2002-10 RHS Newsletter – October-November 2002

Written to commemorate the bicentennial of events from 1802-1804, this piece explores how Thomas Jefferson's westward expansion policies directly impacted the Chicago region. It provides a detailed timeline showing the chronological overlap between the secret acquisition of the Louisiana Territory, the commissioning of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the orders to survey and build Fort Dearborn at the mouth of the Chicago River. The article highlights how these simultaneous national and local milestones intertwined, with early military personnel and traders navigating the strategic frontier of early Chicagoland.

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This brief historical reprint from a 1912 edition of "The Post" features a municipal ordinance from the Village of Morgan Park. The notice strictly prohibits any dog from running at large within corporate limits between the first day of June and the first day of November unless the dog is securely muzzled. It includes a stern warning that any dog found violating these provisions will be destroyed.

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This memorial piece honors John Robert Bailey, a beloved former treasurer of the Ridge Historical Society who recently passed away at the age of 100 after fulfilling a final wish to visit Alaska. The tribute reflects on his early struggles, successful career at Illinois Bell, and indefatigable spirit in retirement. Bailey is warmly remembered for his enthusiastic participation in local events, such as selling peanuts at the Peanut Day parade, engaging in community discussions, and his overall personification of the Ridge's community spirit.

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Ridge Historical Society President Gene Delves uses his column to announce administrative transitions within the organization. He introduces Dave Daruszka as the new newsletter editor, bringing modern computer design skills to the publication, and extends deep gratitude to retiring editor Elmer Johnson for his eight years of dedicated service in modernizing the newsletter's format. Additionally, Delves announces the Board's election of Linda Lamberty to the position of Vice President and Program Coordinator, thanking outgoing coordinator Eileen Klees for her tireless work managing the large program repertoire.

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This report details the continuous efforts to upgrade the landscaping at the Ridge Historical Society's Driscoll House, specifically focusing on the "Longwood Slope" transformation. Coordinator Joyce Black calls for volunteers to join the Morgan Park Junior's and other groups for a fall work blitz on October 12, supported by Mayor Daley's "Clean and Green" program. The article extends special thanks to various individuals, families, and organizations, including Landscape Architect Wendy Schulenberg and the Garden Club of Morgan Park, who provided crucial funding, design expertise, and physical labor during a particularly challenging hot season.

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Drawn from the historical notes of Alice S. Barnard, this short snippet describes the "Webbs Little Stock Yards" that existed in the mid-1860s. Located on Seeley Avenue, the site featured a barn, a shanty, and feeding troughs spanning nearly a block back to 107th Street. The text notes that cattle were driven to this location from as far away as Texas, eventually moving down Township Road to a slough between Wood and Prospect Streets.

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This article announces a day-long celebration scheduled for Thursday, October 10th, to mark the rededication of the newly restored 111th Street Train Station. The festivities, which will include light refreshments, history displays, and actors in period costumes, celebrate a prominent community landmark. Significantly, the event also marks the 150th anniversary of the first train to run from Chicago to Joliet on the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, a line that played a pivotal role in the development of the Ridge communities.

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The Ridge Historical Society and Mount Greenwood Cemetery are co-sponsoring a special event on Saturday, October 5, 2002, inviting the public to explore Chicago's most beautiful rural cemetery. The article provides historical context, explaining how 19th-century urban burial grounds were pushed outside city limits, leading landscape architects to design scenic, park-like commuter cemeteries for both rest and recreation. Attendees of the $5 self-guided tour will enjoy peak fall foliage, learn about the area's earliest Ridge residents interred there, and view exhibits in the cemetery's picturesque stone chapel.

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This section serves as a comprehensive appeal for community support for the not-for-profit Ridge Historical Society. It outlines several specific volunteer opportunities, including acting as docents at the Driscoll House, assisting at the upcoming 111th Street Station rededication from dawn till dusk, and distributing promotional flyers. Additionally, the society asks for financial support to supplement membership dues and cover operating expenses, while also soliciting donations of historical artifacts and photographs to help document the area's local history.

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This brief historical sidebar explores the origins of specific street names within the Village of Morgan Park. It explains that 13 streets were once named in reference to the works of Italian Renaissance poet Torquato Tasso (1544-1595), famous for his romantic epic "Jerusalem Delivered." Original street names included Tasso Place, Rinaldo, Ebuda, Borso, and Armida. However, the article notes that all these literary-themed names, with the sole exception of Lothair, disappeared when the village was annexed into the city of Chicago.

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This calendar section provides a consolidated list of important dates and attractions for members of the Ridge Historical Society and the surrounding community during October and November 2002. Highlighted events include "A Day in the Park" tour at Mount Greenwood Cemetery, the RHS bimonthly program featuring a slide presentation on the cemetery's history, the BAPA Falling Leaf Festival, the 111th Street Station Rededication, and upcoming RHS Board of Directors meetings at the Driscoll House.

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