From the President
By: Kathy Gemperle
The celebration of our five-year anniversary at the Prohibition Party at NLCC on March 20 was a great success thanks, in no small part, to new board members Renee Anthony and Ann Tice. Renee chaired the silent auction and Ann decorated the party rooms to provide a speakeasy atmosphere.
Other board members who managed the event were Martha Kraeger, Arnie Hanson, Mae Scheeff, Thom Greene, Jim Karela, Mark Harding, Betty Mayian and Sandee Remis. Thanks also for the indispensable services of John Kraeger, Ara Mayian and Dave Gemperle, who always pitch in wherever needed.
Arnie Hanson and I really had fun while working hard to challenge history buffs with our compilation of a tough trivia test. Bob Remer earned high honors in the Chicago Trivia Contest, appropriately winning an Untouchable Tour for two.
Best costume awards went to:
- Ann and Dave Tice - 1st place couple
- Marion Lettner (in her own 1920s dress) - 1st place female
- LeRoy Blommaert - 1st place male
- Betty Jaci - 2nd place female
- Jim Karela - 2nd place male
The photographers for the evening, Neicey Bossette and Pamela Miller, served as judges for the costume contest.
By popular request, the General Meeting on June 5 at St. Ita Church was followed by an updated version of our original THEN & NOW Tour. The tour featured a guided look through St. Ita’s and a walk through central Edgewater, with choice pieces of our photo collection to show what originally stood on many of the sites. Many thanks to elder EHS members Marion Lettner and Bill Steinfeld who added spice to an already interesting tour with their personal anecdotes and/or photos.
Last spring, I had the pleasure of speaking with the third grade class at St. Gertrude’s about the history of Edgewater. Their teacher, Gail Smith, had been teaching them about community history by having them create an Edgewater history time line, viewing the Edgewater video and creating a model of Edgewater showing where each child in the class lives. Our conversation in class was a journey through the building of the community with a developing appreciation of its historic architecture. Congratulations, Gail, on an exciting program. We’d love to see other schools work on this aspect of Chicago history.
Believe it or not, our Fifth Annual Edgewater Home Tour is coming up on Sunday, September 19, 1993, from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., beginning at the North Shore Baptist Church, 5244 N. Lakewood.
Six late 19th century homes in the Lakewood-Balmoral area will he highlighted in this year’s self-guided tour covering four blocks. Several of the homes have been designated as potential landmarks by the Chicago Landmark Commission and three of the houses were built by J.L. Cochran, Holabird and Roche, who designed the house in the photo on the next page, were also the architects of the Three Arts Club, the Marquette Building and City Hall. Two churches, North Shore Baptist and Unity Lutheran, will also host guided tours.
The tour price is $8.00 for members and $10.00 for non-members. This year, a small silent auction is being added, so come prepared - you never know what you might find. Mark your calendars now to reserve the date! Advance reservations can be sent to Marion Lettner.
On Sunday, September 26, Rosehill Cemetery and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War will rededicate over 200 Civil War burial sites at the cemetery. The program will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a living history Civil War encampment and end with a rededication ceremony recognizing the replacement of the old memorials with new, legible ones.
Also on Sunday, September 26, the Rogers Park Historical Society will hold its annual RPHS House Tour, 11:00 to 6:00 p.m., beginning at 1629 W. Morse. Tickets are $10.00 in advance and $12.00 at the door. Call for more information.
Lastly, be sure to watch your mail for notice of “Making No Small Plans,” a program that will he co-sponsored by EHS and NLCC this October at the North Lakeside Cultural Center.