"It's a Wonderful Elburn"

Director Frank Capra considered the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" to be his favorite movie. Movie critics say that the images of Bedford Falls, the town brought to life in the movie, are "Capraesque." The community images portrayed represent an All-American city fictionalized to its quintessential best.

Interestingly enough, we can find elements of Capra's idyllic images present right here in contemporary Elburn.

For example, we know from the movie that Bedford Falls had a sled hill and a skating pond. George Bailey saved his brother from drowning after sledding onto a chilly pond. In Elburn, kids can sled at Sharp's Hill and Johnson's Mound, and they can skate on the ice field at Prairie Park.

We also know that Bedford Falls had a bustling downtown business district. The main street depicted in the movie had at least two banks and a variety of shops and store fronts. In Elburn, we have three banks and many fine businesses located on our own active Main Street.

The older neighborhoods of Bedford Falls consisted of large Victorian homes with front porches, picket fences and sidewalks. George and Mary Bailey spent a rainy honeymoon in an abandoned home located at 320 Sycamore Street. In Elburn, a home and a street just like those in the movie can be found in the older sections of our town.

And yes, there was even new growth and development in Bedford Falls. In the movie, families were building their new homes in a section of town called Bailey Park. We continue to build new homes in Elburn, and just as the movie depicts, home ownership remains an integral part of the reason people choose to move here.

In Bedford Falls the police were friendly, and military veterans, like George's brother Harry, were honored. Both of these characteristics are present in Elburn today. Chief Jim Linane continues to lead our excellent police department, and our Veterans Memorial attracts Eagle Scout projects that improve its appeal.

But, it is interesting to note that Frank Capra's fictional Bedford Falls had three amenities that are not found in Elburn. Yet, that is!

Bedford Falls had a train station. George and Mary missed the train when there was a "run" on the Bailey Savings and Loan.

Bedford Falls had a bridge. George thought about jumping from the bridge to end his life, but instead he jumped in to save Clarence.

And, Bedford Falls had a swimming pool. George and Mary fell into the pool during a dance contest at the high school.

Think about it, a train station, a bridge, and a community pool. Is it just a coincidence that Elburn is working to bring all three of these amenities to our community today? Or, is there a "Capraesque" vision at work here in the minds of those of us who strive to make Elburn into a "Better and not just Bigger" village to live, work, worship, shop and play?

I believe it is the latter. It's a Wonderful Elburn!