Then and Now

For the Local History Badge, one of my tasks was to recreate historic photos and then compare and contrast.

 

Zion Lutheran Church, circa 1884

Zion Lutheran Church, August 27, 2025

 

The building pretty much looks the same on the outside.  The tree situation has changed and other buildings are closer now.  Also, this isn't actually a church any longer, although you can still get married there.  It is the home of the Tinley Park Historical Society.  There is still a Zion Lutheran Church in Tinley Park, but it is a few blocks away.

Bartels Windmill, NE corner of Oak Park Ave and 171st St.

 

 

NE corner of Oak Park Ave and 171st St, August 27, 2025

The windmill was torn down in 1910.  I don't know what was there before this convenience store, which was a White Hen in 2004, became a 7-11 at some point and shut down altogether in the last 10 years.  It is just a vacant building now, which is not great.

Teehan's Tavern, circa 1930s? (guessing based on the car)

 

Teehan's Tavern, August 27, 2025

One would be forgiven for thinking that not much has changed about this building in the last 100 years.  However, the building you see in the second picture is actually a replica of the building in the first picture.  They tore down the original building and rebuilt it exactly how it was.  Not exactly Ship of Theseus but close.

Andres Block, late 1800s

 

Andrews Block, August 27, 2025

This one actually is pretty much the same, at leas ton the outside.  In the first picture, the business on the right end is the Funk general store.  (That is not Funk like the music, but more like Foonk.  It is a German name.)  Now it is Primal Cut, a steak house.  I've never been there so I can't tell you much about it.

 

Citizens Bank Frankfort

 

 

Candle Vault, Frankfort, July 2026

Again, the exterior of the building hasn't changed much.  It is no longer a bank but a store selling candles.  And the name, The Candle Vault, is a nod to the building's previous purpose, which I think is very nice.  I'm told the bank vault is still inside, as well.

 

It was hard to find historical photos of much in this area.  But for the ones we did find, it was really interesting to compare what we see today to what was there in the past.