Best Matt Galik And Israel Smith Podcasts (2024)

1
Al Braun; The Last of The Blacksmiths - 40 Years of Fixing 15:22

1M ago15:22

15:22

Send us a Text Message. The Brauns were a family of blacksmiths in Mokena, going all the way back to the 1880's, all the way into the 1950's! Al Braun was said to be one of the last working blacksmiths in the State. Al always welcomed neighborhood kids, who would enjoy all of the action going on in his shop. Al Braun also served as a Village Truste…

1
A Tour of Marshall Cemetery; Visiting The Founders of Mokena 44:53

2M ago44:53

44:53

Send us a Text Message. Founded in 1839, the Marshall Cemetery is home to many of Mokena's founders, with names like Marshall, McGovney, and Jones. It is also the resting place of numerous war heros from the Civil War, and more. Matt gives us a walking tour as we cover only a few of the families buried here. The setting is a quiet country road, a l…

1
A Walk Down Front Street, Talking History, With Matt & Israel; Wolf to Mokena St., Pt.1 49:51

3M ago49:51

49:51

Send us a Text Message. On a beautiful April evening, Matt and I (Israel) took a walk down Mokena's Front Street, talking history. This is the audio only version so you have to imagine standing at the South East corner of Wolf Road and Front Street and walk along with us! Matt is a wealth of information when it comes to Mokena and this was a lot of…

1
Mayor Joe Werner; A Legacy of Service and Community 1:37:47

3M ago1:37:47

1:37:47

Send us a Text Message. Mayor Joe Werner cared deeply about Mokena and its people. He served as both Village Trustee and Mayor and made many lasting contributions to Mokena. He sadly passed away on Christmas Eve of 2023 after fighting brain cancer. I am honored that we get to share some of Mayor Joe’s story and all he did to make our Village a bett…

1
A Legend To Live Again: The History and Future of 11116 Front Street 34:01

4M ago34:01

34:01

Send us a Text Message. Since the early days of Mokena, 11116 has been a place where the community gathers to drink, socialize, shop and eat. For more than a decade now this property has sat vacant. The property is now undergoing a renovation and will be host a new restaurant, The Dock on Front Street! I asked Mayor Frank Fleischer about the restau…

1
Curtain Call Theater: A Shining Star on Front Street 1:11:27

4M ago1:11:27

1:11:27

Send us a Text Message. Israel got to sit down with Suzanne Helwich, the Executive Director of the Curtain Call Theatre, as well as Ken Czechanski, who is a theatre board member as well as one of the stars of their upcoming March 2024 production, The Runner Stumbles. The setting for our conversation was at the foot of the stage as they were prepari…

1
Mineral Springs: Magical Waters Beneath Our Feet 31:21

5M ago31:21

31:21

Send us a Text Message. Mokena's first modern subdivision has a name that goes back to the early days of our Village. The Mineral Springs neighborhood sits just south of the train station and at one point was the source of healing waters that were being pumped from below ground. This healing well was so popular that it eventually ran a pipeline clo…

1
Postmarked History: The 1937 Post Office Robbery 32:38

5M ago32:38

32:38

Send us a Text Message. Mokena’s first post office opened February 10, 1853 and served our newly formed train depot of a town. With the railroad splitting through town, it made Mokena a prime mail location, with mail coming via the passing trains, to and from Chicago. The post office was a vital organ in the life of the new town and many took up th…

1
Becoming a Village; The Long Road to Incorporation 39:37

6M ago39:37

39:37

Send us a Text Message. Our Village was founded around the Rock Island Pacific Railroad coming through the middle of what is now downtown Mokena. In 1852 those tracks came through the north end of the McGovney (Yunker) farm. By the mid 1870's, Mokena had 8 saloons, more per capita than any other town in Will County. One of the significant motivator…

1
Mokena's Old Schoolhouse, 1872 - 1929 1:01:34

7M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

Send us a Text Message. Schools are the lifeblood of a community and they carry the tremendous responsibility to educate the youth of our town. A desirable school district increases home values and make a community more desirable. Though it was not the first Mokena school house, the grand 2 story schoolhouse that sat at today's Front Street and Sch…

1
The Mokena State Bank - A Front Street Institution For Over A Century 31:48

7M ago31:48

31:48

Send us a Text Message. Step inside the hallowed walls of The Mokena State Bank, as we chronicle over a century of its rich and vibrant history. This story takes you on a journey that captures the spirit of this iconic institution that has endured safe cracking, robberies, and economic tremors, yet stood firm as the heart of the local community. Th…

