Forty Years Ago

Detritus (see photo) was all that was left of a landmark newsstand after Mary Pish of Bellwood cracked a right going from Madison Street onto Desplaines Avenue. The “turn of the century” occurred on a clear day at about 1 p.m. She bashed over the wooden structure, ramming it across the sidewalk into a building. The newsstand contained vendor David Glass, 16, who was not seriously hurt. Ah, youth.

Who was elected mayor of Forest Park April 18, 1967? Not Howard Mohr; he would devote his full-time to state senatorial duties that term. Earl Witt was named mayor by the people. He beat William Meyer, who had served two terms from 1955 to 1963, and was seeking a return to office. In his political literature he was quoted as saying, “Keep Forest Park out of the hands of the professional politicians”-a reference to Witt and some supporters. (Better you should entrust amateur politicians?) The Non-Partisan Committee for Witt responded with ads that assured an intelligent public that Witt was no one’s puppet, and had experience and capabilities to lead the village for four years of sound development. So it goes, the way of politics.

From the April 6 and 13, 1967, issues of the Forest Park Review

Thirty Years Ago

A younger Judy Topinka, then a Review reporter, filed this page one story. Forest Home Cemetery was the site of a second manhunt in two weeks. (The Officer Archambault bullet-off-his-star escapade was the first.) An armed man had heisted a robbery at the Lazy Lion Restaurant, 8300 W. Roosevelt Rd., netting about $200. Dogs, roadblocks and everything but the helicopter used two weeks ago were employed in the cemetery search. Police caught a break when an anonymous caller said he had seen and recognized the suspect hanging around before the robbery.

The tip led to the Lombard home of a 17-year-old fresh out of the Geneva Youth Center who was visiting a Chicago friend when police arrived later that night.

From the May 4, 1977, Forest Park Review

Twenty Years Ago

Doug Deuchler. Recognize the name? More than likely, he’s the one who reviews what’s going on at Circle Theater. (And a fine reviewer and writer of local history he is.) He authored a play of his own that ran at the Dainamite Studios in River Forest; a mystery titled “Murder in Malibu.” The story involved the audience as much as the players. Ticket holders were given the opportunity to question the characters with the input determining the outcome of the investigation. It was new and engaging, and judging from the audience participation and reaction, the effort was a success. According to reviewer/actor Fred Lenhoff, multiple endings were woven into this challenging undertaking, with the audience given broad and subtle clues.

From the Feb. 25, 1987, Forest Park Review

Ten Years Ago

One citizen’s right to say no. During the reconstruction of Harlem Avenue, IDOT needed a number of easements and temporary rights of way to widen the state route and make room for parking construction vehicles. Len Karlin, who lived on the corner of Harvard and Adams streets, wasn’t pleased with the arrangements. His house was literally inches from the sidewalk, just a few feet from the street. And the state wanted more.

“If they put the highway right next to the house the east wall falls in, which doesn’t give us much of a house, does it?” complained Karlin. “The steady rumble of tires pounding Harlem over the years has weakened the house’s foundation, and if they want the 10-foot area beyond the property, they should take the whole thing.” Karlin had a court date by month’s end to settle a suit with IDOT.

From the March 5, 1997, Forest Park Review