Garden Walk 2024 by forestparkhistory

A Letter from Our President

Welcome to the 2024 House & Garden Walk hosted by the Historical Society of Forest Park! We invite you to enjoy yourself as you mingle with new friends and neighbors. Let the captivating history of our village inspire you.

We invite you to our other events throughout the year including our hour-long tour of the Haymarket Martyrs Monument & Radical Row Tour. This tour takes place on the first Saturday of the month, from May through October, at the beautiful Forest Home Cemetery.

By becoming a member of the Historical Society, you actively support the HSFP and its endeavors. As a member, you’ll be invited to our Member Appreciation Party in November,

For more information about Forest Park’s history, membership, and upcoming events, please visit www.forestparkhistory.org. We greatly appreciate any donations you can offer to support our cause.

Thank you for being a part of today’s walk, and don’t forget to cast your vote for the best of show at tinyurl.com/bestinshow24

We look forward to seeing you again next year!

Mark Boroughf

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The Historical Society of Forest Park (HSFP) was founded in 1975 and was led by Dr. Frank Orland for more than 25 years. Currently, we are a volunteer board led by an Executive Director. We believe in bringing Forest Park’s history to the community through different engaging events, our community display, and online exhibits on our website.

Premium - $5 Monthly

Plus - $10 Monthly

- $30

- $50

- $250

- $500

www.forestparkhistory.org/membership

Forest Park is located on the indigenous homelands of several tribal nations: the Kickapoo, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Potawatomi, Myaamia, and Ochethi Sakowin. We acknowledge the painful forced removal of these people from their ancestral lands by European settlers. We commit to building relationships with descendants of these tribal nations who still call this area home and to sharing the history and contributions of native peoples with the Forest Park community.

1 ticket for $5 5 ticket for $20

Get you free ticket at 605 Beloit Ave

Drop off your ticket and buy more at 329 Burkhardt Ct

Raffle Prizes

$500 Hopper Travel Giftcard

Take a Flight, Rent a Car or Book a Hotel to visit that garden you’ve always wanted to see. Donated by Michelle Melin-Rogovin

$250 Airbnb Giftcard

Airbnb getaway. Donated by Michelle Melin-Rogovin

Collaboration with the Field Museum Liquor Basket

These rye and vodka spirits produced by the Journeyman Distillery are produced from botanicals housed at the Chicago Field Museum and originally introduced at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition! You can literally drink a piece of history!

Donated by Kristen Lyons

Garden Gear

Basket of various garden items that any backyard would appreciate and wine to relax with after a day of gardening.

Donated by the Forest Park Garden Club

Spirits to Lift Your Spirit

A basket of various liquors you can enjoy and sip in your favorite garden or outdoor space. Also you can get some food in the Garden Patio of McGaffer’s with a gift certificate.

Donated by the 2024 Historical Society Garden Walk Committee and Pat Malone of McGaffer’s

Victory Gardens

During World War II, victory gardens sprouted across America, transforming backyards, vacant lots, and public spaces into productive patches of patriotism. These gardens symbolized the resilience and unity of the nation during a time of crisis.

The concept of victory gardens emerged as a response to food shortages caused by the war and the need to ration supplies for the military. By growing their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs, citizens could supplement their diets and alleviate pressure on the strained food distribution system. This grassroots movement empowered individuals to contribute directly to the war effort, fostering a sense of solidarity and collective responsibility.

Participation in victory gardening was widespread, with an estimated 20 million gardens cultivated during the peak of the movement in 1943. Urban dwellers, suburban families, and rural communities alike embraced the initiative, regardless of age, occupation, or socioeconomic status. Victory gardens became a source of pride and a tangible way for civilians to support the troops overseas.

Beyond their practical contributions to food security, victory gardens had profound social and cultural significance. They instilled a sense of self-sufficiency and resourcefulness, teaching valuable skills that would endure beyond the war years. Victory gardens also promoted community engagement and camaraderie, as neighbors exchanged seeds, tips, and surplus produce.

After the war, victory gardens gradually faded from the landscape as the nation shifted its focus to reconstruction and economic recovery. However, their legacy endured, influencing subsequent generations’ attitudes toward gardening, sustainability, and civic responsibility. Today, victory gardens serve as a poignant reminder of the power of grassroots action and collective resilience in times of adversity.

Park District

7329 Harrison St

The Park District of Forest Park was officially entered into the Cook County registry in 1934 and in 2024 celebrates 90 years of service to the Forest Park community! The Roos Center, named after the Roos Cedar Chest Company which once had a factory on the site, is located on the east end of the park. The “Roos” started construction in the early summer of 2017 and completed in April 2018. It is a great addition to the park facilities, offering a large gym space, workout room, and multipurpose room. During the Garden Walk, participants are encouraged to visit the Historical Society of Forest Park “pop-up” museum in the Roos Center and the 16 Inch Softball Hall of Fame located on the corner of Des Plaines and Harrison!

