Lamp Incorporated: Since 1932, Our History around the Time of the Last Cubs World Series

Since the Cubs, our hometown team, have made it to the World Series, all anyone in our town can talk about is 1945—the last time they were in a World Series. The Cubs have never been in a World Series that aired on television. There were no lights in the stadium. A World Series ticket cost $6-7, the equivalent of $80-95 today. This made us want to look back at the beginnings of Lamp—a 13-year-old business the last time the Cubs were in the World Series.

Clifford Lamp started Lamp Construction in Elgin, IL, in 1932. As you can see from the below picture, at that time Phone Numbers were listed as SH.J-9325. Try dialing that into your cell!

Our focus at the time was largely home building. From 1942-1945, Lamp was involved in major expansions at Elgin Case Factory, who built equipment during World War II. Around the time that construction was complete, the Cubs were taking the field at their most recent World Series.

Then in 1946, England was in a rebuilding phase and needed help. Lamp Construction built prefab homes that were shipped to England to help the war-torn country rebuild.

In the 1950s, Lamp started building more commercial buildings. And in 1958 (around the time Ernie Banks was earning his Gold Glove), we built the Muirhead Home, a Frank Lloyd Wright Designed house.

We became Lamp Incorporated in 1972 (around the time the Cubs picked up the nickname “Loveable Losers” and also during the Ron Santo years), with the acquisition of Schmidtke and Associates, Architects. With this shift we were able to meet the growing needs of clients to provide design/build services.

In 1992 (around the years of Ryne Sandberg and Mark Grace) we completed our first Construction Management Project at Dundee Township Park District’s Dolphin Cove Aquatic Park.

And in 2012 (which we will call a rebuilding year for the Cubs…) we managed and built the Elgin Community College Health Life Sciences Center

And now here we are in 2016, a Cubs World Series year! In 2016, Lamp conquered and completed 15 months of multiple renovations and additions to Johnsburg School District 12 scoring a home run with the students, staff, and community.

We are proud of our long history—as proud as we are of the 2016 Cubs! Hey Chicago, what do you say?

Rachel Lamp, Assistant Project Manager, and Steven Lamp, Secretary/Treasurer sporting their Cubs gear.

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