Oak Park Newspaper

Edgar Allen Poe Appears from the Past to remind everyone about his
activities at the Oak Park Public Library.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

Deborah Dowley Preiser, Community Relations Coordinator
for the Oak Park Public Library poses with the the famous
writer, Edgar Allen Poe.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

Joe Hill, a Union organizer, portrayed by Andy Sinko, not
only spoke his history but even played guitar to audience
of listeners.

Joe Hill is said to have been framed for a murder by those in authority while in Utah. Some of his ashes were left in Forest Home Cemetary, and other states too, but none in Utah.

Andy Sinko and his parents, proud parents.

Eli Ristik, one of the many Gypsys buried in Forest Home Cemetary,
portrayed by Kermit Eby.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

There are good many Gypsies buried at Forest Home Cemetery, and several still living in the area of Forest Park. Mr. Kermit Eby, a high school history teacher in Naperville, Illinois had his own story to tell us aside from his scripted work for today. Mr. Eby had been in Italy a few years ago and was himself the victim of a family of Gypsies who carried off some of his personal belongings during an encounter on the street, and some of the items taken were some rolls of film he had taken on his trip. Some fifteen minutes later one of the kids brought back his items, perhaps they knew someday he would represent them with dignity on this day or perhaps his stuff wasn't that good anyhow. I think they were being nice and they got their moneys worth today.

Philander Walker Barclay portrayed by Edwin Wald.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

Philander Walker Barclay had the first bicycle shop in Oak Park, has a restaurant named after him, and took about 1000 photos of Oak Park and
the region because he enjoyed photography. He is reported to have started
his interest in photography even before he had his own camera, by collecting other photos of the area and then later getting his own camera.

His parents had a pharmacy in Oak Park and perhaps it is here that he began to dabble and experiment with the effects of some drugs. His life took a downward spiral, he nor any of his siblings ever married, he lost his bicycle shop, he became a drug addict and suffered from depression.

Morrison Hotel at Madison Street and Clark Street
in 1927 with 46 stories it was the world's tallest
hotel. It was torn down in 1965.

Philander Walker Barclay (born September 1878 and died July 7, 1940)
checked into the Morrison Hotel in Chicago and took his life with
a drug overdose and died on July 7th, 1940.

Some Information on Mr. Barclay

It was a beautiful day for this years event, great stories, interesting history, and a lot of fun.

The Druids have a location in the Forest Home Cemetary and August and Caroline Thode
were portrayed by Michael Stewart and Joyce Proce.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

The anicient druids were a secret society of religious leaders found in Britain and they kept no written records. What we do know about them is mostly from the writings of Julius Caesar.

George Bailey portrays Mr. William Palmer an Black African-American
from early Oak Park.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

Cigar makers Rose, Ida, and Stella portrayed by Lee Conte, Ellen Lipo, Hannah Gardner, and Grace Lipo.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos

© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo
This year was a great success and thanks to our own
researcher Mr. Doug Deuchler. Doug had a wedding to go to this year and was the first year that he has missed
the event. He will be back next year.......thanks Doug.