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The First Chicago Christmas Tree and the Ridge – Part I – Revised

By Carol Flynn

Chicago’s first municipal Christmas tree was displayed in 1913. For the first time, on Christmas Eve, viewers witnessed a giant tree ablaze with strands of electric light bulbs set up on Michigan Avenue. Ridge resident Amalie Hofer Jerome was named an honorary vice president for the lighting event.

RHS profiled the Hofer family in the Winter 2013 RHS newsletter, which focused on the beginnings of the kindergarten movement in the U.S. The Hofer sisters led the way in Chicago in the establishment of kindergartens and training programs for kindergarten teachers. And that was only one of their accomplishments.

These 2021 posts will cover more on the Hofers, and then feature the 1913 Christmas event.

The Hofer family came of age during the Progressive Era of the late 1800s – early 1900s, a time of widespread reform in just about every area of American life, from education to business to government. This will be explored when Amalie Hofer’s career is reviewed in an upcoming post.

Amalie’s father was Andreas Franz Xaver Hofer, born in 1821 in Baden, a historical territory in south Germany and north Switzerland. He took part in the unsuccessful Baden Revolution of 1848 – 49, an attempt to overthrow the ruling princes. Forced to flee the country, he came to New York City in 1849.

His future wife, Mari Ruef, was born in 1836 in Baden, and came to New York in 1852. There she met Hofer and they married in 1853. Hofer died in 1904 and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery on the Ridge. Mari moved to California where she died in 1918. Hofer’s remains were then brought from Chicago to California to be buried with her.

The Hofers moved to Iowa from New York. Hofer fought with the Iowa Infantry of the Union Army in the Civil War. They became naturalized citizens of the U.S.

The Hofers were farmers and dry goods merchants in McGregor, Iowa. Hofer became known as a local expert on cultivating grapes and was active in the Iowa State Horticulture Society. They purchased a local newspaper, the McGregor News, which they ran for many years. The family was well known in the community.

Hofer‘s philosophy for the newspaper was “closely identified with the interests of the people and with successful government,” according to an article written in 1904 by his sons. He was involved in local politics and a leader of the temperance movement. Many of the beer breweries in the U.S were owned by German immigrants, and the newspapers made note of the divide in the German community over the alcohol issue. Hofer wrote temperance tracts in the German language which were published by the German National Temperance Association.

He used the newspaper to advance his platforms and this did not always go over well with the subjects of his commentaries. In one court case that was followed closely by the public, the newspaper and its publishers, A. F. Hofer and Sons, were sued for $5,000 by a saloon keeper claiming the paper had damaged his character. The paper had accused the saloon keeper of keeping a gambling house. The saloon keeper was backed by the local liquor league. The case went to court, and the Hofers won the case – the charges against the saloon keeper were “fully sustained.”

The Hofers had eight children, five daughters and three sons. They were mostly self-educated, and as youths were all involved with the newspaper, leading to careers that included writing, editing, and publishing.

The family sold the McGregor News in 1890. By then, the sons, Ernest (1855-1934), Frank Xaver (1856-1905), and Andreas F., Jr., (1861-1913), who made the newspaper and publishing industries their lifetime careers, had moved to Salem, Oregon. “E.” and “A. F.” took over the Capital Journal, an evening paper. Ernest later ran the Industrial News Review, which advocated for “policies essential to the well-being of our country.” Frank owned half of one newspaper and was the founder of another.

In the 1890s, Mr. and Mrs. Hofer moved to Chicago from Iowa. They settled on the Ridge at 1833 W. 96th Street. In Chicago, they were surrounded by their daughters, who were educators and social activists.

Next post: The Kindergarten Movement and the Hofer sisters

Photograph: Andreas Franz and Mari Hofer and their eight children. User-submitted on Ancestry.com.

George Hinke was born in Germany in 1883 and came to Milwaukee, WI, in 1923. From 1941 until his death in 1953, he created commissioned paintings for Ideals Magazine. In 1961, Ideals Magazine Collector’s Edition of Jolly Old Santa Claus was published with Hinke’s paintings, creating a truly magical version of Santa on Christmas Eve. The elves come to life in a most delightful way.

Merry Christmas from the Ridge Historical Society.

