fleurblue Wrote:
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> Did anyone go to Happy Day for horseback riding.
> It was, I think, on Cumberland Ave., north of
> Lawrence.
>
> I went riding a few times with friends and the
> area seemed to be totally forest preserves. I
> don't remember much more.
>
> I heard that there were some connection with
> employees there and the Helen Brach (candy
> heiress) murder.
I seem to remember the great crime reporter at WBBM TV, John Drummond, discuss the alleged involvement of a gentlemen known as Silas Jane in the Brach case.
When detectives were investigating Silas for the Brach case, they reopened the 1950s Peterson Boys Murder. Was it confirmed he killed the 3 boys at the stable? The bodies were found in the forest preserve, on Lawrence, West of Cumberland.
The Butera site is within Norridge city limits, actually, but Chicago proper is south and west of it. Norridge is an 'island' burb surrounded by Chicago.
My father boarded horses at Happy Day. One in "B" barn and two in "C" barn. "A" barn was for the rental horses. For some reason he pulled out of Happy Day and moved to Coach House(?) Stable which was just down the street.
Little late to this board, but I remember it well. I lead trail rides there for close to 10 years. I was there for the closing in 1978 (I think). It burned down after it was deserted and I know how it happened (unintentional).
As a sidebar to the Happy Day topic, years ago I went to the Helen Brach mansion in Glenview with some friends for a Showcase House open house. I think we each paid $10 for a ticket and the money went to charity.
The house was set far back from the road. It was a colonial-style building, if I remember correctly.
A group of us toured the property; it was untouched and had the same decorating style and furnishings as it did when Brach lived there. The one room that stood out was the red and white striped ice cream parlor. It had small tables and a full-sized operating soda fountain in white marble with red and white striped stools. Fitting for a candy heiress. I pictured ice cream socials being held there.
Overall, the tour seemed a bit creepy since this was the house from which Brach was abducted (by her driver?) never to be seen again.
Used to live across Montrose in the temporary vets housing setup there for the returning WWII vets. We lived on Pittsburgh Ave just west of Thatcher. ventured to the stables but never rode. we were lil kids then..1947-1954
Wasn't there some other horse stables in that area? I remember the Flying W for some reason? I know I went riding at Happy Days as well in the early 1970's.