Mokena's Front Porch

Since the early days of Mokena, 11116 has been a place where the community gathers to drink, socialize, shop and eat. For more than a decade now this property has sat vacant. The property is now undergoing a renovation and will be host a new restaurant, The Dock on Front Street!  I asked Mayor Frank Fleischer about the restaurant and got his thoughts on what this can do for Front Street. 

Mokena is excited about the future of this building, but if you really want to enjoy and appreciate what this property will become, you want to understand where it has been. Matt wrote this great article in 2001, detailing the rich history of this place.

Be sure to check out our YouTube channel for our full video tour of the property as well! It’s pretty cool! Matt's blog post that this article is based on can be found by clicking HERE. 

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Israel got to sit down with Suzanne Helwich, the Executive Director of the Curtain Call Theatre, as well as Ken Czechanski, who is a theatre board member as well as one of the stars of their upcoming March 2024 production, The Runner Stumbles. 

The setting for our conversation was at the foot of the stage as they were preparing for the production. It was two hours before the first practice when the cast is expected to know their lines without their script. With that pressure, Ken was still nice enough to share some of his story, and talk about the improv nights he introduced and hosts.

When the lights go down, this 70-seat venue makes you feel like you're in a downtown Chicago neighborhood theatre.  What was once a longtime neighborhood pharmacy, is now a hub where the magic of storytelling comes alive, fostered by the tireless efforts of volunteers.

This is a great community organization that is putting on some great productions and giving people a chance to live their dream of acting. I hope you enjoy our conversation and I hope you will go check out their shows!

The Curtain Call Theatre website can be found HERE!
https://www.ccctheatre.com/default.asp?iId=HILHG
The Emily McCabe Childrens Theatre Program Info HERE!
https://www.ccctheatre.com/default.asp?iId=LDJMK

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Mokena's first modern subdivision has a name that goes back to the early days of our Village.  The Mineral Springs neighborhood sits just south of the train station and at one point was the source of healing waters that were being pumped from below ground. This healing well was so popular that it eventually ran a pipeline closer to the tracks to be able to fill tanker cars directly. 
Matt shares the story of the first time it was sold by an early Mokenian and also shares of the transformation from "truck farm" to Mokena's first modern subdivision, that was built post World War 2. 

You can find a link to Matt's article that this episode is based on HERE!

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Mokena’s first post office opened February 10, 1853 and served our newly formed train depot of a town. With the railroad splitting through town, it made Mokena a prime mail location, with mail coming via the passing trains, to and from Chicago.  The post office was a vital organ in the life of the new town and many took up the role of Postmaster, until 28 year old Margaret M. Maue is takes the position. She served as one of Mokenas' longest running Postmasters or Postmistresses, serving the role for thirty four years.

Margaret Maue, (later Margaret O'Brien), held the post on March 2nd, 1937, when the Post Office was robbed in the dark of night. The Office suffered a significant loss and Matt shares the story of the search to catch the bandits and what was recovered from the theft.  In addition to the story of the theft, Matt paints the picture of what the Post Office meant to the residents and how it helped Mokena grow into a hub along the route to and from Chicago.

Read Matts blog post that this episode is based on HERE.
The History of Mokena: A Journey Through Time - 1831 to 2010

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Our Village was founded around the Rock Island Pacific Railroad coming through the middle of what is now downtown Mokena. In 1852 those tracks came through the north end of the McGovney (Yunker) farm.  By the mid 1870's, Mokena had 8 saloons, more per capita than any other town in Will County.  One of the significant motivators to incorporate was for control of how many liquor licenses would be allowed and who those fees would be paid to.  Matt shares how many times they attempted to incorporate before it was finally approved by the voters in 1880.
There are still a few remnants and reminders around town of those first elected officials, including the Front Street home of our first mayor, Ozias McGovney and the location of the first official meeting place of the new board of trustees. Matt shares some great stories and interesting facts about the process and some of the first laws they passed.
We hope you enjoy this episode about an extremely important event in our Village history!
Here is a link to Matt's blog post that this is based on!

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Schools are the lifeblood of a community and they carry the tremendous responsibility to educate the youth of our town. A desirable school district increases home values and make a community more desirable. 

Though it was not the first Mokena school house, the grand 2 story schoolhouse that sat at today's Front Street and Schoolhouse Road, was at the leading edge of features when it was built and offered Mokena families a quality education within walking distance. This was a time when there was no high school in the area and kids would have to take the train out of town if they chose to continue their education beyond grade school. 

Matt shares some great information about the school during this time and some of the early teachers and principles along with some of the amazing stories from through the years. This was a beautiful building that drew acclaim from around the area. 

We hope you enjoy this story and our conversation!
You can find Matt’s Blog Post about this article here! 

