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Welcome to Forreston Illinois Home of The Forreston Cardinals! |
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GO CARDS! GO! GO CARDS! GO!
Welcome to the Official Website of Forreston Illinois. Located just south of Freeport in the heart of the Midwest. We have a strong community of local business, restaurants, and of course we are the HOME OF THE FORRESTON CARDINALS! Please stay awhile and enjoy our website. GO CARDINALS!
A look back . . . and to the future a brief history by Kathy Pasch
A number of Ostfrisian (Northwest Germans) immigrants were the first to settle in the area, as the future town of Forreston was flanked by major routes of pioneer travel (the Kellogg's and Boles Trails).
The original town plat of Forreston was entered by George W. Hewitt on Novemeber 5, 1854. David A. Neal, Vice President of the Illinois Central Railroad, followed closely on Novemeber 17, 1854 with his plat that paralleled the tracks which reached the village that winter. This explains the "V" shaped business district and the "flat iron" shaped village hall built in 1902.
Education was of importance to the early settlers, with a one story frame structure built in 1856. It was followed by a 3-story brick structure built in 1867, which was replaced by a 2-story brick building in 1916. The south portion of the current grade school was built in 2001. The high school located east on Rt.72 was built in 1956, with an addition in 1996. The Forrestville Valley School District is fortunate to have a number of community minded members that take part in Sports Boosters, FFA, Music Patrons, Mentoring, PTO, etc.
Forreston also boasts a new library renovated from an early structure. Also, a new Fire Department and Ambulance building was recently built, which is manned by volunteers. There are also two fine parks and ball diamonds.
Organizations include the Lions, American Legion, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Ogle County Prairie Preservation, and 4-H groups.
Forreston received national news coverage for its "Sauerkraut Day" celebration beginning in 1913 and ending in 1960. Over 20,000 visitors crowded the streets for the "World's Largest Free Meal".
More recently, Forreston celebrated its Sesquicentennial on September 10, 11, 12 of 2004. It now has an Illinois State Historical Marker and a Veteran's Memorial showing community values and pride are still alive in Forreston.
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SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS PLEASE CLICK THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION
A & B Marketing Inc.
A.G. Edwards & Sons
Bumper To Bumper Auto Body Clinic
Burke-Tubbs Funeral Homes
Country Roads Real Estate
Country Insurance & Financial Terry Olson
Danlee Wood Products
Faith Lutheran Church
First United Methodist Church
Floyd's Forreston Barber Shop
Forreston Auto Sales
Forreston Car Care
Forreston Dental
Forreston Grove Church
Forreston Journal
Forreston Mutual Insurance Co.
Forreston Reformed Church
Forreston Tool, Inc.
Fox/Herritage Travel Services
Jerry Griffin Agency
Jim's Auto Restoration
Kilker Roofing
KLS Trucking
Landscape by Design, Inc.
Mary Zettle Barrett, Inc. Realtors
McKay Nursery Co.
Mid America Plastic Co.
Mobile Electronics
North Grove Evangelical Church
Paul Farms Tiling & Excavating
Peach Consulting, Inc.
Rick's Plumbing
Robert Sandell Agency
Schemel Construction
Schryver Gun Sales
St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church
Townline Veterinary Clinic
Troy Rudy Auctioneer/Realtor
Village of Forreston
West Branch Church of the Brethren
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