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Louise Barwick – Part 8

110th and Western, looking south. By Louise Barwick. Set in the 1890s.
Louise Barwick's narrative about her painting of 110th and Western Avenue.
Events at Silva Hall were an important part of social life on the Ridge. Silva Hall is long gone, but its memory lives on through paintings like this one by Louise Barwick. View Miss Barwick's work at the current RHS exhibit, "Louise Barwick's Lost Ridge."
Louise Barwick's narrative about her painting of Silva Hall.
Delivering Coal – by Louise Barwick. Presumed setting is 105th and Seeley. 1895.

The Ridge Historical Society

Louise Barwick – Part 8

By Carol Flynn

The Ridge Historical Society (RHS) realizes it’s Super Bowl Sunday, but not everyone watches football! If you’re looking for an alternative, a visit to RHS to see the current exhibit – completely free to the public – is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

The current exhibit, “Louise Barwick’s Lost Ridge,” may be viewed on Sundays and Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. or by appointment. RHS is located at 10621 S. Seeley Avenue in Chicago. RHS may be contacted at 773/881-1675 or ridgehistory@hotmail.com. Parking is available at the building or on Seeley Avenue.

Louise Barwick (1871 – 1957) was a long-time resident and art teacher in the Ridge community. Her watercolor paintings of local scenes from around 1900, which form the basis of the current exhibit, offer a visual history of the environment of that time.

Miss Barwick painted these works throughout her lifetime. Some were painted at the time (1890s) and others were painted from memory later in her life. It appears that sometime around the 1940s, the paintings were given to the Walker Library at 110th and Hoyne Avenue, and later they were given to RHS, where they are a valued part of the collection.

Many of the paintings are accompanied by written narratives from Miss Barwick herself, describing and explaining the scene and its significance, from the perspective of a young woman at the time.

Here are a few of her paintings and their narratives. Visit the RHS exhibit to learn more about this remarkable woman and life on the Ridge 125 years ago.