision. This was one of the first subdivisions in Schaumburg Township and it would be wonderful to add to the history.

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