Oak Lawn Public Library - Local History

Join local southside historian Carol Flynn for an interesting program about the underground railroad on the south side. Visit the Library calendar for details:

https://www.olpl.org/event/underground-railroad-southside-27053

A 1965 Memorial Day ceremony showing Inez Duckwall and Edward Maciong of the Johnson-Phelps VFW Post #5220 with a Boy Scout troop in the background.

Five Calvinist Cadets from Chicago Southwest Christian School practicing their camping skills, in 1961. The Calvinist Cadet Corps is a non-denominational Christian ministry affiliated with the Reformed Christian Church. The ministry trains boys to perform church and community based projects and outdoor adventures.

From left to right: Marty Huiner; Jim Boerema; Jim Kwasteniet; Mickey Boomsma; and Richard Mulder.

Oak Lawn Telephone Company switchboard operators in 1939. Leota Lemert is standing behind the two operators. The switchboard was located on the second floor of the building owned by the Chiappetti family at 5420 West 95th Street, on the northeast corner of the intersection of 95th Street and 54th Court.

A 1939 aerial photograph of Midway Airport looking northwest from 63rd Street and Cicero Avenue showing some adjacent homes, businesses, and undeveloped land. 87 years later, it is much more developed.

We're looking for historic photos of former Oak Lawn mayors. If anyone has photos of these men, please contact us:

John T. Emery (1925-26)
Harvey Wick (1952-1960)
Tunis Collings (app. 1953)

Send a message to learn more

95th Street looking northwest near 53rd Court, in 1936. Businesses include Oak Lawn Trust and Savings Bank, Van Kirk Brothers Ford, the Arthur Jensen Bakery and McKay's Diamonds. The bank building has a small sign that reads "Postal Telegraph Here."

Katherine Trimble riding a 1922 Dodge Brothers Touring Car, in 1927 near Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. Katherine was OLPL's History Librarian for many years, beginning in 1967. She passed away at the age of 96 in 2001.

Oak Lawn Garden Club volunteers during the Park District's 2016 Earth Day celebration at the Wolfe Wildlife Refuge Pavilion. Today is Earth Day, first celebrated 56 years ago on April 22, 1970. Earth Day was conceived by Wisconsin U.S. Senator Ga***rd Nelson to raise awareness of environmental pollution.

95th Street and 54th Court in 1963. Businesses shown along the north side of 95th Street include (l-r) the Wood Dental Lab, Chin's Chop Suey, and Fasano Pizza. The large home with the turret is the Chiappetti home, located at 5418 West 95th Street. The family also owned the Fasano Pizza building. The second photo is a close up of the Chiappetti home.