Ready Set Go
Who put 10 cars in the 1933 Elgin Road Race
Henry Ford
What was the name of Elgin company that manufactured watches
The National Watch Company / The Elgin National Watch Company
What notable event was going on in Chicago in 1933
The World's Fair
In what year was Elgin Founded?
1835
The two most notable historical industries in Elgin
Dairy and Watches
How many miles was the Elgin Road Race
Almost 300 miles
Who founded the Elgin National Watch Company
John C. Adams or Benjamin W. Raymond
What did the fish say when he ran into a cement wall?
Dam!
Elgin location was chosen to be between these two towns
Galena and Chicago
Elgin's drunk, progressive, populous mayor who won several elections.
Mayor Arwin Price
What did the local farmers do to make money during the Elgin Road Races
They would sell concessions
They would rent their barns
They received a cut of tickets from spectators on their farms
What do watches have to do with railroads
Watches kept train cars from crashing
What was the term used for former slaves and their families brought here during the Civil War?
Contrabands
Where was the original Elgin
Scotland
What did Gail Borden invent
Meat biscuits or condensed milk
What event in 1916 put the races on hold?
WW1
What do Railroads have to do with time zones
As people traveled times had to sync up to ensure proper time keeping
What is the significance of the word "tight" in Sleep tight
Early mattresses required the strings to be tightened to ensure people did not sink and were comfortable
What is the significance of the outhouse in the river room?
Outhouses were the predecessor to bathrooms with indoor plumbing.
Waste from outhouses was often dumped in nearby rivers, creating pollution.
In the Elgin Road Races, what was the name of the fan-favorite hill where cars would regularly go airborne?
Aviation Hill
What was the role of the mechanic in the car, beyond servicing the vehicle
Wrist watches were originally marketed as
watch bracelets
About how many African Americans were part of the first group to come here during the Civil War
One hundred, mostly women and children.
How much is $25,000 in in 1871 in todays money
$610,000
Why is Gail Borden Public Library named after Gail Borden
His stepsons paid for the library to be established