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.
2025
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.
NOTICE: This event will be rescheduled for later this fall
For the month of September, the Ridge Historical Society (RHS) presents a special encore of the "Harry Hale Waterman: Unique in Every Style" exhibit, now featuring additional photos of the architect. While the exhibit previously displayed only one photo of Harry Hale Waterman in his 30s, RHS now has photos of Harry throughout his life, courtesy of Waterman’s great-granddaughter.
Harry was just 18 years old when Frank Lloyd Wright came to Chicago seeking employment and was hired by Architect Joseph Lyman Silsbee. It was during Wright's first weekend in Chicago that he met Harry Hale Waterman and boarded with the Waterman family. Frank Lloyd Wright spent a brief time at the Silsbee firm, and it is likely through the relationship with Frank Lloyd Wright (or the Waterman family’s connection to Wright’s uncle) that young Harry Hale Waterman was also hired by the Silsbee firm, where he worked for his first five years in architecture.
Some have suggested that this cabinet card photo of Harry Hale Waterman, taken around this time period, has a similar appearance and mysteriousness as photos of H.H. Holmes, the notorious con man and serial killer who preyed on visitors to the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. In the photo, Waterman is wearing an Inverness coat, a popular coat style at the time, complete with a derby hat, walking stick, and gloves for a formal look.
EXHIBIT: “Harry Hale Waterman: Unique in Every Style” is open Tuesdays and Sundays from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., or by appointment, through September 28. Admission is free.
Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
Tickets are available for the program “WATERMAN: From the White City to the Ridge”, which will take place Friday, September. 19, 2025, at 7PM. Exhibit Curator Tim Blackburn will discuss how influences from the Columbian Exposition can be seen on the Ridge today, including through buildings designed by Harry Hale Waterman. He will share updates from his recent visit with Waterman’s great-granddaughter and the additional Waterman photos from her. Architectural photographer Mati Maldre will also discuss his photos of thirty Waterman buildings, primarily taken in the mid-1980s.
PROGRAM: “WATERMAN: From the White City to the Ridge”
FRIDAY, SEPT. 19, 2025 – 7PM
Members: $10 | Non-members: $20 | Students under 18: $5
Limited Capacity. Get tickets here: https://bit.ly/Waterman9
RSVP: ridgehistory@hotmail.com 773.881.1675
FRIDAY, SEPT. 19, 2025 – 7PM
WATERMAN: From the White City to the Ridge
A final encore presentation: Exhibit Curator Tim Blackburn will discuss how influences from the Columbian Exposition can be seen on the Ridge today, including through buildings designed by Harry Hale Waterman. He will also share updates from his recent visit with Waterman’s great-granddaughter and eight additional Waterman photos from her.
Architectural photographer Mati Maldre will also discuss his photos of thirty Waterman buildings, primarily taken in the mid-1980s.
Attendees are encouraged to view the exhibit "Harry Hale Waterman: Unique in any Style" before or after the program. The exhibit is open Tuesdays and Sundays from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., or by appointment, through September 28.
Members: $10 | Non-members: $20 | Students under 18: $5
Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60643
Limited Capacity. Get tickets here: https://bit.ly/Waterman9
RSVP: ridgehistory@hotmail.com 773.881.1675
Stop in to see the National History Day student work on Rights and Responsibilities thru August 31.
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.
We want to thank all of our Facebook followers for your continued support and interest in the Ridge Historical Society, and the history of Beverly, Morgan Park, Washington Heights and Mt. Greenwood.
We also want to thank Carol Flynn, our long-time Facebook admin, for her many years of research and writing, on so many architectural and community-focused topics for over 10 years.
We will continue to post well-researched content from our team, historical news and information on our activities, exhibits and presentations. Watch for new formats, content and video clips coming soon.
Debbie Nemeth
President, Ridge Historical Society
The Ridge Historical Society has decided to take over this Facebook page now rather than waiting until August 1, so this should be my last post here.
Please follow the new page – "Beverly – Morgan Park History" – to continue receiving the history stories about this community.
I still have to finish the series on the "Forgotten House" so I will do that on the new page. The topics will include the Gorton Family who bought the house; the Thirteenth Church of Christ, Scientist, that then bought the land and house; and moving the house to its current location. There will be quite an interesting section on moving houses – something that was once a very common practice.
Here is the link to the new page. See you over there!
– Carol Flynn
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578615263233&__cft__[0]=AZWbq691qXYDauJJWlDommFKALGVL2BaK__eLB7vdHPl7iUwbaeYzNOUxCL_6Xr-VvjW8Y7sdtY00q4VgGXdxDnxSyFxH21a791t7gHVgmlyGpd1zmNhfmOEje1J7KeuSwNJX5I-S4KuYTPEkgwPofVSUzRGYL3cj5UoVPAcswd6_A&__tn__=R]-R
The new page is active now but I have not posted any stories on it yet. I will start doing so in the next few days. I want to make the transition as clean and clear as possible. Please "Follow" the new page (not just "Like") – to make sure it pops up in your feed, otherwise you'll have to search for it all the time. – Carol Flynn, Administrator
Message from the Ridge Historical Society Facebook page administrator Carol Flynn: Effective August 1, 2025, my articles will no longer appear on this RHS Facebook page, and I am turning over the administrator role to the person to-be-determined by RHS.
I am starting a new Facebook page, Beverly – Morgan Park History, and my stories will appear there.
I started this FB page for RHS in 2011 and have thoroughly enjoyed sharing history stories here. I support RHS and its mission, and am happy to have contributed to public education and other RHS initiatives since 2004.
Now the time has come to explore new writing projects and additional topics from local history, some of which may be considered more controversial. I want to preempt any concerns that RHS has responsibility for my content. There have never been any problems so far, and I want to keep it that way. My articles reflect my personal work and thinking on topics, and no one else’s.
Please follow and participate in the new page while you continue to support RHS.
Beverly – Morgan Park History