2003-06 RHS Newsletter – June-July 2003

Cyrus Teed, a former medical student and Civil War veteran, experienced an "Illumination" in 1869 that led him to believe he was the second Christ and that the earth was enclosed within a sphere. He formed the Koreshan Unity, a utopian communal society practicing celibacy, which eventually established a commune called "Beth Ophra" in Washington Heights (Beverly) in 1892. Despite facing legal troubles and accusations of alienating women from their husbands, the group grew to over a hundred members before facing harassment and ultimately relocating to Estero, Florida in 1903. After Teed's death in 1908 following injuries from a street fight, the cult's momentum faded, but their Florida settlement eventually became a state park where a foundation still maintains their archives.

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This short snippet highlights a humorous historical quirk regarding early Morgan Park politics. It describes a solitary, sad-faced man who operated as the "village Democrat." Because the village's only local Republican either died or moved away, this lone Democrat was supposedly left with the burden of representing both political parties in the area.

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The Ridge Historical Society's Summer 2003 exhibit focuses on the John H. Vanderpoel Art Collection, described as one of the area's "least-recognized gems." The collection originated in 1913 with a single painting purchased by the community to memorialize John H. Vanderpoel, a highly respected Beverly resident and Art Institute instructor who died in 1911. Through the dedicated efforts of John A. Campbell, Dudley Crafts Watson, and others, earnest solicitations were made to Vanderpoel's former students and colleagues. This resulted in an overwhelming donation of artworks representing the artists' personal best, creating a remarkable and enduring tribute to the beloved teacher that was eventually housed in the Ridge Park Fieldhouse.

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This sidebar recounts the history of a loud steam whistle located at the waterworks on 115th Street in Morgan Park, which was utilized to sound the local fire alarm. Originally salvaged from an old Chicago River tugboat, the whistle produced a shrieking noise that frightened horses and the public alike. Following the annexation of the area, the whistle was sold to nearby Blue Island, where its haunting sound could still be heard echoing into Morgan Park for many years.

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This brief sidebar describes Lefty and Chick Monroe, twin brothers who played on the 1914 Morgan Park High School football team. Despite being the sons of a Baptist evangelist, they were widely known for their arrogant swagger and absolute lack of fear on and off the field. They operated under the brazen belief that they could do whatever they pleased because they were already considered "saved" by virtue of their father's religious profession.

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This page features a photographic history highlighting early educational buildings in the community. The top photograph showcases the impressive architecture of the Washington Heights School, built in 1875 on the site of the present-day Barnard School, before it was destroyed by fire in 1890. The bottom photograph displays the Esmond School, built in 1891 to replace an 1873 one-room schoolhouse in Morgan Park; the image also captures the distant Morgan Park water tank and the home of prominent citizen Col. George Clarke on the crest of the ridge.

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This sidebar highlights the extraordinary life of Austin Wiswall, a distinguished citizen and Civil War Major. During the Battle of Deep Bottom, he took command of a regiment of "colored troops" and courageously ordered them to charge breastworks despite heavy casualties; Wiswall himself was shot five times, left for dead, captured, and sent to the notorious Libby Prison. After miraculously surviving his imprisonment, he relocated to Morgan Park in 1875, where he served on the Village Board for nine years and was instrumental in establishing the local sewer and water systems before his death in 1905.

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The Ridge Historical Society expresses deep gratitude for the extensive efforts of its volunteers and community partners. The article details Linda Lamberty's creative decoration of Sue Delves' car for the Memorial Day Parade, promoting the Vanderpoel Art Gallery with the help of veterans and local artists. It highly praises the continuous financial and labor support provided by the Morgan Park Junior Woman's Club, noting their critical involvement in archival work and groundskeeping. Additionally, the piece reports on the society's successful participation at the Beverly Art Center's Style and Substance Sessions to promote historic home research, and congratulates Editor Emeritus Elmer Johnson on his induction into the Senior Citizen Hall of Fame by the Chicago Department on Aging.

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This sidebar outlines the incredibly busy life of Dr. William Henry German, born in Canada in 1855. He established his private medical practice in Morgan Park in 1884, back when it was a small village of only 500 residents. A devout Methodist, he was instrumental in establishing three local churches and simultaneously served on the Calumet Park board, the local school board, and the Chicago Public Library board. He worked as a surgeon at two area hospitals and maintained his office and home on Prospect Avenue until his death in July 1944.

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This compilation of news briefs covers various ongoing activities and administrative updates at the Ridge Historical Society. It acknowledges the hard work of volunteer gardeners from the Morgan Park Juniors and outlines plans to convert a costume room into a permanent reference library with the help of a local Boy Scout. The briefs mention the acquisition of a new Karastan rug and dining chairs via generous donations. Furthermore, it details several interesting historical research requests handled by the archives (including inquiries about Howard Van Doren Shaw and the Underground Railroad), provides updates on a newspaper conservation project, notes the continuation of the Barbara Bansley exhibit, announces a Lane Elementary School reunion, and previews an upcoming photographic history book of Beverly/Morgan Park being published by Arcadia Publishing.

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This sidebar provides a quick historical overview of the Beverly Theatre Guild, which was established in the 1920s as a recreational activity of the Chicago Park District. Originally offering theatrical productions in the Ridge Park field house, the group officially ended its park district affiliation in 1962. It subsequently transitioned into a not-for-profit community association sustained entirely by its own ticket revenues. Open to anyone regardless of prior theatrical experience or neighborhood residency, the guild continues to foster community theater efforts to this day.

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This section serves as an informational calendar of upcoming attractions and meetings for the Ridge Historical Society. It prominently features the multimedia exhibit "The Wit and Wisdom of America's First Ladies" by local artist Barbara Wynn Bansley, which is scheduled to run daily at Driscoll House until June 20th with an admission fee of $3 per person. Additionally, it lists the dates for the upcoming Ridge Historical Society Board of Directors Meetings, which are scheduled for Wednesday, June 14th and July 9th at 7:30 pm at the Driscoll House.

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