Help Restore Gold Star Mothers Monument At Cork & Kerry Open Bar

CHICAGO, IL — During the early 1920s, a monument honoring the mothers of military personnel who died serving the country during World War I was erected in the Dan Ryan Woods near 87th and Western. But over the years, the monument — which read 'Chicago Council of Gold Star Mothers' — was neglected. It would become surrounded by invasive species, and for decades no one knew it was even there.

That changed in 2013 during a project to clear up the invasive species in that part of the forest preserve. On the southeast part of the intersection, the unknown monument was revealed.

Since then, Beverly resident Tim Noonan has made it his mission to research the history behind it in hopes of having it restored to its original state and re-dedicated at another section of the woods.

"I'm not from a military family, but I am a parent," said Noonan, a North Beverly resident of 21 years who lives right around the corner from the forest preserve on Hopkins Place. "As a parent, it was heartbreaking to see this monument dedicated to the fallen sons and daughters of World War I decaying."

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Last November, the monument was extracted and put into storage. Now, neighborhood residents have a prime opportunity to help speed up the restoration effort.

This year's Memorial Day Kickoff Event will raise funds exclusively for the project to restore the memorial and have it placed near a children's playground in the public section of the Dan Ryan Woods on the other side of 87th Street. The party is planned for 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, April 19 at Cork & Kerry, 10614 S. Western Ave.

"To have this monument in the children's play area... that's strong symbolism of looking to the past for our future," Noonan, a dad of three, said.

It's a $25 donation at Cork & Kerry for Thursday's fundraiser, which will include food and an open bar. Buy tickets through the Beverly Area Planning Association here.

The restoration of the monument will come just a few years shy of the 100th anniversary of when it was made, Noonan's research shows. A "stress test" performed on it after it was extracted shows that it was likely struck by a car during the time it was neglected.

"Being right there at 87th and Western, that's not hard to imagine," Noonan said.

Noonan's research into the history of the monument isn't complete, however.

He and other historians are attempting to find out what was written on a plaque that stood connected to the front of the monument. An empty 2 x 4 space in front of it when it was first found indicates there was a plaque, but it was not found in the area and no one has been able to discover what it said. Noonan says he is still in the process of scanning the archives of The Beverly Review newspaper from that era to find out.

"It may have been lost during the car crash, but we don't know," Noonan said.

The funding for the restoration is off to a good start. Noonan says many people have made commitments to the project, which he estimates will cost anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000.

"We're in the process of becoming an official non-profit as well, and that may help," he said.

Anyone interested in making a donation but unable to attend Thursday night's benefit can set up payment with Noonan directly be emailing info.ccgsm@gmail.com. Credit cards and checks will be accepted. Once non-profit status is attained, the donations will become tax deductible.

A computer consultant by day, Noonan said this project is more than worthy of his spare time.

"I live near the Forest Preserve," he said. "It's close to my heart."

Photo: A look at the monument as it appeared at its original spot after it was rediscovered in 2013. Provided by Tim Noonan