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 History
Ridge Historical Society
Upcoming Program: “Discover the History of Your Chicago House”
Every house has a history.
Now, back by demand, we are happy to announce a repeat program on researching house histories.
“Discover the History of Your Chicago House” presented by RHS researcher Tim Blackburn will be offered on Saturday, January 28, at 2:00 p.m. The location is the Graver-Driscoll House (RHS headquarters) at 10621 S. Seeley Avenue, Chicago. The cost is $10 for RHS members and $15 for non-members.
The program covers the basics of researching the history of construction and ownership of a house built pre-1955 within the limits of the City of Chicago. Public records such as building permits and Sanborn maps will be discussed, as well as research methods.
Following the program, through the RHS Facebook page, attendees may also join the private research group for house history research administered by Tim. This is just getting off the ground, and will allow people to share their progress, ask questions, and get expert advice in research.
We had to turn people away from the first program due to limited seating capacity, so we urge those interested to register right away to be sure of a seat.
Tickets for the program may be secured through Eventbrite at: https://bit.ly/house_research
The “Hetherington Design Dynasty” exhibit, showcasing the work of three generations of architects and artists in the Hetherington family, has been extended until January 31, 2023, so attendees at this program will also have the opportunity to view this exhibit.
Questions? Contact RHS at ridgehistory@hotmail.com or 773-881-1675.
Every house has a history! If you've always wanted to investigate the history of your house, here is the opportunity to learn how to do that.
Ridge Historical Society researcher Tim Blackburn, owner of a historic home in Morgan Park, will present "Discover the History of Your Chicago Home" on Saturday, January 28, at 2:00 p.m. at the Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley Avenue, Chicago.
Tim will guide you through the process of locating building permits and other records about the property itself, as well as share research tools to learn about past owners.
Attendees of Tim's programs can then join a private RHS Facebook page for continued discussion and advice on research projects.
The cost of the program is $10 for RHS members and $15 for non-members.
Reservations may be made at: https://bit.ly/house_research.
If you have any questions, please contact RHS at 773/881-1675 or ridgehistory@hotmail.com.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Parents, other family members, and friends are always delighted to receive handmade Valentines crafted by school children.
Handmade paper cards started in the Middle Ages and really took off during the Victorian era of the 1800s. The cards could get very elaborate, with bits of lace, bows and ribbons, seashells, gold and silver foil, and pressed and silk flowers.
Hallmark started mass producing cards in 1913, but even since then, it has remained the practice to spend a day crafting Valentines as a school project.
Louise Barwick (1871-1957) was an artist and educator who lived in Beverly. Her accomplishments included a huge relief map showing the geographical topology of the State of Illinois that was displayed at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. The Ridge Historical Society also has a wonderful collection of watercolor paintings of local scenes that Louise completed.
Louise Barwick was the art teacher for Morgan Park and other southside Chicago schools for several decades. In 1912, some of her ideas for handmade Valentines were published in The School Arts Book, a periodical for classroom arts.
Here are Louise Barwick’s Valentines. They could be recreated today.
SATURDAY, APR. 29, 2023 – 2PM
The Ground We Walk On:
The Geology of the Ridge
Andrew Phillips, PhD, Presenter
The Illinois Geological Survey At Mt. Greenwood Cemetery
Dr. Phillips will discuss the mapping project, and the techniques, procedures and protocols used to document the geology of a site. The program will take place at Mt. Greenwood Cemetery where the Geological Survey team did mapping work last fall. Beginning with a formal presentation, Dr. Phillips will then lead those interested on a short walk through the grounds to learn something about what geologists see when they study a site.
Get tickets online: https://bit.ly/ridge-geology
Sharing this video from another post – Chicago, 1914, taken from a blimp.
Ridge Historical Society (RHS) Helps with Research Projects
One or two people have mentioned an art project called “Invisible Labors” to RHS. We are aware of this project and were involved in its early stages.
This project is one case study from many on how the historians at RHS help people with research projects. RHS has been doing this for fifty years.
The number one research request we get is from homeowners for the history of their houses.
We get involved in many other research projects, also. In recent years, we helped everyone from a local church developing a Land Acknowledgement Statement to an eighth-grade student developing a presentation on Prohibition.
Our research on the Pike House led to Landmarks Illinois awarding it “endangered status.”
We even found the owner of a wedding ring that went missing decades ago. That story made the national news.
Last year, the artists involved in the Invisible Labors project contacted RHS for ideas and information on the history of land usage by women in the Ridge area. We discussed many topics with them, including women farmers and gardeners, Victory gardens at wartime, early women landscaping architects who lived in the area, artists who drew inspiration from the land, and more. We supplied extensive research material to them.
We introduced them to the Native Americans who lived on the Ridge, the Potawatomi people who lived off the land and today still make baskets from black ash trees. RHS researcher/writer Carol Flynn’s series on the Native Americans on the Ridge appeared on Facebook and in the Beverly Review.