1
Maddog Strong - A Conversation With Frank & Cyndi Grobmeier 1:30:18

8M ago1:30:18

1:30:18

Send us a Text Message. Frank and Cyndi Grobmeier endured the unthinkable after the death of their daughter just after her 18th birthday. I had the opportunity to spend time with them in the Mokena office of their charity, The Maddog Strong Foundation. They have a mission to not only have people sign their donor card but to also have the conversati…

1
An Evening With President Lincoln and His Thanksgiving Proclamation 37:34

8M ago37:34

37:34

Send us a Text Message. Matt and I (Israel) attended an event at The Mokena Library by Abraham Lincoln impersonator and educator, Kevin Wood. He shared the story of Sarah Hale, who spent 35 years writing letters to Presidents and promoting the idea of a unified day of Thanksgiving across all states. Hearing Mr. Wood speak was like being in the pres…

1
Halloween Hauntings and Stories - Halloween Special 31:33

8M ago31:33

31:33

Send us a Text Message. Get ready for a nostalgic trip back to the Halloween days of yore as we, recall our favorite Halloween memories from Mokena. But Halloween is not just about the candy and costumes. It's also a time for ghost stories and eerie encounters. We've got a spine-chilling tale about an outhouse, with consequences that will make you …

1
Schmuhl School Open House - 1930's One Room School House 18:09

9M ago18:09

18:09

Send us a Text Message. Buildings like this can get lost in the daily passing by, but this one-room schoolhouse from the 1930s has weathered the passage of time and still entertains and educates children of all ages. This episode promises takes you on a journey through the history and preservation of the Schmuel School in New Lenox. It was Henry Sc…

1
A Look Back on Our First Year on The Porch - 1 Year of MFP 12:51

9M ago12:51

12:51

Send us a Text Message. October 12, 2022 we published the first episode of Mokena's Front Porch. Now we look back at our first year of sharing Mokena's history. Today there are over 4 million podcasts available but we are the ONLY Mokena podcast! The majority of new podcasts post 10 episodes or less but we are proud to have published 28 episodes, t…

1
The Mokena News Bulletin & The Semmler Family Pt. 2 53:35

9M ago53:35

53:35

Send us a Text Message. Here is part 2 and the completion of the Semmler story. Be sure to listen to episode 1 as well. The Semmlers played a vital role in our Village and their impact lives on today. Be sure to check out Matt's Blog posts that we based these episodes on. They can be found HERE! We hope you enjoy this episode! Be sure to share it w…

1
The Mokena News Bulletin & The Semmler Family Pt. 1 58:10

9M ago58:10

58:10

Send us a Text Message. The Mokena News Bulletin was THE paper of record, reporting from August of 1919 until its last issue in 1969. William and Margaret Semmler started their modest paper in the former Front Street saloon that her family owned. Both were very active in the community where they raised their family and made their living. Bill serve…

1
The Bergmans - A Living History of Mokena 1:36:58

10M ago1:36:58

1:36:58

Send us a Text Message. What if you could journey back in time to an era where block parties and street dances were the life of the town, and the Front Street Ford Agency was the hot spot for socializing? That's exactly what Dave and Charlene Bergman bring us in this captivating episode, as they transport us back to the charm and nostalgia of the o…

1
11042 Front Street; A Silent Witness To The Growth of Mokena 23:13

10M ago23:13

23:13

Send us a Text Message. 11042 Front Street is a building that has stood, since the years following the Civil War, as a silent witness to the history of our Mokena. This building was home to the first Mokena Pharmacy and was built by a German who was described by locals as, “fat and jolly and possessed of a merry whistle”. Through its later years it…

1
The 1909 Mokena Jailbreak 29:18

11M ago29:18

29:18

Send us a Text Message. October 8th, 1909, John Hatch opened his general store, in the building that we know today as Zap Taco, to find that he had be robbed! Matt shares this story of two young men who robbed Hatch's store and their apparent cockiness that caught up with them in the end! Matt and I also talk for a bit and catch up on what we have …

1
Tracks of History: The Forgotten Flagmen of Mokena Street Crossing 19:56

11M ago19:56

19:56

Send us a Text Message. Mokena owes its existence not only to agriculture but also to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. Overlooked in the collective memory is a humble wooden shack at the Mokena Street crossing, where a generation of flagmen worked tirelessly to ensure safety before the advent of electric gates. These flagmen, employees …