There has been a lot of discussion recently about the local post office. People have mentioned that they have been told there is a backlog of mail and packages to be delivered, and that the postal employees have been asked to work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to try to catch up.

Here is a story about the Morgan Park post office and Christmastime from more than one hundred years ago.

David Herriott is usually mentioned on this page in reference to his role as the publisher/editor of the Morgan Park Post newspaper. But his “real” job was as Postmaster.

Herriott beat out twenty-two other candidates to be named Postmaster of the Village of Morgan Park in 1899 by President William McKinley. He held that position until 1914, when Morgan Park was annexed to Chicago. He was then appointed as Superintendent of the Auburn Park station near 79th Street and Halsted Street. In 1929, he was named Superintendent of the South Chicago station at 92nd Street and Exchange Avenue on the southeast side of the city, from where he retired in 1933.

Herriott was well-liked and respected in his Postmaster role. When appointed to Auburn, the local paper wrote that he was “one of the best informed men in the service as well as the most amiable and genial.” The paper considered it “a distinct advantage” to have Herriott as the new superintendent.

At another time, a columnist mentioned Herriott’s “good character” and that he was “a rattling good fellow.”

An editorial in a 1923 “The Union Postal Clerk” magazine of the union representing postal clerks referred to Herriott as “very wise” for his advice to fellow supervisors.

Herriott was a Progressive and supported fair labor practices. At the time he was working for the U.S. postal service, the stations were open on Christmas Day. Herriott wanted to give the employees that day off. So while at Morgan Park, he came up with the idea to have the postal station open but just not staffed on Christmas Day.

He had all the mail and packages sorted by address and laid out on tables by street name. He invited the residents of Morgan Park to come into the station and pick up their own mail if they did not want to wait until December 26 to have it delivered. The residents cooperated with the plan and it worked very well.

In the 1920s, Herriott was the editor of “The Postal Supervisor” magazine for several years. This monthly magazine was the official publication of the National Association of Postal Supervisors, out of Washington, D.C.

Herriott advocated for two changes for the employees: half-days on Saturdays and Christmas as a holiday. The Postmaster General was hesitant, but the eloquent and persuasive Herriott convinced him to give it a try for one year. It has continued ever since.

A newspaper editorial noted that when Herriott addressed an issue, “what he has to say will be important and to the point…. And his words will be phrased with a charm and quaintness that never fail to get attention.”

He certainly used that charm to help postal workers.

David Herriott died in 1960 at the age of 97.

Here are a few more stories from the 1920 holiday season on the Ridge, stemming from Pauline Palmer’s “Ridge and Morgan Park News” columns in the Englewood Times.

The W. Bacons of 1210 West 100th Street enjoyed a “pre-Christmas gift, a new REO car.” A little research revealed that Mr. Bacon was an employee of the Chicago Junction Railroad. An REO car was the product of the REO Motor Car Company founded in 1905 by Ransom E. Olds, who also founded and then left Oldsmobile. REO (the founder’s initials) was one of the top manufacturers of cars in 1920, and the cars, in the $2000 – 4000 range, were quite a bit more expensive than the Ford Model T, which went for $350.

The REO company started producing trucks in 1910. The REO Speed Wagon was a light motor truck made from 1915 until the 1950s. It was an ancestor of the pickup truck.

In another entry, John Burroughs, the “celebrated naturalist,” spent a few days with the DeLoach family at 10154 Longwood Drive. This wasn’t Burroughs’ first visit to the Ridge – an earlier Pauline Palmer column mentioned that Burroughs visited and spoke at a local school. Burroughs was well-known and popular at the time as an essayist on nature and the conservation movement. His work was more literary than scientific – he wrote about his own perceptions of the natural world. His health declined shortly after this visit to the Ridge, and he died in March 1921 right before his 84th birthday.

One quote from John Burroughs is: “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”

Robert John Henderson DeLoach, an educator and naturalist, had a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Georgia. He came to Chicago to be the horticulturist for Armour and Co., a position he held for 20 years. In 1911, DeLoach wrote a book, “Rambles with John Burroughs,” about his visits with Burroughs. The book included photographs of Burroughs taken by DeLoach. They first met in 1906 when DeLoach, then a professor at the University of Georgia, visited Burroughs at his cabin, Slabsides, in West Park, New York. This interesting story about the DeLoach family of Beverly calls for more research and elaboration.