The Park District of Forest Park Creative and Building Director is Izzo, who is responsible for all the planting and landscaping in all the park areas. “With the full support of Jackie Iovinelli, Executive Director, and Andrew Doss, Superintendent of Parks and Facilities, they give me full support to push my ideas, and a park this size is truly a group effort and a great team! The park is an ever-changing landscape; if you look closely, it’s never the same each year!”

The heart of most communities’ parks and gardens are a gathering place for socializing, interacting, and finding tranquility, and the Park District of Forest Park agrees. “We are entering a new phase in gardening. With global warming and water shortage, the Park District takes a practical approach: easy maintenance, drought-tolerant with a splash of whimsy and a lot of creativity.” Izzo also points out that he is using more rock, gravel, mulch, and tree trunks in an artistic way! “Moving forward, I am trying to break down the bad stereotype on weeds, using them more in the landscape and showing the audience how beautiful they can be!”

Landscaping Highlights in the Park:

Enchanted Forest - A new project in progress is the “Enchanted Forest,” which is a concept to grow a privacy fence for the pool area using trees, pine trees, and plants taken from all over the park. Over the years, it will grow and transport park visitors into a natural, rugged Enchanted Forest! (Located between the west side of the pool and the east side of the softball fields)

Harrison Street Open Green Space - Supporting recycling and using things found around the Park District property, trunks of cut down trees are highlighted and shown how they can be used as planting beds. There is currently a 75 ft long planter in progress for the area. Most of the plants seen are transplanted from the main park area, and architectural elements from the torn down Roos Cedar Chest Company and Fisher Building stone wall deconstruction. (Located diagonally from the Roos building along Harrison Street)

Victory Garden - The Park’s herb and vegetable garden was completely redone for 2024, in conjunction with the Historical Society saluting homage to the Victory Gardens of the past. The Park District of Forest Park planted a micro version of what a Victory Garden would have looked like in the 1940s during World War II. (Located behind the tennis courts by Building 4)

Good Garden – Created by Forest Park resident Ms. Good, and seen as the “hidden treasure” of the Park District, this garden oasis helps block the noisy expressway in the background. (Located up against the fence in the far back area of the Roos parking lot).

Park District 1970s

Goode

605 Beloit Ave

Built: 1908 Purchased: 1992

This 1908 brick structure has been a “home” for Bernadette and Mark Goode since 1992. The owners do not know much about the home’s history but over the years these Forest Park residents have improved the home by adding a three-car garage, new front porch, roof and of course garden improvements with a paver patio, shrubs, trees and new fence.

“We garden because it is relaxing. Gardening allows us to be creative and it’s good exercise,” says Forest Park native, born and raised, Bernadette Goode. “It is hard to pick one favorite thing about our yard, but we enjoy the variety of plants that bloom and flower at different times of the year. The garden walk being in late July, the Spring blooms are gone, but we still have some summer blooms and color in the garden,” says homeowner Mark Goode.

This home may only be a few hundred yards from the expressway and busy Jackson Blvd., but the design and feel of the yard transports the owners to a yard of tranquility. “Don’t be afraid to try new plants and experiment in your yard. The garden for us is a time to be together, work together and grow something beautiful together. We hope you enjoy our small piece of garden heaven just as much as we do!” Get your FREE raffle ticket here

Backman

In 1985, Gloria and Steve Backman bought this mid-1880’s home and it has been renovated from top to bottom, front to back, inside and out. The owners also know a lot about this home’s history and relevance to Forest Park.

The first half of the 20th century, the previous owners were Frank & Elizabeth Konietzko and their three daughters, Ruth, Gertrude & Betty. The home was split into three rental units. Mr. Konietzko was a blacksmith and used the back building for his business, Forest Park Ornamental Iron Works. He started the business around 1923 and it was in operation until his passing in 1958. The Backman’s are under good authority that much of the ornamental ironwork in Forest Park and the neighboring suburbs were produced by Mr. Konietzko. After Mr. Konietzko’s passing, the family rented the back building to a series of sign shops: Klecka Sign Co., Peterson Sign Co. and Roberta Signs. Roberta Signs was the last business located on the property when it left in 1998 and now the back building is used for the Backman’s hobbies.

When the Backman’s purchased the home in 1985, there was only one garden located under the Linden tree. Over the years, other garden areas were added, starting with the bed on the left side of the driveway as you enter the property. Next came the vegetable garden on the opposite side of the driveway. After the sign shop left in 1998, the Backman’s developed the other gardens in the back of the property.

