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Park Forest Historical Society News

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Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)–March 9, 2013. 

The 1950s Park Forest House Museum is now open Wednesdays and Saturdays 10:30-3:30. Convenient street parking! See our volunteer appeal below! Be sure to visit.  Your donations at the door are crucial! Currently exhibit, " Step Back into a 1950s Easter."  March 9-May 5, 2013

Park Forest Hall of Fame April 14, 2013  3:00 p.m.

Freedom Hall, 410 Lakewood Blvd, Park Forest, IL  60466

Free and open to the public. Join us.  Donations accepted.

This year we will be inducting James & Marlene Gallagher, John Joyce, Alicia Rodman McCray, William Tilley, and the Park Forest Nurses Club.  Congratulations to our inductees, their families, and to all the past members of the Park Forest Nurses Club.  Thank you all for your substantial contributions to Park Forest.

Upcoming Program:  June 23, 2013 at 2:30 p.m. in Park Forest Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive.

"The History of the Hollymatic Corporation."  Bob Chura ("Bobby the Burger"), great grandson of Harry Holly will present the history of this company which was located in Park Forest in the 1950s into the 1970s.  Harry Holly invented the Hollymatic machine which revolutionized the fast food industry.  Bob's Grandfather Nick Chura distributed the machine.  Today, Bob still services the machines and keeps the company legacy alive.

Researching African American Genealogy,  A Panel Discussion February 24, 2013  Look for it on Cable Channel 4!

"Researching African American Genealogy," a panel
discussion, was presented by the Park Forest Historical Society, Sunday February 24, 2013  Six panelists will present their own research and resources available.  This program should be running on Cable Channel 4.  To learn more about the Park Forest Historical Society, their programs, or the 1950s Park Forest House Museum, visit www.parkforesthistory.org. 

Panelists include:  Evelyn Nabors, of the African -American Genealogical & Historical
Society of Chicago; Pam Taylor, Genealogy Club Facilitator, New Lenox Public
Library; Viola Baecher, Jane Brown and Rose Thomas.  Each will be speaking about her own
research.  Dr. Rodger Lerohl, Director of the LDS Chicago Heights Family History
Center will talk about resources they have available.  Panelists will be setting up displays.

PFHS has a $5000 matching Grant from Village of Park Forest

Our Membership Appeal and website, include a description of this opportunity offered to us by the Village.  Every donation we receive this year, memberships, donations at the door and outright donations can be counted toward our match.

Please join now and become a supporting member to help Save Our History and keep our Museum open!

Park Forest Plaza Holiday Theatre Print for Sale

The society now is offering an 11" x 14" color print of the Park Foret Plaza, featuring mothers and children in front of the Holiday Theatre.  This vibrant print is done from a watercolor painted by Annabelle Gould in 1966.  Prints are available at the museum for $15 each.  The original print is on loan to the museum through late September.  Prints can also be purchased via PayPal on our website with an additional $6 for postage and handling.  This is a lovely gift for Holiday Giving!!

The Park Forest Archive is now out of Storage!

The Archive Office is open Friday 10 to 12; or by appointment at 227 Monee Road, Room 2 in St Mary's Catholic Church.  Stop by and see us.

The society held an Archive Office Open House, Sunday June 24, 2012, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 227 Monee Road, Park Forest.  Jane Nicoll, Archivist, presented a short program on how the archive began and collection highlights.  Small groups then toured the Archive Office in Room 2 of the former St. Mary's Catholic School. For more information on how the collection has arrived at this location, visit the PFHS website at www.parkforesthistory.org.

 Marshall Field's Bricks are on sale at the 1950s Park Forest House Museum during open hours, or by appointment, and can be purchased at the Park Forest Recreation and Parks counter in Village Hall.  Bricks may also be purchased from the online store at www.parkforesthistory.org.  Price:  1 for $15; 2 for $25.  Shipping and handling are $12 for up to three bricks to one address.  Books, calendars and postcards, as well as memberships are available at the museum and online!  Help the Society "make Lemonade" out of losing our Marshall Field's building!  Buy a brick and help us preserve Park Forest history.

 For possible small group tours of the museum, call Jane Nicoll at 708-481-4252, or Michael Gans at 708-305-3308, or email Jane Nicoll through the website for the society, www.parkforesthistory.org.            

The Society is seeking volunteers to help cover the 1950s PF House Museum hours which  will have increased to ten hours per week.  Contact Museum Director, Jane Nicoll, via the website at www.parkforesthistory.org, or at 708-481-4252 to become a volunteer!  We need several more volunteers to make this possible. Please join our volunteers in keeping this gem open!  The 1950s Park Forest House Museum is operated by the Park Forest Historical Society and sponsored by Central Park Apartments.

Park Forest Historical Society--Saving our History for 27 Years.

Nominations for the Hall of Fame are accepted from the public between October 1 and December 15 each year.  Nominees are selected for consistent, beneficial service to the citizens of Park Forest over a long span of time.  The official nomination form must be used and nominations must include requested information to be accepted. Forms are made available through the mail to all members of the society, and can be picked up beginning in early October at Village Hall, the Park Forest Public Library, or the 1950s Park ForestHouseMuseum. A committee of the Park Forest Historical Society makes the final selelction.

Names of the members of the Hall of Fame are available on the historical society website at www.parkforesthistory.org, and aslo on two plaques which will now hang in the board meeting room at Village hall. Biographical information on the members previously inducted is available in the Adult Services area of the library, in the Hall of Fame albums and in the Park Forest files, under "Park Forest Hall of Fame."

 Information on the museum, membership, and on the mission of the society can be seen at www.parkforesthistory.org.   

Volunteer Opportunities

The society is also always looking for new volunteers who would enjoy sharing the museum with visitors.  Contact director, Jane Nicoll at 708-481-4252, if you would like to join our band of volunteers. 1950s Park Forest House Museum Needs Volunteers

Long-time residents enjoy reminiscing with visitors, newer residents enjoy learning the history of this unique village and people who have lived in nearby towns enjoy sharing what they have known about the village over the years.Contact Jane Nicoll at 708-481-4252, or the society can be contacted at parkforesthistory1atyahoo.com.

The society is seeking other volunteers for special projects including fundraising and work on the Park Forest Local History Collection and Archive at the Archive Office. Projects include clipping and photocopying articles, scanning, typing and updating the website.If you have a talent to offer or need to put in some public service time for school, please contact Jane Nicoll at the phone number above, or email her at parkforesthistory1 (at) yahoo (dot) com. 6-4-2012

Historical Society Urges Support Through Membership

The Park Forest Historical Society urges people to support the society by joining its membership. Membership is open to people living in Park Forest, those who have lived in Park Forest, or to those interested in the history of Park Forest even as it is being made. In other words anyone interested in the village any facet of it is urged to join. The society always accepts donations toward its mission, but at this seminal time, they really need the support of a large membership.

Archivist Jane Nicoll says, "As I rode in the Hall of Fame car in the 4th of July Parade, I saw whole families of long-time residents and enthusiastic faces of new residents. I know many of these people have never joined the society, even though they treasure Park Forest. Now is the time for everyone who loves Park Forest to show that support by joining the society."

The Park Forest Historical Society faces many challenges and needs the support of all who treasure Park Forest history.