Meadowdale Wintergarden Arcade Mall
Welcome to the Carpentersville Memories Wintergarden Page. Our goal is to bring back some fun memories of growing up in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Please take your time and check out all of the Wintergarden images and files, they are sure to bring back many memories.
We bring back Memories you didn’t know you had
Did you spend any time at the Wintergarden Ice Rink?
Maybe you even enrolled in the Michael Kirby School. What fun do you remember having in the mall? It was one of a kind. Even after the fire the mall was a favorite place to go for clothes and records. This was one of the first indoor shopping malls of its kind at that time in the United States.
If you have any images of the shopping center to share please contact us.
The History of Meadowdale Wintergarden Arcade Mall
On November 1, 1958, a gala grand opening was held for the Wintergarden Arcade. This was a fabulous enclosed arcade that featured the Block & Kuhl department store, which later became the Carson Pirie Scott department store (through acquisition). Also enclosed in the arcade mall was an indoor ice skating rink, restaurant, snack bar and other stores.
On November 19, 1963 a fire destroyed the mall area causing 3 million dollars in damage, destroyed 25 shops and the ice rink in the Wintergarden Arcade.
Portions of the above taken from the book, The Master Builder Leonard W. Besinger, by Philip A. Aleo.
Please check out all of the great Wintergarden images and files from the past.
Click on the links below to view the Newspaper Articles
Wintergarden
Wintergarden Brochure
Wintergarden Grand Opening
Wintergarden Menu
Wintergarden Fire Article
Click on the link below to visit the Meadowdale Video Page
Meadowdale and Area Videos
Images and Articles from the Meadowdale WinterGarden
Arcade Gift Shoppe Free Press July 1960
Harvest House Restaurant
John Teets business card
Michael Kirby School Daily Herald Nov 1958
St Moritz Lounge Free Press July 1960
Winter Garden Grand Opening Free Press Nov 19 1958
Wintergarden Brochure Inside
Wintergarden Brochure Page 1
Wintergarden Brochure Page 2
Wintergarden Grand Opening
Wintergarden Ice Rink
Wintergarden Logo
Wintergarden Outside Entrance
Wintergarden Postcard (1)
Wintergarden Postcard (2)
Wintergarden Restaurant Specials June 1963
Wintergarden Snack Bar Kitchen
Wintergarden
Michael Kirby Skating Buttons
1963 June Wintergarden Restaurant Specials
Wintergarden Matchbook (1)
Wintergarden Matchbook (2)
Wintergarden Matchbook (3)
WinterGarden Fire
Wintergarden Fire November 19 1963 (1)
Wintergarden Fire November 19 1963 (2)
Wintergarden Fire November 19 1963 (3)
Wintergarden Fire November 19 1963 (4)
Wintergarden Fire November 19 1963 (5)
Wintergarden Fire November 19 1963 (6)
Wintergarden Fire November 19 1963 (7)
Wintergarden Fire November 19 1963 (8)
Wintergarden Fire November 19 1963 (9)
Wintergarden Fire November 19 1963 (10)
Rushville Republican Nov 1963 Fire
1963 November Fire
1963 November Fire (2)
Tribune Nov 20 1963
Free Press Nov 27 1963
Free Press Sep 4 1963
WinterGarden Menu
Wintergarden Menu (1)
Wintergarden Menu (2)
Wintergarden Menu (3)
Wintergarden Menu (4)
Wintergarden Menu (5)
Visit Phil Aleo’s Website to Order His Books
Meadowdale Aleo Book001
Image Courtesy of Philip Aleo Publications https://www.aleopublications.com/
Meadowdale Aleo Book002
Image Courtesy of Philip Aleo Publications https://www.aleopublications.com/
Meadowdale Aleo Book003
Image Courtesy of Philip Aleo Publications https://www.aleopublications.com/
Meadowdale Aleo Book004
Image Courtesy of Philip Aleo Publications
Meadowdale Aleo Book005
Meadowdale Aleo Book006
Image Courtesy of Philip Aleo Publications https://www.aleopublications.com/
Meadowdale Aleo Book007
Courtesy of Philip Aleo Publications https://www.aleopublications.com/
Meadowdale Aleo Book008
Meadowdale Aleo Book009
Courtesy of Philip Aleo Publications https://www.aleopublications.com/
Meadowdale Aleo Book010
Courtesy of Philip Aleo Publications https://www.aleopublications.com/
Meadowdale Aleo Book011
Courtesy of Philip Aleo Publications https://www.aleopublications.com/
Meadowdale Aleo Book012
Image Courtesy of Philip Aleo Publications
Testimonials
What People are Saying
“I love this place !”
“Lets me relive some of my childhood every chance I get“
Cathy D.
“Fabulous memories came flooding back”
“So much to see and so many memories, this is an amazing web site “
Dan K.
“Another amazing experience”
“Always something new every time I visit the site“
Clyde L.
“Speechless, worth every penny”
“Couldn’t believe all there was to see for such a small yearly subscription, and complete Yearbooks too !!”
Bob M.
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Carpentersville Memories Facebook Page
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