August Thode, well respected man in Harlem and Forest Park, owned the largest restaurant in town, just down the street from Concordia Cemetery, Forest Home Cemetery, Altenheim Cemetery and German Cemetery, was a popular location for mourners to meet.
This monument overlooks the graves in the United Ancient Order of Druid section of the Forest Home Cemetery.
The headstone of August Thode, in the United Ancient Order of Druid section of Forest Home Cemetery.
August Thode, owner of a large restaurant and Saloon in Harlem/ Forest Park, IL was buried in the United Ancient Order of Druid section of Forest Home Cemetery.
This United Ancient Order of Druid section of Forest Home Cemetery features grave rows in a circle around this statue.
The back of this token says “50.”
This token, recently uncovered in an auction, was from August Thode’s restaurant. It identifies the location as Forest Park, which was renamed from Harlem in 1907.
August Thodes, on the left, was a restaurant and saloon in Harlem located at Des Plaines and Madison.

August Thode, early Village of Harlem pioneer, emigrated from Germany in 1868 when he was 14 years old. After working as a farmer, he became a bricklayer after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and remained in the trade for just over a decade. 

In 1883 he opened his first restaurant and saloon at Desplaines Avenue and Randolph Street (formerly Sterling Street), and after only two years he built a new home for his business at Madison Street and Desplaines Avenue.  

Thode’s restaurant was “the largest of its kind,” according to a 1906 guide to Harlem, and it was likely accommodating large funeral parties.

Thode was a village trustee, vice president of Forest Park State Bank (with Albert Roos as president), and a member of fraternal and benevolent societies. He is buried with his wife and children in the Druid section of Forest Home Cemetery.