1
The Cooper & Hostert Ford Agency of Mokena 27:48

12M ago27:48

27:48

Send us a Text Message. Opening their doors for the first time on Thursday, September 21, 1916, the Cooper & Hostert Ford Agency became a town meeting place where locals not only purchased their vehicles, but also gathered to chat, laugh and gossip about what was going on in town. They were a staple of Mokena's downtown until 1974, when the busines…

1
Mamie Bechstein - In Her Own Words 36:37

1y ago36:37

36:37

Send us a Text Message. This episode discusses Mamie Bechstein Miller, who was a teacher and principal for Mokena's 159 School District in the old schoolhouse that sat at Front Street and Schoolhouse Road and who's family has been in Mokena since before the railroad came through. We discuss why Mamie was so important to the community and hear why M…

1
The Mokena Riot of 1864 - Part 2 26:45

1y ago26:45

26:45

Send us a Text Message. Step back in time to a fateful summer night, as we conclude our tale of chaos and violence in 1864 Downtown Mokena. As the smoke settled, a grim assessment of the days casualties began, revealing that the majority of the injured were Chicagoans. Newspaper accounts paint a vivid picture of the mayhem that unfolded. Yet, amids…

1
A Memorial Day Tribute 1:00:08

1y ago1:00:08

1:00:08

Send us a Text Message. Memorial Day, which began shortly after the Civil War, was called Decoration Day. On May 30, 1868, President Garfield spoke at Arlington National Cemetery and said, "I am oppressed with a sense of the impropriety of uttering words on this occasion. If silence is ever golden, it must be here, beside the graves of fifteen thou…

1
The Mokena Riot of 1864 - Part 1 37:12

1y ago37:12

37:12

Send us a Text Message. In the early days of the not yet incorporated Village of Mokena, our Front Street saw its bloodiest day. On August 15, 1864, As a group of Irish immigrants were returning to Chicago from a day of picnicking in Joliet, their train slowed to a stop in our town. Tiring of waiting on the train, the Chicagoans' began to exit the …

1
The Last McGovney - In Memoriam to Carol J. Norton 11:35

1y ago11:35

11:35

Send us a Text Message. Carol Norton was the last of the McGovney family to live in Mokena. Though she was not a life long Mokenian and not even born in Mokena, she chose to move to Mokena and had a deep love and appreciation for the Village as well as the contributions that her family has made over the years. She was not only a McGovney, she was a…

1
Mokena-The Story of Our Name 22:54

1y ago22:54

22:54

Send us a Text Message. This episode covers one of Mokena's most controversial topics, the meaning and story behind our name! We discuss a few of the stories that have been going around for many years and try to debunk the ones we can. It is a fun episode that highlights again how unique our Village is. We are the only Mokena IN THE WORLD! Enjoy an…

1
Conversation With Little Al - The Mayor of Front Street 33:33

1y ago33:33

33:33

Send us a Text Message. Since 1985, Little Al has been a presence on Front Street, serving beers and meals as well as a lot of laughs! Al Pizzato was born in 1939 and grew up in Roseland. He shares how in first grade he learned how to make change for a beer and a shot, which cost $.35 at the time. Little Al's Mokena Inn is one of Mokena's oldest bu…

1
The Mokena Campfire Girls 39:28

1+ y ago39:28

39:28

Send us a Text Message. In honor of March being Women’s History Month, our newest episode shares the story of the Mokena Campfire Girls! The first Mokena Boy Scout troop was established in Mokena in 1914, the young women of Mokena, not wanting to miss out on the fun, started a Campfire Girls “Camp” in 1915! In their short history, these young ladie…

1
From Hatch Hall to Zap Taco House 35:54

1+ y ago35:54

35:54

Send us a Text Message. Downtown Mokena’s restaurant scene was ZAPPED with the addition of Zap Taco House on Mokena Street. As Todd and Jason (owners of Zap) are bringing food and entertainment to downtown we will share the story of this buildings beginning. In 1901 the building we know as Zap, was moved from an unknown location to its home today a…

1
The Murder of Deputy Walter Fisher 58:15

1+ y ago58:15

58:15

Send us a Text Message. The morning of April 14, 1926, the Inland Steel payroll delivery was hijacked in Indiana Harbor. Later that afternoon, Will County deputy sheriff and Mokena resident and Front Street business owner, Walter Fisher died in a hail of gunfire at the corner of todays 143rd and La Grange Road in Orland Park. That night, the bullet…

