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.
Local Architecture
Ingersoll-Blackwelder House Coloring Contest – Entries due November 15th!
There is a coloring contest underway for all ages to help provide ideas to the painting team for the historic Ingersoll-Blackwelder House located at 10910 S. Prospect Ave. RHS’s current exhibit is about the artist and preservationist Jack Simmerling, who purchased and restored the house in 1970 to make it the Simmerling family’s long-time home.
We’ve created a helpful unofficial page so anyone can easily create their own color combinations using a Victorian-era color palette. Try it out here: https://ingersoll-blackwelder-house-color-contest-449832780115.us-west1.run.app/
Once you create your favorite color scheme, take a screenshot and email in your contest entry by following the instructions here: http://www.ingersoll-blackwelderhouse.com/uploads/5/1/8/2/51820075/coloringcontest_v2.pdf
This contest is not sponsored by RHS.
Don't miss out! This weekend, as part of Open House Chicago, the Ridge Historical Society (RHS) is debuting its new exhibit, “Jack Simmerling: Through His Eyes.”
The exhibit showcases the life of the beloved Chicago artist, historian, and preservationist whose life's work was dedicated to capturing the soul of the city's architecture. As a teenager, Simmerling documented the vanishing grandeur of the Victorian-era residences on Prairie Avenue, salvaging what he could as they were demolished. Produced in partnership with the Glessner House, this exhibit features many of Simmerling's Prairie Avenue artworks and artifacts from their collection. His drawings and watercolors of homes, churches, and architectural vignettes of the community help visitors see Beverly Hills-Morgan Park through the artist's eyes.
Less than a mile away, the Ingersoll-Blackwelder House will also be open to the public. One of the oldest homes in the community, its original portion dates to 1874. The house was close to demolition in 1970 when Jack Simmerling himself bought and restored it, transforming it into his family home and studio.
Open House Chicago is this Saturday & Sunday, October 18-19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Ingersoll-Blackwelder House closes at 4 p.m. on Sunday. See the event website for site-specific hours.
Jack Simmerling-related sites at Open House Chicago:
– Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley Ave. (Street parking is along the west side of Seeley Ave.)
– Ingersoll-Blackwelder House, 10910 S. Prospect Ave.
All seven of the Beverly Hills – Morgan Park sites this weekend for Open House Chicago are listed on the event website:
https://www.architecture.org/open-house-chicago/neighborhoods/recKkGQe7iA2KqP4R
Admission is free!
Jack Simmerling: Through His Eyes
An exhibit at Ridge Historical Society in partnership with Glessner House
Step into the world of Jack Simmerling (1935-2013), a beloved Chicago artist, historian, and preservationist whose life's work was dedicated to capturing the soul of the city's architecture. As a teenager, Simmerling documented and painted the vanishing grandeur and ruin of the Victorian-era residences on Prairie Avenue, salvaging what he could from them as they were demolished.
The exhibit “Jack Simmerling: Through His Eyes” at Ridge Historical Society traces his development from those early Prairie Avenue days through to some of the last drawings of his own neighborhood, Beverly Hills – Morgan Park, where he opened The Heritage Gallery in 1959. The exhibit was produced in partnership with Glessner House and includes many Prairie Avenue artworks and artifacts from its Jack Simmerling Collection.
Simmerling believed that "much of what's most beautiful about architecture is in the details." This exhibit reflects that idea, allowing visitors to see the architecture in his own community. His drawings and watercolors of homes, churches, and architectural vignettes of the community help visitors see Beverly Hills – Morgan Park through the artist's eyes.
"Jack Simmerling: Through His Eyes" opens to the public on October 18, 2025, at Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley Ave, Chicago, IL. Don't miss this unique opportunity to experience Chicago's architectural heritage through the remarkable vision of Jack Simmerling.
Special Opening Hours:
Open House Chicago (October 18-19, 2025): 10 AM – 5 PM
Exhibit Opening Night Event (Thursday, October 23, 2025): 6 PM – 9 PM
Regular Exhibit Hours (through February 2026):
Tuesdays and Sundays: 1 PM – 4 PM
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.
