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Juneteenth

By Carol Flynn

Juneteenth National Independence Day became a federal holiday just last year. It is celebrated today, June 19th, although tomorrow, June 20, will be the day off from work or school.

The day celebrates the emancipation from slavery for African Americans, based on a proclamation of freedom in Texas on June 19, 1865. In December of that year, the end of slavery became official with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The Ridge’s connection to emancipation is through the many men and women who lived here or moved here later who are documented as serving the Union cause during the U.S. Civil War. Some of these people were connected directly to Abraham Lincoln, and knew him going back to his earliest days practicing law and politics in Illinois.

The Ridge community was the site of the Gardner House, an inn along the Vincennes Road known as a refuge that harbored escaped slaves in the decades before the Civil War.

The Gardner House was located at 9955 S. Beverly Avenue. It was demolished around the early 1930s.

The Ridge Historical Society (RHS) collection includes the plaque that stood at the site for decades but fell into disrepair. The plaque reads:

REFUGE FOR SLAVES

On this site then in the midst of the prairie stood the Gardner

home and tavern built in 1836, it was bought by William

Wilcox in 1844 and became a refuge for slaves during the Civil

War.

Erected by Chicago’s Charter Jubilee

Authenticated by Chicago Historical Society – 1937

According to the History of Cook County by Andreas, Jefferson Gardner built an inn around 99th and Beverly, along the Vincennes Road, in 1836. He didn’t stay long and sold the property to the Wilcox family in 1844. The Wilcox family bought the place sight

unseen and moved here from New York.

The house was described as a spacious one and a half story house, with land that went from around 95th Street south to 107th Street, and Prospect Avenue east to Racine. Much of the land was left as prairie, but some of the land was farmed, and there was an apple orchard.

It was reported in early histories that although never an official stop on the Underground Railroad, two or three times fugitive slaves were found sleeping in the out buildings. They were fed, and went on their way, likely north to freedom in Canada.

There were five Wilcox brothers, and four served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Two of the four were killed in action. The fifth brother stayed home to run the farm, a common practice of the day.

The image of the Gardner House was drawn by the architect Murray Hetherington in 1936 from descriptions given to him by someone who remembered the house.

Reminder!! Tomorrow!! Please stop by the Ridge Historical Society as we celebrate our 50th anniversary! Children welcome!

The Ridge Historical Society celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sunday. It was a beautiful day and the Graver-Driscoll House, RHS's headquarters, was ready for the event. The house celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Photos by D. Nemeth.

The exhibit celebrating the Hetherington family of architects drew visitors at the 50th anniversary party for the Ridge Historical Society. The Graver-Driscoll House, RHS's headquarters, designed by John Todd Hetherington, celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Photos by D. Nemeth and C. Flynn.

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.

Current and past presidents of the Ridge Historical Society gathered for the 50th anniversary of the organization.

From left: Current President Debra Nemeth; past Presidents Doris Moulton, Patricia McGrail, Edris Hoover, and Elaine Spencer.