The Ridge Historical Society
March – Irish American Heritage Month – Post 2
By Carol Flynn
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Today we present part 2 of how Beverly became an Irish Catholic community.
Although founded by Protestants from England and other northern European countries, from the earliest days on, there was always an Irish Catholic presence on the Ridge.
One person was John Lynch (1825-1890), who came in 1844 to work for Thomas Morgan, the wealthy English Protestant who bought thousands of acres on and around the Ridge, and for whom Morgan Park is named.
Lynch, born in Ireland, worked for Morgan for seven years before buying his own farmland around 105th and Loomis Streets.
The young Lynch helped Morgan build and manage his estate. In true Irish style, Lynch built a substantial sheep cote and subterranean icehouse from limestone he quarried and dragged from Blue Island. Nestled into the Ridge, the structure opened onto what is now Longwood Drive between 91st and 92nd Streets.
Lynch married Margaret Martin (?-1874) from Ireland, and they had three children. Their descendants have lived on the Ridge for many generations.
More than a million Irish people emigrated from their homeland during and after the Irish Famine years of the 1840s. The Irish Catholic population grew in the Chicago area.
There were also German and French Catholics in the area. The first Catholic parish serving the northern part of the Ridge, Saint Margaret of Scotland, began as a mission church operated by St. Benedict Church of Blue Island sometime around 1861. St. Benedict Church was founded for the German Catholic population working on the canal. Sacred Heart Mission Church moved from Alsip to its present location at 117th and Church Streets to serve the French Catholics working in the local brickyards.
As part of Washington Heights, Beverly was annexed to the City of Chicago in 1890. West Beverly and Morgan Park followed in 1914 and Mount Greenwood joined the city in 1927.
The next post will cover the founding of St. Barnabas Parish.