Flossmoor Marks 100th Birthday, Honors Past With Baseball, Drone Show

FLOSSMOOR, IL — The Village of Flossmoor continues its centennial celebration, with a "birthday party" set in the town's honor.

On June 10, 1924, a meeting was held in the garage of a large home on Sterling Avenue; there, the boundaries of Flossmoor were determined and a vote to incorporate as a Village was held. Seventy-eight votes were cast for incorporating; 60 votes were for not incorporating. Ten days later Cook County duly authenticated the matter of incorporation, and the Village of Flossmoor was founded on June 20, 1924.

In honor of the 100th anniversary of this date, the Village of Flossmoor will hold a birthday party celebration on Thursday, June 20. The Take Me Out to the Ball Game/Flossmoor’s 100th Birthday Party will be held in Flossmoor Park (Brassie Avenue and Flossmoor Road) from 4:30 to 9 p.m. All are invited to celebrate.

Why ball games?

One of the most popular and lasting organized forms of recreation in Flossmoor is baseball. The Flossmoor Baseball League formed in the early 1960s as part of the Pony League; softball teams were added in the 1970s. Today’s league continues many of the traditions from that early league, including opening day ceremonies and a parade down Flossmoor Road, which was held this year on April 20. Games and practices in Flossmoor Park continue to be a way for families to come together, make new friends and enjoy their community.

The June 20 event will feature three exhibition games — a Flossmoor Softball game, a Flossmoor Baseball game and an old-time baseball game featuring the Deep River Grinders from Valparaiso, Ind., and the Flossmoor Whistlestoppers — all colorfully announced by Flossmoor’s Yellow Jackets, a trio of area residents who are well known for their work during the Hidden Gem Half Marathons.

The event will also include kids’ activities, food trucks, a kiddie train, facepainting and birthday cupcakes. Along Brassie Avenue, event goers will be able to view Autos from the Decades — including 2024 electric models displayed by Sutton Ford — during a special Flossmoor classic car show. When the sky darkens, residents will be treated to a dazzling drone show, the first of its kind in the H-F area.

"This will be a celebration to remember, as we celebrate Flossmoor, fun and friendship," said Stephanie Wright, Flossmoor’s Community Relations Manager. "Celebrating Flossmoor’s Centennial with an event centered on our most treasured asset, our residents, captures the spirit of our town. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all of our generous sponsors whose support makes events like this possible."

Centennial events in Flossmoor are sponsored by: Eyes on Sterling; Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery; Kathleen Field Orr; UChicago Medicine; Meijer; Prairie State College; Bank Financial; Bloom Township; The Center for Dental Excellence; Comcast; Flossmoor Animal Hospital; Foundation for the Preservation of Flossmoor History; Governors State University; Leland Grove Law, LLC; Nicor Gas; Rich Township Supervisor Calvin Jordan & Clerk Sugar Al-Amin; and Southland Smiles.

For more information on this event and other centennial celebrations and history, please visit
http://www.flossmoor.org/584/Flossmoors-Centennial or email info@flossmoor.org.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game For Flossmoor's 100th Birthday by Lauren Traut on Scribd