Photo gallery: A history of Glen Ellyn

Jan. 30, 1959: The scene of a fire at the Glen Ellyn Acres Nursing Home. One of the victims, Anna O’Malley, is escorted to an ambulance as fireman battle the blaze in the background.   (Hardy Wieting / Chicago Tribune)

April 20, 1966: Damaged homes along Birchwood Lane in the Valley View subdivision after a tornado ripped through the street. The estimated damage was $400,000.   (Tribune Staff Photo / Chicago Tribune)

Aug. 31, 1970: John Pullen of the College of DuPage pulls teammates Tom Daman and Joe Nelson with a device that builds muscles in the legs and back.   (Ray Gora / Chicago Tribune)

Nov. 24, 1971: A view of the commercial strip along Roosevelt Road. A village planning report criticizes the area as “an example of poor planning,” hazardous and full of “garish architecture.”  (Hardy Wieting / Chicago Tribune)

Dec. 6, 1971: Glen Ellyn Village Administrator William D. Galligan takes the wheel of a $21,500 minibus during an inspection of the vehicle by village officials.   (Roy Hall / Chicago Tribune)

June 12, 1973: A building under construction at the College of DuPage boasts two floors above ground and steel that never needs refinishing.   (Hardy Wieting / Chicago Tribune)

April 6, 1975: The Free Spirit Festival held at the College of DuPage. Sue Thomas (right) demonstrates physical postures designed to merge body, mind and spirit.   (James Mayo / Chicago Tribune)

Jan. 31, 1979: Families enjoy ice skating at Lake Ellyn. The original caption states that this is one of the best kept skating rinks in the area. It’s the size of two football fields and is swept and polished each night.   (Dave Nystrom / Chicago Tribune)

May 4, 1979: A home on Pleasant Avenue exploded and burned after a subcontractor for the Northern Illinois Gas Co. struck a gas line while digging in a parkway. The residents, a man and woman who were asleep inside, escaped with only first- and second-degree burns.   (Roy Hall / Chicago Tribune)

March 31, 1983: The Glen Ellyn volunteer fire department in uniform.   (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune)

April 19, 1983: Stacy’s Tavern, an historic landmark built in 1846, has a wood burning stove and the capability to cook for 50 people a night.   (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune)

April 19, 1983: Looking west along Roosevelt Road in the Glen Ellyn business district.   (Thompson / Chicago Tribune)

Sept. 8, 1985: Twenty-five Metalarc lamps were installed along three blocks of Glen Ellyn’s shopping district as part of an effort to revitalize the area.  (Handout / Chicago Tribune)

March 28, 1986: Glenbard West students who were extras in David Seltzer’s film “Lucas” are interviewed by local cable TV broadcaster, Joe Meyers, at the movie’s premiere in Glen Ellyn.   (Jose More / Chicago Tribune)

May 16, 1986: Hadley Junior High School students listen as the village president explains what happens in the boardroom.   (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune)

May 16, 1986: Hadley Junior High School students take over local government offices for the day. Police chief James Mullany describes life in the slammer.   (Chuck Berman / Chicago Tribune)

Sept. 29, 1986: Glen Ellyn village trustees conduct a planning session where board president Michael Formento argued the need for a $20 million capital improvement program.   (Walter Neal / Chicago Tribune)

Jan. 14, 1988: Firefighters put out the last flickers of a fire that badly damaged the First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn. The blaze was confined to the 50-year-old sanctuary and the choir loft. No injuries were reported.  (Frank Hanes / Chicago Tribune)

Sept. 25, 1990: Artist Sheila Leman (center) explains her “Love Eternal” piece to attendees of the 21st annual Glen Festival of the Arts.   (Ed Zurbano / Chicago Tribune)