What a night! We packed the house at Charlie’s Restaurant on Friday for an unforgettable evening exploring Roosevelt Road’s fascinating mob history.

Guests gathered at the very site of the former Armory Lounge, once associated with Chicago Outfit boss Sam Giancana, for an engaging illustrated presentation by Bret Juliano. Through historical research, rare stories, and examples from his comic series Dust Bunny Mafia and Based on a True Story, Bret brought Chicago’s organized crime era to life while highlighting connections to Forest Park and Roosevelt Road.

The evening blended local history, true crime, and visual storytelling, giving attendees a fresh perspective on places they pass every day. Guests enjoyed their small bites boxes, browsed Bret’s books before and after the presentation, and filled the room with great questions and conversation.
​
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this one of our most well-attended programs. Special thanks to Charlie’s Restaurant for hosting and to Bret Juliano for sharing his research, artwork, and passion for uncovering the stories hidden in our local history.

Finding Dr. Joseph Corbin’s gravesite is now easier at Forest Home Cemetery.

There is a new sign in Section F with an arrow pointing the way. The Historical Society of Forest Park had the sign made to help people find this National Historic Place and learn more about Dr. Corbin.
​
Thanks to Forest Home Cemetery for installing the sign and for being a great partner in helping keep this history easy to find and connect with.

Isaac from Buttons of the Left framed his May Day talk around the powerful words of Haymarket martyr August Spies, who, when sentenced to death, declared: “It is a subterranean fire. You cannot put it out. The ground is on fire upon which you stand.” Using pinback buttons from different eras, Isaac showed how that “subterranean fire” has continued to burn through generations of working class struggle. Though movements are often suppressed, the message carried in these small objects shows they are never extinguished.


His talk traced the 140 years since the Haymarket Affair, highlighting how the fight for workers’ rights resurfaces again and again in new forms. Through the imagery and slogans on the buttons, Isaac connected past struggles to the present, showing that the spirit of resistance and organizing remains constant even as the times change.


Buttons of the Left is an archive and educational project focused on the materials used to educate, agitate, and organize for progressive change. The project collects and preserves buttons as important artifacts of working class history, while also sharing the context and meaning behind each item. Through exhibits and presentations, Isaac brings these objects to life, helping students, workers, and the public better understand the movements that shaped them and the ones still unfolding today.

On May Day 2026, community members gathered to honor Paul Price as the recipient of the Mark Rogovin: Working Class Heroes Award. Local residents of Forest Park, along with Paul’s family and many of his fellow workers from the Laborers Union, came together to celebrate his achievements and the legacy of Mark Rogovin. Mark lived in Forest Park for 50 years and was deeply dedicated to the Haymarket Martyrs’ Monument, labor history, and anti war activism. This annual award is given in his name to honor those who continue that work.

Paul Price’s career reflects decades of labor organizing and advocacy. He began organizing workers at a grocery store in Utah and was later fired and blacklisted after leading a union drive at a mouse pad factory. He went on to help pass a living wage ordinance in Bloomington, Indiana, and played a key role in a campaign that helped janitors across three Midwestern cities nearly double their wages and secure family health insurance after four years. He also helped residential construction workers in the Southwest recover $500,000 in stolen wages.

Today, Paul works with the Laborers Union in Chicago, defending construction workers from predatory developers and contractors. His work reflects the spirit of the award and the legacy it was created to honor.

​🏆 People’s Choice & Best Storytelling in Miniature
Han Huie
​Ladies Day Every Sunday at the Parichy Stadium
A fan favorite that truly knocked it out of the tiny park!

​🏆 Most Imaginative Use of Scale
Ben Pfaff
Police. Fire. Work Ignored in Copter Crash
A scene that took creativity to new heights and proved big ideas can come in small packages.

​🏆 Best Craftsmanship and Detail
Michelle Contreras
A House that Goes Bump in the Night
Every inch of this piece was frightfully well done, with details that reward a closer look, if you dare.