We introduced them to artist Louise Barwick, who lived on the Ridge and painted many watercolors of local scenes. Miss Barwick’s biggest accomplishment was a giant relief map of Illinois displayed at the 1893 World’s Fair, which unfortunately has been lost to time, but a picture of it exists. RHS published a lengthy piece on Louise Barwick in 2015. RHS has a large collection of Miss Barwick’s paintings which we have exhibited several times and will show again for this year’s Beverly Art Walk.
We introduced them to Kate Starr Kellogg and her sister Alice Kellogg Tyler. These women did not live in Beverly; their father owned the land where Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park is now located, and the family farmed there. Kate was an educator; Kellogg School in North Beverly is named for her, although she did not teach in any schools connected to the Ridge. There is extensive research information available on Kate Starr Kellogg. Alice was the artist in the family. Material on the Kellogg sisters was published in the past as part of the RHS Facebook series on people for whom schools on the Ridge are named.
The Native American basket makers, Louise Barwick, and the Kellogg sisters appear to be the final topics of this project. We’re happy to see a project come to fruition, although we have not reviewed the final text or seen the final product so we cannot comment on it.
Anyone wanting help with research can contact RHS through our Facebook page or through regular email or phone (ridgehistory@hotmail.com; 773/881-1675).
Here's a good primer on the topic of selling and serving alcohol on the east side of Western Avenue in the 19th Ward.
The Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934, which followed the repeal of Prohibition, sets forth the law for establishing dry sections by election precinct, and the City of Chicago Board of Election Commissioners Guidelines for Local Option Referenda sets forth the process for establishing (and repealing) dry sections in the city.
This is done on a precinct-by-precinct basis, and only the people who live in the precinct that will be affected are allowed to vote on the issue.
Many people would like to see more restaurants serving alcohol located east of Western, however, the people living in that section have consistently voted "no" to alcohol for almost 90 years.
Frankly, a better way politically to deal with this issue would be, rather than trying to change the law in general in any given precinct, to find a party interested in developing a specific property into a restaurant and to work through a process to allow a liquor license for that venue, as was done with the Barraco's on 95th Street, which took over the building that was the former library, and before that, a funeral parlor. No other property was affected by that decision and the neighbors impacted by the decision approved the sale of alcohol at that location.
BAPA History: The “Wet/Dry” Issue
UPDATE: Wow, there has been a fast response to this post, but I knew people would like this. I talked to Elaine and when she returns from her upcoming vacation, we will plan an open house with Smith Village so people can come in to see this. It will likely be early August, so stay tuned. – Carol Flynn
PS – Elaine Spencer, by the way, lives in Smith Village and is on the Residents Council, if that is the proper name of the organization unit.
The late Jack Simmerling, artist and historian, and a founding member of the Ridge Historical Society, painted a mural on the wall of one of the dining areas at Smith Village that pretty much summarizes the history of the Beverly and Morgan Park communities.
Elaine Spencer, past President of RHS, and I recently viewed it for the umpteenth time and here are some pictures. (That's Elaine from the back.)
If you've never seen this in person, you should do so.
Pop-Up History on the Ridge – View the Jack Simmerling Mural "Life on the Ridge" at Smith Village
Mark your calendars!
The interest in the Jack Simmerling mural, "Life on the Ridge," at Smith Village is leading to the first ever (to my knowledge) Pop-Up History event in the Beverly/Morgan Park community. If this is successful, maybe we'll be able to do others at places not usually open to the public, like some of the churches with great stained-glass windows, etc.
I did not get any feedback that this event would be a scheduling conflict with other events in the neighborhood but if it is, please let me know.
Details:
What: View the Jack Simmerling Mural at Smith Village – "Life on the Ridge"
Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Times: Two showings – 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., and 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Address: 2320 West 113th Place, Chicago – come into the main entrance and you will be directed from there.
Hosts for the day: Elaine Spencer, Past RHS President and Smith Village resident, and Carol Flynn, local historian/journalist
Cost: Free, parking on site or on the local side streets
Jack Simmerling’s daughter Meg Simmerling is expected to be our guest for the first session. We look forward to her insights on her father’s work.
Any questions? Message me through Facebook – Carol Flynn.
Note that this is not an official RHS program. Elaine and I are doing this as a pilot test to see if events like this go over with the public. Thank you for your support!
This image is of Elaine Spencer viewing the Jack Simmerling mural at Smith Village.
The August Villager, the community newspaper put out by the Beverly Area Planning Association, includes an article by Linda Lamberty, Ridge Historical Society Historian, introducing the upcoming RHS exhibit, "Louise Barwick's Lost Ridge."
The exhibit will officially open to the public the day of the @[672585269479476:69:Beverly Art Walk], Saturday, September 23, 2023.
Along with the exhibit, RHS will run a series on Miss Barwick and her remembrances of her times on Facebook. So look for this in September!
The Old Water Tower by Louise Barwick, 1893. Located, in the artist’s own words, “200 feet north of 103rd Street between Hoyne and Seeley,” the water tower was constructed circa 1888 as part of a much-needed water system that included a windmill. The then modern achievement became redundant when the area was annexed to Chicago in 1890, when water and other utilities began being supplied by the City.