A Storied History at 9547 S. Homan Avenue

If you had been able to look at Circle (Klein) Park from the air in the late 1960s, you would see how the park itself was, and still is, a “hub” of sorts, with the residential streets spider webbing out in all directions.

And, being the Village of Churches, there is no surprise that you would find church buildings at every fingertip, north, south, east and west:

In the southwest quadrant, going counter-clockwise, you would see Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church; West Evergreen Christian Reformed Church (now the Maranatha Chapel); Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church; Park Lane Christian Reformed Church (now the MapleWell Center); Bethel Lutheran Church (now redeveloped); Bethel Bible Church and the Evergreen Park Christian Reformed Church.

The latter, at 9547 S. Homan Avenue, had its congregational roots going back to 1915, beginning its existence in the barn of Evergreen Park resident H. G. Triezenberg. The church was first housed in a building located near 97th and Kedzie and served its growing membership well. The building on Homan Avenue was built and finally dedicated in September of 1931. Can you believe it was built for a cost of $40,000?

The church thrived for decades.

Sadly, however, by the mid-2000’s, the congregation had dwindled to the point that they…along with Park Lane CRC. . would merge into a church in Oak Lawn.

The Village of Evergreen Park purchased the building in 2006 and received a grant to develop the property into a center of activities for Evergreen Park seniors. The existing structure remained, with a new dining hall built into the first floor, along with a modern kitchen and bathrooms, and the rear/main entrance completely ADA accessible and compliant.

On the second floor, the former sanctuary was developed into an auditorium, complete with a stage. The Village kept, and has protected, the beautiful stained glass windows.

Today, eighteen years later, the new Evergreen Park Senior Center is a bustling hubbub of activity and village programs. The “Basics” class, held twice a week, is an exercise program for ladies 55 and over, featuring aerobics, weight training and balance. Various yoga and Tai-Chi classes are offered as well.

The Evergreen Park Historical Commission utilized the auditorium for two weeks in 2018 to present its full historical museum on the occasion of the Village’s 125th Anniversary Celebration. The Commission has since opened its intimate exhibit room on the first floor, currently open for viewing on the first and third Saturdays of every month from 10am-3pm.

In the evenings, the very successful Recreation Department Dance program makes full use of the large open floor of the auditorium; likewise, the Rec Dept Candlelight Theatre program stages several productions throughout the year.

There is much going on at 9547 S. Homan Avenue! Currently, the building is home to the Summer Dance Camps, with the Fall Dance Program soon to follow. Other programs are ongoing. In fact, the Recreation Department’s Late Summer and Fall Program Guide is in development now. Just give the Recreation Department a call at (708) 229-3373 or follow them on Facebook at “Evergreen Park Recreation”. And you can sign up for any Rec program online.

The stately building at 9547 is about to celebrate its ninety-third birthday. Though its function has changed and adapted over the years, it lives a long, healthy life. It is always welcoming, with its doors open to the residents of Evergreen Park, as they have been since that September day in 1931.