​Thank you to everyone who joined us for the opening of Small Scenes, Big Stories: Forest Park Dioramas. Even with the rain, you showed up in a big way to celebrate these small-scale creations, and it made for a truly memorable evening. From tiny details to big bursts of creativity, the room was full of little moments that made a lasting impression.
We are also grateful to our judges for lending their time and expertise: Little Perspectives artist Ian Pfaff, Forest Park tour guide and author Amy Binns-Calvey, and Jessica Mordacq, Staff Writer for the Forest Park Review.
If you missed the reception, there is still time to experience these mini masterpieces. The dioramas remain on display at the Forest Park Public Library until April 6th, and we highly recommend seeing them in person to catch all the small but mighty details.

This was a HUGE year for the Historical Society of Forest Park, so buckle up, this is a big recap. Our 50th anniversary year was packed with ambitious programs, packed rooms, creative pop-ups, meaningful partnerships, and more than a few moments where we stepped back and said, “Wow, look at what this community can do.”
We kicked off the year with a well-attended program on Henry Fiddelke at Forest Park Baptist Church, setting the pace for a year full of history told in many different ways. At the Forest Park Public Library, Book Buzz welcomed Ann Durkin Keating, who connected Forest Park’s story to the broader Chicagoland region, highlighting figures such as Leon Bourassa and Mnetoqua and placing Forest Park firmly within the larger historical landscape.
May Day was one of the biggest highlights of the year. We expanded our outdoor exhibit, and Forest Home Cemetery shared artifacts from their collection for the first time, adding a whole new layer to the experience. Bleue Benton was honored with the Mark Rogovin: Working Class Heroes Award for her outstanding contributions to labor history research. Bleue is also a contributor to The Day Will Come, both the 2nd and 3rd editions. May Day also marked the release of two publications: The Day Will Come, 3rd Edition, and More Dead Than Alive: Forest Park’s Quietest Neighbors.
Amy Binns-Calvey returned to the Forest Park Public Library with a powerful and engaging talk on Edmonia Lewis. Later in the year, we released Horseshoes and Fores: The Many Pastimes at Hannah and Roosevelt, the latest Anthony Landahl short film celebrating recreation and everyday life in Forest Park’s past. Watch it here.

Amy Binns-Calvey was everywhere this year, and we were lucky to have her. She led our monthly Haymarket tour, a Forest Park Middle School field trip to Forest Home Cemetery, and a bicycle tour of Forest Home Cemetery. She also spent countless hours writing and researching, including authoring More Dead Than Alive: Forest Park’s Quietest Neighbors, contributing to The Day Will Come, 3rd Edition, and helping update the Eastland Ship Disaster booklet. Keep an eye out for her house histories, coming soon to the Forest Park Review. When she was unavailable, her husband Geoff stepped in to lead the Scarecrow Bike Tour, keeping the wheels turning, literally.
Jill Wagner kept Forest Park history front and center all year long through her weekly Look Back blog posts. Week after week, she shared stories, images, and moments that helped residents connect with the past in accessible and engaging ways. For select posts, articles from The Harlem Post were translated by Uli Leib, adding valuable historical context and making early Forest Park news available to a wider audience
Education and outreach stayed front and center all year. We welcomed Forest Park Middle School students to Forest Home Cemetery for a field trip we hope to make an annual tradition. At German Fest, we shared recently acquired 1920s film footage from the Altenheim Grounds, giving attendees a rare and fascinating look at Forest Park history in motion.
The Garden Walk was once again a huge success, featuring 10 stunning gardens. The weekend kicked off with a party for hosts, volunteers, and members at Michelle Melin-Rogovin’s home, followed by an after-party at Casa Humilde. The Garden walk isn't just gardens, its a two day community event!
We brought online connections into real life with a Jewish Waldheim—Stories and Memories meet-and-greet, then later released a two-part series on Jewish Waldheim. Watch the virtual tour of Jewish Waldheim and other Forest Park Cemeteries here.

One of our biggest accomplishments of the year was the update to the Wall of Renown, made possible with tremendous help from Public Works, who made the space look absolutely beautiful. To learn more about the inductees and their lasting impact on Forest Park here.
In honor of the 110th anniversary of the Eastland disaster, the Eastland Historical Society delivered a powerful presentation at Casa Humilde and updated booklet of everyone buried in Forest Park. Learn more about the Eastland disaster and Forest Park here. 

