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
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
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.
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.
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.
RHS Offers Membership Gift Certificates
A perfect gift for a local history buff or new neighbors, or someone who has moved away but remembers the community fondly, is a membership gift certificate from the Ridge Historical Society. Individual memberships are $25 and Family memberships are $50.
It’s not too late to pick one up this week. RHS, at 10621 S. Seeley Avenue, Chicago, is open on Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Other arrangements may be made by contacting RHS at 773/881-1675 or ridgehistory@hotmail.com.
RHS could also send electronic verification of a gift with the print copy to follow.
Today is Giving Tuesday – please consider a gift to the Ridge Historical Society in support of our efforts for preservation and education about the history of our local communities.
The current exhibit "Hetherington Design Dynasty" will run through early January. Your gift will help RHS continue to provide research, exhibits, programs, and publications. Admission is free on Tuesday and Sunday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m.
To donate securely through Paypal: https://bit.ly/RHS-donation
Thank you!
From the Ridge Historical Society, a couple of things –
1. RHS will be open to the public tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., free admission. The address is 10621 S. Seeley Ave. View the current exhibit, the Hetherington Design Dynasty, focusing on the three generations of the Hetherington family of architects who designed upwards of 100 buildings in the community. Also featured is the artwork of Mildred Lyon Hetherington, a local artist who excelled at portraits and illustrations for children’s books and craft projects.
2. RHS has some oak tree seedlings to give away – they are by the Seeley Avenue entrance, 10621 S. Seeley Avenue. Please help yourself – and help restore and preserve the tree canopy of the community for future generations.
3. A great time was had yesterday at the event at RHS put on by Greg Fischer of Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery. Here are some pictures – look at that spread! Wild Blossom is coming out with two spirited beverages in RHS’s name, and RHS will receive some proceeds from the sales. Watch this Facebook page for more details.
It's going to rain all day today – a perfect day for an inside visit to the Ridge Historical Society to see the Hetherington Design Dynasty exhibit. The address is 10621 S. Seeley Avenue, Chicago, and RHS is open from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sundays, free admission.
Getting ready behind the scenes for the Beverly Art Walk. Carol Flynn photographed Linda Lamberty photographing Russell Ingram photographing Tim Blackburn for the Ridge Historical Society exhibit.
Linda is the Historian for RHS and the community. She knows just about everything about the history of this community and what she doesn't know she'll research until she finds the answer.
Russell is the official photographer for the Art Walk, hired by the Beverly Area Arts Alliance. His work is amazing – check out his website at russellingram.com.
Tim is the new and very-welcomed member of the RHS team, a superb researcher and the creator of much of the current exhibit on the Hetherington Design Dynasty. The future of RHS is in good hands.
Mark your calendars for September 17 for the Beverly Art Walk!
International Dog Day
Yesterday, the RHS post covered Woman’s Equality Day, an annual event on August 26. Many more people, however, were excited that the day was International Dog Day. Americans do love their dogs.
To prove that the folks at RHS love dogs as much as everyone else, here is a favorite story from the history of the Ridge about a visit from an international dog star.
Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, famous for his stay at the South Pole (Antarctica) in 1928-30, visited Morgan Park High School on December 4, 1930. He was accompanied by his Smooth Fox Terrier, Igloo. Igloo was a huge media star in his own right.
The dog was a stray found by a friend of Byrd’s who talked dog-lover Byrd into adopting him. The terrier became Byrd’s constant companion, accompanying Byrd to Antarctica in 1928 where the dog received the name Igloo, or Iggy for short. Igloo shared Byrd’s solitude during the harsh winter and had to be dressed in polar clothing to withstand the blizzards. Special boots were made for him.
Upon returning to New York, Igloo shared the glory of a Broadway ticker-tape parade and was presented to President Hoover at the White House. The dog became the subject of news dispatches and even a book "Igloo." He was also the first dog to fly over ‘Santa Claus’s home’ at the North Pole. People around the world became enamored with the Fox Terrier breed, thanks to Igloo.