1
From Hardware to Hot Shaves; Two Ghost's of Front Street 32:44

1+ y ago32:44

32:44

Send us a Text Message. Since the early days of Mokena, 11014 Front Street has been a place where the community has come together to conduct business and socialize. The now flattened, Dina's Barbershop, was the most recent inhabitant. For decades Mokenian's went to Tony Dina's for a trim and good conversation. If those walls could talk, the history…

1
The Pillars of Front Street 46:02

1+ y ago46:02

46:02

Send us a Text Message. One of Mokena’s oldest buildings and a true gem of Front Street; 11008 Front Street has been host to numerous businesses and families over its 160+ years long life. The property still stands today in all its glory, having been restored by local beautician and salon/home owner Laura Thiel! We discuss the rich history of this …

1
A Local Civil War Hero; Pvt. Carl Hacker 33:55

1+ y ago33:55

33:55

Send us a Text Message. One year after making his way by wooden ship from modern day Northern Germany, 18 year old Carl Hacker joined the fight to preserve the country that he and his brother, Christian, had recently patriated to. Carl returned from his service in the war to establish himself in early Mokena. He purchased a home on McGovney Street …

1
The Story of Schieks Dairy 24:22

1+ y ago24:22

24:22

Send us a Text Message. In 1867, Lester Scheiks father came to Mokena at 8 years old. Lesters Grandfather built their farm on 30 acres at the corner of Wolf Road and 191st Street. Their house sat where Greased Lightning sits today. The Scheiks Dairy at one point provided milk to 95% of Mokena, serving about 400 customers a week. The Scheik family e…

1
A 1925 Christmas on Front Street 13:56

1+ y ago13:56

13:56

Send us a Text Message. This is a special Christmas episode with a few presents thrown in! A special guest introduces the episode and we end with a VERY special song by the Mokena Intermediate School's 4th & 5th Grade Beginning Band! Matt shares his story, Yule of Yore: Christmas 1925 in Mokena which was originally posted on his blog on December 17…

1
A Conversation With Jennifer Medema 40:32

1+ y ago40:32

40:32

Send us a Text Message. As a follow up to our 5th episode about the McGovney-Yunker Farm, I sat down to talk with Jennifer Medema, who happens to be my neighbor! Jennifer is responsible for getting the Farm listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which was a four year journey that resulted in National recognition of the significance of …

1
The Historic McGovney-Yunker Farm 41:39

1+ y ago41:39

41:39

Send us a Text Message. The Historic McGovney-Yunker Farm is the only property in Mokena that is on the National Register of Historic Places. In this episode we discuss how this farm came to be and why it and its inhabitants are still so important to us today. Matt has again crafted the McGovney-Yunker Farm story in a way that brings to life this f…

1
A Conversation With Mr. David Kropp 58:58

1+ y ago58:58

58:58

Send us a Text Message. On this episode of Mokena's Front Porch we sit down with Mr. David Kropp, who's family history in Mokena goes back almost as long as Mokena! He is grandson to Reverend William "The Builder" Kreis, who is responsible for the building of the historic St. John's Church in Mokena. He is also cousin to Laverne and Edwin Yunker of…

1
St. John's Church 48:01

1+ y ago48:01

48:01

Send us a Text Message. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the St. John's Church building and the 160th anniversary of St John's Church, Matt Galik wrote a 12 page book about the church and the process this small congregation went through to place on our landscape one of the most significant building's in our town and region. The churches of Moke…

1
The Haunting of An English Garden 5:34

1+ y ago5:34

5:34

Send us a Text Message. This is a special Halloween episode of Mokena's Front Porch! Gather the family and enjoy a true Mokena ghost story that takes place on Front Street in Kim McAuliffe's, An English Garden Flower & Gifts. This article was originally posted on Matt's blog, Matt's Old Mokena, on October 16th, 2020. You can read that by clicking H…

1
#1. Little Al's Bar & Grill 42:48

1+ y ago42:48

42:48

Send us a Text Message. In our inaugural episode we talk about one of Mokena's oldest building and the longest serving bar in town; the building we now know as Little Al's Bar & Grill. Learn about how this building has served as town hall, a hotel, and even a church, though today it claims to serve the best burgers in town! This is the first of man…

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