The origin and meaning of the chapter name comes from the local history of the Palos area. The silt laid down by the waters of Lake Chicago in the Palos region had great porosity and capacity to stand in vertical walls. Some hundred years ago, within what is now the forest preserve of Cook County, thousands of barn swallows nested in the vertical face of the Swallow Cliff outcrop on the Neumann Creek. People used to congregate to watch the swallows’ aerial flying maneuvers being displayed to capture flying insects and then to dive into their burrows to feed their young. When La Grange Road (Route 45) needed to be widened, the roadways cut right through the cliff. Despite the addition of protective screening to prevent vandalism, the swallows all but disappeared. The cliffs in the forest preserve later became the site of the Swallow Cliff Toboggan Slides, which no longer exist.

Original Swallow Cliffs

Meetings are held on the third Saturday of the month with luncheons in May, October, and December. No meetings are held during the summer months. For more information or to attend a meeting contact us.

CALENDAR 2024-2025

Speaker sharing how she became an American citizen

Members fill purses and baby bags with new items collected

The bags were then donated to women’s crises centers

Swallow Cliff honors individuals and groups for their outstanding community service

The President General acknowledged Swallow Cliff’s contributions in Springfield, IL