The history of Dan Ryan Woods – Part 8: Good old Dan Ryan
By Carol Flynn
Dan Ryan became President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPCC) in February 1921.
It was no secret that many government jobs were handed out through patronage, to thank supporters and pay back favors, and the forest preserves were no exception. In November 1921, a decision had to be made about which forest preserve employees to lay off for the winter, and Ryan pointedly asked the Board members which employees actually worked. The Chicago Tribune reported that the commissioners began squabbling at the Board meeting about who had received more patronage jobs within the forest preserve district. As the situation deteriorated and several commissioners accused Ryan of trying to control all the jobs, Ryan settled the matter by declaring, “Everyone is fired!” Then he abruptly adjourned the meeting. The Chief Forester had to come back to him with recommendations for which of the 200 employees to keep on for the winter.
Ryan carefully guarded the intent of the preserves. He did not want to allow captured World War I German cannon to be displayed in the preserves, stating, “God has given us the peaceful forests, and it is not right to place these grim reminders of war in them.” He suggested they go in city parks, or better, be melted down to create items “for use in the arts of peace.” But veterans’ groups persisted in the request to display cannon in the preserves, so Ryan relented.
Ryan did allow Gold Star Mothers to place markers in the preserves, commemorating sons and daughters lost in the war. The Gold Star concept originated with service flags hung in windows to indicate family members currently serving in the U. S. military (blue stars) and those who had lost their lives while in service (gold stars). An official national organization for American Gold Star Mothers was formed in 1928 although there were groups active at local levels for a decade before that.
A Gold Star marker was installed in the Beverly woods in the 1920s. Over the years, the stonework deteriorated, and the plaque disappeared. It was beautifully restored in recent years and now is prominently displayed near the visitors’ center.
Ryan also worked with the American Legion, Boy Scouts and Kiwanis to plant 11,000 trees for Armistice Day (now Veterans Day) that were dedicated to individual veterans. People sent in money to buy a tree, usually for a family member.
“I had four sons who served,” Ryan was quoted as saying in the Chicago Tribune. “I know I would like for them to have trees upon these roads of remembrance, and I want to see other soldiers have the same honor shown them.”
Some people mistakenly sent in money for non-veterans, and they were asked by Ryan if, instead of a refund, they would allow their money to be used to buy a tree for a veteran who did not have family to buy one for him/her.
Brookfield Zoo, whose official name is the Chicago Zoological Park, was established as part of the FPCC during Ryan’s tenure as County Board President. Ryan headlined the ground-breaking ceremony for the zoo in 1921 although construction did not begin in earnest until 1926. More delays due to lack of funding brought on by the Great Depression prevented the zoo from opening until 1934 but it was an immediate success when it did open.
When it came time for re-election for the Cook County Board presidency, the Democratic party boss George Brennan put up Anton J. Cermak instead of Ryan as the candidate. This was due to long-standing rivalries between Ryan and Brennan going back to their ward days a decade before.
Ryan ran as an Independent and was supported by local papers. The Palatine Enterprise and the Chicago Daily Herald ran a piece that said, “Daniel Ryan has proved himself a faithful, honest, dependable official. He has administered the affairs of the county in a most efficient and economical manner.”
Ryan lost the presidency to Cermak, but he did retain a seat on the board. [Note: Cermak became Mayor of Chicago in 1931 but was assassinated in 1933 during a presumed attempt on the life of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.]
Ryan suffered a stroke and died in 1923. He was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Upon his death, the Suburbanite Economist referred to him as “good old Dan Ryan.” The newspapers of the day were respectful and complimentary of Ryan. The Chicago Tribune stated “he was considered one of the most valued members [of the Cook County Board of Commissioners], as he was the leader in giving the county the wonderful system of Forest Preserves. He was highly respected in all circles.”
His son, Dan Ryan, Jr., for whom the expressway is named, was elected to fill his father’s vacancy on the Cook County Board.
In 1924, one of the gems of the forest preserve system, the Beverly Hills Preserve, close to the Ryan home in Englewood, was renamed in honor of Dan Ryan, Sr.
Next installment: The Dan Ryan Woods in the 1920s