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Step inside the hallowed walls of The Mokena State Bank, as we chronicle over a century of its rich and vibrant history.  This story takes you on a journey that captures the spirit of this iconic institution that has endured safe cracking, robberies, and economic tremors, yet stood firm as the heart of the local community.

This bank was one of Mokena's most beautiful and ornate buildings. While there was a previous attempt, the Mokena State Bank was the first bank to establish themselves. The bank was run by well known community members and became a place full of activity over the years. In a time before ATM's and drive through tellers, almost everyone in town knew the bankers by first name.

While the site of this old Mokena treasure still hosts a community bank, it is no longer the Mokena State Bank that so many community members trusted to hold their treasure for over a century.

We talk about 2 of Matt's blog posts in this episode. You can find those here: #1 The Currency of Time: The Early Days of Mokena State Bank; #2 Stick 'Em Up: The 1924 Robbery of Mokena State Bank. 

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Frank and Cyndi Grobmeier endured the unthinkable after the death of their daughter just after her 18th birthday.  I had the opportunity to spend time with them in the Mokena office of their charity, The Maddog Strong Foundation. They have a mission to not only have people sign their donor card but to also have the conversation with loved ones as well.

They so graciously shared, at length, the story of their family before and after the loss of their daughter and what they have done and are doing to make something amazing out of their tragedy. This is a special episode and I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed talking to Frank and Cyndi.  Please be sure to check out their website, www.maddogstrong.org , they are also on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube!  You can register for their 5k, Miles For Maddog, HERE. 

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Matt and I (Israel) attended an event at The Mokena Library by Abraham Lincoln impersonator and educator, Kevin Wood. He shared the story of Sarah Hale, who spent 35 years writing letters to Presidents and promoting the idea of a unified day of Thanksgiving across all states.  Hearing Mr. Wood speak was like being in the presence of the 16th President.

Matt and I talk interesting Lincoln facts, including his visit to Mokena…almost, a Mokena resident who sang at President Lincoln’s funeral, and so much more! Enjoy this journey into the past and discover the origins of our favorite traditions.

Being Thanksgiving month, we want to give a special thank you for all our Veterans. We are thankful for a community with a long list of those who do and have served and we are thankful for all of you!

Happy Veterans Day and Happy Thanksgiving!
Israel & Matt

You can find Kevin Wood contact info here: Website, Facebook, YouTube
Clips Used:
Honest Abe Talks Thanksgiving
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XykvLob3pt8

Reading of President Lincolns Thanksgiving Proclamation, read by Timeless Reader on YouTube

Check out the Mokena Library Events HERE

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Get ready for a nostalgic trip back to the Halloween days of yore as we, recall our favorite Halloween memories from Mokena. But Halloween is not just about the candy and costumes. It's also a time for ghost stories and eerie encounters. We've got a spine-chilling tale about an outhouse, with consequences that will make you scream! Then, Matt shares the story of a local Mokenian, and his haunting experiences at a now-closed Mokena bar, including phantom footsteps, spooked dogs, and possessed lamps. 

As with any town that has old buildings with a long history, will have its share of stories of hauntings and questionable passings. Mokena is no different and Matt brought us some good stories for this episode, as always! 

From both of us, we hope you have a safe and happy Halloween! 
Israel & Matt

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

October 12, 2022 we published the first episode of Mokena's Front Porch. Now we look back at our first year of sharing Mokena's history. Today there are over 4 million podcasts available but we are the ONLY Mokena podcast! The majority of new podcasts post 10 episodes or less but we are proud to have published 28 episodes, talking to numerous local friends, addressed the Village board, recorded live on location at Zap Taco, Little Al's and Laura Thiel's Front Street salon! 

Thanks to everyone who is listening and thanks to those that have shared our show with your friends and neighbors!  We have a lot planned and are looking forward to many more years of sharing Mokena's rich history as well as where we are today. 

Thanks again for listening! 
Israel

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Here is part 2 and the completion of the Semmler story. Be sure to listen to episode 1 as well. The Semmlers played a vital role in our Village and their impact lives on today. Be sure to check out Matt's Blog posts that we based these episodes on. They can be found HERE!

We hope you enjoy this episode! Be sure to share it with a friend! 

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

The Mokena News Bulletin was THE paper of record, reporting from August of 1919 until its last issue in 1969. William and Margaret Semmler started their modest paper in the former Front Street saloon that her family owned. Both were very active in the community where they raised their family and made their living. Bill served as Village Clerk, Village Trustee and Frankfort Township Clerk, to name a few.

Through Matt's endless hours reading through the Mokena News Bulletin, he grew a great appreciation for their work. He wrote an in depth account of their life in Mokena and their impact on the Village. Matt did a great job of highlighting how great these two people were. Matt released this in four parts on his blog, (which you can find HERE) and we will be releasing this in two parts.  

Enjoy this series about the longest reporting newspaper in the history of Mokena, as well as two of Mokena's most influential citizens of all time! 

