In 1962, Barrington Hills annexed the Village of Middlebury, most of which was situated just east of Illinois route 25 (Elgin Road), near Illinois route 62 (Algonquin Road).
Barrington Hills officials who pushed for this annexation did so merely to increase the size of their community and the tax base. In doing so, however, they ignored the history of Middlebury--a serious mistake.
Details about the history of Middlebury are sketchy, but this is known: from 1956 to 1962 village officials did all they could to keep the new residents of Meadowdale (2 miles to the south) away from Middlebury. As a first step in this effort, they hired a low-level patrolman from a nearby community and promoted him to "police chief." His "police department" consisted of one marked police car and two part-time patrolmen. His instruction was to "keep the Meadowdale riff-raff on their own side of the tracks."
To carry out this mandate, the Middlebury police began a campaign of harassment of anyone who had the temerity to drive north on Illinois route 25 toward Middlebury. They routinely pulled over motorists whose only infraction was driving 5 m.p.h. over the limit. Additionally, Middlebury police set up near the intersection of routes 25 and 62 and pulled over many motorists for what they called an "illegal left turn" from route 25 onto route 62.
The abuses by the Middlebury police became so numerous that in 1959 the Elgin office of the Illinois Division of Highways sent traffic engineers to Middlebury to re-evaluate the posted speed limit on route 25 and to see if markings at the intersection of routes 25 and 62 could be improved. As a result, the speed limit was raised slightly and roadway lines at the intersection were repainted. Still, the abuses of the Middlebury police persisted.
Barrington Hills officials have declined to comment on this story.
Barrington Hills officials who pushed for this annexation did so merely to increase the size of their community and the tax base. In doing so, however, they ignored the history of Middlebury--a serious mistake.
Details about the history of Middlebury are sketchy, but this is known: from 1956 to 1962 village officials did all they could to keep the new residents of Meadowdale (2 miles to the south) away from Middlebury. As a first step in this effort, they hired a low-level patrolman from a nearby community and promoted him to "police chief." His "police department" consisted of one marked police car and two part-time patrolmen. His instruction was to "keep the Meadowdale riff-raff on their own side of the tracks."
To carry out this mandate, the Middlebury police began a campaign of harassment of anyone who had the temerity to drive north on Illinois route 25 toward Middlebury. They routinely pulled over motorists whose only infraction was driving 5 m.p.h. over the limit. Additionally, Middlebury police set up near the intersection of routes 25 and 62 and pulled over many motorists for what they called an "illegal left turn" from route 25 onto route 62.
The abuses by the Middlebury police became so numerous that in 1959 the Elgin office of the Illinois Division of Highways sent traffic engineers to Middlebury to re-evaluate the posted speed limit on route 25 and to see if markings at the intersection of routes 25 and 62 could be improved. As a result, the speed limit was raised slightly and roadway lines at the intersection were repainted. Still, the abuses of the Middlebury police persisted.
Barrington Hills officials have declined to comment on this story.
