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: 2025
Waterman: From the White City to the Ridge
Friday, March 7, at 7:00 p.m.
Repeating our popular presentation:
Architect Harry Hale Waterman, who is the subject of our latest exhibit, was just 23 years old when he started to build some of his most memorable buildings on the Ridge. In the first part of this program, Exhibit Curator Tim Blackburn will focus on Waterman's influences of the Columbian Exposition and his first employer, Joseph Lyman Silsbee.
Mati Maldre will discuss his architectural photos of thirty Waterman buildings, which were mostly taken in the mid-1980s with a Deardorff 4×5/5×7 view camera.
RHS Facebook Page Author Carol Flynn will then share stories from the lives of Waterman's early clients on the Ridge who made interesting impressions on the community in their day. This has been continued as a series on Facebook to complement the RHS exhibit.
Attendees are encouraged to view the exhibit "Harry Hale Waterman: Unique in any Style" after the program. The exhibit is also open Tuesdays and Sundays from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., or by appointment, through at least May 2024.
Members: $10 | Non-members: $20 | Students under 18: $5
Ridge Historical Society
10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
Limited Capacity. Get tickets here: https://bit.ly/RHSwaterman1
RSVP: ridgehistory@hotmail.com 773.881.1675
How did a sex scandal connected to Beverly almost derail one of Chicago's most prominent families in the early 1900s?
What is the lasting effect the 1893 World's Fair had on Beverly's streetscape?
Learn the answers to these interesting questions at this Friday's program at the Ridge Historical Society.
This is a repeat of the sold-out program from last November, and it has three components: A look at Waterman's connections to the 1893 World's Fair; a review of the process for the photographs used in the exhibit; and stories about some of the people who lived in Waterman-designed houses on the Ridge.
Attendees will be able to view the exhibit "Harry Hale Waterman: Unique in any Style." The exhibit is also open Tuesdays and Sundays from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., or by appointment, through at least May 2024.
Members: $10 | Non-members: $20 | Students under 18: $5
Ridge Historical Society
10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
Limited Capacity. Get tickets here: https://bit.ly/RHSwaterman1
RSVP: ridgehistory@hotmail.com 773.881.1675
Women’s History Hindsight: The Struggle for Suffrage
Sunday, March 23, at 4:00 p.m.
– Ellie Carlson, Presenter
For Women's History Month, RHS is featuring a talk by historian and performer Ellie Carlson of Ellie Presents, on the history of the suffrage movement that won the right to vote for women.
Her presentation will focus on the influence of trade and teacher’s unions, women in higher education, fundraising through cookbooks and bazaars, marches, songs, letter writing campaigns and how women’s influence over the voting men in their lives brought about the reform.
About the Presenter: Elizabeth Carlson, also known as Ellie, is a historian and a performer with concentration in the domestic arts. For over thirty years, she has worked as a curator in small to mid-sized museums. Ellie has a B.A. with honors from Roosevelt University and a Masters of Historical Administration and Museum Studies from the University of Kansas. She completed her professional internship at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in the Division of Costume in 1987. She is the recipient of over twenty-five Illinois Association of Museums, Illinois State Historical Society and American Association for State and Local History awards.
Members: $10 | Non-members: $20 | Students under 18: $5
Ridge Historical Society
10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
Limited Capacity. Get tickets here: https://bit.ly/RHS-suffrage
RSVP: ridgehistory@hotmail.com 773.881.1675
Cook County Forest Preserves & Friends of The Forest Preserves
Friday, April 4, at 7:00 p.m.
– Benjamin Cox, Presenter
It’s spring (finally) and time to get out into nature. Ben will cover information on recent and ongoing programs that Friends of the Forest Preserves are involved with and the Engagement Corps program being launched in 2025.
About the Presenter: Benjamin Cox became Friends’ first Executive Director in 2004.
As Executive Director, Benjamin leads the advocacy and policy efforts, works to bring resources to the forest preserves in Cook County, and builds partnerships and coalitions to maximize community impact.
