2004-10 RHS Newsletter – October-November 2004

This autobiographical account details Bill Meisel's early life in Morgan Park, including the games he and his friends invented, such as "tree tag" and "bike tag," heavily featuring Prospect Park. He fondly remembers the park's features, like the lily pond and its tadpoles, and praises the dedicated work of the park's sole caretaker, Mr. Vinke. The narrative concludes on a somber note, noting Mr. Vinke's tragic suicide after losing his job when local park districts were consolidated into the Chicago Park District in 1933.

Page(s): 1, 3

Reprinted from a 1913 edition of Morgan Park "Town Talk," this brief notice outlines a plea from the Park Commissioners to local parents. Children playing near the pond in Prospect Park have been throwing stones, causing significant damage to the large leaves of the South American Lilies. The commissioners believe the damage is done out of ignorance rather than malice and hope parental intervention will solve the issue.

Page(s): 1

Prompted by a June-July 2004 newsletter notice regarding his great-grandfather, Charles B. Goes IV provides additional family history. He details the Goes family's residential timeline, from their 1890 home on 103rd and Charles Street to moves into South Shore, Beverly, and Flossmoor. The letter highlights the family's business, Goes & Quensel (later Goes Lithographing Company), their educational ties to Morgan Park Academy, and an anecdote about moving to Washington Heights to help an ailing family member escape smoke inhalation.

Page(s): 2

This historical snippet from a 1913 Morgan Park "Town Talk" reports the tragic death of twenty-four-year-old Herman Niner. While shooting pigeons near the Rock Island Railroad tracks at 119th and Page Streets, Niner attempted to climb over the bumpers between two freight cars. A sudden jolt from the engine threw him to the ground, resulting in a fatal, neck-breaking fall before the train cars ultimately passed over him.

Page(s): 2

Sourced from the August 2, 1913 issue of Morgan Park "Town Talk," this piece describes a minor traffic mishap involving Mrs. M.G. Price. While backing her Cadillac out of an alley south of Becker's Drug Store, she noticed a wagon on Commercial Avenue needed more room. In her attempt to accommodate the wagon by backing up further, her car grazed the store's large south window, shattering it completely and requiring the owner's sons to sleep in the store for security until it was fixed.

Page(s): 3

The Ridge Historical Society participated in a Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) funded by Heritage Preservation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Assessors Neil Cockerline and Linda Grubb evaluated the operational and physical state of the RHS and its headquarters, the Graver/Driscoll House. Key recommendations from their two-day visit include hiring an executive director, extending board member terms for stability, establishing a concrete collections management policy, and making a definitive commitment to staying in their historic building to secure future grants. They also suggested relocating the library to the basement due to weight concerns and addressing zoning and accessibility issues.

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This short excerpt from the June 21, 1913 Morgan Park "Town Talk" describes a close call for Mr. Leslie Perrine and his friends. They narrowly avoided being struck by a Rock Island train at the Morgan Avenue crossing, saved only by someone quickly throwing the emergency brake. The article questions if it will take a fatal accident before protective measures or a safety light are installed at the dangerous crossing.

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Reprinted from the June 28, 1913 Morgan Park "Town Talk," this piece reports an incident where a "miscreant" tampered with a fire plug on Ada Street near Morgan Avenue, flooding the street and prairie. The police investigation sparked differing opinions among residents regarding the culprit's identity. The article notes the racial tension in the theories, with some suspecting a misguided person of color seeking revenge for a recent arrest, while others believed white individuals did it specifically to cast suspicion on the Black community.

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Linda Lamberty reports on the exciting addition of a Smartboard to the Ridge Historical Society's educational tools. Funded through the estate of late local teacher Dorothy Ann Saly, the interactive whiteboard will be used for professional development series for teachers and community educational purposes. The article explains how the Smartboard functions as a large, interactive monitor and invites interested parties to attend training sessions to help develop creative, history-based learning programs using RHS's local archives.

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This brief story from the December 6, 1913 Morgan Park "Town Talk" details a Thanksgiving night incident where a man was seen jumping from behind a bush near a local porch. Fifteen-year-old Lorin MacCoy fetched Policeman Scott to investigate the unoccupied house. Upon arrival, the policeman surprisingly told the unarmed boy to go through the dark basement and let him in the kitchen door, an order the brave boy followed despite having no weapon or even a match.

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Reprinted from the November 29, 1913 Morgan Park "Town Talk," this humorous piece highlights the fundraising tactics of the Woman's Guild. After serving a massive turkey dinner with all the fixings for fifty cents, they strategically force attendees to exit the Parish House by walking past bazaar booths selling embroidered linens and fancy handwork. The writer playfully laments the loss of extra quarters while praising the indispensable nature of women's organizational skills.

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With a brief introduction by editor Dave Daruszka appreciating the witty writing style of historical newspapers, this piece features an excerpt from the December 20, 1913 Morgan Park "Town Talk." It details a village board meeting where President Kimmey read a letter from Mr. A.M. Duller complaining about someone shooting nineteen squirrels in one morning on Prospect Avenue. The incident led to a review of ordinances prohibiting firearms within village limits and sparked a debate, as some residents defended the shooting, citing the squirrels as annoyances that destroyed fruit trees and gardens.

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