River Forest in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
River Forest Firsts
Photographed By Sean Flynn, April 22, 2023
1. River Forest Firsts Marker
1830 - Business: Bickerdike & Noble Sawmill
1836 - Settler: Ashbelle Steele
1840 - Police Officer: Charlie Thompson
1848 - Railroad: Galena & Chicago Railroad
1850 - School
1858 - Brick School: Harlem School
1878 - Private School: Young Ladies Seminary
1880 - President: Timothy Kirk
1863 - Church: Christ Church
1890 - Electric street light
1890 - Waterworks System: Cost $81,741.12
1891 - Jail
1893 - Fire Chief: Henry Struble
1893 - Telephone: In J.M. Chamber & Sons
1894 - River Forest Woman's Club
1899 - River Forest Library
1899 - Woman in office: Cora L. Brown; Treasurer
1902 - River Forest Baseball Club
1905 - River Forest Tennis Club
1910 - Police Chief: James Kunst
1911 - Boy Scout Troop: Troop No. 1
1921 - Chamber of Commerce
1921 - Squad car
1925 - Girl Scout Troop: Troop No. 19
1926 - Traffic light
1928 - River Forest Golf Club
1929 - Ambulance
1931 - Environmental Preservation Ordinance
1937 - Historical Society
1950 - Synagogue: West Suburban Temple Har Zion
1988 - Female Police Officer: Kendra Sullivan
Erected
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Notable Places • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.
Location. 41° 53.585′ N, 87° 48.891′ W. Marker is in River Forest, Illinois, in Cook County. Marker is on Lathrop Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 717 Lathrop Ave, River Forest IL 60305, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. River Forest Women's Club (within shouting distance of this marker); Anne T. Smedinghoff Memorial Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); The River Forest Tennis Club (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); River Forest 9/11 Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); River Forest Memorial to the Great Wars (approx. 0.3 miles away); Frances E. Willard (approx. 0.4 miles away); River Forest Fire Chiefs (approx. half a mile away); River Forest Police Chiefs (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in River Forest.
More about this marker. The marker is located in front of the River Forest Public Library
Photographed By Sean Flynn, April 22, 2023
2. River Forest Firsts Marker and River Forest Library
Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 67 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 26, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on May 8, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
