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.
2019
Last RHS Garage Sale pics for tonight – some nice milk glass for collectors.
More RHS Garage Sale items. See Events on RHS page.
More RHS Garage Sale pics – see events on the RHS page.
Here are some of the finer items that will be for sale at the RHS Garage and Book Sale. More pics later in the week. Go to the RHS page under events for details of the sale.
This coming week-end, Sept. 27-29, 2019, is the annual RHS Garage and Book Sale. Friday and Saturday, 9 am to 3 pm, Sunday, 11 am to 3 pm, 10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago.
During the week we will post some items that will be for sale. To start, here are vintage tools from a collector, including cobbler lasts, a blow torch, an inner tube repair kit, and jars of paper matches.
Yes! "Threads of Imagination" is indeed up and open to the public today from 12 to 6 for the Beverly Art Walk. Please stop by!
Tomorrow is the "soft" opening for the "Threads of Imagination" exhibit at RHS. Sometime – date to be confirmed based on the availability of our four guest artists – in the next month we will have a reception and our grand opening before Open House Chicago on October 19 and 20. Stop by tomorrow to see this interesting exhibit!
There were a lot of dressmakers in Chicago in the early 1900s, but there was only one Madame Ripley, and she lived in Beverly. Society women did not buy "off the rack." The wives of Chicago's rich businessmen could easily spend $75,000 -$100,000 each year on designer clothes – outfits created especially for them. We're talking about 1910 – think about the value in today's dollars. It could take months to create one special outfit – these outfits were works of art.
This exhibit explores the intersection of art and fashion through the eyes of Madame Ripley and four talented contemporary women artists who live on the Ridge.
The new RHS exhibit "Threads of Imagination" is really shaping up thanks to our four guest artists – Judie Anderson, Sandra Leonard, Maggie O'Reilly and Nicole Burns. All have been over to the historic Graver-Driscoll House (RHS HQ) this week to arrange their space. Each artist brings a unique perspective to the theme of "the intersection of fashion and art" and it all ties together with the legacy of Alla Bryan Ripley Bannister (1867-1948), who lived in Beverly for over 30 years during her career as a nationally recognized fashion designer.
For example, consider the work of Sandra Leonard. Sandra creates "sculptural clothing" to transform the human form into sculpture. Her amazing costumes are used for performance art and other projects.
Interestingly, before Alla Ripley became a fashion designer, she briefly experimented with the stage. There is one historic "show biz" picture of her with her first husband Harry Ripley in which her costume is evocative of today's performance art costumes. There is a definite possibility she designed the costume herself.
That picture and a picture of Sandra's costumes which will be on display at RHS are included here.
During the coming weeks we will also look at the other artists and their connections to Alla Ripley.
The exhibit will open for the Beverly Art Walk next Saturday, September 21, and run until January 2020 so there will be plenty of opportunities to get over to RHS to take this in.
Mark your calendars for Friday, October 11, 7 to 9 p.m., when we will have the official opening reception for the exhibit and an opportunity for you to meet the artists in person.
RHS is located at 10621 S. Seeley Avenue in Chicago.
New event! RHS and the Givins Beverly Castle will be hosting an event for Halloween at the Castle – "Folklore and Phantoms" – a look at paranormal activity on the Ridge, presented by RHS researcher/writer Carol Flynn, on Friday evening, October 25. Mark your calendars now – seating is limited so there will have to be reservations and the program will fill up fast. Complete details will follow including reservations information. There will be a nominal charge and all the proceeds will go to the Castle Restoration Fund. Included will be refreshments – beer and wine and appetizers. We'll talk about the Castle ghost stories and many other stories from the Ridge – Carol has collected over 50 stories of paranormal events on the Ridge and has the blog "Ridge Paranormal Happenings" on Patch. We'll have time to let people share their own experiences also. Stay tuned for more information….
Labor Day is a federal holiday that came about to recognize the labor movement and the power of collective bargaining. By the late 1800s, various trade unions were sponsoring days to recognize their workers, and it made sense to select one day as a "general holiday for the laboring classes."
The first Monday in September was chosen for the day, which became official in 1894. Many other countries were adopting May 1 – May Day – as a day to recognize laborers (later this would become International Workers' Day). President Grover Cleveland, among others, was concerned that adopting May 1 would have socialist and anarchist overtones because of the proximity to and association with the anniversary of the Haymarket Uprising in Chicago (May 4, 1886). The September date was much less radical.
Labor Day is often viewed as "the end of the summer" although summer does not officially end until September 21. Many schools and sports activities start around Labor Day, and many resort areas consider this the end of the tourist season. In fashion, traditionally it was the last day of the year that wearing white or seersucker was acceptable.
Here are some vintage postcards that celebrated Labor Day. Note the one that announces it as the latest holiday to be added to the calendar; there would still be more holidays to come.