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Chris - I played years of hockey at the Polar Dome. I just posted a couple days ago Blackhawks taking the ice as we were finishing up and Mikita bitch-slapped the puck right in front of me off the boards. I was raised in Elgin.
It's summer 1970 (I think I told this story before) ~12 of us guys (16yrs - 19yrs) are on the ice at Santa's Village Polar Dome, Dundee, Illinois playing hockey ($600/hr to rent) it's about 7pm. Santa's Village Polar Dome was summer camp for Chicago Blackhawks. Stan Mikita flies by me ~100mph w/ a slap off the board - time to leave the ice boys!
Then the rest of 'em took the ice from us - Dennis/Bobby Hull, Nesterenko, Tony Esposito....the regular hooligans.
Chris - I played years of hockey at the Polar Dome. I just posted a couple days ago Blackhawks taking the ice as we were finishing up and Mikita bitch-slapped the puck right in front of me off the boards. I was raised in Elgin.
That is pretty frickin cool he's going to be playing in your home town, and actually in the same arena where you've played many times. Small, small world sometimes!
You're right Polar Dome is ~3 - 4 miles North of Elgin, IL - it's actually in Dundee, IL. I never played in any hockey tournaments. I only played in organized pickup games. Our H.S. teams played schools in Niles, IL. I ran cross-county against Niles in H.S.
Then the rest of 'em took the ice from us - Dennis/Bobby Hull, Nesterenko, Tony Esposito....the regular hooligans.
I am definitely going to have to tell Gabe your story about the Polar Dome and how it was where the Blackhawks held summer camp. That's some real hockey royalty that skated on that ice. He will be really fired up to hear that. 👍
I am definitely going to have to tell Gabe your story about the Polar Dome and how it was where the Blackhawks held summer camp. That's some real hockey royalty that skated on that ice. He will be really fired up to hear that. 👍
Yeah, you should tell him. Maybe lookup some stuff on the Internet about Blackhawks summer training camp & stuff. I'm not 100% what's out there, but he'll find sumpin.
Mike was commenting that the Chevette was not enough car for him this AM, so I am sure he'll be here in the AM.
I read Mike's post. I saw the thread when it first appeared. Chevette was one of the ugliest cars Chevrolet ever produced, IMO. I'll talk about here, but saw no reason to comment on the thread.
Norm - I started looking for info on the Polar Dome. Apparently the Polar Dome shut down in 2005. It was just recently renovated, and the newly remodeled facility just opened it's doors for public events on 1/17/25. Gabe's tournament may very well be their 1st big event since reopening.
I am definitely going to have to tell Gabe your story about the Polar Dome and how it was where the Blackhawks held summer camp. That's some real hockey royalty that skated on that ice. He will be really fired up to hear that. 👍
There's a marked history of Santa's Village - with much "to do" during the 1960s. Santa's Village opened in 1955. Riverview, huge Chicago amusement park was all but folded under (out of business) - our family used to go to Riverview many times. Anyways, lots of people from Chicago started going to Santa's Village - inside they had various "parks", they changed the name I think at one point, then they built the world's largest free-standing indoor ice rink (Polar Dome)supplied via compressed air. I don't think I'm using the right word, but the entire building and it's roof (I think) operated under compressed air. Perhaps, training camp isn't the exact word to use, the Blackhawks held their practice sessions at the Polar Dome - it was very, very hush, hush. My parents were not-so-close friends (acquaintances) of a guy who drove the Zamboni. Blackhawks held several exhibition games at the Polar Dome in the late 1960s.
Norm - I started looking for info on the Polar Dome. Apparently the Polar Dome shut down in 2005. It was just recently renovated, and the newly remodeled facility just opened it's doors for public events on 1/17/25. Gabe's tournament may very well be their 1st big event since reopening.
I read that earlier and have seen several articles about Santa's Village over the years. I think they actually renamed Santa's Village several times and moved the entire place to California or opened another one there or something.
Of course, this was nearly 55 years ago; but, I do recall the doors of the Polar Dome - remember it was the first and largest world indoor forced air system. It had two sets of doors and one set was really hard to open, I think it was the first set of doors from the outside. Then, you went through the second set and if I recall correctly, it was even harder to open than the first set. Assume it was from the positive pressure required to maintain the membrane?