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

What if you could journey back in time to an era where block parties and street dances were the life of the town, and the Front Street Ford Agency was the hot spot for socializing? That's exactly what Dave and Charlene Bergman bring us in this captivating episode, as they transport us back to the charm and nostalgia of the old Mokena. With Dave's roots in the town running deep since just post World War II and Charlene's lineage tracing back to the Hohenstein family who farmed in Frankfort Township, now present-day Mokena, their stories are as enchanting as they are endearing.

The Bergmans don't just share family histories; they take us on a fascinating tour through their experiences in the Ford Agency, a place of camaraderie and community. We also discover the rich historical significance of the Heggwish Plant, the oldest Ford assembly plant in Chicago, and the opportunities and challenges faced by Dave when he opened his own auto shop, Dave's Auto, in 1975. 

Dave and Charlene wonderfully encapsulate the changes and growth of downtown Mokena over the years. They shed light on the closure of businesses, the relocation of the post office,  and the impact of these developments on the Village, all while reminiscing about the good old days of street dances, block parties, and the Cooper Hostert Ford dealership. With their tales of family, business, and a town that transformed over the decades, the Bergmans gift us a piece of history, a slice of life from the past, that offers a bitter-sweet image of Mokena's days gone by. 

This episode is just like a visit to your grandparents' house; it's warm, it's nostalgic, it's a treasure trove of stories of Mokena's past. 

We hope you enjoy this episode of Mokena's Front Porch! 

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

11042 Front Street is a building that has stood, since the years following the Civil War, as a silent witness to the history of our Mokena. This building was home to the first Mokena Pharmacy and was built by a German who was described by locals as, “fat and jolly and possessed of a merry whistle”.

Through its later years it was home to the Mokena Post Office, was almost lost to a fire in 1905 and was raided during the time of prohibition. You won’t believe what they found and who owned the building at the time!

This episode is based on Matt's Blog article that can be found HERE!   

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

October 8th, 1909, John Hatch opened his general store, in the building that we know today as Zap Taco, to find that he had be robbed! Matt shares this story of two young men who robbed Hatch's store and their apparent cockiness that caught up with them in the end! 

Matt and I also talk for a bit and catch up on what we have been doing this summer and talk a little about his recent blog posts and what we have coming up. Its been a busy summer but we have some great episodes in the works! 

Be sure to check out Matt's blog article that this episode was based on HERE!

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Mokena owes its existence not only to agriculture but also to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. Overlooked in the collective memory is a humble wooden shack at the Mokena Street crossing, where a generation of flagmen worked tirelessly to ensure safety before the advent of electric gates.

These flagmen, employees of the Rock Island, would wave green flags and later stop signs to herald the arrival of trains. The shanty, known as the "mansion by the tracks," became a gathering spot for train passengers seeking warmth and companionship.

 However, with technological advancements, the flagmen's roles became obsolete, and the shanty eventually faded into history, leaving behind the stories of these unique men who contributed to Mokena's railway heritage.

Matt's article that this episode is based on can be found HERE! 

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

Opening their doors for the first time on Thursday, September 21, 1916, the Cooper & Hostert Ford Agency became a town meeting place where locals not only purchased their vehicles, but also gathered to chat, laugh and gossip about what was going on in town. They were a staple of Mokena's downtown until 1974, when the business was sold and shortly thereafter the business closed for good. Today the Avalanche Jeweler and the U-Haul occupy this former Ford Dealership site.   

Elmer Cooper and Barney Hostert were not only town business owners, they were active in the community, being part of the Mokena Lions Club,  a director of the Mokena 159 School District, Will County Health Department, and more! They spent their lives leaving a mark on our town of service and help to others.

You can read Matt's article that this episode is based on by clicking HERE! 

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!

This episode discusses Mamie Bechstein Miller, who was a teacher and principal for Mokena's 159 School District in the old schoolhouse that sat at Front Street and Schoolhouse Road and who's family has been in Mokena since before the railroad came through.  We discuss why Mamie was so important to the community and hear why Matt was so excited to hear that the recording of Mamie when she was just shy of 100 years old was found.
We had the chance to sit down with Dr. Mark Cohen, District 159 Superintendent, and he shared with us some about Mamie as well as shared how he came to find the tape.
We end the episode with the lady herself, Ms. Mamie Bechstein Miller and the recording she made in her later years sharing of how life was in the grand old schoolhouse. This is a great piece of history as there are few, if any, available recordings talking about what life was like in the old schoolhouse.  We will share the transcript to the recording on our Facebook page, in order to better follow along as some of it can be hard to understand.
Be sure to check out Matts blog post that this episode was based on. You can find that here!

Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
Podcast@MokenasFrontPorch.com

Local Shows We Recommend:

The South Side Pod
https://www.southsidepod.com

If you have a local Podcast you would like us to include, send us an email! We would love to share your show!