The Gravers were in the news. William Graver relocated his business, Graver Tank Works, to the Midwest in the 1880s. The company produced metal tanks mainly used to store oil.

William had five sons, all of whom went into the family business. All five bothers built houses in Beverly, including Herbert, the fourth brother. In 1921, he built the house that the Ridge Historical Society owns and operates as RHS headquarters.

During the holiday season of 1920, Cora Graver of Longwood Drive, the wife of the second brother, William, helped with a bazaar to raise money to furnish the Oak Haven Old People’s Home. Oak Haven was the forerunner of Smith Village at 113th and Western Avenue.

In 1917, it was reported that every home for the elderly in Cook County was filled to capacity, with waiting lists. A group of church leaders from Englewood came together to establish a new facility. Many leaders from the Ridge became involved in the effort.

The next three years were spent raising money to make the plan a reality. A women’s auxiliary was formed, and they did much of the fund-raising through activities like this bazaar, community dinners, card parties, etc.

The first building that was designed had to be abandoned because of the “fire laws.” Oak Haven eventually opened in 1924.

In another holiday news tidbit, Phyllis and Christine Graver entertained 125 children at a dancing party.

These girls were cousins, daughters of two more Graver men. Phyllis, 11, was the daughter of Phillip, the third brother, and Christine, 13, the daughter of James, the oldest.

The column does not say where the event was held, but it lists the address of the girls as a house on Longwood Drive, so perhaps the party was held there. The girls lived at two separate addresses on Seeley Avenue. The Longwood address given was built by the youngest Graver brother, Alexander. Unfortunately, he had died earlier that year, in January 1920, a victim of the influenza/pneumonia pandemic. He was 37, and he left his wife Grace and two young daughters.

This post – and the holiday stories of 1920 – will wrap up with the story of “little Miss Helen Carver” of 9557 Vanderpoel Ave.

Helen was turning seven years old, and her mother planned an event for two weeks after the actual day as a double party for Helen and an older brother. However, Helen felt a birthday should be celebrated on its rightful day. Without telling her mother, Helen invited a number of her school mates to her house for a party on her actual birthday. Mrs. Carver was quite surprised and perplexed when all these children showed up at the front door for a celebration. But like moms do everywhere, Mrs. Carver pulled it off, and “it ended fine and all had a good time.”

What else was going on in the Ridge communities during the 1920 Christmas season?

One hundred years ago, our reporter for the Englewood Times, Pauline F. Palmer, wrote: “Many of the mothers will not be obliged to stand hours waiting for that essential half pound of sugar. Remember last year? It looks as if the old time mince, pumpkin and apple pies and fruit puddings will all be enjoyed. Now all together, ‘Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.’”

Mrs. Palmer was referring to the shortages of certain food items, including sugar, during World War I.

The United States entered the war in Europe in 1917. By the end of the war, two million U.S. service people had been sent overseas.

The food situation in Europe developed into dire circumstances. The war had been raging for several years already, and food was becoming scarce. Farms had turned into battlefields, laborers were now in the armies, and transportation and delivery flow had been disrupted. Even before entering the war, the U.S. was sending food supplies to European countries, especially France and Belgium. Once American soldiers were sent to Europe, the problem was greatly compounded – now there were U.S. troops to feed.

In 1917, President Woodrow Wilson established the

U. S. Food Administration to manage the production and distribution of food during the war. He appointed businessman Herbert Hoover to head the effort. Hoover’s goals were to provide supplies to Europe while preventing shortages and rationing in the U.S.

A campaign for voluntarily reducing the use of certain foods that could be transported to Europe was implemented. Sugar, wheat, meat, and fats were the main items. Americans were encouraged to use less of these items and eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, which were harder to transport overseas. These efforts led to “less days” as the people referred to them – Meatless Mondays, Wheatless Wednesdays. It became the patriotic duty of Americans to do with less. “Food will win the war” was a typical slogan.

The headquarters for the “meat division” of the federal food administration effort was located in Chicago. Harry A. Wheeler was appointed the “food administrator” of Illinois by President Wilson and he also oversaw the federal meat division. Wheeler lived on the South Side of Chicago, in Hyde Park. He was the vice president of the Union Trust Co. and former president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Wheeler spent his time between implementing the government’s programs and assuring the public everything would be fine.

