2000-08 RHS Newsletter – AUGUST – SEPTEMBER, 2000

The Ridge Historical Society has dedicated its summer programming to a World War II exhibit titled "From the Homefront to the Battlefront," prominently featuring contributions from the RHS Oral History Project. By gathering local veterans around the Society's dining room table, the ongoing Storytellers' Project has recorded varied and poignant accounts of wartime experiences. The exhibit honors all participants, from soldiers to homefront workers, while highlighting the veterans' shared humility and desire to educate younger generations about the realities of war and the value of freedom.

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Featured in the RHS World War II exhibit is a photograph loaned by Steve Lewellyn, depicting Allied prisoners departing a German camp liberated by General Patton's forces in April 1945. The article recounts Lewellyn's unique experience of ignoring orders to stay in camp, instead hitching a ride to Munich with a deer-hunting driver, an escapade that earned him the nickname "Lucky" Lewellyn. The piece traces his subsequent path through Camp Lucky Strike in France, his return to Chicago, and an automobile accident that paradoxically afforded him the time to complete his degree at the University of Chicago.

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Expanding on the ongoing World War II exhibit, the Ridge Historical Society has collected captivating wartime memories from several local veterans. The article highlights the perilous Himalayan flights of Navy pilot Les Harkness, the dramatic parachute jump and subsequent capture of B-17 pilot Stephen B. Llewellyn, and the post-war intelligence work of Dr. Robert J. Wirtshafter in Berlin. These personal narratives add depth to the exhibit, which aims to educate the public about the sacrifices made during the conflict, and promotes an upcoming roundtable discussion featuring Pacific Theater veterans.

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The Calendar of Events lists several important upcoming dates for the Ridge Historical Society. Scheduled activities include an RHS Board Meeting on September 11, the Annual Garage Sale on September 16, and an Ice Cream Social on September 24. Additionally, a Roundtable Discussion focusing on Veterans of the Pacific Theater during World War II is set for October 1.

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To complement its World War II exhibit, the Ridge Historical Society hosted a special program on July 16 featuring three local veterans. Robert Wirtshafter discussed his role in the Counter Intelligence Corps in Europe, noting the critical importance of allied intelligence personnel's language skills and independent thinking. Cliff Hullinger recounted his service with the mobilized National Guard in North Africa and Italy, describing the latter as a "bloody mess." Finally, Bruce Walker, a V-12 expert who worked in the Intelligence Division for 30 years, emphasized that the military's strength relies more heavily on human intelligence than mere mechanical capability.

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The Community and RHS News Notes section provides updates on several ongoing initiatives and bits of local history. It announces plans for RHS to install historical displays in renovated Metra depots across Beverly Hills and Morgan Park. Administrative updates include the testing of new archive software by Eileen Klees, an ongoing review of RHS bylaws to maintain tax-exempt status, and the consideration of bids to air condition the Driscoll House headquarters. The section also acknowledges Maureen Gilligan's painstaking work on the archives and shares a brief history of the Gardner House, the oldest house in Beverly Hills before its demolition in 1934.

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This brief section serves to acknowledge and thank individuals and groups who have recently made memorial donations to the Ridge Historical Society in honor of the late "Bud" Lane. It continues a list started in a previous issue, demonstrating ongoing community support and remembrance. The list of recent contributors includes several individuals, couples, and groups such as "The Men of Leisure" and "The Sandusky High School Faculty & Staff."

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In her regular column, RHS President Pat McGrail highlights key upcoming events and extends heartfelt thanks to members of the community for their support. She reminds readers of the RHS Garage Sale on September 16, detailing donation guidelines, and the Ice Cream Social on September 24, which will take place on the RHS veranda. The column concludes with specific acknowledgments of gratitude to individuals who have donated items, such as children's clothes hangers and 1940s folding chairs, as well as those who have volunteered their time to beautify the RHS grounds.

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