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1950s Dolls and Valentines on Display at 1950s Museum


The 1950s Park Forest House Museum reopens for the year on Saturday February 7 from 1-3 p.m.  The Forest Boulevard School classroom is decorated for a 1950s Valentines Day party, and vintage Valentines are on display throughout the house.

I have been installling a very special exhibit on Dolls of the 1950s.  Several of the dolls are in residence.  Labelling of the exhibit is ongoing, but those of you who played with these dolls will know them even without full labels.  A few more dolls will be coming to stay during the exhibit, and some are waiting to be redressed or restrung.  We plan to keep the exhibit up for about three months, if it is well-received.

Come to the museum for a wonderful break from the winter doldrums.  Relive memories of your childhood dolls, or just come enjoy the dolls and their outfits. Bring your moms, your daughters and granddaughters. The Valentines offer a colorful respite from the winter grey!

During this very special 60th Anniversary month, a visit  to the museum is also a fascinating way to immerse yourself in the look and feel of our pioneer citizens’ lives from 1948-1953, and to learn what set Park Forest apart as the first fully-planned post-World War II suburb, with one of the first two shopping centers in the country.  If you have a fourth grade student in Park Forest, two of the schools will be doing a Park Forest history curriculum unit in April designed by retired teachers Suzanne Brown, May Wiza, and Jean Bernstein.  Stimulate your students’ curiosity with trip into the past.

The 1950s Park Forest House Museum is located at 141 Forest at the corner of Forest and Fir.  It is open on Saturdays from 1-3 p.m.  A donation of $5 is asked of adults; children 12 and under are free with paying adults.  The museum will open for group tours by appointment.  Contact Museum Director, Jane Nicoll at [email protected].

 

 


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