Americans had a real sweet tooth. In 1916, the average American consumed 85 pounds of sugar per year. An average Englishman consumed 40 pounds, an average Frenchman, 37 pounds. Americans loved candy and soda pop. Now, Americans were limited to two pounds of sugar per person per month.

Giving up sugar was not easy, but people did it.

Children signed pledges to give up candy. Adults gave up sugar in their coffee. City housewives took up canning to preserve the fruits and vegetables grown in home gardens, using less sugar. Recipes were developed and distributed substituting brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, and molasses for white sugar.

There were cheaters, of course, those who engaged in price-gouging, hoarding, overuse, illegal sales, and other ways “to beat the system.” If caught, they were publicly admonished and received hefty fines that went to Red Cross relief efforts. Businesses could lose their licenses for ignoring the guidelines. In 1919, federal grand jury charges were brought against five Chicago dealers charged with profiteering in sugar.

When the war ended in 1918, the food issues did not end. Hoover started the American Relief Administration to continue to ship food supplies to the millions of people starving in Europe. It took years to return to normal food production.

And of course, there were also those who did not support helping others. One piece in the Englewood Economist in 1919 stated “if the people of Europe will go to work, they should be able to produce their own sugar, leaving the Cuban crop for the United States.”

When Prohibition started in early 1920 in the U.S., the demand for sugar increased as people substituted soft drinks for liquor, adding to the problem.

But by Christmastime, sugar was more plentiful and once again, people could look forward to their favorite Christmas desserts.

Next: 1920 Christmas on the Ridge – more stories.

Let’s look at what was going on one hundred years ago.

Recovery from World War I and the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919 took center stage. Prohibition went into effect on January 17, 1920. Women’s right to vote became effective in August. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were indicted in October for conspiracy to fix the 1919 World Series. In November, Republican Warren G. Harding was elected president to succeed Democrat Woodrow Wilson.

As Christmas approached, life went on as usual on the Ridge, as reported in the “Ridge and Morgan Park News” page in the Englewood Times.

The choir at St. Margaret of Scotland Church spent hours preparing for a “wonderful Christmas surprise program” for their fellow parishioners. Trinity Methodist Church planned a 6:00 a.m. “Nativity Service” prayer meeting for Christmas Day. St. Paul’s Union church put together a box of goodies for the old folks’ home in Oak Forest. The Morgan Park Congregational Church held a holiday bazaar. The Ridge Woman’s Club planned their annual Children’s Party to be held in the Ridge Park field house. The Morgan Park Woman’s Club also held an event for children.

“Grandfather” Egan of 1414 W. 95th Street played Santa Claus for the Catholic Order of Foresters on Christmas Eve. A little research revealed this to be George F. Egan, a superintendent in a clothing company. The Catholic Order of Foresters is a fraternal benefit society. It was formed to offer insurance to its members – death claims, and funeral and sick benefits.

For the week of Christmas, the Dewalt Mechlin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a brightly lit star in the top branches of a memorial tree they had planted in Ridge Park in memory of fallen U.S. troops.

The Euterpean Glee Club held their annual event, which was perhaps one of the most interesting holiday happenings on the Ridge. Euterpean clubs, formed for musical and literary interests, were very popular in the early 1900s and named for Euterpe, the muse of music. This all-male ensemble had been organized in 1900 by Edward Clissold, the son of Henry Clissold for whom Clissold School on 110th and Western is named. In the early hours of Christmas morning, they went around the streets by auto singing Christmas carols.

David Herriott, the publisher of the Morgan Park Post, described the event in 1915: “Sweetly reminding the listeners of that glorious song of old, when the parted heavens startled the drowsy shepherds, was the sudden advent Christmas Eve of our Euterpeans, when, after midnight, in autos, they went through the village singing the familiar songs of Christmastide. The conception was a beautiful one, and characteristic of this old Glee Club. The editor has been ‘to the opera’ but never was opera like this outdoor singing of ‘Joy to the World, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her king,’ which roused him from his bed at one in the morning, in wonder and deep reverence.”

The children were looking forward to school break for the holidays. They were planning a big skating pond, with the help of “Jack Frost and the fire laddies.”

