School supplies, 1895 style
The town of Harlem, which was incorporated in 1884, included today’s Forest Park and areas of River Forest. The Harlem Post was a local German weekly newspaper for Harlem’s German population. According to the publisher, a German weekly was necessary because Harlem, based on its population at the time, “is considered one of the most German settlements in Illinois, because the large German papers do not reach this area, and because most residents are not able to understand the English weekly papers.” Its first edition was published on Sept. 12, 1895.
The Oct. 3, 1895 edition contained minutes from a school board meeting, which was held on Sept. 26, 1895. During this meeting, the following letter from the superintendent was read:
Dear Gentlemen, we need the following articles for next month: 3 drinking cups, 1 waste paper basket, 4 dozen clothes hangers, 2 reams regular paper, 2 reams drawing paper, measurements for teachers to teach numbers, and 1,000 report cards. I would also like to point out that several of the clocks and organs in various class rooms are in need of repair. Respectfully, F. Curtis, Superintendent.
This notice led to the establishment of a standing committee for repairs, with Trustees Witt and Evert as committee members for one year, tasked with handling the matter.
Translated by Uli Leib