Will the Real Ford Heights Please Stand?

A village in the Southeast corner of Cook County, formally known to many old-timers as East Chicago Heights, incorporated in 1949.

The area originally became settled in the 1840s and served as part of the Underground Railroad for runaway slaves seeking freedom.

The village of East Chicago Heights attempted to annex the unincorporated area near the Ford Motor Company stamping plant and changed its name to Ford Heights in 1987.

But Ford Motor Company did not annex into the village after all.

When folks drive down Lincoln Highway from I-394 westbound, they often are greeted by a few stores such as Citgo and liquor/convenient stores. The village had a reputation some years ago for internal corruption in their police department which caused several officials to be indicted and jailed.

The town census from 2010 shows about 2,700 residents with a majority of African Americans, Hispanic and whites living in the town, often plagued with a reputation of drugs and gangs, followed by low-income individuals. Now let's take a look inside this small village bordering Indiana and southern Cook County.

I remember as a young kid spending my time at my grandmother's home during the summer months. My dad, who retired a few years ago at the current Ford Motor Company stamping plant on Lincoln Highway, would take me and my siblings to my grandmother's home to spend the day and (often times) weekend while he would work.

Like most kids raised up in a traditional home with rules, we were limited to where our boundaries were to play in town, followed with the same type of rules of being in front of the house before the street lights come on. Both my parents had family in this town. My mom was raised in this town along with her 12 siblings.

I can still remember the farmers who would ride their horses around town, and seeing chickens and other farm animals in the village. Everyone knew who your grandparents were, and your parents for that matter. I remember playing around Deer Creek with my older cousins and being able to fish for catfish, bluegills and crappy. Those were the days in which kids did not have cellphones and other modern day gadgets. My grandmother would call over on the next block to neighbors, telling us to come home for lunch, etc.

When the Village gets a bad rap for some internal problems with crime and drug problems, many are not aware of the fact that you have more hardworking people and retired seniors who reside in the town. It's not often known about the correctional officers, nurses, truck drivers, electricians and many more who decided to remain in this town.

I often speak with many of the seniors, who I remember as a kid. Many have seen their town go through several transitions. But for the most part, over the past few years, roads have been resurfaced, Chicago water replaced the foul wellwater and public safety has been provided by the Cook County Sheriff's Police. Many of the seniors speak that they are able to sit in their yards again with minimum fear.

Many who left and became educated, have decided not to flee the town, a town in which the boys and girls clubs help keep the kids off the streets. Dedicated teachers in the School District work with many bright students. Old timers work in their gardens producing several kinds of vegetables, inviting fellow neighbors over for a barbecue.

Like anything else a few bad apples can always spoil the pie. You hear the term, "Never judge a book by its cover," because it's the content that is important. This small town has many good things inside!

Recently, a few co-workers and I have cracked down on loitering around the liquor stores and gas stations. We adopted a policy, "Buy your goods and go home." I have to say that it feels good to see folks from out of town, not afraid to stop and buy from the gas stations and convenient store to help support this towns tax base.

I often speak with many of the young people who are graduating or have graduated already about college. Many were not aware of the programs to help them get their start in further education. It's great to hear when I see them walking around as enrolled students. I see a few who I've known since they were 4th and 5th grade students, now grown up and married with kids themselves and working good jobs.