Forty Years Ago

Here’s a slice of life from a village council meeting in the summer of ’68: After a 20-minute discussion on dog-badness affecting homeowners and lawns, it was agreed this was an age-old problem. As reported by Ye Olde Editor, Claude Walker, “Doggone it, there ought to be a solution.”

Other business included the old chestnut of pay raises for police and firefighters. This was tabled. Out of these talks, however, came Officer Brehl’s complaint that three squad cars were not enough to adequately patrol and protect the community. Mayor Witt stated that these vehicles were wearing out quickly. Enter the ever-vocal, pro-active Officer Archaumbault who was promptly gaveled down by the mayor. (Down-home style politics, for sure.) “Archie,” as he was referred by the editor, was quoted saying, “The squads are not abused. They’re in use 24 hours a day and they show it.” For finishers, the mayor proposed an ordinance prohibiting the use of outdoor barbeques on apartment and condo balconies.

From the June 27, 1968, Forest Park Review

Thirty Years Ago

Eulogies, obituaries, even poems, appeared in this paper. Engagements and marriages – at least in this column – do not. Marriages today carry a mortality rate of about 50 percent. However, here’s a 25th anniversary public “love letter” from Donna and Joe. It’s different because it has a note within the note.

“A long time ago it started with a letter, and many more after. Then came a call, and our first date, and long talks. It seems we were meant to be. Can it really be 25 years?

“Thanks for your love and our family of four. I wonder if you remember this little note you wrote so many years ago:

You wrote and I answered; I called and you answered, ‘I love you.’

Hope you keep loving me. Engagement rings and wedding bands, a present ever so nice, but none so nice as you and I together.

You said ‘I will;’ next you’ll say ‘I do.’ What next? The pitter-patter of little feet? Complaints of no sleep? How about the dirty diapers? Will they be his or hers? Time will come and time will pass, and you will go to the head of the class. Love isn’t always blind, but you can be sure that your husband is kind. He loves you very much.”

Yours, Joe

“All my love to you on our special day,

“Donna.”

From the May 24, 1978, Forest Park Review

Twenty Years Ago

The Wesley United Methodist Church fire reported in last week’s column temporarily doused water on the theater group housed in its basement. Circle Theatre co-founders Karen Skinner and Wayne Buidens were adamant: “This won’t stop us.” The production of “‘Night, Mother” opened 11 days later at the Tae Kwon Do Institute, 7300 Madison St.

Circle Theatre members and volunteers removed unburned, waterlogged props. The Village Players on Madison Street in Oak Park, Rosary College and Dynamite Studios in River Forest offered their facilities for the staging of “‘Night, Mother.” And a neighbor, Alice Daehn, let her house be used for salvaged items. She even laundered some of the soiled wardrobes.

The people of this town have a track record for coming together in bad times.

From the June 15, 1988, Forest Park Review

Ten Years Ago

From the police reports: (Maybe more entertainment than news.) A man represented himself as an employee of an electric company – call it what you will – to the lady answering the door. Told her he was replacing all electric boxes on the block.

He was in his 20s, 5-feet 9-inches, 180 pounds, wore a pink jacket atop work clothes, carried a two-way radio and drove a red van, according to the woman, who was no sap – she wanted credentials and got a puzzled look instead. When she dialed the police he hot-footed it to the van and blew town. The all points bulletin might have read, “Look out for ‘Pretty in Pink.'”

From the June 1998, Forest Park Review