On May 15, 1903, Illinois established an 8-hour work day and a 48-hour work week for children.

The pressure to change the law was pushed by women reformers who realized there was a huge problem. Before then, business leaders, organized labor and other groups expressed their concerns but never found a way to act on them.  A group called the Woman of Hull House was then formed.

These women would meet to plan social reform and regulate child labor. They promoted education for children instead of working and voiced their opinions to anyone who would hear them. The group and other reformers came together to focus on the family structure and claimed if a child was neglected or abused it would not only be an injustice but endanger the future of the country.

Reformers also proposed other laws to get children out of factories and into schools and set up recreational areas and education programs.

It all worked out in 1903 when legislation was proposed requiring children to bring a statement of classroom attendance from school authorities. Working hours were also reduced to eight a day, 48 a week.

Learn more:
Chronology of Illinois History
Women and the Anti-Child Labor Movement in Illinois

The famous toy construction kit for children was created in Evanston in 1914 by Charles H. Pajeau, Robert Pettit, and its name sake, Gordon Tinker. Although it was not an immediate success, the toy would soon take off, selling over a million sets after just a few years.

Tinker Toys consist of a wooden spool about 2 inches in diameter with holes drilled in the side at every 45 degrees. Combined with varying lengths of sticks to connect and build, the toy was designed on the Pythagorean progressive right triangle. While the original toy had had natural wooden sticks, designers began coloring them in 1950 with each color being a different length.

Tinker toys have been used to make complex displays and machines. From Ferris wheels to tic-tac-toe-playing computers, the toy has proved itself versatile and innovative.

Learn more:
From Tinkertoy to Computer Programming: Great Moments in Chicago Toys – Chicago Mag
Classic Toy Museum – Tinker Toys

The Walnut Room, located in the Macy’s on State Street (formerly Marshall Field’s) in Chicago’s Loop, was the first restaurant in a department store when it opened in 1907. Originally known as the South Tea Room, patrons began calling it The Walnut Room due to the extensive walnut paneling covering the walls.

The restaurant, known for its delicious chicken pot pies and french onion soup, attracts thousands of families during the holiday season with a 45-foot tall Christmas tree that nearly reaches the ceiling of the two-story restaurant.

During the non-holiday season, a large fountain sits in the middle of the room. Macy’s executives recently announced the rehab of the fountain, which has never operated for fear of damaging a Tiffany-designed ceiling underneath. The entire fountain was disassembled and restored with new wiring and plumbing.

Executives plan to turn on the fountain for the first time this Saturday at 12:15 p.m.

Learn more:
Walnut Room fountain to flow for first time in 125 years - Crain's Chicago Business
Macy’s on State Street

May is National Bike Month in the United States, and in many Illinois communities, this week is designated as Bike to Work Week. Organized nationally by the League of American Bicyclists, Bike to Work Week encourages people to leave the car at home and explore riding a bike to the office instead.

More Illinois communities are recognizing the value of building more bike paths and dedicating new bike lanes as a quality-of-life amenity. The state has hundreds of miles of dedicated bike paths, most of which are converted former railroad lines. Cities are also getting in on the act by adding bike lanes to existing streets, increasing the numbers of bike racks and adding bike-sharing services such as Chicago’s Divvy program.

Learn more:
The list of bike trails in Illinois is a great place to get started
If you are interested in bike advocacy, visit the League of Illinois Bicyclists

With more than 6,500 employees working for nearly 100 aerospace and aviation businesses, the Rockford region is a national leader in the aerospace industry. Rockford’s reach is so great, it can boast that every airplane being constructed today includes parts made or designed in the area.

Companies are drawn to the region’s highly skilled workforce, Midwestern work ethic and access to an extensive transportation network. Rockford’s location just 70 miles from O’Hare International Airport also affords it access to Chicago’s major markets and facilities.

In the last few years, several large-scale expansions have solidified the Rockford region’s presence in the aerospace industry. Woodward Aircraft Turbine Systems recently completed a $300 million expansion that will add 1,000 employees by 2021. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University also recently expanded, constructing a new facility that doubled the size of their original location.

Illinois’ role in the aerospace industry also extends beyond Rockford. Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company with nearly 165,000 employees throughout the country, is headquarted in Chicago, moving from Washington State in 2001. Less than a mile away, the Willis (Sears) Tower is headquarters for United Airlines, one of the largest airlines in the country.

Learn more:
Rockford’s hopes soar on strength of its aviation, aerospace industry – Chicago Tribune