Gloria tends to the plants; Steve builds and manages the hardscape in the yard. Gloria describes her garden style as experimental. “In this garden we dance around with sun and shade all the time and are willing to try anything. In the front of the house we have annual hyacinth bean vines that climb up & on the porch.

Quick growing, beautiful vine, easy to maintain, we have shared seeds with many people. I would love to see Forest Park become known for its Hyacinth Beans, much as Lombard has become known for its lilacs and LaGrange for its roses!”

The unique “hidden treasure” on the Backman property is “Steve’s Lounge.”

“It is a very cozy sanctuary, defined by a dry wall made with bricks salvaged from a structure that once stood on the property. The top of the wall is made from discarded gravestones. There is also a Wisteria arbor that was inspired by Steve’s Father’s ladder & mounted on architectural columns. Two varieties of Wisteria are growing on the arbor.”

While visiting the Backman’s property, visitors are encouraged to view the unique aspects of the garden, collection of architectural artifacts and the variety of spaces to inhabit.

Lipkin

831 Circle Ave

Built: 1896 Purchased: 1988

Purchased in 1988 and after several years of repairs and remodeling, this 1896 built home was awarded the First Forest Park Pride Award in 1993!

Dr. Lori Lipkin may self-described her gardening style as “haphazard, perennial and Darwinian,” but over the past 36 years she has grown a beautiful garden space. “I have added so many trees that my back yard is mostly shade and multiple hues of green with the yard being the most colorful in the spring. I feel a garden in spring is close to magic.”

The highlight of the Lipkin garden is the pond with its koi and goldfish with the perfect amount of shade for the pond. After shading out her backyard, Dr. Lipkin has been gardening up and down her alley and in her neighbors’ yards, planting butterfly and bee friendly plants!

What advice does Lori have for other gardeners? “Make a plan, stay organized, amend the soil, plant wildflowers instead of grass and you will be awarded by lighting bugs, butterflies and the appreciation of your neighbors!”

The Lipkin garden suffered a loss of a large tree limb in the yard just days before the garden walk that provided shade to a portion of the garden. “I now have lots of firewood!” says Lori

Get your photo taken here in our photobooth

Pittman-Johannsen

1228 Marengo Built: 1949 Purchased: 2021

The “youngest” home on the garden walk, built in 1949, when Katie Pittman and Rich Johannsen bought this home in 2021, the front of the home was just lawn. The gardener of the home, Katie calls the transformation from a lawn only to the current garden a “Slow waged war against the grass! My understanding is that the prior owners had a lovely garden for the front of the house but in recent years, the immediate owners converted the garden back to grass only.”

“Since 2021, we have only done updates to the outside of the home and garden. Over the past three years, slowly ripping out more and more grass and putting in more and more native plants. I try to mimic a native cottage style garden.”

“The first native plant I bought for our yard was swamp milkweed (also called rose milkweed). I dug out a little bit of grass and planted it because I knew milkweed was good for Monarch butterflies. Almost immediately the plant was covered in Milkweed Longhorn beetles, which I became obsessed with. It was like I’d conjured them to the garden out of thin air because before there were none. I’ve been on a journey since to plant as many native plants as possible and see what other beautiful little lives they bring in. I also love dahlias and zinnias, which are not native, but these plants add color to the garden.”

Besides added more native plants each passing year, Katie also has repurposed many things for her yard. “Most of the wooden planters in the garden were made out of a huge fence that the previous owners had strapped onto the wrought iron fence.” As you stroll through Katie’s garden, look for the reading nook, also built from re-purposed materials around the home.

Advice from Katie for a native gardener, “It can make a big difference for wildlife, gardening is for more than just you. What you do matters to the hundreds of other beautiful little lives that share your garden with you.”

1508 Marengo

Built: 1925 Purchased: 2002

The Jill and Ned Wagner home, located at 1508 Marengo Avenue, was built in 1925 as part of a south side development through Lobstein Real Estate office. Jill and Ned purchased the home in 2002, but the first owner was Lynda Ullrich. Her name is listed as the owner of several other properties on the block and throughout Forest Park and Maywood. The Marengo block was a new development in the 1920’s and there are four houses that are identical to the Wagner house, each with different brick.

“When we moved in the spring of 2001, we waited to see the plants that were here which included a magnolia tree, daffodils, lily of the valley, tulips, black-eyed-susan, rose bushes, three large spiraea bushes and in the front an evergreen bush. In the back there was a large tree stump which suggested that back yard had shifted in the recent years from shade to a full sun garden.” Only a gravel parking pad in the yard when the Wagner’s moved in, with the help of family and friends a brick patio and garage was built in 2004. “Building the patio in 2004 was really special. It was designed by laying a hose and guessing what would look good. We ordered bricks (a few too many). Ned and friends came and dug the area, my brothers and dad helped to and order and pick up the materials and we all learned together.”

