2003-02 RHS Newsletter – February-March 2003

This article details the life and career of Raymond Earl Middleton, born in Chicago in 1907. After attending Calumet High School and the University of Illinois, Middleton pursued a career in music and acting. He debuted with the Chicago Civic Opera Company before moving to Broadway in 1933, where he originated the role of Frank Butler in "Annie Oakley" opposite Ethel Merman and succeeded Ezio Pinza in "South Pacific." Over his three-decade career, Middleton also appeared in numerous Hollywood films and television series before his death in 1984.

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In 1937, the Morgan Park Improvement Association held a special meeting at Kiskaddon Hall to protest the construction of a proposed theatre at 111th Street and Longwood Drive. The unanimous protest was ultimately successful in keeping the theatre out of that specific residential location, as the building was eventually constructed at 95th and Ashland instead.

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In a letter to the editor, researcher Peg Mackle Kapustiak corrects a previous newsletter assertion about the first wedding in the Ridge area. Through deep genealogical and historical research using RHS resources, she discovered that Marcia Baxter (DeWitt Lane's sister-in-law) married Willard Jones on October 1, 1835, predating the 1845 wedding previously cited as the first. The article highlights the importance of the Ridge Historical Society's archives for family historians and provides a brief biography of Willard Jones, an early Chicago settler, carpenter, and landowner.

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The Thirteen Club was established in 1906 by Professor J.H. Herl of Morgan Park High School. Limited to exactly 13 members with no dues or recorded minutes, the all-male group met nine times a year at members' homes for a meal and the presentation of a research paper. The brief snippet notes that the organization reportedly continues to meet to this day, though no longer with its original members.

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The Annual Fund is described as a crucial mechanism for raising money to underwrite the daily operations of the Ridge Historical Society. This article serves as a public acknowledgment and thank you to the dozens of individuals, couples, and families who contributed to the general account, helping to cover essential operating expenses for the organization up to the newsletter's printing deadline.

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This sidebar highlights the philanthropy of George C. Walker, who donated land at the top of the Ridge on 111th Street, along with $12,000, to construct a Romanesque library designed by Architect Charles Frost. Donated to the Village of Morgan Park, the library opened in April 1890 under the guidance of several notable local trustees. Today, the historic building serves as the Walker Branch of the Chicago Public Library.

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According to a 1940 account by Louise Barwick, a flourishing Whist Club existed in the Ridge area between 1893 and 1900. The club met every other week at the homes of prominent community members, including the Hortons, Olivers, Wiswalls, Baldwins, and Wilders. The snippet notes that younger people in the neighborhood were occasionally invited to fill in for absent players.

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Triggered by a previous newsletter story about the rededication of the local train station, former resident Robyn L. Dare shared a treasured memory from 1933. While waiting at the Morgan Park 111th Street Station in his full military academy cadet uniform, Dare encountered his personal hero, Commander (later Rear Admiral) Richard E. Byrd. Dare had the distinct honor of saluting the famous polar explorer and escorting him to Morgan Park High School, where Byrd was scheduled to give a lecture.

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An image from a slide originally marked simply as "Rock Island Train" in the RHS archives has been accurately identified thanks to help from Charles Stats of the Chicago Chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. The iron horse in the photograph is actually believed to be a Panhandle (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad) locomotive constructed in their shops in 1883. Despite identifying the train, the exact location of where the photo was taken remains a mystery.

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This excerpt from 1909 features James R. Grey, President of the Morgan Park Village Board, expressing intense annoyance over citizen complaints about loose livestock. He chastises residents for pasturing cows and horses on vacant lots and parkways, allowing the animals to roam free, destroy gardens, and damage lawns. Grey pointedly reminds the citizens that Morgan Park is no longer just a pasture, reflecting the area's urbanization.

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The Ridge Historical Society is partnering with local organizations to implement the Dorothy Ann Saly Teacher Enrichment Program, funded by a late local teacher who served the community for 47 years. RHS will design history and geography programs specifically for teachers to help students appreciate local history and foster global learning from a community perspective. The RHS Educational Committee is currently seeking volunteers to assist with implementing these upcoming educational seminars.

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Visitors to the Driscoll House may have noticed odors due to ongoing interior renovations. The former tenant's quarters are being transformed into a new, expanded Costume Display Room, a project which involved heavily refinishing the floors. Once this move is completed, the previous Costume Room will be converted into a dedicated Research Library for the historical society.

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RHS member Ed McGunn, President of Corporate Safe Specialists, presented the society with a $3,000 check at the January Board of Directors meeting to promote the organization. McGunn, whose wife Lori serves on the board, was instrumental in funding previous extensive restorations of the RHS grounds. He has also put forward a challenge grant of the same amount to help showcase the Driscoll House during the Christmas holidays to attract more community visitors.

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This sidebar features two short news snippets from the year 1937. First, it notes that Ridge neighborhood boys, led by Harry K. Meech, dominated a city-wide harmonica contest by winning 19 out of 21 prizes. Second, it reports a tragic accident at 95th and Vincennes Avenue where crossing gates were not closed, leading to a fatal collision between an oncoming limited train and a car driven by a 15-year-old.

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The Ridge Historical Society is issuing a critical call for volunteer docents to staff the Driscoll House during public hours on Thursdays and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. Docents are responsible for opening the house, explaining exhibits to visitors, and providing a welcoming atmosphere, though they are not required to assist with deep archival research. Training is provided, and volunteers are encouraged to sign up with a friend to make busy days more manageable.

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Extracted from a 1909 piece titled "A Sentimental Journey to Morgan Park" by Richard H. Little, this humorous quote observes the physical differences between the neighborhood's "plain folks" and the "hill folk." Little jokes that residents of the hill have developed a distinct habit of raising their feet high, leaning forward, and breathing deeply when they walk. In contrast, those residing on the low side are said to glide along in an easy, natural manner.

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This section outlines upcoming public events for the Ridge Historical Society in early 2003. Highlights include a Sunday afternoon lecture titled "True Believers vs The Accommodationists: Politics of the Mid-19th Century" presented by Chicago State University Professor Walt Kelly, a Better Book Sale spanning a mid-February weekend, and scheduled Board of Directors meetings. All events are slated to take place at the Driscoll House.

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