2003-12 RHS Newsletter – December 2003-January 2004

The author reminisces about childhood experiences with the local milkman, Bill Balder, on Drew Street. Memories include the mechanics of milk delivery before homogenization, where the cream rose to the top and froze in winter. The author recalls the horse-drawn delivery wagons, the fun of hitching sled rides behind them during the winter, and the treat of receiving small chunks of ice from the milkman to cool off in the summer.

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Featured as marginalia across several pages of the newsletter, excerpts from Edgar J. Goodspeed offer a charming, firsthand look at childhood winters in historic Morgan Park. He recounts the grand evening affair of the Sunday School Christmas tree loaded with popcorn and candles. Goodspeed also reminisces about the joy of receiving ice skates to glide over thinly flooded prairie fields and the thrill of coasting down the steep Morgan Avenue hill on sleds during a time when the village was still free of motorcars and electric lights.

Page(s): 1, 2, 3

Following the publication of the Images of America book "Chicago's Beverly/Morgan Park Neighborhood," the Ridge Historical Society newsletter compiled several heartfelt letters from readers. These letters detail personal connections to the photographs, such as identifying family members on the cover and recalling specific addresses and local businesses. Correspondents share nostalgic stories of growing up in the area, identifying relatives, and remembering historical community figures, demonstrating the book's profound impact on preserving local heritage.

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The Ridge Historical Society details its extensive archives of local newspapers, highlighting collections of "The Post," the "Bethany Union Reminder," and "The Beverly Review." The article outlines the fragile condition of early papers, efforts to acquire a microfilm reader, and ongoing projects by the archives committee to create general indexes to make them more accessible for research. Furthermore, it appeals to the community for donations of missing historic issues and invites volunteers to join the committee in its preservation work.

Page(s): 3, 4

Printed as sidebars throughout the latter half of the newsletter, quotes from Julia Howes Meyers vividly describe the adventurous winter pastimes of local youth in the past. She details the sheer speed and occasional danger of coasting down the steep Morgan Avenue hill on bob sleds, followed by the comforting treat of warm oyster stew at a friend's home. Furthermore, she paints a romantic picture of group moonlight sleigh rides pulled by horses towards Palos Park, accompanied by the jingling of bells and the singing of popular tunes of the era.

Page(s): 4, 5, 6

A significant architectural artifact donation was made to the Ridge Historical Society: a pair of casement windows designed in 1910 by renowned Prairie School architect Walter Burley Griffin. These windows, featuring Griffin's characteristic geometric muntin patterns with triangles, rectangles, and pentagons, were rescued from the James S. Marsh House in Winnetka before it fell victim to a tear-down. The article, featuring insights from Professor Paul Kruty and local board member Mati Maldre, details the history of the house, the salvage operation by the Walter Burley Griffin Society of America, and highlights RHS as an appropriate home due to the local concentration of Prairie School buildings in the Beverly/Morgan Park area.

Page(s): 5

In celebration of the upcoming year of Architecture Awareness, the Ridge Historical Society is hosting a special holiday Dollhouse and Miniature Extravaganza curated by Carol Flynn. The exhibit spans two floors of the Driscoll House and features a vast array of miniature stock, private collections, and dollhouses loaned by local residents, including intricate Prairie Style and Irish Cottage models. The event includes extended viewing hours through early January, thematic weekend programs covering styles from Early American to Modern, hands-on workshops, and a gingerbread house competition, all designed to engage the community during the festive season.

Page(s): 6

The Ridge Historical Society reports a successful start to its second Annual Fund solicitation, having received 50 contributions totaling $3,000 in the first week, putting them well on track to exceed their $5,000 goal. To encourage further donations, local artist Jack Simmerling is offering frameable prints of his detailed drawing of the historic Mickelberrys restaurant to donors contributing at the Mickelberry circle level or above. The society expresses gratitude to its early supporters and urges others to contribute to help sustain their mission of preserving community history.

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The Ridge Historical Society formally acknowledges and thanks several individuals for their recent donations to the local archives. The donated items encompass a wide range of historical materials, including a 1974 Chesterfield Savings Times, local history books, a 1940 Beverly Hills Woman's Club Cook Book, historical papers on Beverly Hills murals, photographs of local buildings, vintage cookbooks, a 1948 Chicago Tribune article on the Gardner House, and significant memorabilia from Morgan Park Junior College spanning 1935 to 1937, enhancing the society's repository of community artifacts.

Page(s): 7

The Ridge Historical Society declares its recent event, "A Day in the Park 2003" at Mt. Greenwood Cemetery, a resounding success. The article extends sincere gratitude to the numerous volunteers, designers, and office staff who contributed to the event's smooth execution. A highlight of the tour was a presentation by Helen Sclar, known as "The Cemetery Lady," who engaged attendees with a fascinating talk on historical mourning customs. The society also notes that detailed tour books from both the 2003 and 2002 cemetery walk events remain available for purchase to benefit RHS.

Page(s): 7

As the calendar year draws to a close, the Ridge Historical Society includes a reminder for its members to renew their memberships for 2004. Noting that the society's membership cycle runs from January to December, the notice encourages prompt return of the provided renewal envelopes to streamline administrative tasks and avoid future reminder stickers on newsletters. The brief announcement concludes with an expression of appreciation for the community's ongoing support of the society's historical preservation mission.

Page(s): 7

A small archival feature reprints news items from the Suburban Star originally published in December 1937. The snippets capture the historical holiday spirit of the community, noting how the "Christmas spirit descended upon the Ridge district" with various affairs announced for children's entertainment. It further describes the expectation of large throngs attending Christmas services throughout the area and details Santa Claus's scheduled visits to local stores in Morgan Park, offering a charming glimpse into past local holiday celebrations.

Page(s): 7

The back page of the newsletter serves as a calendar of upcoming events and vital dates for the Ridge Historical Society. It prominently features a reminder for the ongoing "Dollhouse and Miniature Extravaganza," inviting the public to visit the Driscoll House during the holiday season to view extensive miniature exhibits and participate in related hands-on programs and a gingerbread house competition. Additionally, the calendar schedules the upcoming RHS Board Meetings for mid-January and February, concluding with a lighthearted, archaic-sounding warning that all weapons must be checked at the door.

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