Join us in person, Saturday, November 9, at 3 p.m., at Freedom Hall, 410 Lakewood Boulevard, as we help the village celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Park Forest. Freedom Hall doors will open at 2:15 p.m., with light refreshments provided.
This program follows the earlier annual Veterans Day Events beginning at 11 a.m. outside Freedom Hall in Central Park, presented by the village and the Veteran’s Commission, which includes a visit by a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter.
The afternoon program will include a video presentation on Park Forest’s early history, with a segment by Gregory C. Randall, author of “America’s Original G.I. Town, Park Forest, Illinois.”
Mr. Randall will be followed by excerpts from the 1981 video, “OH! Park Forest! A Work in Progress,” produced by Mel Muchnik and others for the “OH! Park Forest” oral history program conducted by the Park Forest Public Library. Interview excerpts include Philip Klutznick, president of American Community Builders, architect Richard Marsh Bennett, three village presidents, and two very early residents Ross DeLue, one of the first three families to move in, and Sue Sonduck.
Early Integration will be explained by Don DeMarco, assistant village manager for Community Relations, 1971-1982; and Myrtle Martin, a 1963-current resident and community activist.
In the lobby, watch a video of five people who grew up in Park Forest, recalling favorite childhood memories.
After a brief intermission, Grande Prairie Choral Arts and the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Brass and Percussion Ensemble will perform some wonderful music and very briefly tell of their roots in Park Forest as Park Forest Singers and Park Forest Symphony.
The Society intends to run the full video, “‘OH! Park Forest! A Work in Progress” on its YouTube channel in the near future. They also plan to run the video presentation used in the November 9 history presentation.
Copies of “America’s Original G.I.Town, Park Forest, Illinois,” along with copies of Jerry Shnay’s “Park Forest Dreams and Challenges,” will be on sale by the Society in the lobby, in addition to several other things available at the 1950s Park Forest House Museum or in their online store.
Please join us in this final celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Park Forest!