Melrose Park Historical Photography

The Melrose Park Public Library has historical photography displayed throughout the main floor of the building.

Below are the photographs currently on display.

A person in a coat and hat stands next to an early 20th-century enclosed carriage-style automobile, holding a small bag.

Dr. Paul Kionka, 1897


Melrose Park Public Library Founder & First Board President

A black-and-white historical photo of a library interior with staff behind a large service desk and shelves of books.

Library At Village Hall, Ca. 1908

A black-and-white group portrait of sixteen uniformed police officers standing in rows in front of a building.

Melrose Park Police Department, Ca. 1915

A sepia-toned historical photo of a large, dense crowd of people gathered in a city street near several parked vehicles.

Funeral Procession For Soldier Charles B. Calcott On January 11th, 1928

A large group of uniformed police officers stands in front of a building, with one officer on a motorcycle in the front.

Police In Front Of City Hall, Ca. 1928

A vintage fire truck marked

Melrose Park Fire Department, 1930

A group of fourteen uniformed police officers stand in two rows for a formal portrait in front of decorative curtains.

Melrose Park Police Department, Ca. 1933

A vintage black-and-white portrait of a large group of fire department personnel in uniform, with one child in the center.

Melrose Park Fire Department, 1940

A black-and-white street scene shows a bus turning at a city intersection with surrounding buildings and traffic signals.

Corner Of Broadway And Lake Street, n.d.

A line of people stands outside the Melrose Theater under a marquee promoting an in-person appearance by Stephanie Novicky.

Melrose Theater, August 17th 1946

Stephanie Novicky, prizewinning pianist in Chicagoland Music Festival, performing live at the Melrose Theater


Donated by Frank Orangis (1931-2018) & his daughters: Antonia De Cola, Jan Lollini, & Fran Pelegrino