2006-12 RHS Newsletter – WINTER 2006

In October 2006, the Ridge Historical Society collaborated with the School of the Art Institute to host "Keepsake Manor," an innovative student art show. Led by local artist Michael Hardesty, seventeen talented young artists created works focused on nostalgia, sentimentality, and emotional connections to historical objects. The students installed their art in unconventional spaces within the Graver-Driscoll House, such as closets and the dog run, integrating them with the society's own "Historically Modern" exhibit. The society hopes to continue this type of collaborative exhibition in the future.

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A significant historical discovery was made when Anne Morgan Moore Colgin, the great-great-granddaughter of early settler Thomas Morgan, visited Morgan Park High School for the "Principal For A Day" program. Colgin subsequently contacted the Ridge Historical Society to share ten binders of newly organized primary source materials, including 19th-century correspondence from England, household inventories, and Chicago deeds. Although she is currently keeping the original documents as she continues her research, Colgin intends to scan the collection and share digital copies with the society, providing invaluable insights into one of the area's founding families who previously had piecemeal representation in local archives.

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Maureen Gilligan highlights the critical need for volunteers by detailing her recent work accessioning the Barnard-Howe Family Papers, a 25-box collection donated to the Ridge Historical Society in 1976. The meticulous process of organizing and stabilizing these documents reveals fascinating insights into the Erastus and Daniel Barnard families, who were major landowners and early settlers on the Ridge. The collection notably highlights the active, remarkable roles that the women of this wealthy commercial family played in managing church building, publications, and associated community organizations like the Bethany Union Church.

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This article serves as a tribute to the indispensable role of volunteers at the Ridge Historical Society, ranging from long-serving dedicated members who act as curators and financial officers to newly recruited docents and researchers. It highlights specific contributions, such as physical repairs to the Graver-Driscoll House by the Schell family, landscaping efforts, and the meticulous sorting of photograph collections by student interns from local colleges. By acknowledging numerous individuals by name, the society underscores its goal of involving people of all ages to ensure the continued preservation of local history and the maintenance of their architectural headquarters.

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Between September and November 2006, the Ridge Historical Society hosted the "Historically Modern" exhibit, recognizing the area's rich collection of Art Moderne, International, and Late Prairie style homes built between 1925 and 1965. Through extensive architectural research using county and city records, the RHS historic buildings committee identified over 120 modern designs, featuring 70 in the exhibit and awarding ten properties with honorary Historic Building Certificates. The event, supported by Granacki Historic Consultants, also celebrated the legacy of local architect Elmer C. Carlson, featuring a lecture, a donation of historic photographs from his family, and a visit from his son, Richard Carlson.

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Seeking community assistance, the Ridge Historical Society featured a "Mystery photo" of a young men's baseball team sponsored by the Supple Service Station, formerly located at 9906 S. Vincennes. While two members, Bud and Don Cummings, have been identified by the photo's donor, the society is looking for the names of the other players and more information about the Supple family. The article details the society's deep dive into researching the station using directories, census data, and Sanborn Insurance Maps, revealing a long-standing local gas station business operated by the Supple family for over four decades, and it encourages readers to donate similar local business and sports memorabilia.

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A brief acknowledgment section thanks local contributors for their recent service to the Ridge Historical Society. AFS Limited, operated by Beverly resident Paul Albarran, is warmly thanked for restoring the damaged Longwood Drive pillar signs with a durable plastic polymer at no cost to the society. Additionally, the society expresses gratitude to Cub Pack #3607 and their leadership for volunteering their time to clear acorns, leaves, and debris from the society's yard during an October cleanup event.

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This short informational piece notifies readers about a newly signed piece of legislation by President Bush in August 2006 regarding tax-free charitable giving. It explains that taxpayers aged 70 or older can distribute up to $100,000 directly from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) to qualified charities without triggering federal income taxes. The article outlines how this exclusion counts towards minimum distribution requirements for the year and encourages interested individuals to contact their IRA Fund Administrators to utilize this rollover option.

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An announcement for local history enthusiasts details the remote availability of the ProQuest Chicago Tribune Historical Archive through the Chicago Public Library's website. By simply using a valid library card, researchers and students can now access a unique, full-image archive covering the newspaper's publication history from 1849 to 1985. The society highly recommends this extensive electronic database as a crucial tool for investigating the historical development of Chicago and the broader Midwest, offering assistance for anyone needing a tutorial on how to use it.

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Printed upside down on the mailer portion of the newsletter, the back page serves as a community calendar detailing upcoming events and meetings for the Ridge Historical Society into early 2007. The prominent feature is the announcement of a new exhibit, "Remembering Marshall Fields," created in collaboration with a Marshall Fields archivist, which will feature a "Kids Treasure Hunt" and a special oral history event for community members to recount their memories of the iconic store. The calendar also lists specific dates for upcoming board meetings and a Thursday Member Night.

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