When they moved into the single-story bungalow at 1130 N. Keystone in River Forest, the Cermak family knew it was one of the oldest properties in the area, but they didn’t know the rich and mysterious history — or legend — of the home.
“We were told it was one of the first houses on the block, or in the south of Division, west of Forest, north of Chicago Avenue area,” said owner Dee Cermak.
Cermak says a neighbor doing research at the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest found documentation showing the home had been a “dinner club” called the Keystone Club.
“We understood the house was a dinner club rather than a full restaurant. The large dining room and first floor bath make sense in that context,” says Cermak. “Also, when we bought the house, the kitchen had a swinging door into the dining room and a long butler’s pantry-type wall of cupboards.
“We were told it was common for diners to go for a paddle boat ride after dinner along the Des Plaines River.”
The history of River Forest is filled with clubs, some of which, like the Belle Lettres Society, still exist. A private dinner club in River Forest was not un-plausible, since the town was dry of alcoholic beverages through most of its history.
“River Forest was incorporated as a dry town to distance itself from the German immigrants in Forest Park who had a culture of beer gardens,” says Frank Lipo, executive director of the historical society.
When the residents of River Forest wanted to dine-with-wine, it made sense that they might frequent a little home-based club, in an undeveloped corner of the village near the river, and then: To the paddle boats!
The reporter made a quick appointment at the historical society and gave Lipo the details, “Can I come in and look for the Keystone Club?”
In advance, Lipo did preliminary research, and called with bad news. He had found published records of the Keystone Club, but it was not in the 1130 N. Keystone location. It was not even in River Forest, but just outside the border at Thatcher and North, north of Russell’s Bar-B-Q.
Furthermore, articles from the Chicago Tribune in 1918, 1919 and 1930 described it as a gambling joint, raided by police numerous times during the Prohibition era.
“… reputed to have the patronage of wealthy north-shore folk … the club was known as a resort where players could stake $1,000 on a turn of a sliver mounted and ivory inlaid roulette wheel…” (1930)
“[Police discovered] a secret panel in the Keystone Club which moved an entire wall and revealed a huge room in which it would be possible to put sixty men with comfort.” (1919)
“[Police believed that] a roulette wheel, a quarter slot machine, a dice game and a card table were in use.” (1918)
To make matters worse, Lipo looked up the address in a 1930 telephone directory and found, “Gust and Gerda Frederickson, occupation: Hauler.” So much for a dinner club. So much for an innocent paddle wheel ride after supper.
Lipo says he sees this kind of hearsay-history all the time in his job. “Sometimes a legend builds up around the neighborhood, and you have to be careful.” Documents often do not verify, for example “that your house was once a brothel.” Lipo said the Keystone Club rang a bell, but he hadn’t seen any specific mention of it in documentation. He also could not find any mention of paddle wheel rides or dinner clubs on North Keystone.
However, the house itself — the dining room, the layout, the bathroom, the side entrance, among other things — still made the story plausible.
The reporter looked at online census documents from 1930, and yes, the Fredericksons lived in the house, but with their seven children. Gust’s occupation was stated as “owner, storage company.”
But who lived in the house in 1920 when the previous census was taken? To find that out, Lipo explained, one had to figure out the “old numbering system” that was replaced during the 1920s. According to the old system, the house number had been 561 N. Keystone.
And there, Lipo struck gold: “Alfred E. Goodiell, wife Laura and son Alfred Jr.” were listed in the house in 1920 and 1925. Goodiell’s name was mentioned in the 1918 Tribune article about the police raid:
“The bar license for the Keystone Club was taken out by a man named Goodale. (Goodiell),” said Deputy Sheriff Thoney, “He’s a tight lipped egg. He won’t say anything just stalls. But I’m going to stick till I get the goods …”
Looking up Goodiell by name in the 1920 census, he appeared living at the 561 address with his occupation listed as “owner, restaurant.” The census also reported Goodiell was 31 years old and that both parents had come from England.
Lipo found him again in a 1925 phonebook that listed his occupation as “druggist.”
So, the owner of the Keystone Club lived in the house during the 1920s. This is how neighborhood legends are born.
Other records show the Keystone Club burned down in 1935: “Costly furnishings including a $1,700 rug and $1,800 piano were destroyed.” The property was sold to a developer in 1940.
Playwrights George Simon Kaufman and Edna Ferber mention it dismissively in 1924’s Minick, a comedy in three acts as “The l’il old Keystone Club in River Forest … an hour and a half away by car.”
So what about the dinner club? Lipo cautiously agrees that possibly food may have been initially served at the Keystone location. After all, why call your joint “The Keystone Club” instead of the “Thatcher Club” if it was only ever located north of the village?
Some cop-talk from a deputy sheriff in 1918 might hold a clue. “This outfit is a regular organized business for victimizing easy marks. They’ve got women in town who make it their business to get acquainted with men who are flush. Then they propose a trip out here, and when the fall guy is well lickered up they spring the gambling idea on ’em. Then it’s goodnight, dough.”
Might diners, perhaps, have eaten a meal at the house, then, gone on a quick trip to ride the “paddle wheels” — or play the roulette wheels — at the roadhouse outside city limits? Lipo acknowledges it’s possible.
The Keystone Club remains a mystery, but Lipo has opened an official “file” on the establishment, and welcomes any further information.