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"A Great time in a
Wonderful Place" SJC 



"Highly recommended.."
Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc

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Adopt a Pet, Come for a Visit


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The tour groups are kept small enough so that the tour is intimate and easy to hear.  The photo above shows three seperate groups headed in different directions.  This cemetery walk is an incredible event each year and has been for almost 20 years now.  The actors and actresses, the historians and  advocates of the fallen have done a wonderful job keeping the history of the Forest Home Cemetery alive and thriving. This year was a good turnout, well over 500 people on a wonderful day.  They were entertained for hours of history and wonderful weather for a good walk.
 

The Haymarket Martyr's Monument is Brought To Life with actors.
© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc. photo

The Haymarket protesters get to tell their tale of woe and their fight for the rights of workers and the underclass from the grave.  The history of the time and some ad-libs keep the audience entertained and delighted.  The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest did a fine job on this presentation and workers rights are still on the list of hot topics today, in fact on the day of this tour there was a big strike in Chicago at the Hilton Hotel.

Haymarket Protesters and Victims tell their side...

© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc. video

Information on Haymarket Event

The guide points out all of the creative and varied monuments found throughout the cemetery.  Forest Home and Waldheim have some of the most diverse monuments and peoples found in any cemetery anywhere.

Annie Mooney, played by Lee Conte and Claire Sevik, played
by Ellyn Levell speak of their husbands who were Chicago
Police officers killed in the line of duty.
© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc. photos

© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc. photo

John Sevick was killed in the line of duty and the man who killed him was sentenced to only 16 years in jail.

Martha Louise Rayne, played by Nancy Green
© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc. photo
Martha Louise Rayne
August 1, 1836 - August 8, 1911

Born on August 1, 1836 in Halifax, Nova Scotia and later moved to Oak Park, Illinois where she became a well known female writer in her day.  Mrs. Rayne gave birth to some 10 children, but only two of her daughters survived into becoming adults.  Martha Louise Rayne wrote a number of books in her life, some still available in print today.  She was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune newspaper and used the pen name of "Vic" to hide her female name and perhaps give more credibilty to her views on issues, it was a much different time for women.  As a female writer she had access to some folks who felt more comfortable with her feminine guise.  She was able to interview Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln when she was committed to a mental institution in Batavia, Illinois and the facility still exists today.

Martha Louise Rayne died on August 8, 1911, in Oak Park, Illinois. She was buried in Forest Park, Illinois and is on the tour this day...

Martha Louise Rayne Biography

Last year Michael Stewart was a Druid on the other side of the cemetery, but this year he is a medical doctor.  He could actually do both at the same time if he had his twin brother here.

Dr. Bernard Fantus information

Sunday, October 17, All Day (starts at 1:00 pm)
Forest Home Cemetery
863 Des Plaines Avenue
Forest Park, IL

Forest Home Cemetery is haunted each year by the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest and brings to life the history with people who made it, portrayed by local actors and actresses, as well as historians and folks who just channel the dead.

Some of the heroes this year brought to life will be journalists, police officers, activists in women's rights, veterans of the World War II and many others.

Our Favorite Spokesperson for the Dead and
Sometimes forgotten is the talented Doug Deuchler.
© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc. file  photo

Some of the Past Reviews of the event

Another Review