Evergreen Park (Illinois)

Over one hundred years ago, while other towns surrounding Chicago were requesting annexation to survive, Evergreen Park boldly decided to declare its independence. The population at the time was approximately 500 people. Fifty-one residents turned out on December 20, 1893 when forty of them voted for incorporation and four square miles of area became the Village of Evergreen Park. Many of the original settlers were hard working farm families.

The Village acquired its name from the park located at 97th Street and Homan Avenue, originally intended to be the center of town. This part of the village was laid out to resemble Paris, with its wagon wheel appearance, but development in other directions has since caused it to be a residential section. The center of Evergreen Park is now 95th Street and Kedzie Avenue. From those few early settlers in the 1800s through the pre-war years of truck gardens, the post–war years and population boom of the 1950s, to its present stature as one of the leading southwest suburbs of Cook County, Evergreen Park continues to progress and flourish.

The 75th Anniversary was celebrated in 1968 and the 100th Anniversary was celebrated in 1993. Time capsules were buried at each of these ceremonies and will be opened in the year 2018. Evergreen Park is a residential suburb located astride 95th Street (U.S. Route 12 and U.S. Route 20) adjacent to the attractive Beverly Hills section of Chicago and seventeen miles southwest of the Loop. The Village encompasses an area of approximately four square miles and is bordered by the City of Chicago on the north, south and east, and by the Village of Oak Lawn on the west. Evergreen Park is known as the "Village of Churches" as evidenced by the thirteen established religious congregations serving the community.

• Former Site of Evergreen Park Country Club, 9140 S. Western Ave., ☏ +1 773 238-6680. In 1921 Anna and Owen Ahern turned their farm into a golf course named for the village in which it was located. In Evergreen's early years, there were tournaments with leading amateurs and exhibitions by big-name players, including Horton Smith, first winner of the Masters. In addition to the course, there was a restaurant called Beverly Gardens located on the grounds. Beverly Gardens operated as a speakeasy and in 1921 there was a Prohibition-era raid that netted 20 arrests, including Anna Ahern. In 1933, the Ahern's hired Vincent Gebhardi as the head pro. He was better known as Jack “Machine Gun” McGurn, Al Capone’s No. 1 hit man and likely mastermind of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Gebhardi was arrested while playing in the 1933 Western Open at Olympia Fields and spent six months in jail. Later in 1933, the Aherns were awaken by gunfire and discovered that John Dillinger and his henchmen were trying to rob the Gardens. Two of Dillinger's men were shot as well as two country patrolmen, however no one was fatally injured and Dillinger's men all got away. The course eventually passed to Anna and Owen's daughter, Anna May "Babe" Ahern. Babe, as everyone called her, was born in 1907 and died in 2010 at the age of 103. She grew up on the grounds of the course and later managed it for decades, although she was always reluctant to speak with reporters, or anyone, about the occurrences at the course. It is believed that she may have met Al Capone and other prominent outlaws of the Prohibition-era. 
• Evergreen Park, 3450 West 97th Street, ☏ +1 708 229-3373. A remnant of what used to be Circle Park that was central to Evergreen Park like Central Park is to New York. It was the largest park in the village and many community events were set in its grassy fields, recreation facilities, and playground. 

• The Plaza, 9730 S Western Ave., ☏ +1 708 422-5454. M-Sa 10AM-8PM, Su noon-6PM. Opened in 1952, it was later enclosed to create the first indoor mall in America. 

Evergreen Park is one of the great restaurant towns in Illinois. It serves as a less expensive, but comparable, alternative to Chicago. It offers excellent bakeries, pizzerias, as well as other ethnic options.

• Harte's Saloon, 9858 S Artesian Avenue, ☏ +1 708 424-2618. Tucked away in a residential area, Hart's is a typical neighborhood bar. However, there is something charming in its inconspicuous location and homely look. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday you are likely to find live music and a crowd composed of Southsiders hailing from Evergreen Park, Beverly, and other surrounding neighborhoods. On other nights you will have access to the pool and shuffleboard tables. $2-5. 

• Hilton Oak Lawn, 9333 S Cicero Ave, Oak Lawn, ☏ +1 708 425-7800. Although it's not in Evergreen Park, it is probably one of the better options in the area as far as hotels are concerned. The Hilton Oak Lawn is located on 95th and Cicero just a mile west of Evergreen Park. 

Chicago's Far Southwest Side is right next door. Downtown Chicago is just 16 miles away.