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
Some more pictures of items at the RHS garage sale this week-end. Nice items for entertaining and gifts. Some nice collectors' items, good kitchen items for cooks.
This postcard was submitted to the RHS page with the question of which stop was this?
Answer: The 91st Street stop was originally called Beverly Hills. This is along the Metra line and this charming station still stands. It was built ca. 1889 by architects Charnley and Evans in the Queen Anne style.
The original train line runs to the east of Beverly/Morgan Park. In the 1870s, and expanded later, a branch of this line was extended west to the developing Ridge. The stations along the line were named:
Beverly Hills (91st), Longwood (95th), Walden (99th), Tracy (103rd), Belmont (107th), Morgan Park (111th), and Raymond (115th). The 103rd and 115th Sts. stations are now gone. The others comprise the Beverly/Morgan Park Railroad Stations District, an official historic landmark district in the City of Chicago. This is considered a "thematic" district because the buildings are connected by purpose, not by location.
The stations were designed to go along with the architecture of the houses being built on the Ridge, and replaced original frame stations. The stations are rare survivors of once-common commuter stations and are an important link in the historical development of the community.
The next event on the horizon is the Grand Opening and Reception for "Threads of Imagination," the exhibit at RHS that explores art and fashion through the creativity of five Ridge artists. See the attached flier.
Alla Ripley Bannister was a famous "modiste" who designed and created fashions for women in the early 1900s. Alla lived in Beverly in the Craftsman-style house built by her husband, architect George S. Bannister, at 1620 West 102nd Street. (Bannister is also famous for being the architect of the "Rotary House" at 10856 S. Longwood Drive.) Alla Ripley's great-niece has shared a number of family photos with us, including photos of the house when it was first built.
Alla was called "the maker of modes" and "the very last word in style" during her years as Madame Ripley. Her studio was on Michigan Ave., just down the street from the Art Institute. She dictated fashion styles through the bulletins she authored as president of the Fashion Art League of America. It was said that her fashions were "marked by a grace of line that suggests a Parish original." Some of her designs from publications of her day are shown in the exhibit.
Four contemporary Ridge artists are also in the exhibit. Judie Anderson, Maggie O'Reilly, Nicole Burns and Sandra Leonard all have unique approaches to "fashion art" and plan to be at the Grand Opening. This is your chance to stop by to meet them.
RHS just posted the information on the "Folklore and Phantoms" paranormal program in "Events," which will be held at the Givins Beverly Castle, 103rd St. and Longwood Drive, on Friday, October 25, from 7 to 9 p.m. Back by popular demand after the first successful event at Open Outcry Brewery last year, local historian and writer Carol Flynn will share some of the 50+ ghost and paranormal stories she has collected from folks on the Ridge, many of these first hand experiences, including ones from the Castle itself. Following the program there will be open mike time for attendees to share their own stories. Wine, beer and appetizers will be served. There will also be tarot card and astrology readings available. The cost is $15 and the proceeds go to the Castle Restoration Fund to preserve this iconic landmark. Reservations are necessary as seating is limited and will fill up quickly. Call or email RHS for reservations – 773/881-1675 or ridgehistory@hotmail.com.
Hmmm, I am coming up with so much interesting information on the history of the paranormal at the Givins Beverly Castle itself that there may not be that much time for me to cover other ghost stories on the Ridge at this event. I want to leave plenty of time for the open mike session so people can share their own stories.
We'll debunk which ghost stories cannot be true at the Castle because they are just not supported by history and we will talk about some little known events that happened there.
If you haven't made your reservation yet, please do so!
– Carol Flynn
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.