The Fox River divides Elgin's east and west sides. The east holds Elgin's deepest roots, but cacher friend WA$P challenged this east sider to find history on the west side of town. So together, we crossed the bridge and discovered more of historic Elgin. Elgin Races - This was the location where reporters and spectators would take to the grandstands to see the start and end of the Elgin Road Race, or the Elgin National, as it was called at that time. Reports of the race were sent nation wide. The NY Syracuse Herald reported on 8-27-1911 about how 4 sections of the grandstand collapsed when 1500, of the 7000 people there that day, "stood as one" to cheer a driver at the finish of the race. Many were injured but no one died. However, in that same race, a driver and his mechanic were killed when their car flipped as they sped around a turn. Over the years spectators and reporters would number from 45,000 - 70,000,gathering here at the grandstands as well as places all along the 8.5 mile route of oil soaked gravel through farm fields. It all started here then east on Larkin, north on McLean, west on Highland, south on Coombs, then east on Rt 20 (Galena), and finishing here at the grandstands.
Congrats FTF streamwood_cachers