1896 Masked ball
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. Its first edition was published on Sept. 12, 1895. The Feb. 6, 1896 edition contained the following news about the Harlem Männerchor (Harlem Men’s Choir):
“The masked ball of the Harlem Männerchor will take place on February 15 in Gaden’s Great Hall. It promises to be a glittering affair, since the committee has not spared any effort to make this a pleasant evening for attendees. We would like to note that tickets can be purchased from choir members only — no tickets will be available at the door. Floor tickets are 50 cents, gallery tickets 25 cents. Norbert Hepner, who has the masquerade outfits, will arrive with the clothing at 11:00 AM on the day of the event.”