2002-04 RHS Newsletter – APRIL – MAY, 2002

The article details three upcoming events for the Ridge Historical Society. On April 14, Paul Petraitis will present a lecture focusing on Gurdon Saltenstall Hubbard and the historical importance of Hubbard's Trail. On May 5, a lecture on the "Geology of the Ridge" will explore how weather and drainage shaped the local land. Finally, on May 6, Sue and Gene Delves will lead a spring wildflower walk through Dan Ryan Woods to view native plants such as white trout lilies and wild hyacinths.

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This brief administrative update lists the individuals elected to leadership positions within the Ridge Historical Society at the February 10 Annual Meeting. It details the executive officers, including incoming President Eugene Delves, Vice President Eileen Klees, and other key roles. The announcement also lists continuing board members, individuals filling one-year vacancies, board members serving until 2004, and the Board Members Emeritus.

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Newly elected RHS President Gene Delves introduces himself to the membership, noting his long history growing up in the 19th Ward and his deep appreciation for the community. He expresses excitement and honor at taking on the presidency. He identifies increasing membership and raising funds as immediate goals, recounting his early success in recruiting new members simply by directly asking them, and encourages current members to actively recruit others to ensure the society's growth.

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Spanning a two-page spread is a reproduction of a glass negative taken by Henry Ralph Koopman II in the 1890s, depicting young ladies and children gathering outside the Chicago Female College at 114th Place & Lothair Avenue, a building designed by Burnham and Root. The accompanying text provides biographical details about Koopman, the son of a Dutch preacher who opened the first photographic studio in Roseland, founded the Roseland Chamber of Commerce, and later retired to raise chickens. The glass negative is noted as being one of only four surviving pieces of his work, preserved in the collection of Paul Petraitis.

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This extensive article, written in conjunction with an RHS exhibit co-curated by Paul Petraitis and Linda Lamberty, explores the early history and settlement of the Ridge area. It details how the Indian Boundary Lines of 1815 and early government land sales shaped the region's geography and development. The text traces the migration of pioneer families, particularly highlighting the Lane family's journey from New York to establish a community on Lanes Island, and outlines the Bingle, Jackson, and Morgan family lineages, drawing connections to historical artifacts, photographs, and current RHS members.

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This article covers the 100th birthday celebration of John Baily, an event attended by nearly 150 family members and friends. The gathering featured a luncheon, a pictorial overview of his life, and tables decorated with items reflecting his hobbies, such as Kiwanis peanuts and antique tools. A significant portion of the article includes remarks by Jerry Taylor, who recounted memories of working alongside Baily at Illinois Bell Telephone for nearly 40 years, highlighting Baily's incredible work ethic, his handling of coin-operated telephone accounts, and his active life following his retirement in 1967.

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This obituary commemorates Foster McCrum Palmer of Watertown, Mass., who passed away in 2002. A 1930 graduate of Morgan Park High School, Palmer had a distinguished career as a senior reference librarian and director at Harvard University's Widener Library, where he pioneered the application of computers to libraries. He was also a passionate trolley car enthusiast and an avid world traveler, leaving behind collections of photographs and legendary Christmas letters that are now preserved in the Ridge Historical Society archives.

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The article details a recent Chicago Greencorps grant awarded to the Ridge Historical Society, achieved through the efforts of board member Joyce Black and the Morgan Park Junior Women's Club. The grant provides essential resources valued at approximately $3000, including plant materials, tools, and soil, to be used in a landscape design created by Wendy Schulenberg and developed by Carol Belshaw. To execute this beautification project, the society issues an urgent call for at least 10 volunteers per day to help with soil preparation on May 30 and the actual planting on June 7 and 8.

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