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Philander Walker Barclay, Oak
Park’s self-styled village historian, was born in Anna, Illinois, on
September 16, 1878 to James S. and Mary Taylor Barclay. The family
moved to Oak Park in the early 1890s. Philander’s father ran a
drugstore at 103 Marion St. until 1902.
Barclay was a bicycle
repairman by trade, but a photographer and historian by inclination.
He collected photos of Oak Park and River Forest dating from the
1880s, and in 1902 he began his own photo chronicle of buildings,
railroads, and, sometimes, people. He was the quintessential
observer, not a “joiner.” But he did help organize old-timers who
informally were sharing tales at the local harness shop. The club
was called the Borrowed Time Club and originally restricted
membership to men over 70. The club still exists today.
At Barclay’s death
on July 7, 1940, his photo collection numbered about 1,000. Much of
it resides in the photo collection of The Historical Society.
These are just
some of the photographs in this collection. In the coming
months, we hope to add more photos from our extensive collection.
These photographs are available in higher resolution, suitable for
publication and private use. To get further information about fees
and permissions to use these or other pictures in our collection for
electronic or print publication, contact the
Historical
Society.
Would you like to see more photographs of Oak
Park and River Forest on this website? If so, please email us at
oprfhistorymatters@sbcglobal.net to give
us feedback!
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This
project was made possible by the generosity of many.
Special thanks to: |
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The Austin family |
| - The Oak Park
Area Arts Council, in partnership with the Villages of Oak
Park, Forest Park and River Forest, and the Illinois Arts
Council, a state agency |
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- The Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation |
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River Forest:
John J. Ryan residence, built in 1870 at the southwest corner of
Grove (now Keystone) and Hawthorn. 1903 |
Oak
Park volunteer Fire Dept #3, taken on Lombard side of #2 House.
1903 |
River Forest: E. J. Brooke Residence, looking west from
Central andThatcher. 1903 |
River Forest Athletic Club baseball grounds. 1903 |
Len
F. Moore's Blacksmith shop (south side of Lake Street west of Soo
line). 1903 |
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River Forest: E. C.Waller's Estate. 1903 |
River Forest: Bridge over the DesPlaines River at North Ave.
looking west from Thatcher. 1903 |
River Forest Volunteer Fire Dept. putting out prairie fire at
the northwest corner of Lake and Jackson. 1903 |
River Forest: First Methodist Episcopal Church, NW corner of
Lake and Keystone. 1903 |
River Forest Presbyterian Church, SW corner of Gale and Linden
facing east. It was sold to the River Forest Women's Club in
1894. 1903 |
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River Forest Golf Club, NW corner of Lake and Harlem. 1903 |
River Forest: Dairy Farm of James P. Madsen near SE corner of
Iowa and Bonnie Brae. 1902 |
River Forest: R. H. Pierce Residence. 1903 |
River Forest: Real estate office of E. A. Cummings at the NW corner
of Lake and Harlem. 1903 |
River Forest: Birdseye view from Wisconsin Central viaduct and C&NW
Railroad. 1903 |
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River Forest: Birdseye view SE from Wisconsin Central viaduct and
C&NW RR. 1903 |
Oak
Park: S.C Postelwait Undertaker, Funeral Parlors, 132 N. Oak Park.
1903 |
Oak
Park: N. M. Freer estate. looking SE from Euclid near
Erie. 1903 |
Oak
Park: W. G. Fricke at 640 N. Scoville (now 540 Fair Oaks).
1903 |
Oak
Park: View of children or W.B
Harvey and Jasper Redmond prize winners 1909. |
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| Oak
Park: Harlem Ave., north from Lake Street. 1903 |
Oak
Park: North Western Gas Light and Coke Co. Lombard and
Garfield. Now Barrie Park. 1903 |
Oak
Park: Elgin, Aurora & Chicago eastbound at Ridgeland. 1903 |
Oak
Park: W. C. Gray residence, 319 (now 219) Kenilworth.
1903 |
Alley south of Lake between Harlem and Marion. 1903 |
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| Oak
Park's first Locomobile Steamer formerly owned by Capt. Geo. W.
Hayden. 1903 |
C.
& P. St Ry. Co. Madison Street Trolley, eastbound at
Ridgeland. 1903 |
Oak
Park: Wisconsin Ave.
(now South Marion) south from South Blvd. 1903 |
Owens bros. Grocery Store on fire. "Niles Block", SW corner of
outh Blvd and Wisconsin (Marion). 1907 |
Oak
Park: Unity Church fire, 215 Wisconsin. 1903 |
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| Oak
Park: Fire Dept. #3, 213 Marion. Capt.J Mannix and Ralph
Smith volunteer. 1903 |
Oak
Park: Fire Dept. #3, 213 Marion. 1903 |
Cutsuvitis' Fruit Stand, Marion south of Lake Street. 1903 |
Oak Park Police #2. 1903 |
Oak
Park Police Dept. Interior - 213 Marion. 1903 |
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| Oak
Park Police #2. 1903 |
Philander Barclay's 2 stores, 1112 North Blvd. 1916 |
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