Unlike some local legacy guardians, the Historical Society of Oak Park-River Forest can’t be accused of taking itself too seriously. They recently reissued their popular T-shirt from the 2002 Oak Park centennial celebration. It’s the shirt with acorns, a tree and the logo “One Tree, Many Nuts.”
Though the Oak Park Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, we’re sorry to report, did not choose this as the official village slogan, we contend nothing better captures the close-knit sense of community and the strong strain of eccentricity that characterizes the people’s republic of Oak Park.
The shirt was a hot-seller back in 2002, and seven years later, those T-shirts are likely being turned into dust rags, so the historical society thought a reissue was in order.
“It shows we’re able to poke fun at ourselves,” said Kelli Kline, president of the historical society.
After having the centennial references removed from the original design (by Mary Vostal of Vostal Design), the short-sleeve brown T-shirts (100 percent preshrunk cotton) are available at the Oak Park Visitor Center, 158 N. Forest; the Book Table, 1035 Lake St.; Careful Peach Boutique, 128 Harrison St.; and Pumpkin Moon, 1028 North Blvd. All proceeds benefit the historical society, which is in the process of planning a move to their new home in the former fire station building on Lake Street next to Stevenson Park sometime in the not-too-distant future (they hope). So they can use the money.
You can also buy the shirts at the society’s current home on the second floor of Pleasant Home (corner of Pleasant and Home) where they operate a small gift shop, stocked with books by local historians David Sokol, Jean Guarino, Lee Brooke and Wednesday Journal theater critic Doug Deuchler, among other publications.
In addition, they sell the Oak Park-River Forest landmark building afghan once available at Logos Bookstore, reproductions of 1873 and 1894 maps of Oak Park, postcards and notecards adorned with local historical photos and, best of all, Tarzan books, memorabilia and T-shirts (Oak Park’s is likely the only historical society where visitors are treated to a recorded Tarzan yell during their tour, a nod to Tarzan author Edgar Rice Burroughs who lived here before moving to what is now Tarzana, Calif.).
And next month, during their annual Forest Home Cemetery walk, the society will have black, long-sleeve shirts available with the words, “Rest in Pieces – Tale of the Tombstones.”
Call 848-6755 or go to www.oprf.com/oprfhist for more information.
