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Breaking News
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.
Second Sundays at the Society
Join us in Central School (103 S. Maple Street) on the second Sunday of every month anytime between 11:30 am to 1:30 pm for a variety of hands-on activities, make-and-takes, and all around family fun! Free tours of the Dietrich Friedrichs House Museum will also be available. Second Sundays are FREE and registration is not necessary.
January 14 – “Meet” the Friedrichs
February 11 – Valentines
March 10 – A Peek in Mount Prospect’s Attic
April 14 – Pinecone Bird Feeders
May 12- Mother’s Day
June 9 – Old Fashioned Games
July 14 – Summer Crafts
August 11 – Surprise activity
September 8 – Apples
October 13 – Pumpkins
November 10 – Turkeys
December 8 – “Gingerbread” Open House
Teas at MPHS
November 4, 2023 – Chicago, True Stories with Martina Mathisen
The 1920’s are saturated with surprise, sequins, and murder! A fun and funny flapper named Flora tells us how fashion, crime, and prohibition mixed with explosive creativity shaped the decade of the century. You will learn fact from fiction and how reality relates to the 2002 Oscar-winning film Chicago. This interactive and highly engaging program is a front row seat for the compelling stories of Chicago in the 1920’s. Travel back in time and let Flora the flapper educate and entertain you.
All programs will be held in Central School (103 S. Maple St.) at 1:00 p.m.
Space is limited and registration is required, no walk-ins will be permitted.
Program Fee: $15 per person per session (non-refundable)
SOLD OUT. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR INFORMATION ON OUR 2024 TEAS!
Mount Prospect Trivia Night
Mount Prospect Trivia Night
Location: Central School/Mount Prospect Historical Society
103 S. Maple St.
Friday, February 3
6:00 pm
Did you know February is Mount Prospect’s ‘birthday’ month? Our Village officially came to be on February 3, 1917. To celebrate, the Mount Prospect Historical Society will be hosting a Trivia Night on Friday, February 3, 2023 at 6:00 pm in Central School. All questions will be based on the history of Mount Prospect. Players (ages high school and up) will compete individually. Pizza and soft drinks will be served. Tickets are $20 per person. Space is limited and reservations are required.
Registration is now closed.
2023 Events
We are so excited to offer a full calendar of programming in 2023! We want you to save the date on your calendar but we are not quite ready to take registrations. If you would like to be informed of when registration for events goes live, please fill out the form below.
Needle Craft Night
Get out your needles and thread. The Mount Prospect Historical Society will be hosting Monthly Needle Craft Nights. Join us the second Wednesday of each month in Central School (103 S. Maple St., Mount Prospect) from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
Bring your own knitting/crocheting/embroidery project or try our spotlight project each month. All experience levels are welcome. Advance registration is recommended and a $5 donation is suggested.
Join us for the last class of the year on December 13! We are offering TWO time options in December; 10 am-12 pm or 7-9 pm. We will be making no-sew stars.
We look forward to seeing you at this fun monthly program where you can learn a new skill, chat while working on your own project, or share your knowledge with other needlecraft enthusiasts.
Solve The Mystery of Nancy Drew
The Mount Prospect Historical Society will soon offer a fascinating program about America’s favorite fictional teen sleuth – Nancy Drew.
Join expert Susan Becker to discover the story behind Nancy Drew at 1 p.m., Saturday, October 29 at the Society’s Central School, 103 S. Maple St., Mount Prospect.
First bursting on the scene in 1930, Nancy was an immediate success with girls yearning for a feminist role model before they even knew they wanted one. Nancy Drew Mysteries continue to be read today more than 80 years since her creation, mostly by granddaughters encouraged by grandmothers with fond memories of their time spent with the iconic girl detective.
“A magazine article spurred my interest in Nancy Drew several years ago,” says Becker. “I was intrigued
to discover the true history of Nancy and her creator.”
And don’t think that you are going to learn about Carolyn Keene! Nancy Drew’s true creator was Edward Stratemeyer, who took the pen name of Carolyn Keene when writing his Nancy Drew stories. Stratemeyer was the most prolific author of 20th century juvenile literature of whom you have never heard!
During his lifetime he developed over 125 different series, which in addition to the beloved Nancy Drew, included Tom Swift, the Bobbsey Twins and the Hardy Boys. Books and other items of interest will be on display.
Becker, who read her first Nancy Drew book at the age of eight, added, “I wish I hadn’t given away my own collection to a younger cousin.”
Tickets are $12 per person. Space is limited and take note that Society programs have sold out in the past. So, reservations must be made in advance. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information or to reserve your spot, please visit the Society’s website: www.mtphist.org or
phone 847-392-9006.
We’re right in the neighborhood. Come see what we have to offer!