On December 12, 1930, the school newspaper, The Empehi News, ran two articles about Byrd’s and Igloo’s visit. The articles are reprinted here (complete with errors).
First article: Admiral Byrd Tells of Desire to “Visit New Places” All His Life
By Muriel McClure
“I am an explorer,” said Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, “because it was born in me. I have always felt the urge to see new places. You know I traveled around the world alone when I was twelve.”
Admiral Byrd spoke at the high school both in the afternoon and evening of December 4. During this interview he was seated in Mr. Schoch’s office waiting his curtain call. Admiral Byrd is a thin, robust man. He has an easy, charming way of talking.
“I think my last trip, to the South Pole, has contributed the most to science, for the reason that we had the funds and a greater chance to combat the dangers than we had on our other trips.”
When he was asked what he thought was the most important quality of character young people should develop, he replied, “Loyalty I hold before all else, even before honor. I would a hundred times rather have a dishonest man who is loyal than an honest man who is disloyal. Yes, I think one should develop loyalty to church, morals, country and home above all things. Now take dogs for instance, the dogs we had in the Antarctic were the loyalest of animals. Give a dog a chance to serve you and that will be his reaction.”
Commander Byrd’s own fox terrier, igloo, is a loyal pal. He has gone to the North Pole and the South Pole with his master. Igloo, during the interview, lay at the admiral’s feet.
“Our Antarctic stay was something new to all of us,” said Mr. Byrd. “The Antarctic is so different from the Arctic because it is just in the process of evolution which the Arctic underwent thousands of years ago. The Antarctic is perennially frozen over, of course. While the Arctic is mostly land, the antarctic is ice floating above 10,000 feet of water. There is very little life in the Antarctic and in the Arctic there is abundant animal and human life.”
In his lecture Admiral Byrd showed movies taken of the two-year exploration trip, as well as giving a short talk as an introduction to the polar regions. He told of days 72 degrees below zero, when the men’s eyelashes froze together, and other hardships.
As Admiral Byrd left the school he said, “I have enjoyed my visit very much, in spite of the fact that I had to speak!”
Second article: Byrd-dog Grants Reporter of Empehi an Interview
Igloo, the famous Byrd-dog, for probably the first time in his illustrious career as a polar explorer, granted an interview to a newspaper reporter last Thursday, December 4.
Igloo was very calm, cool and indifferent to everything, possibly due to training at the South pole. As he had very little to say, we could get nothing but a description of him.
Igloo possesses two brown ears, big brown eyes, brown spots on his back, all the rest of him being white. The famous “pooch” wore a plain black collar with no name on the name plate. He was dark under the eyes, from staying up all night at the South Pole probably!
While at the South Pole he obtained a scar during a fight with his enemies, the penguins. It makes us wonder how the penguins looked.
During his stay under the desk in Mr. Schoch’s office, he posed for Mary Jane McAllister. He took his posing very seriously, holding himself quite steady for a dog. When he did move, the artist tried to make him turn back by making a noise like a cat, but cats were of no interest to the pup. Due to the lack of cats at the South Pole?
The dog was nearly, if not, as popular as his master, Rear Admiral Byrd. Igloo had quite an audience, but to that mob he paid not the slightest heed.
If all dogs were only like Igloo, quiet, reserved and peaceful (?) but alack! They are not!
Igloo, here’s your chance to open an etiquette class! for dogs.
The moral of this story? The companionship of a friend like Igloo surely eases the loneliness of isolation.
RHS note: Sadly, Igloo died prematurely at the age of 6 in 1931 from food poisoning. Byrd was away at the time, and chartered an airplane to rush home, while a group of veterinarians worked to save Igloo’s life, but it was too late. Buried in a pet cemetery in Massachusetts, Igloo has a marker shaped like an iceberg and his plaque reads “Igloo – He Was More Than A Friend.”