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.
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Yesterday was Day 1 of Open House Chicago and we had a great time with visitors from all around the city and suburbs. RHS is one of 11 places open this year in Beverly/Morgan Park. We will be there again today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stop by to view out great exhibit – "Threads of Imagination" – which explores fashion as art, through the eyes of our historic fashion designer who lived in Beverly in the early 1900s, Madame Alla Ripley, and our four contemporary artists who live and create in Beverly – Judie Anderson, Nicole Burns, Sandra Leonard and Maggie O'Reilly.
RHS is located at 10621 S. Seeley Ave.
Is the Castle really haunted? What are the actual experiences people have had there? What other local places have reported paranormal happenings? Do you have an experience you would like to share? Would you like an tarot card or astrology reading? Join us next Friday evening at the Castle for what is sure to be an interesting event. Plenty of food and beverages included in the $15 per person. All the proceeds for the evening go to the Castle restoration fund. Reserve a spot today!
The "Threads of Imagination" exhibit team. Standing from left to right: Artist Judie Anderson, RHS Historian and exhibit designer Linda Lamberty, Artist Nicole Burns, Artist Sandra Leonard and Artist Maggie O'Reilly. Seated: RHS researcher/writer and Curator of exhibit Carol Flynn. We thank everyone who came to the Grand Opening and Reception last night. The exhibit will be up until mid-January 2020. Contact RHS for open hours – ridgehistory@hotmail.com or 773/881-1675.
Today is the day!
This coming week-end is Open House Chicago, October 19 and 20, where interesting locations around the city open their doors to the public for special showings. The Ridge Historical Society, at 10621 S. Seeley Ave., will be open.
There are 10 other sites also open this week-end in Beverly/Morgan Park, and five of them are in Color Me Beverly II or Color Me Morgan Park – Givins Beverly Castle, Trinity United Methodist Church, Ingersoll-Blackwelder House, Morgan Park Academy Alumni Hall, and Sacred Heart Church.
The Castle, RHS and Sacred Heart will all have the coloring books for sale.
Open House Chicago is a great way to see the city.
Just to remind folks we have this event coming up next week and we still have openings for reservations. "Folklore and Phantoms" will look at hauntings and paranormal happenings in the Blue Island Ridge communities – from Beverly to Morgan Park to Mt. Greenwood to the City of Blue Island. We'll meet at the Givins Beverly Castle and spend plenty of time talking about the experiences people have had there.
The proceeds all go to the Castle restoration fund and there will be astrology and tarot card readings also, plus plenty of refreshments, and an open mike session for people to share their own experiences. You won't see another event like this one. Contact RHS for reservations. Don't wait until the last minute. Questions? Contact us right here on this page.
Hey, we are up to 900 likes for our Facebook page, and 950+ followers. This has more than doubled since the first of the year. It would be great to reach 1000 likes by the end of the year – 2 1/2 months to add 100 people. I think we can do it – please like our page! Thanks!
The big day is almost here! Wednesday evening is the Grand Opening and Reception for the "Threads of Imagination" exhibit. We keep adding new details to the exhibit and there is much to see there!
Four very talented contemporary artists who live and create on the Ridge have works on display.
Judie Anderson is showing fashion illustrations from her time working with the Chicago American newspaper in the 1960s. Not only is her work superb, as always, but it is also a nice review of fashions of that time.
Sandra Leonard is known for her creative costumes that turn the human body into works of sculpture. On display is a piece she did for an event at Steppenwolf Theater based on Marie Antoinette. This is the first time this piece has been displayed and we are honored to show it.
Maggie O'Reilly is showing items from her two collections – Maggy May clothes for girls and the MAYTA collection. Maggie has free trade arrangements with artisans in Peru and Morocco to create items for the U.S. market. The workers are treated ethically and fairly. The textiles they work with are amazing.
Nicole Burns, better known as Ni Bu Design, has an eclectic collection of items inspired by her love for vintage fabrics and designs. Nicole takes every day items and fabrics and recycles them into new art forms. She has also lent to RHS some of her collection of vintage sewing items for a special display.
All of the artists are scheduled to be at the Grand Opening so please stop by to meet them and discuss their work!
The reception is free to the public and refreshments and wine will be served. No reservations needed – just show up!
It was announced today that U. S. gymnast Simone Biles broke another world record – she now has won more medals than any other gymnast in history. Way to go, Simone. Your country is so proud of you.
And do you know how Simone got started? When she was 6 years old, her day care center took a field trip to a local gym. Simone saw the girls doing gymnastics – tumbling, beams, trampoline. She thought, "I can do that," and started copying them. A coach watched her and realized the raw talent that was there and sent her home with a letter encouraging gymnastics classes. Thank goodness her family was receptive to the idea.
"I was hooked," said Simone. The rest, as they say, is history.
The newest institution in Beverly/Morgan Park's history is the Morgan Park Sports Center at 11505 S. Western Ave. Opened in 2015, this state-of-the-art complex includes a gymnastics facility, an indoor ice arena and a fitness center. It is owned by the Chicago Park District as Park #577.
Field trips and visits can be booked at the Sports Center. What future Olympians are out there just waiting for a chance to shine? They can get a start right here on the Ridge.
The Sports Center is included in the new coloring book, Color Me Morgan Park.
Today is the anniversary of the beginning of the Great Chicago Fire, which started on October 8. 1871. It burned until October 10 when rain finally squelched the flames.
While it is true the fire started in Mrs. O'Leary's barn, it is most certainly not true that she was out there milking her cow at night and the cow kicked over a lantern. The cows were settled for the night and Mrs. O'Leary was in bed nursing an injured ankle when the fire started. The exact cause was never determined – men smoking in the alley, the neighbor going in there to take milk, arson from a competitor – are all theories. So are spontaneous combustion and a comet flying through the cosmos. But the press blamed Mrs. O'Leary and vilified her.
The O'Learys are buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery on 111th Street here on the Ridge. The O'Leary son became Big Jim O'Leary, a famous Chicago gambler.