Mokena's Front Porch Podcast
By Israel Smith & Matt Galik
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Category: History
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Subscribers: 3
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Episodes: 70
Description
Welcome to Mokena’s Front Porch – THE podcast for Mokena history and community!
Nestled in the heart of Chicagoland, Mokena began as a small farming community that flourished after the Rock Island train line arrived in 1852. Today, with a population of over 20,000, its rich past continues to shape its future.
Your hosts:
🔹 Matt – A lifelong Mokenian, local historian, and author of two books on Mokena history. His blog, Matt’s Old Mokena, serves as the foundation for many of our episodes, bringing forgotten stories of the village back to life.
🔹 Israel – A passionate storyteller who grew up hearing firsthand WWII accounts from his grandfathers. Since moving to Mokena in 2016, he has embraced its history, working through technical challenges as a first-time podcaster to bring this show to life. He’s a BIG fan of Mokena!
Join us as we explore the people, places, and moments that make Mokena special. Visit MokenasFrontPorch.com for more stories, updates, and ways to connect. You can also find us on social media!
Pull up a chair, get comfortable, and step back in time with us on Mokena’s Front Porch.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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Recapping The March 19th Mokena 159 School Board Meeting - The A.I. Front Porch
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Mar 21, 2025 |
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Kim Huelsman - Candidate For Mokena Village Trustee
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Mar 18, 2025 |
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Dan Gilbert - Candidate for Mokena Village Trustee
|
Mar 18, 2025 |
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Melissa Fedora - Candidate for Mokena Village Trustee
|
Mar 18, 2025 |
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Colleen Patrick-Lenart: Candidate for Mokena Village Trustee
|
Mar 09, 2025 |
|
James Roberts - Candidate For Mokena Village Trustee
|
Mar 07, 2025 |
|
March 4th, 2025 Mokena's Future Meet & Greet
|
Mar 05, 2025 |
|
Nick Clancy - Candidate For Mokena Village Trustee - 2 Year Term
|
Mar 05, 2025 |
|
Berk, Oliphant, Chavez, Petrey, Ryan: Summit Hill 161 School Board Candidates
|
Mar 04, 2025 |
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George Metanias - Candidate For Mokena Mayor
|
Feb 28, 2025 |
|
Frank Fleischer - Candidate for Mokena Mayor
|
Feb 26, 2025 |
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Katie Carley - Mokena 159 School Board Candidate
|
Feb 26, 2025 |
|
Jim Andresen - Mokena 159 School Board Candidate
|
Feb 22, 2025 |
|
Assessor Joe Kral - Talking Tax Bills and Mokena Community
|
Feb 18, 2025 |
|
Deadra Stokes - Candidate For Lincolnway 210 School Board
|
Feb 14, 2025 |
|
Aaron Janik - Candidate for Lincolnway 210 School Board
|
Feb 12, 2025 |
|
Mokena's Future Slate - Meet The Candidate Night 2/4/2025
|
Feb 06, 2025 |
|
Mokena 159 Teachers Association Endorsement - Talking With The Teachers
|
Jan 30, 2025 |
|
Deputy Walter Fisher Remembered - Mokena Honors Their Fallen Officer
|
Dec 15, 2024 |
|
Fundraisers & Filings - Local Election Update 2
|
Nov 21, 2024 |
|
A Day on The Farm With Eddie Yunker
|
Nov 15, 2024 |
|
The Imagination Station - Mokena’s Wooden Playscape
|
Nov 15, 2024 |
|
Mayor Frank and Laurie Fleischer
|
Sep 04, 2024 |
|
2025 Mokena Municipal Elections -Ep. 1. Where We Stand
|
Sep 03, 2024 |
|
The Mokena Women's Club
|
Aug 05, 2024 |
|
The Fall of the Erickson Barn and The History of Front and Mokena St.