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.
The program on the "Forgotten House" will be repeated at the Walker Branch Library on Saturday, June 28th, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Tim Blackburn will present his research that rediscovered the identity of the Erastus A. Barnard I House, built ca. 1865, one of the oldest houses in the community.
The Walker Branch Library is located at 11071 S. Hoyne Avenue. Admission to this library program is free.
Here is the link to the program details:
https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/events/683a0ba4b354fd280022f257
Friday, June 6, at 7:00 p.m.
Discover the History of your Chicago House
– Tim Blackburn, Researcher
Ridge Historical Society is repeating this very popular event. You will learn how to research the history of your Chicago home, including the architecture, construction, inhabitants, and owners.
You’ll receive a workbook and develop research methods that will help you gain a new understanding and appreciation for your home’s history. Tim will cover the research methods covered will be useful for anyone researching a building older than 1955 in Chicago. You’ll learn about building permits, local history, Chicago street renumbering, Sanborn maps, and more.
The Ridge Communities of Beverly Hills, Morgan Park, Washington Heights and Mount Greenwood have an incredible collection of homes and housing styles – many with a rich history.
Members: $10 | Non-members: $20 | Students under 18: $5 (Cash or Check at the door)
Ridge Historical Society
10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
Get tickets online: https://bit.ly/home-history2
RSVP: ridgehistory@hotmail.com 773.881.1675
THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING PROGRAM AND THERE ARE SEATS LEFT FOR FRIDAY NIGHT.
Yes, using all caps is "shouting," and that is what I am doing to call attention to this program.
Nestled away on a side street in Morgan Park is an old, old house, boarded up, holes in the roof. You can tell it was once a great house, and RHS researcher Tim Blackburn realized that and got curious about its background.
Tim researched the house and discovered an amazing history.
Now the question is, can it be saved? These kinds of discoveries and questions are part of the very foundation of the community.
– Carol Flynn, RHS Facebook Administrator
The Forgotten House from Our Community’s Founding
Friday, May 16, at 7:00p.m.
The Forgotten House from Our Community’s Founding
While on a run in August 2024, RHS board member Tim Blackburn jogged past a house in Morgan Park that he instantly knew was one of the earliest remaining homes in the Beverly Hills and Morgan Park area. His initial research determined the house had been moved to its current location, but discovering where it was moved from and its history turned out to be a 'needle in a haystack' investigation.
In this program, Tim will guide you through his journey to uncover the important origins of the house, built by one of the community’s earliest settler families just a few years after they aided Black freedom seekers nearby. Given the current condition of the house, this is a history you'll want to learn before it is possibly lost to time. Ridge Historical Society hopes that by educating about the history of this house, its legacy may be preserved.
Ridge Historical Society
10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
Members: $10 | Non-members: $20 | Students under 18: $5
Get tickets online: https://bit.ly/MP-forgotten
RSVP: ridgehistory@hotmail.com 773.881.1675
The Forgotten House
from Our Community’s Founding
Friday, May 16, at 7:00p.m.
The Forgotten House
from Our Community’s Founding
While on a run in August 2024, RHS board member Tim Blackburn jogged past a house in Morgan Park that he instantly knew was one of the earliest remaining homes in the Beverly Hills and Morgan Park area. His initial research determined the house had been moved to its current location, but discovering where it was moved from and its history turned out to be a 'needle in a haystack' investigation.
In this program, Tim will guide you through his journey to uncover the important origins of the house, built by one of the community’s earliest settler families just a few years after they aided Black freedom seekers nearby. Given the current condition of the house, this is a history you'll want to learn before it is possibly lost to time. Ridge Historical Society hopes that by educating about the history of this house, its legacy may be preserved.
Ridge Historical Society
10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
Members: $10 | Non-members: $20 | Students under 18: $5
Get tickets online: https://bit.ly/MP-forgotten
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