Norm - That link/story I sent you said the original Polar Dome opened in 1963, but the original Positive Pressure Dome only lasted thru 1966 when it was damaged by a storm. The dome was replaced in 1967 by a standard flat roof.
Chris - There was always some form of news story RE: Polar Dome. At 15 yrs of age it wasn't a top priority for me. I do recall the ice/snow storm of 1967 though - what a dilly that was. That was the year we all went ice skating on the roads in our neighborhood. One of the worst storms in a century or something. Thanks for the update on the dome roof.
I do recall the ice/snow storm of 1967 though - what a dilly that was. That was the year we all went ice skating on the roads in our neighborhood. One of the worst storms in a century or something. Thanks for the update on the dome roof.
Even at the age of 8 I remember the blizzard of 1967 pretty vividly, at least many aspects of it. From Friday morning January 26th thru Sunday morning January 28th we got 29" of snow in Battle Creek. It was a dry, powdery snow and the winds were strong. The snow was actually drifted up onto the roof on one side of my parents ranch style home. We were homebound for 6 days. I remember neighbors who had snowmobiles coming by the house several times asking my parents if we needed anything. My parents wouldn't let us go out and play in it for several days because of reports of children suffocating to death from making snow tunnels and then having the tunnels collapse on them like an avalanche. It was absolutely nuts!
I spent my childhood in Florida, and, other than the state trying its level best to thunderstorm my Boy Scouting *** out of the woods each summer, there wasn't much weather. I spent 2 years in Connecticut for the end of high school, and I learned that winter weather is not a big deal if you are already where you need to be and you don't have to do the driving.
Experienced a big hurricane in 04, then my midwestern living began, albeit punctuated by stints in MS and WV. So, I don't have any old snowstorm memories. I believe I even missed the Big One of 06 being in West By God that year.
I spent my childhood in Florida, and, other than the state trying its level best to thunderstorm my Boy Scouting *** out of the woods each summer, there wasn't much weather.
Although neither is a palatable experience, I think I'd rather ride out a major Winter storm anyday versus being directly inline of a major hurricane. Certainly the potential for significant loss of life in either scenario, but much more of a chance of major losses of property in the case of major hurricanes. I'd just as soon avoid both!
New LED T5 tubes arrived - v. happy camper. These are fantastic lamps. Unfortunately, I believe I incorrectly configured the wiring - only the two inside lamps illuminate. Non-issue, I'll address it tomorrow, I guess.
Juggling scaffolding, table, chairs & truck from one side of man-cave to the other to accommodate various activities. Truck is backed into the side I want it on for aligning the headlamps; but, I'm removing the front grille to gain access to the fog lamps I'm going to replace & I haven't figured how to un-clip/remove the bottom of the grille. A little research left to do.
Got to a high of 52°F this afternoon & like Chris it felt really nice - got some yard work done in between various activities. Retirement means putting off until tomorrow what I'd normally get done today.
The Pontiac Silverdome also had forced pressure for it's covering, when leaving the stadium when exiting the last set of doors to the outside, you were literally being pushed outside due to the pressure. Blizzard of '78, fun times. How about some lake Michigan lighthouse sunset pics? Hopefully not too repetitive. https://photos.app.goo.gl/7SjvZ22XoAEMp4zH8
Dan.- I was a freshman at Albion College for that one. As I remember, there was a snowfall total of around 2ft. In Albion, with significant drifting. We didn't have classes for 4-days. As you might imagine, the 4-days off were 4-days of drunken debauchery! I do remember doing a significant amount of snow skiing behind a few guys 4x4's!
Dan - Nice pictures. I enjoy lighthouses, period. I have at least 1/2 dozen lamps, photos, sketches, etc. of various lighthouses in my home.
Found a guy who made a great video of the front grille removal; so, that'll get done in the morning & I can remove the current fog lamps which like the original headlamps are more a shade of translucent yellow than anything resembling clear plastic lenses. Still haven't figured out the T5 LED tube lamps dilemma; but I have a piece of dark chocolate cake taking priority.
