St. Angela School is more than a place where students learn—it is a community where children are known, supported, challenged, and encouraged to be It’s January 16, 1920, and Forest Park is getting ready for one last night of legal drinking! At midnight, Prohibition takes effect, banning the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquor. For a village known as the “Watering Hole of the Western Suburbs,” things are about to get interesting.
Forest Park’s tavern culture was thriving before the ban. While neighboring Oak Park and River Forest embraced temperance, Forest Park became a destination for anyone looking for a drink. In Oak Park, temperance advocates enlisted Henry Austin to buy out the remaining taverns and reportedly dump their liquor down the sewer. Oak Park stayed dry until 1973! Forest Park, meanwhile, had 42 saloons when the 18th Amendment was passed. Each paid $500 for a liquor license, making Prohibition a serious financial blow to the village.
When Prohibition took effect, Forest Park went dry, too. Many saloons closed or changed businesses, and the village raised water rates and other taxes to make up for lost revenue. But the party didn’t exactly end. Federal raids on taverns, restaurants, garages, and homes suggest that liquor continued to flow throughout the 1920s.
Now it’s your turn to step into this colorful chapter of local history! On Saturday, January 16, 2027, from 7 to 10 PM, the Historical Society of Forest Park invites you to BABS Comedy Club, 7316 Madison Street, for a roaring good time. Enjoy delicious small bites, dancing, a musical comedy cabaret, and our Liquor Pull Raffle. Era clothing is encouraged, so break out your flapper dresses, zoot suits, and finest glad rags! Buy tickets by December 31, 2026, and save $10. Let’s give Prohibition a proper send-off! come their best selves. From Preschool through 8th grade, we create an environment where every student has the opportunity to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
What makes St. Angela special is the commitment of our teachers and staff to see the potential in every child. We believe excellence happens on purpose, and we intentionally provide students with strong instruction, meaningful learning experiences, and opportunities to discover their strengths. Through innovative curriculum, i-Ready, Fishtank, STEM, athletics, the arts, and leadership opportunities, our students are prepared not only for the next grade level, but for their future.
Our school is also built on relationships. Families, teachers, staff, and students work together to create a safe and welcoming community where children feel that they belong. We celebrate progress, encourage perseverance, and teach students that mistakes are opportunities to learn.
At St. Angela, we are proud of the young people we serve and the future they are becoming. Our greatest impact is simple: we help children believe in themselves, discover their purpose, and understand that they are capable of excellence.