If, perchance, on a quiet evening in July, a stranger, hopefully a poet, would wander into the quiet village on the banks of the Des Plaines River, he might think of himself as a bard in an enchanted forest. There, under leafy green trees, he would find two small, round stone buildings, perhaps built for gnomes, fairies or other mystic creatures. The poet might describe them as Medieval cottages of stone, covered by a teardrop-shaped roof.

However, the imagination stops there. One of these charming buildings is a well museum, containing the history of the small town, first populated by pioneers in 1836, later named “Riverside, Village in a Forest.”

Let us take a peek into history. Filed at the museum under “Fourth of July” are four 5-inch-by-7-inch booklets with the American flag inscribed on their cover. Inside are the events of the Village’s Community Fourth-of-July celebrations, from 1914 to 1917. These were donated to the Riverside Historical Society by the late Keith Evans, a man who loved the Village of Riverside. Patriotism has always been cherished in this village, though lifestyles have changed in many ways.

On this year’s holiday, the ladies dominated the parade. The Grand Marshall of the celebration, Martha Heine, rode in the lead car, followed by another woman who has been active in community affairs, Joanne Kosey, who was named “Person of the Year” by members of the Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club.

This is a far cry from the calendar of events in the 1914 brochure. The only mention of women’s involvement is “The Ladies’ Nail Driving Contest — married women.” This event was, of course, set up to elicit guffaws from the crowd when the women failed to drive the spike through a thick board. Sorry, readers, the nail-driving contest was not included in the 2008 festivities.

Other highlights of the 1914 day included a march of the school children from “the school house” to the park. Goldsmith’s renowned Military Band blared patriotic music as each child march to the flag pole and saluted. This was followed by the singing of three patriotic songs, which “Everyone is expected to sing!” All verses of “Star Spangled Banner,” “Columbia the Gem of the Ocean,” and “America” rang out in what is now Guthrie Park.

This was followed by the baby and doll buggy parade, limited to children not older than 6 years. Prizes were awarded for the “best decorated buggy, cart, Irish mail, velocipede or other vehicle.”

The grand parade then began. Prizes were awarded for “equestrians, ponies and carts, callithumpians, bicycles, motorcycles and automobiles.” In 2008, there were no equestrians, ponies, carts or “callithumpians.” Times do change.

The community spirit was shown by orders to picnic in “the adjacent parks.” Those who were not too exhausted or overfed were told to bring a camp chair to watch the ball game at the “ball park” beginning at 2 p.m. This was followed by the boys’ three-legged race (for boys younger than 15), the girls’ hoop race (for girls younger than 20), the boys’ sack race (for boys younger than 15), the girls’ potato race (all ages), the wheelbarrow race (100 yards, married men only), the ladies’ nail-driving contest and folk dances on the green. The real highlight of the games was the greased pig chase. The prize? The pig. After the pig chase was an intermission for dinner. The 2008 celebration did not include a greased pig chase, nor was there any folk dancing on the green.

From 7:45 to 8:45 p.m., a water carnival, with lighted boats and canoes sailing down the Des Plaines, was “to be held over course starting at the C.B. & Q bridge and extending past the judges’ stand, which will be on the banks of the river in front of J. C. Smith, Jr.’s house. Suitable prizes will be given for the most attractively decorated boats or canoes. Band concert during the carnival.”

The exhausted celebrants were then treated to a “grand display of fireworks, which will be set off at the swan pond. These fireworks will be of unusual splendor. During the entire day, the band will be on hand and furnish appropriate music.”

Whew.

This year, after the parade, the crowd gathered in Guthrie Park, no doubt named Community Park in 1914. Today’s celebrants enjoyed the Boy Scouts Pack 24 freshly squeezed lemonade and stood in line for bratwurst and chips.

The 2008 crowd dispersed around noon, retiring to backyards, block parties or North Riverside fireworks. According to Guy Belmonte, Administrator of North Riverside, the fireworks were not in North Riverside in 1914 because the town was not incorporated until 1923.

The Riverside Historical Museum is a veritable gold mine for this small town’s history. Riversiders are indebted to the “angel” of the museum, Susan Bartholomew, who for many years spent her time, expertise and energy cataloguing these historical items.

Today, the museum is under the guidance of a Board of Commissioners. These include chairperson Martha Heine, Diane Ceragioli, Ed Kunevich, Kim Jacobs, Michael Flight, James P. Frantzis and Constance Guardi.

The Museum, at 10 Pine Ave., Riverside. Museum, is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. For information, call (708) 447-2542,