MEMORIES

My family, along with three other families, spent a week every summer at Assembly Park in the late 40s and throughout the 50s. That was a long time ago, but the fond memories remain. Among these memories: the Store, run by Carl and John and their wives, who lived in the back of the store and drove to Delavan each summer from CA; the cottages all had names--Summer Rest, Noreen, Tic Toc, Blue Shutters, Parkview, Willows--we stayed in all of them until we found the Hilltops, which we rented from Mr. Chupka. We went back to the Hilltops for several years, and the families who were in the fourth cottage became lifelong friends of our parents. The streets in the park were not named, other than "swamp road" which ran behind the store. In addition to Mr. Chupka, there was a fellow named Mr. Davis who we also rented from. Yes, we also remember the Chicago paper call each day. There was also Johnny Eagle, and his Eagle tour boat that cruised the lake-stops included, but not limed to, Assembly Park, Lake Lawn, and Hugo's. Horseback riding at the Lake Lawn stables was also an annual event. Other memories include fried chicken at Delaneys; Bill Barner entertaining at the tavern/night club at the east end of the lake; the penny arcade and miniature golf on the south side, and our parents went dancing at Delavan Gardens. It truly was a magical time…