1999-12 RHS Newsletter – DECEMBER, 1999 – JANUARY, 2000

RHS President Pat McGrail announces the unexpected departure of Executive Director Mike Stachnik, praising his dedication to making the society a well-known community resource. To fill the gap, the society has brought on Paul Petraitis, a photographer and archivist familiar to the RHS from previous collaborative projects. McGrail expresses confidence that with continued volunteer support, the year 2000 will be a highly successful one for the organization.

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Paul Warren Petraitis, a Pullman area resident, has officially succeeded Mike Stachnik as the Archivist/Curator of the Ridge Historical Society. He comes to the RHS with extensive professional experience, having previously worked as a Museum Consultant for the Willie Dixon Foundation, a researcher and photographer for the National Park Service, and a preservation consultant for the Historic Pullman Foundation. Petraitis holds a B.S. in Design from IIT with a focus on the history of photography, and brings a wealth of expertise in local history, geology, and historical preservation to his new role.

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Executive Director and Archivist Paul Petraitis shares his vision for the Ridge Historical Society, highlighting the importance of local museums in capturing everyday objects, photographs, and personal stories often missed by larger national institutions. He plans to leverage his expertise in geography, photography, and map-making to explore both pioneer eras and more contemporary local topics, such as the construction of I-57, panic peddling during the late '60s, and the African American neighborhood of East Morgan Park. Petraitis also hopes to initiate a lecture series, partner with local schools, and build a darkroom in the RHS basement.

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After serving more than six years as the Archivist/Curator for the Ridge Historical Society, Michael Stachnik completed his final day in the position on October 29. He accepted a new role as the Coordinator of the Isle a la Cache Museum, an institution that is part of the Will County Forest Preserve District and located along the Des Plaines River. The article notes that Stachnik and his family are currently seeking a new home convenient to this attractive museum location.

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This article delves into the rich history of holiday celebrations in the Beverly Hills and Morgan Park neighborhoods, focusing heavily on the Euterpean Oratorio Chorus's annual performances of Handel's "Messiah." Beginning in the early 1900s, this chorus grew from a double male quartet to a prominent musical group that eventually performed at the 1933 World's Fair and Soldier Field. The article also recounts other bygone traditions, such as private home recitals by groups like the Crescendo Musical Club in 1927, Depression-era church festivities, and vintage holiday travel deals, concluding with a 1933 article's reminder to write out "Merry Christmas" entirely rather than using the abbreviation "Xmas."

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Eileen Klees outlines several technological and programmatic advancements coming to the Ridge Historical Society as they approach the new millennium. The organization has purchased a digital camera to enable the new curator, Paul Petraitis, to photograph collections and build an online Internet presence by the first quarter of 2000. Additionally, the RHS is upgrading its phone system to include voicemail for better handling of incoming calls. Furthermore, Harold Wolff, Linda Lamberty, and Eileen Klees are developing a fee-based genealogy and house history research service, the proceeds from which will support ongoing RHS programs.

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To celebrate the holiday season, the Ridge Historical Society's Driscoll House is hosting an exhibit titled "Caroling! Caroling!", featuring holiday trees uniquely decorated by various community organizations according to a specific carol theme. This colorful exhibit serves as a featured stop on the third annual Community Holiday Parlor Tour scheduled for Sunday, December 5. The article lists numerous participating local groups, such as the Beverly Hills Juniors and Morgan Park United Methodist Church, and provides details on viewing hours, admission prices, and ticket reservations for the tour.

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During a transitional period of leadership between Archivist/Curators, the Ridge Historical Society Board engaged Cindy Fielding to work one day a week for six months as an organizational consultant. Her primary objective is to objectively examine the organization and draft a comprehensive five-year plan that clearly defines the recommended roles of Board members, officers, and staff. As noted by Past-president Sue Delves, this structured plan is essential to help the RHS transition from an entirely volunteer-run organization to one with paid staff, ultimately facilitating the successful solicitation of grants from various funding sources.

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This historical excerpt captures the reflections of Charles Oliver and Mary Faxon Howe on the occasion of their golden wedding anniversary on November 15, 1898. They marvel at the astonishing technological leaps made during the 19th century, comparing the primitive tools of their youth—such as flint and tinder, wide open fireplaces, and goose quill pens—to modern conveniences like friction matches, gas lighting, electric buttons, sewing machines, and global telegraph cables. They specifically contrast the year-long ordeal of historically sending a letter to Japan via ship with the "modern" ability to send a cable and receive a reply from across the globe within just a few hours.

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