Living Room of the Park Forest House Museum

The square styling of the chairs and end tables and use of blond woods was very popular in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Formica veneers as used on the end tables demonstrates the beginning of the "Plastics revolution” which began after
World War II. Furniture design began to take into consideration freeing the housewife from maintaining real wood, and
making furniture more durable to withstand the seven to ten children in many households.

The blond desk and bookcase in the living room are Heywood-Wakefield pieces donated by the Edward Mescha family.
They were bought in Chicago Heights and used in the Mescha home at 25 Sauk Trail where the family lived from 1952
until 1983. The desk chair was bought by Mr. Mescha and sold to a former neighbor, Ray Roberts of 29 Oak Lane.
Mr. Roberts' family donated the chair in his memory in 2004. Heywood-Wakefield has very simple but elegant
lines and has become very collectible

Wrought iron for lamps was in mode, and the round, blocky light shades, often made of fiberglass with inset
designs were common. We now have a fiberglass light shade in the classroom. The low coffee table with
wrought iron legs, which is in the classroom, matches the two lamps. The furniture, some appliances,
men's clothing and some of our other standing lamps were from the home of Dean and Norma Luse.

TV's were being produced by 1948, but many homes still relied on radio programs for entertainment.
[If appropriate, and you have put in a tape ahead of time, turn on the radio.] TV's became more
common by the mid-1950's TV lamps became the thing to have, as did the black panther statue.
Our panther is a lamp and a planter. You can see the panthers in antique shops now.
They came in a variety of poses, and sizes and were available in other colors than black.

Many housewives still knitted socks, sweaters and baby clothing. Tatting and crocheting of doilies to decorate the home
was popular. Knitted socks meant darning and our housewife has sock forms for darning. Toys were heavier and more
durable with all wood or all metal parts. Our dining room set with server or buffet in the living room and china closet in
the dining room is limed oak-a very popular light wood. Notice the large geometric drawer
pulls. Entertaining at home was common. Table linens were used, even for everyday. Everyone had several sets of
tablecloths, place mats and cloth napkins. -- Jane Nicoll

Artifacts	Bedroom	Dining Room
Basement	Closets	Exterior
Bathroom	Cultural Items	Kitchen
First Park Forest Library	Christmas at the House Museum	First Park Forest School
	Home Page