We also brought back Movie at the Mausoleum with a screening of the classic The Birds, in partnership with the Forest Park Public Library and the Park District of Forest Park. A huge thank-you to Cool Truck Treats for supplying the generator and keeping everyone fueled with movie snacks and sweets. We added even more atmosphere with Spooky Stories and Poetry at the Mausoleum, in collaboration with the library and the Arts Alliance of Forest Park.
This year marked the 5th annual Invasion of the Scarecrows, a creative and growing collaboration with the Arts Alliance of Forest Park. We also popped up as a museum several times at the 7410 Madison building and are excited to return in February for Black History Month with a window display.
Community service was also a meaningful part of our anniversary year. We partnered with Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin on Operation Rising Spirits, sending 1,17 holiday cards to U.S. veterans living in Illinois long-term care facilities a project rooted in gratitude, remembrance, and care.
We officially celebrated our 50th Anniversary on November 16, 2025, at BABS Comedy Club with a night that blended history, community, and plenty of fun. We handled annual business, welcomed new board member Mary Bromet, and were thrilled to have founding member Mark Ross in attendance. The evening included honoring Gerald “Jerry” Lordan with the Dr. Orland Award, recognizing his decades of leadership, service, and commitment to Forest Park. Pizza from Jimmy’s, cake from Forest Park Bakery, a lively raffle organized by Kristen Lyons, and a Forest Park–themed round of Chronology kept the celebration going.
​

We closed out the year roasting chestnuts over an open fire at the Holiday Walk a cozy, old-fashioned ending to a milestone year.


Most importantly, thank you to our members and volunteers. Your support, enthusiasm, and belief in the value of local history made this 50th anniversary year possible. Because of you, the Historical Society of Forest Park continues to grow, experiment, and bring history to life in ways that are meaningful, joyful, and shared.
Here’s to the next 50.

​HSFP had a great night at the Holiday Walk sharing roasted chestnuts and a postcard all about their history. Chestnuts were once a holiday staple in the U.S., easy to find, easy to roast, and a cozy street-corner treat. The tradition faded after a blight wiped out nearly all American chestnut trees in the early 1900s, taking the old ritual with it.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to try one, grab a postcard, and chat with us.

The Historical Society of Forest Park celebrated its 50th Anniversary on November 16, 2025, at BABS Comedy Club with a night that blended history, community, and plenty of fun. We began by taking care of annual business, including adding new board member Mary Bromet. Founding member Mark Ross was also in attendance, adding a special note of history to the evening.

A major highlight of the celebration was honoring Gerald “Jerry” Lordan with the Dr. Orland Award for his decades of leadership and service. Jerry’s contributions to Forest Park are extraordinary and deeply felt across generations. A dedicated educator from 1973–2025, he has shaped countless lives inside and outside the classroom. His leadership and service extend widely: longtime HSFP board member and past president, Boy Scout leader, Assistant to the President at Fenwick High School, Kiwanis Club member and past president, Forest Park Eagles Club member, and Garage Art Committee member. His commitment, kindness, and steady presence have strengthened both the Historical Society and the community it serves.

Guests enjoyed delicious pizza from Jimmy’s and cake from Forest Park Bakery, and the excitement continued with a special raffle organized by Kristen Lyons—52 tickets and 52 winners, keeping the celebration lively and full of surprises. Afterward, the celebration continued with a lively Forest Park–themed round of Chronology, an original game created by HSFP Board Member Jill Wagner and printed by Printing Plus. A home version will be available soon!

This year marked the 5th annual Invasion of the Scarecrows, a collaboration between the Historical Society of Forest Park and the Arts Alliance of Forest Park. The Historical Society of Forest Park and the Arts Alliance of Forest Park thank every participant in this year’s Scarecrow Invasion. Your creativity and enthusiasm brought the village to life once again. 
Participants and visitors brought remarkable creativity to this year’s displays, and we were thrilled to announce the winners