The RHS Facebook page is a rich archive of history-related posts by Carol Flynn, RHS Facebook admin and writer until mid-2025. Carol prolifically wrote a wide variety of meticulously researched local history articles for RHS. She continues to write for the Beverly Review and other media sources with articles particularly focused on local Ridge history.
Past Events: 2022
Treats, entertainment, and socializing were all part of the 50th anniversary celebration for the Ridge Historical Society.
Thanks to Janice Bruno Griffin of Party Pros, Inc., for her expert service. Food from D'Masti's.
Photos by D. Nemeth and C. Flynn.
Reminder!! Tomorrow!! Please stop by the Ridge Historical Society as we celebrate our 50th anniversary! Children welcome!
The Ridge Historical Society participated in the 2022 Memorial Day Parade today. The participants were Debbie Nemeth, President; Mike Wilk, Vice-President; Edris Hoover, Curator; and David Perry, Director. The car was a 1923 Durrant Star owned and driven by Tom Strasser.
Today's the day! The BAPA House Tour is finally here!! Starts at 12 noon at the Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley Avenue. You can buy tickets at the door, and tour five residences designed by the famous Hetherington family of architects.
You have until 3 p.m. to purchase tickets and until 5 p.m. to tour the facilities. For information, visit the Beverly Area Planning Association Association website at: https://bapa.org/
You can also pick up an oak tree ready to be planted on your own property to help preserve the tree canopy in the Chicago area. Old growth oak trees are dying off on the Ridge and need to be replaced.
Tomorrow is the big day! The Beverly Area Planning Association Home Tour kicks off at the Ridge Historical Society (RHS) at 12 noon!
This is an annual event that has gone on for decades, showcasing the wonderful and unique architecture of the Beverly community. This year, because it is the 100th birthday of the Graver-Driscoll House, RHS’s headquarters, the houses on the tour are all “Hetheringtons,” that is, designed by the architecture family dynasty started by John Todd Hetherington, who designed the Graver-Driscoll House. Beverly residents John Todd, and his son and grandson designed upwards of one hundred buildings in the community. In addition to the Graver-Driscoll House, five more buildings will be on the tour.
RHS will premier a new exhibit on Sunday on the Hetherington family and their contributions to the community, and on the Graver-Driscoll House. Here are just a few photos of the exhibit being set up – photographs by Mati Maldre and displays by Tim Blackburn, Carol Flynn and Linda Lamberty. And this was just the beginning – there is a wealth of NEW information that will be shared!
Also at RHS, we will be giving away oak tree saplings. The community is losing its old growth oak trees to old age. Much of the historic tree canopy for which Beverly/Morgan Park is famous will be gone in the next 30 to 50 years. It’s not too late to start reversing this decline by planting trees NOW.
Tickets are still available online or in person tomorrow. All the details can be found at https://bapa.org/home-tour/?
This is another view of tonight's event at the Ridge Historical Society's Graver-Driscoll House, the first of the season's porch concerts, brought to the community by the Beverly Area Planning Association, featuring The Leadfoot Band.
The picture was taken from the house's third floor attic, looking east a loooong way down to Longwood Drive. It was still early in the evening – the crowd grew to at least double this size.
The photo was taken by Mike Wilk, RHS Vice-President, the man to thank for proposing that RHS host this event.
What a great night! The first "porch concert" of the season featuring The Leadfoot Band was held at the Ridge Historical Society's Graver-Driscoll House and it was a phenomenal success! The free porch concerts are brought to the public by the Beverly Area Planning Association. This is "community" in action!
REMINDER!! TONIGHT!!
Friday, May 13th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., RHS will host a "BAPA Porch concert, featuring the band Leadfoot"
The first Beverly Area Planning Association (BAPA) Porch Concert of 2022 will be at RHS, kicking off the Home Tour Weekend. Join us on the big lawn on the Longwood Drive side for this great event featuring the popular local group Leadfoot. Bring a blanket or chairs and any beverages and snacks you would like. Reps from RHS and BAPA will also have tables there to answer any questions. Free Event. The Longwood Drive address is 10616 S. Longwood Drive.
The Ridge Historical Society
Upcoming Events
RHS will be opening its doors once again for programming beginning this month, and there are some exciting events coming up.
Sunday, April 24th, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., RHS will host “Collectible Show and Tell with Rex Newell”
While not exactly “Antiques Roadshow,” Rex Newell has been in the antiques and collectibles business for over 30 years. He is returning to RHS to do reviews of items people bring in from their personal collections. Reservations required. Limited to 30 participants and 1-2 pieces each. Call or email to RSVP – 773/881-1675; ridgehistory@hotmail.com. Cost $10.00 for members, $15.00 for non-Members
Friday, May 13th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., RHS will host a "BAPA Porch concert, featuring the band Leadfoot"
The first Beverly Area Planning Association (BAPA) Porch Concert of 2022 will be at RHS, kicking off the Home Tour Weekend. Join us on the big lawn on the Longwood Drive side for this great event featuring the popular local group Leadfoot. Bring a blanket or chairs and any beverages and snacks you would like. Reps from RHS and BAPA will also have tables there to answer any questions. Free Event. The Longwood Drive address is 10616 S. Longwood Drive.
Sunday, May 15th, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., RHS will be the starting point for the "Beverly/Morgan Park Home Tour," conducted by the Beverly Area Planning Association (BAPA)
RHS Headquarters, the Graver-Driscoll House, designed by architect John Todd Hetherington, begins the tour this year – participants will come to RHS to pick up their admission packets. The theme this year is the three generations of architects from the local Hetherington family and the homes and other buildings they designed in our community. RHS is complementing the BAPA tour with a large new exhibit on the Hetheringtons . Contact BAPA for tickets (bapa.org).
Sunday, June 26th, details to follow, "50/100 Anniversary Party" – Save the Date
2021 was the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Ridge Historical Society and the 100th anniversary of the building of the Graver-Driscoll House, RHS Headquarters. We’ll finally celebrate this year with a great members event. The plans are still being developed so save the date!