Amanda Smith Orphanage Highlighted During Black History Month
The Matteson Historical Society hosted Dave Bartlett to discuss Amanda Berry Smith, creator of the first all black orphanage in Harvey in 1899. Smith, born enslaved in 1837, led a life of church work and temperance, influencing self help movements for African-Americans. Her Harvey home sheltered orphans for two decades before a 1918 fire ended the facility.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Amanda Berry Smith
Harvey
Chicago
The
Matteson Historical Society
Dave Bartlett
South Suburban
Smith
Bartlett
Illinois House of Representatives
Maryland
England
Liberia
India
Amanda Smith
147Th Street
Jefferson Avenue
North Harvey
Larry McClellan
McClellan
the Star
Cook County
Matteson
Staackmann
Arcadia bears teach kids economics through charity sale
Arcadia School in Matteson District 162 used a bear theme to teach kindergarten through second grade students basic economic concepts. The project funded the Great Bear Foundation and Brookfield Zoo, with profits from nine inch brown bears adopted as a school mascot.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bear
The
Great Bear Foundation
Arcadia School
Matteson
Arcadia Bears
Brookfield Zoo
Arcadia
Joyce Carmine
Sharon Kruikshank
Laurie Anderson
Karen Geisler
Endan
Carmine
Early Start program unites disabled and regular preschoolers
In Matteson District 162 Illinois, Project Early Start and Early Childhood K2 classes share clusters to pair 3 to 5 year olds with and without disabilities. Teachers, therapists, and centers foster joint activities to promote empathy and academic readiness. Children learn by observing peers and by collaborative play.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Illinois
Matteson
Jean McBride
McBride
Vicky Golas
Steger Road widening debate continues in Crete and Steger
Crete and Steger leaders met with Cook County officials to discuss concerns over the Steger Road expansion from State Street to Illinois 394. County officials say a median is essential, while locals push for safety fixes and options like lighting, reduced speeds, turn lanes, or removing the median. A new traffic study will be conducted as the review proceeds.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Steger
Crete
Cook County
Steger Road
Barclay “Bud” Fleming
R-Lynwood
6Th District
Jerry Ducay
Michael Einhorn
Ducay
Fleming
Einhorn, Ducay
Louis Sherman
Chicago Heights
David Owen
Carl Kowalski
State Street
Illinois
Kowalski
Einhorn and
Cottage Grove Avenue
Key
Conti honored by Jewish Council for mini grant
Karen Conti, a third grade teacher at Sauk School in Matteson School District 162, received a mini grant from the South Cook Section of the National Council of Jewish Women. The funds will buy books and tape cassettes to boost children's reading fluency, allowing students to read aloud, listen to Conti's recordings, and later record themselves to self evaluate progress. Conti will review the tapes to gauge improvements in reading skills.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Matteson
Sauk
Karen Conti
South Cook
National Council of Jewish Women
Conti
Also Mentioned on This Page
Robin Tank
Historical Society
Jennifer Wexelberg
Schuyler Johnson
Jonathan Thompkins
Ian Blacksmith
Mary Compton
Jewish Council
Matteson Town Center
Town Center Road
Ton Onl
Edlik
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!