Forreston 150 Year History Book

Forreston Illinois celebrated its Sesquicentennial on September 10, 11, 12 of 2004. A 494 page book was compiled by Kathy Pasch from Sept. 2003 until Aug. 2004 and distributed during the event. It is a hardcover book with a color cover. 1,000 photos and illustrations are included in the book.

If you have information or photos that pertain to Forreston, you may e-mail paschpark@msn.com and please title your e-mail "Forreston History". We are always looking for more information and interesting stories about our hometown.

For more information and links to Forreston visit http://mysite.verizon.net/bizolpq6/forrestonillinois/

Some of the items included in the Forreston History book are:

A number of very early photos of the ICRR train depot, train derailments, North Forreston Depot, and McGrath Sand and Gravel are included. Early hotels included the Forreston House and the Sherman House, later known as
the Central House ran by Frank J. Acker.

Some of the businesses included are:
(Samuel) Mitchell & (Mathew) Blair, C.M. Haller - General stores
Salter & Blair - wagon manufactory
Blacksmiths - Frank Lang & William Flora.
L.H. Philhower - Hardware
Ludewig Livery, Garman Livery
John Gersbaugh - Cement Block & Lime
R.B. Koper - Shoemaker
DeGraff Brothers - Furniture and Undertaking
Joseph Abels, Maas & Maas - Implement Dealers
Fred J. Deuth, - Hardware store
C.E. Nicodemus - Watch Maker
Forreston (Fitzgerald) Bottling Works
McGrath Sand & Gravel
Forreston Dairies - Forreston, Schmitt, Spring Valley Dairy (Arthur F.
Swank), Beck's Dairy
Advertising Scale Co.
Pyrography Art Co. est. approx. 1911, makers of pyrography boxes
Ratmeyer Oliver Farm Equipment, CW Johnson Allis Chalmers Dealership

Physicians included: J.C. Akins, W.W. Overfield, J.D. Covell, T. Schoon

Churches from the area including: Methodist Episcopal, United Bretheren,
Faith Evangelical Lutheran, First United Methodist (Bishop's Church),
Forreston Reformed, St. James Evangelical Lutheran, North Grove Evangelical,
and Forreston Grove histories. Also Hewitt and White Oak Cemeteries.

Also included:

1864 & 1872 plus early surveyor maps and buyers of land from the government
maps.

Country schools and a history and numerous photos of the 1867 and 1915
Forreston school buildings.

Photos of the cyclone of 1898.

Early settler biographies.

Sauerkraut Day put Forreston on the map. The celebrations began in 1913, with the last held in 1960. Reports of 30,000+ visitors came for the "Worlds Largest Free Meal" This chapter includes many photos, as the celebration was
featured in newspapers nationwide along with Life Magazine. Interesting memories from former Sauerkraut Queens are included.

Every effort has been made to create a comprehensive history of Forreston to be treasured for generations.

Submitted by Kathy Pasch

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