In June, we finally – oops, I mean officially – welcome Summer. Did you know this month also is recognized as World Milk Day (6/1), National Flag Week (June 9-15) and Father’s Day (6/15) all in the same month? To honor these three events and our community – let’s connect them to Huntley’s Local History.
It was the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations who declared World Milk Day on June 1st. In honor of this day, we look to the milk plants and milk processing of Huntley’s past. According to the Huntley News on July 21st, 1894 – the milk and creamery business in the Huntley area was deemed “An industry upon which much of our present and future prosperity depends.” By the early 1900s, Huntley was known as the Milk Capital of the World. A Patch online article by N. Bacheller on 10/5/2010 stated, “It was in the 1920s, trucking made it possible to ship whole milk to larger, more modern factories near Chicago where pasteurization was available, that Huntley’s local milk plants began to close. The farming and dairy production piece of the industry did stay and continued to be Huntley’s main industry until the 80’s.” So, if you drink milk – please hoist a glass on June 1st in honor of Huntley’s contribution in the Dairy Industry as well as the industry’s colossal contribution to the village.
Our next honorific date(s) was officially established in 1966 by President Lyndon B. Johnson; National Flag Week. This celebration occurs June 9-15 with Flag Day honored on the 14th. This year the State of Illinois held a ‘State Flag Redesign Contest’ with the results in March 2025, declaring that the current State Flag design was the decisive winner among all the entries and will remain as is. Thinking more locally, did you know the village of Huntley has its very own flag?
The Village of Huntley’s flag honors the town’s Gazebo located in the public square which was originally built as a bandstand sometime before 1860 and then reconstructed in 1910. The reconstructed Gazebo lasted for 80 years before it was torn down on November 22, 1993. Local Huntley businesses pooled together their funds and resources and built Huntley’s current Gazebo in 1994 at no cost to village residents. As you pass by the Village Hall during National Flag Week, please look for the village of Huntley’s flag and its constant reminder of how fundamental our past is to our future.
Our last June date to attribute honor is the 3rd Sunday in June; Father’s Day. In honor of this day, we look to Mr. Edwin Deicke – the Father of the Huntley Park District. He was a founder of the Huntley Park District and served on its first board of directors (and remained an honoree Commissioner until his death in 1984). In 1966 he purchased the wooded land along Rt. 47 and donated it as a public park. In 1972 the park was named in his honor. Edwin Deicke (1896-1984) was a successful Wheaton businessman and, at one time, mayor of Lombard, IL. He donated millions of dollars to charitable organizations, including schools, hospitals and other non-profit groups.
If you are enjoying Deicke Park (or the Park District) this Summer, having a glass of milk, or admiring the Huntley Flag flying in front of Village Hall – I hope you will remember Huntley’s local and impactful history. May we reflect on how we are going to add to this local history and positively impact our community now and for the generations to come.