The remains of two soldiers from the Ridge who died in service during the war were returned to their families for burial. Arnold S. Hunt died in Estaples, France, while in service with a hospital unit. A requiem Mass was sung for him at St. Margaret’s Church and he was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Henry C. F. Beyer, Jr., was killed in action in France. He was honored with services conducted by the American Legion at the chapel at Mount Greenwood Cemetery.

As some families lost loved ones, others gained new arrivals. Four families announced the births of sons: Mr. and Mrs. John Lemmer of 10717 Prospect Avenue, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Ruff of 9820 Winston Avenue, Mr. and Mrs. Tierney of the same block on Winston, and Mr. and Mrs. Christy of 9718 Charles Street. Mr. and Mrs. Grace of 9638 Winston had a new baby but the paper wasn’t sure “what the precious bundle contained, a miss or a master.”

Fire damaged the home of Mrs. Frank Sweger of 10001 Beverly Avenue as the result of her five-year old granddaughter Jane Dodge playing with matches. When the fire was discovered, Mrs. Sweger ran outside, thinking Jane was out there, but could not find her. Fireman A. Prunty searched the house and found the child hiding in her second-floor bedroom. He brought her to safety. She received first aid and was “doing nicely.” The Swegers and little Jane were staying with relatives in Blue Island while their house was repaired.

Local businesses contributed to the holiday spirit. The Barnes Drug Store at 1763 West 95th Street was “dressed up in a splendid holiday exhibit and all of its employees are taking a special interest to make the store an attractive place to shop in.”

Down the street, the Bottado Brothers at 1722 W. 95th Street were able to supply nice fresh fruits for use at holiday time. “Their fine courtesies have been noticed by many customers.”

Mrs. Pauline F. Palmer of 1753 West 96th Street was the newspaper’s correspondent for the Ridge and Gresham areas. She became ill and her son, Rudolph “Rudy” Palmer, 15 years old, assumed her entire responsibility. This might explain the following news bit – perhaps the “new” reporter submitted it: “Horrors! A moonshine still has been discovered on the Ridge.”

Next: More from Christmases past.

Merry Christmas from the Ridge Historical Society!

A nice historic Christmas sentiment was discovered by RHS President Elaine Spencer while she was looking through a house file. It was written in 1929 by Philip Yarrow who was the minister for the Morgan Park Congregational Church, and his wife Georgiana. The Yarrows lived in the big Queen Anne-style house probably recognized by most people familiar with Longwood Drive, just south of 111th Street where Lothair splits off to the southwest. Here is a picture of the letter and the house the Yarrows lived in. Linda Lamberty, RHS Historian transcribed the letter as follows:

“We are sitting around the Christmas Tree again. Children grown and gone. Just living over again tonight the days when Childhood’s Christmas joys brought to our hearts’ delights, immeasurably sweet and deep.

What a possession a child is, humbling, inspiring, strengthening, ennobling. Now we miss the children which this Christmas Tree symbolizes tonight.

They say that it is a waste to cut down this tree. If God took a thousand years to grow our tree, this tree is worth all His labor. Once growing on a hillside, now more alive than ever in our home.

See that old stuffed Santa Claus perched on a top limb? Mother bought that twenty years ago at Field’s. See that little tinsel ship? Mother bought that one Christmas Eve when she rushed out on North Clark Street and spent every cent she had left to make the Children happy. Look at all those balloons and globes, red and yellow and blue and green. Did Titian ever paint a lovelier picture? This tree is alive. The sparkle of the tinselled beauty is telling tonight some marvelous tales of memory when children looked and wondered. Oh, the mystic loveliness of this Christmas Tree!

Getting old and looking backward? Oh, no! Just the musing of a moment. We look forward with our dear friends to a greater tomorrow and would pray that together with you we may enter a New Year with hearts aglow with richer hope. The sands of time sink slowly but life with God under the guiding light of his son, Jesus Christ, becomes year by year higher, fuller, finer and more joyous.

Look, the logs in our hearth are blazing tonight with a strange brilliance! The Tree tells of yesterday. The hearth speaks of the joy we have in the warmth of friendships today and tomorrow. To our friends of all faiths, as we sit in the radiance of the Christmas Tree and the glow of the friendly hearth, a Happy New Year.

Philip Yarrow

Georgiana Yarrow

Christmas Night 1929”