By Rebecca Foster-Goodman
Anna Shuster has been a fixture on the North Shore ever since Anna’s Mostly Mahogany opened its doors in Lake Forest in 1985, offering high-end antique furnishings and accessories. Around that time, she became involved with the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago, a full-service family health clinic that provides health care for the working poor in Chicago.
“Anna is passionate about Infant Welfare,” says Jennifer Mower (right) about longtime volunteer Anna Shuster. "My involvement with Infant Welfare came about when I couldn’t find places for my furniture,” Shuster said. “I would donate furniture to Infant Welfare.” Shuster will have a tent when the annual Antiques and Treasures in the Field, sponsored by the Lake Forest Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society, returns to town on Sunday, Sept. 12 at Deer Path Middle School from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $10. The event, which was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, will feature more than 40 vendors from the Midwest, showcasing items that range from furniture and textiles to artwork and vintage clothing. Jennifer Mower, president of the Infant Welfare Chapter of Lake Forest, knows how much the event depends on the work Shuster does throughout the year. “Anna is passionate about Infant Welfare,” Mower said. “She is always thinking about how to raise money, and she even donates her own items. The reason we have such great items in the Treasure Tent is because she collects all year long.” The Treasures Tent is the first stop for many at the antiques show. This year, the tent will include many special pieces, including donations from the estate of former governor Jim Thompson.
Shuster – who moved her shop to Highwood in 2001 -- is hopeful for a successful day on Sunday. "We hope people will come enjoy the show. We have everything from country to French antiques at good values. It’s an all-American type of antique show and a wonderful tradition for Lake Forest.”
To learn more about Infant Welfare, visit www.infantwelfaresociety.org.