| Some of these items and images were found in the
House
Museum, others were not; but they were a part of the fabric of the times, or those to come shortly after Park Forest was incorporated as a Village in 1949. Memories and reflections? Email Us! |
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"The people who went to Park Forest went there because it was the best housing for the money...Once there, however, they created something over and above the original bargain. Together they developed a social atmosphere of striking vigor..." William H. Whyte, Jr., in The Organization Man. William H. Whyte, who died in January of 1999, wrote his
classic
book,
The
Organization Man, first published in 1956, after studying the
phenomena of Park Forest. He interviewed many early Park Forest
residents;
he commented on the achievements, on the strengths and weaknesses of
"our
town" and we've not stopped commenting on his book since. Nor
have
many scholars who continue to study Park Forest. In short, Whyte was
one
of the people who first put Park Forest on the "Literary and
Sociological
Map." Early Park Foresters were high achievers, in and out of the
"Organization,"
and they brought their skills to the community to help build schools,
churches,
and a first-of-its-kind shopping center. Park Forest won its first "All
America City" award in 1954 based on this "can-do" spirit in building a
new high school and high school district. But the trend and spirit of
achievement
was set for generations to come -- Park Forest again won an "All
America
City" award in 1977. Park Foresters still capture that early
spirit
as they roll up their sleeves to accomplish the tasks at hand.
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Returning veterans of World War II comprised 85 percent of Park Forest's early residents. Park Forest offered affordable housing with its rental units. Before long, however, renters looked to move into and buy a dream house of their own. Park Forest offered them affordable homes within a few years of its incorporation. How many dreams were built and planned over cups of coffee! Indeed, mothers in the rental units, tending their children, made "kaffeeklatching" a high art! Jo Maeyama, an early resident, commented in OH! Park Forest (An Oral History of Park Forest), "I think in any new community, anyplace where people are struggling to see something grow, it doesn't matter what is being created, there is a tremendous amount of this feeling generated, simply because you're participating in a creative process. And Park Forest was a creative process. . .And it was so wonderful to have our men back again, to have our families intact, and to be present at the birthing process, almost, of this new village was just a wonderful, creative thing. (OH! Park Forest, is available at the Park Forest Public Library to purchase and to check out. The Park Forest Public Library has an extensive Local History Archive; check with the reference librarians there for more information.) -- EUB |