Mount Prospect Historical Society

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MPHS User

1891 Financial Life/National Catholic Society of Foresters


Does MPHS have photographs: Yes

Address: 320 S. School Street, Moved to Schaumburg in 2022

Is building standing: 

When was it built: 1958

What is at site:

When was business founded: 1891

Is business still operating: Yes

If no, when did it close: 

Who runs business: Board of Directors, all 1891 Financial Life members

1891 Financial Life, previously known as the National Catholic Society of Foresters, was founded in Chicago by Elizabeth Rodgers in 1891. This not-for-profit fraternal insurance organization was originally based out of parishes in the Chicago area, but later expanded to seventeen states across the country. In the late 1980s they moved into their first official headquarters building at 320 S. School Street in Mount Prospect.

In addition to offering insurance, 1891 Financial Life is dedicated to serving the community. The philanthropic side of this business is organized into a system of courts. Each court consists of 1891 Financial Life members and is usually based out of a Catholic parish. Courts are often multi-generational, with some over 100 years old. Members of each court work together to plan events and fundraise for local charities. Additional service opportunities arise outside of the court system at pop-up events.

Over their many years headquartered in Mount Prospect, they have contributed to charitable organizations in and around town. Fundraising efforts have supported JOURNEYS the Road Home, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, the Wheeling Township Holiday Adopt-a-Family program, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Catholic Charities. In 2020 alone, Mount Prospect Local Impact Team 1255 raised over $7000 for the community. They also work closely with local Catholic churches. At St. Raymond’s in Mount Prospect, for example, they coordinated a canned food drive for the Backpack Ministry as part of Giving Tuesday events.

In summer 2022 they relocated their headquarters to Schaumburg.

Commemorative Design: One of Mount Prospect’s Favorite Hang-Outs – Photo’s Hot Dogs

The Mount Prospect Historical Society has designed another in its series of shirts commemorating famous local restaurants.

Photo’s Hot Dogs, the popular creation of Jim Photopoulos, opened in the then-new commercial strip at the intersection of Wolf and Kensington Roads in 1989 and drew in crowds of all ages for 30 years.

Families flocked there, as did harried birthday party hosts and hostesses with their rowdy “charges”, adult and youth sports teams, middle and high school friends and even college students home on breaks.

Many still fondly remember the vintage red International Harvester ambulance adorned with a large wooden hot dog on top which made deliveries for years and the vintage car shows they held in their parking lot.

But most of all, they remember the delicious soft-serve ice cream, hot dogs, gyros, burgers and even the rather short-lived (but still longed-after) broasted chicken.

“This is a pre-order sale and all orders must be placed by May 7, 2023 because we would like to have them available as Father’s Day gifts,” said Amanda Marcus, the Society’s Office Manager. “The shirt — which is only available in white — will sell for $28 for sizes S-XL and $32 for 2XL+.”

For more information and to order your desired shirt, visit: https://www.mtphist.org/product/photos-hot-dogs-t-shirt/.

Strawfest Bus Trip 2023

Saturday, August 19, 2023
Depart from 101 S. Maple Street (Dietrich Friedrichs House Museum) at 9 a.m.
Return at 5 p.m.

Join us on a bus trip to the Eighth Annual U.S. National Straw Sculpting Competition, also known as “Strawfest,” in Mt. Morris.  It is promoted as “Fine Art in Straw” and was inspired by former Arlington Heights resident/artist Fran Volz who now lives nearby in Rockford.

Participants will ride a luxury coach, leaving Mount Prospect at 9 a.m. After arriving in Mt. Morris, tour-goers will have plenty of time to enjoy the large, unique straw sculptures, arranged around the picturesque town square only two weeks each year; vote for their favorites; and then tour the Encore! Mt. Morris Old Sandstone Art Gallery which is filled with local artwork.

After perusing the artwork and straw sculptures, bus tour participants will enjoy boxed lunches from Jen’s Artisan Breads, in the air-conditioned Pinecrest Grove Auditorium. 

Fran Volz, the one who inspired this contest, will speak during lunch about his first exposure to straw sculptures during a trip to Germany; his fondly-remembered “Chicago Snow Competition” event which premiered at Randhurst Shopping Center in 2004 and then moved to Navy Pier where teams of artists from Spain, China, Germany, Canada and Russia competed; and his other well-known artistic endeavors while living in the Northwest Suburbs. Many recall his gorgeous snow sculptures entertaining drivers along Arlington Heights Road each winter.

Following lunch, Jeff Bold, steering committee chairman of “Encore! Mt. Morris” which is working to revitalize the community, will board the bus for a guided tour of local points of interest including White Pines Forest State Park with its rare, picturesque grove of native white pine trees, and “The Eternal Indian” or “Blackhawk” statue along the river in nearby Oregon, IL which has recently been restored. It is a local landmark by famed sculptor Laredo Taft. Stops for locally-produced maple syrup and locally-grown corn-on-the-cob might also be possible if tour-goers are interested.

Comfortable clothing and shoes are strongly urged. 

MPHS Member Cost: $80
Non-Member Cost: $90

Lunch Options:

  • Chicken salad sandwich
  • Pesto and salami sandwich
  • Veggie sandwich on multi-grain bread

All lunch options include coleslaw, chips, water and dessert.

Trip highlights:

  • Marvel at the straw art at the U.S. National Straw Sculpting contest
  • Tour the Encore! Mt. Morris Old Sandstone Art Gallery, housed in the oldest building in Mt. Morris
  • Enjoy a pre-ordered boxed lunch, provided by Jen’s Artisan Breads, with an exclusive presentation by Fran Volz
  • Guided bus tour of local sites, including White Pine Forest State Park and the Blackhawk Statue in Oregon, IL

Registration is now closed.