|
Aug 01, 2024 |
|
Al Braun; The Last of The Blacksmiths - 40 Years of Fixing
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May 23, 2024 |
|
A Tour of Marshall Cemetery; Visiting The Founders of Mokena
|
May 04, 2024 |
|
A Walk Down Front Street, Talking History, With Matt & Israel; Wolf to Mokena St., Pt.1
|
Apr 12, 2024 |
|
Mayor Joe Werner; A Legacy of Service and Community
|
Mar 28, 2024 |
|
A Legend To Live Again: The History and Future of 11116 Front Street
|
Mar 10, 2024 |
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Curtain Call Theater: A Shining Star on Front Street
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Feb 23, 2024 |
|
Mineral Springs: Magical Waters Beneath Our Feet
|
Feb 09, 2024 |
|
Postmarked History: The 1937 Post Office Robbery
|
Jan 29, 2024 |
|
Becoming a Village; The Long Road to Incorporation
|
Jan 12, 2024 |
|
Mokena's Old Schoolhouse, 1872 - 1929
|
Dec 19, 2023 |
|
The Mokena State Bank - A Front Street Institution For Over A Century
|
Dec 01, 2023 |
|
Maddog Strong - A Conversation With Frank & Cyndi Grobmeier
|
Nov 17, 2023 |
|
An Evening With President Lincoln and His Thanksgiving Proclamation
|
Nov 08, 2023 |
|
Halloween Hauntings and Stories - Halloween Special
|
Oct 27, 2023 |
|
Schmuhl School Open House - 1930's One Room School House
|
Oct 20, 2023 |
|
A Look Back on Our First Year on The Porch - 1 Year of MFP
|
Oct 14, 2023 |
|
The Mokena News Bulletin & The Semmler Family Pt. 2
|
Oct 13, 2023 |
|
The Mokena News Bulletin & The Semmler Family Pt. 1
|
Sep 29, 2023 |
|
The Bergmans - A Living History of Mokena
|
Sep 15, 2023 |
|
11042 Front Street; A Silent Witness To The Growth of Mokena
|
Sep 01, 2023 |
|
The 1909 Mokena Jailbreak
|
Aug 18, 2023 |
|
Tracks of History: The Forgotten Flagmen of Mokena Street Crossing
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Aug 02, 2023 |
|
The Cooper & Hostert Ford Agency of Mokena
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Jul 07, 2023 |
|
Mamie Bechstein - In Her Own Words
|
Jun 23, 2023 |
|
The Mokena Riot of 1864 - Part 2
|
Jun 09, 2023 |
|
A Memorial Day Tribute
|
May 26, 2023 |
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The Mokena Riot of 1864 - Part 1
|
May 19, 2023 |
|
The Last McGovney - In Memoriam to Carol J. Norton
|
May 05, 2023 |
|
Mokena-The Story of Our Name
|
May 01, 2023 |
|
Conversation With Little Al - The Mayor of Front Street
|
Apr 14, 2023 |
|
The Mokena Campfire Girls
|
Mar 31, 2023 |
|
From Hatch Hall to Zap Taco House
|
Mar 17, 2023 |
|
The Murder of Deputy Walter Fisher
|
Mar 03, 2023 |
|
From Hardware to Hot Shaves; Two Ghost's of Front Street
|
Feb 17, 2023 |
|
The Pillars of Front Street
|
Feb 02, 2023 |
|
A Local Civil War Hero; Pvt. Carl Hacker
|
Jan 20, 2023 |
|
The Story of Schieks Dairy
|
Jan 06, 2023 |
|
A 1925 Christmas on Front Street
|
Dec 22, 2022 |
|
A Conversation With Jennifer Medema
|
Dec 17, 2022 |
|
The Historic McGovney-Yunker Farm
|
Dec 09, 2022 |
|
A Conversation With Mr. David Kropp
|
Nov 27, 2022 |
|
St. John's Church
|
Nov 13, 2022 |
|
The Haunting of An English Garden
|
Oct 29, 2022 |
|
#1. Little Al's Bar & Grill
|
Oct 13, 2022 |