Jill grows plants that attract butterflies, birds and things to eat. “Many of the plants are self-starters, the plants find a place they want to grow and I work around them. In addition, there might be a few rogue plants that find their way into unexpected places that I let them grow where they are.”

In the Wagner Garden, you will see many of the plants are labeled and include the name of the friend, neighbor or family member who gave the plant. Jill describes her garden as: “Changing every year with the perennials as the foundation. I feel like I have a relationship with all the plants and just like spending time with them.”

While visiting Jill and Ned’s garden look for the metal hearts. “I saved the metal hearts that my dad made for our wedding 22 years ago that lead guests to the Promontory Point in Hyde Park, some of them are still used to hold up plants in the garden.”

Forest Park Bank Makes it Possible.

Amanda Daly Owner | The Daly Bagel

When I was looking for a small business loan, people kept telling me to talk to FPB. After just one meeting, I completely understood what they meant.”

When it comes to community, Forest Park Bank stands with you.

Forest Park Bank. A Community Bank for 80 Years.

Beribak

1529 Elgin

Built: 1926 Purchased: 1984

Lin Beribak is only the second owner of this 1923 (but some documentation says 1926) home. The original house was only 720 square feet, owned by Herman Semper, a pharmacist at Madison and Beloit. It was in this 2-bedroom, 1-bath house with no coat closets or broom closets that the original owner and his wife raised three children, two sons and a daughter.

Very few changes were made to the house by the original owners and in 1984 Lin purchased the home. To increase the visual expanse of a very small bathroom, Lin had a shower and pedestal sink installed and the bath newly tiled. The basement stairs were removed to open the kitchen to increase the functional space and an insulated back porch to incorporate into the kitchen space. About twenty years ago, Lin added the second floor and unlike many of the other houses of similar footprint in town, the second floor was raised minimally to fit into the surrounding architecture. The home now has 1300 square feet, 3- 4 legal bedrooms and 2 full baths.

The gardens have been designed and maintained by the owner, Lin. They have gone through many changes over the years and the original front yard had two giant spruce trees which had to be removed for the second-floor addition. The original back yard was filled with white stone flowerbeds, all covered in creeping weeds. “My current goal is to maintain a minimal-care perennial garden of ground covers in front yard, perennial summer flowers in the backyard and a butterfly garden in the alley. While a garden is never “done” an hour or two a week can maintain its look and give a great sense of accomplishment, as the British say “house pride”.”

The FIRST FLOOR ONLY is open for viewing. The entry to the porch was originally from the side, but the front door and stairs were moved to the current location. The entry way, coat closet and stairs were the main bedroom, 9’x10’ and what is now the library-TV room was the second bedroom, 9’x9’ barely large enough for a full bed and one dresser. “Most of the wood furniture in the living, dining and TV rooms were purchased at farm auctions and refinished by my father. The bookcase in the library looks built-in but is two pieces custom made for the space by my brother.” The newly remodeled kitchen leads to the back and basement stairs and out to the backyard, vegetable garden and butterfly garden.

“As much as I hate pulling weeds, I enjoy sitting back and hearing the birds chirp, the water splash in the pond and view the ever-changing blooms from week to week”.

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Lepkowski

1539 Elgin

Purchased in 2010 by Joe Lepkowski, this home has had several updates and revisions, inside and out! Inside the home, Joe has updated the kitchen, put in a new bathroom and master suite. Outside of the home, the deck was added, the rear entrance relocated, and pavers placed.

Joe’s advice to gardeners, “Don’t build it in one day......take your time and let the creative juices flow and the garden mature.” This is evident in how this garden space came together over the years. “The garden was developed by me and after building the deck I started to landscape. The amount of lawn became smaller and smaller, year by year and then the pavers were placed, and the garden grew.”

Seeing this backyard as his “therapy gardening,” Joe tries to let everything grow in this garden naturally and with minimal trimming. “I don’t like to trim, but did so for the garden walk. I love to garden in general, but when I added the water feature, it really came together.”

A garden of green and tranquil space, enjoy this yard on the walk filled with conifers that neighbors describe as “A green oasis like you would find in the Northern Woods!”

After Party

Please join us for an after party this evening! Saturday, July 20th at 4:00 PM at McGaffer’s Saloon Patio Come celebrate with the Historical Society of Forest Park Board, homeowners and friends for appetizers as we draw the raffle ticket winners and announce the “Best in Show” from the garden walk!