1936: Man Tends Furnace with Loaded Gun

In 1940, the population of Lake Forest is about 7,200.

Lake Forest College’s football team is undefeated, and Richard H. Mabbatt becomes mayor of Lake Forest, according to the  timeline.

Thanks to a local resident, we are able to provide a glimpse into that late 1930s time period through historical police blotters.

The entries are posted practically verbatim, except for the names of the victims or perpetrators of the crimes noted. They provide a fascinating reflection of the times and culture of that era.

Name Dropper

March 23, 1936: A woman called and said there was a man at their house and he just left to go to the C.N.S. & M.R.R. Station. The man said he was a Capt. Baldwin of the Marines and wanted to talk to Baroness VonEk, and that he acted very suspicious. Officer Jensen on call, picked this man up and brought him to police station.

Stay in School

March 25, 1936: Officers Jensen and Huhnke went out to a resident's home to notify him that he had to keep his boy in school until he became 16 years of age.

Mis-delivered Mail

March 10, 1936: Mrs. Jack Durand called and said she lost a black purse with two $5 bills and two letters - one addressed to Mrs. Scott Duran and one to Jack Durand. If found, call Lake Bluff.

Lock and Load

March 11, 1936: A resident of the 400 block of Oakwood Avenue came to the police station and reported a man was going around with a gun strapped to him. Officer Jensen went to the house and found the man down in the basement tending the furnace with a loaded 38 caliber Iver Johnson Gun on him. Jensen took the gun away from him and brought him to the station. Chief Tiffany told him that he was not to carry any kind of gun.

- information courtesy of John Walker.

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