Norm - I just got off the phone with Gabe telling him your story about you playing pick up games at the Polar Dome, and how the Blackhawks used it back in the day for practice sessions and exhibition games. He thought it was very cool and he can't wait to tell his teammates they'll be playing somewhere where several NHL Hall of Famer's played back in the day!
Just put a Marie Callender's Razzleberry Pie in the oven. They take about 65 to 70-minutes to bake, and then a good hour to cool. May have to wait until tomorrow to have a slice, but that's OK, it's just as good cold. I need to get some vanilla icecream to go with it anyway, we don't have any in the house right now.
As I sit here kind of zoned by a cold and cold medicine, and a hot toddy; I first reflected I wanted something sweet, but I had no dessert, so I had 95% of the ingredients to make a snickerdoodle mug cake per this recipe, so I did.
Browsing ebay and found a quad 8 track of a Grace Slick album Sunfighter. Apparently there were a bunch of post Airplane, pre Starship offshoot albums. I am listening through it on youtube; it's good. I realize that I will probably never hear a lot of great music as I'll never read about it, or hear about it.
Thanks for missing me. I've been around, just haven't had much to say.
Earlier this week my old friend cellulitis came 'round. That's hateful stuff. Started just as I was leaving work and I had the heat in the car at full blast and I still couldn't get warm. Went to bed and didn't get up until Tuesday afternoon. Tiger was at Mom's and she would call periodically and wake me up. At least she didn't think I was dead this time. I'm back at work but still feel lousy. I went to the urgent place and got some medicine so I should be okay in a day or two.
So remember my friend wanted me to pick up her car and bring it to my house so the buyer had an easier time retrieving it? I did go pick it up and was just north of Macon, and a car going substantially faster than me ran into the back of the trailer, pushing me into the wall, detaching the trailer. Everything is toast but I'm trying my best to save the truck. I emerged relatively unscathed but I have an appointment with my ortho on Thursday. My attorney said to not talk about this so I won't say any more. The whole thing just sucks.
RE Santa's Village. I think I was there once when I was but a wee one. In the 60s they had a bunch of Amphicars and apparently a lake and would give rides. The cars were gone by the time I was there. A couple cars have shown up in the club that are confirmed SV cars. Doesn't make them worth any more(or less) but it's pretty cool.
Okay I think I need to go for a walk. Things are going pretty well so far but there's several big wheels coming through and they take awhile to air up, so I have a few minutes. Hope everyone is well.
Mike - So sorry to hear about your illness and your accident. I hope you feel better soon, and that resolution of the accident goes as smoothly as possible. Hang in there buddy and take care of yourself.
Thanks guys. I'll let you know how it all turns out. Might be awhile.
The shop is actually jumping this morning. It's nice to be busy, I've reached the end of the internet several times while waiting for something to sign.
Gonna be a nice day, over 60. Rain coming this weekend.
Mike, good to see that you came out of the accident unscathed. Chris, I was working 2nd shift in Holland at Chris Craft in '78. About 7pm, the foreman came through and said "anyone who lives out of town, leave now". I happily obliged, went to my buddy's back home, dinked around until the snow got a little deep, got the SX stuck, and puffed the engine in the process of trying to get unstuck. One tow truck please!
Re-wired the ballast bypass T5 LED overhead lamp assembly. A couple lessons learned both in terms of the type LED bulbs, wiring & the tombstones. I won't bore y'all to death w/ the meaningless banter. The job is done & I absolutely love these bulbs. Awesome upgrade.
Moved on to the fog lamps removal. This is turning into a real cluster. Front grille removed, fog lamp assembly bolts removed, electrical connector(s) removed & the fog lamp assemblies don't fit through the openings to remove them - what a cluster. Apparently, I'm going to have to remove the front bumper to do this job correctly. Starting to get cold & windy. "If" I accomplish anything further today on the truck, I'll see if I can align the headlamps - maybe, maybe not. I mean the headlamps are installed & operable - facing North the RH side might be pointing towards Connecticut, the LH side might be pointing towards Utah. I actually don't think I want to work anymore, honestly.