Members: $10 | Non-members: $20 | Students under 18: $5
Ridge Historical Society
10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
Limited Capacity. Get tickets here: https://bit.ly/CCforest
RSVP: ridgehistory@hotmail.com 773.881.1675
Spring Bonnet Tea 2025
Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 2pm
RHS is happy to continue to hold this popular spring annual fundraiser event. Join us for a Full Victorian Tea featuring a fine selection of savories, scones and pastries. Ladies, please wear a spring hat or bonnet!
A wonderful multi-generational event — come with friends, bring your daughters or granddaughters for a lovely afternoon! A fun addition is a drawing for door prizes.
This Full Victorian Tea is set in the Historic Graver-Driscoll House, on the Ridge in the Beverly Hills neighborhood of Chicago.
Space is limited, advance ticket purchase or RSVP required.
Adult Guests $30 Guests Under 12 $15
Ridge Historical Society
10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
Limited Capacity. Get tickets here: https://bit.ly/RHS_tea
RSVP: ridgehistory@hotmail.com 773.881.1675
Friday, May 2, at 7:00p.m.
A Brief & Exciting History of Brick Architecture in Chicago
Brick is an ever-changing material that has defined Chicago and its architecture. Learn the trends and fashions through Chicago's brick history: Homegrown common bricks, imported red bricks, wild colors, textures, and terra cottas of the 1910s-30s, Miesian modern bricks and more. You'll discover the technology and architectural innovations that can be found across Beverly, Morgan Park, and Chicago, written into its brick. This presentation will be accompanied by dozens of Will Quam's photos of buildings and their details.
About the presenter: Will Quam is an architecture historian and photographer. He has been called "Chicago's premiere brick expert" by Geoffrey Baer, and his photography and passion for Chicago's brick history have been featured on Block Club Chicago, WTTW, The Chicago Tribune, WGN and more. His architecture tours were named some of Chicago's best by Curbed and the Chicago Reader. His book on this history of brick architecture in Chicago, Fire and Clay, will be published by the University of Chicago Press in 2026. Learn more at www.brickofchicago.com
Members: $10 | Non-members: $20 | Students under 18: $5
Ridge Historical Society
10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
Get tickets online: https://bit.ly/bev-bricks
RSVP: ridgehistory@hotmail.com 773.881.1675
Student Entries for the 2025 National History competition
“Rights & Responsibilities”
Please join us to see what local students researched for this national competition. Ridge Historical Society (RHS) board members selected exhibits on a range of topics based on the 2025 theme “Rights & Responsibilities” to display.
Students and their parents will be there as well to share their work and answer questions. RHS will also have a short presentation of certificates to the students at 2pm, followed by refreshments.
Projects will be on display through August 31, 2025 during our regular open hours as well:
Sun. and Tue. 1pm to 4pm
Ridge Historical Society
10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
FREE EVENT get tickets: https://bit.ly/students-25
RSVP: ridgehistory@hotmail.com 773.881.1675
Join us Tue. Aug 19 at Ridge Park Fieldhouse – 9625 S. Longwood Dr. for a vital conversation about protecting our community's architectural heritage! 🏛️
BAPA and RHS invite you to an essential discussion on preserving the diverse historic architecture that makes our neighborhoods unique.
What you'll discover:
– Insights into our landmark districts from RHS Board Member Tim Blackburn
– Practical strategies for maintaining our area's distinctive character
– Expert perspectives from preservation agency representatives
– Answers to your questions about protecting our built heritage
This is your chance to learn how we can safeguard the beautiful, historic spaces we call home for future generations.
NOTICE: This event will be rescheduled for later this fall
Today is the final day to experience "Harry Hale Waterman: Unique in every Style" at the Ridge Historical Society. Come see this fascinating exhibit before it's gone!
Join us today (9/28) from 1-4 PM at 10621 S. Seeley Avenue. Admission is free.