Directions

  To sites 8 and 9 
  Drive south on Avenue G. 
  Annunciata Church is located at 111th and Avenue G. 
  Turn east (left) on 112th Street at the entrance to 
  Eggers Grove Forest Preserve
View of 112th Street looking west from
Avenue G in the early 1940's
8) Annunciata Church (111th Street between Avenue G and Avenue H)

Wooden Church 111th Avenue H
          2nd Church Located in Basement of School 
                   Located on Left Side of Building

Annunciata Church Current View
                  Annunciata Church Current View
Annunciata Church at 111th and Avenue G, was founded by Archbishop Samuel A. Stritch in July 1941. The parish was founded to serve Catholic families who had settled in the 420 acre subdivision known as Fair Elms. Frank J. Lewis, a manufacturer of Coal Tar Products, donated the parish site in his real estate development which was bounded by 108th Street on the north; 114th Street on the south; Green Bay Avenue on the west; and the Illinois Indiana state line on the east. The Servite Fathers began the work of organizing this parish. Rev. Philip M. Philbin, first pastor of Annunciata Church, celebrated mass in a maintenance garage owned by Frank Lewis. Until a small white wooden church was erected at 11131 South Avenue H, mass was celebrated in this garage, beginning on December 21, 1941. Father Philbin also directed the construction of a combination convent and school building which was completed at the southwest corner of 112th and Avenue G. Eight nuns, Servants of Mary from Ladysmith, Wisconsin, opened Annunciata school in September 1949 with an enrollment of 363 children in grades one through six. The parish grew so rapidly that a new church was constructed on 111th St. between Avenues G and H. 

9) Eggers Grove Forest Preserve (Entrance at 112th Street and Avenue E)

Eggers Woods is located on 112th Street on Avenue E. It is a forest preserve and therefore covered with trees. It also includes smaller plants such as mosses, shrubs, and wild flowers. In addition, many kinds of birds, insects, and other animals make their home at Eggers Woods. There are many indigenous (native) plants and trees in Eggers Woods. Though plants and trees were here long before the existence of man, there are also some exotic (non native) plants and trees brought here later on by other people from different parts of the world. For example, Garlic Mustard is foreign to this area. It is growing in Eggers Woods and basically taking over a lot of the native forest area. Garlic Mustard is edible before the flower has not grown on top. 

Eggers Woods has many different types of trees including Elm, Oak, and Willow trees. American Elm trees grow about 100' (30 m) high and the diameter up to 4' (1.2 m), sometimes even larger. Oak trees range in height from 80-100' (24-30 m) or more with a diameter about 3-4' (0.9-1.2 m). The sizes in Willow trees vary because there are so many different kinds. There is a Ranger Station and a creek. Trails, prairie areas, and picnic areas are also open to the public. But pollution can be a problem. Water drains into the sewer system at 112th St., instead of following its natural drainage pattern into Wolf Lake. 

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