Published by the Hyde Historical Society

Hyde Park Historical Society Annual Meeting, 2006

early 150 guests enjoyed the annual dinner Nmeeting the the Hyde Park Historical Society, held February 25,2006, at the Quadrangle Club. Presided over by host Charles Custer, attendees enjoyed an excellent chicken dinner followed by the business meeting and awards ceremony. Guest speaker Rick Kogan, feature writer for the Tribune, amused guests with tales of his life in what he genuinely feels is the greatest city in the world. A Cornell Award was presented by Bert Benade to Cory Stutts, outstanding history teacher at the Ancona School. Ms. Stutts's students' projects at the Society's History Fair last spring were one of the high points of the year. Frances Vandervoort presented Judge Abner Mikva's Cornell Award to his daughter, Judge Mary Mikva of the Cook County Circuit Court, who Rev. Dr. Leon Finney and Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie represented her father at the ceremony. Judge Mikva was cited for his half-century of service to his community, state, and nation, working within all three branches of government for civil rights, ethics, fair employment, and education. Jack Spicer presented Marian and Leon Despres Preservation Awards to three agencies. The first was given to the Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church, led by Rev. Dr. Leon Finney, Jr. The second went to International House of the , preserved through efforts of the Save I-House Committee and the University of Chicago. The third award was given to the South Side Trust and Savings Bank, 4651 South Cottage Grove Avenue, abandoned for ten years and threatened by demolition when owners Timothy and Everett Rand welcomed Shore Bank to the site last fall. Alderman Toni Preckwinkle's office is now located on the building's Cory Stutts an d Bert Benade second floor. ~ 8

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Rick Kogan Fran Vandervoort and Judge Mary Mikva

... 0 The awards ceremony ended with remarks by Fourth Ward Aldermanic Office for their commitment Alderman Preckwinkle, who congratulated winners of to preserving the bank building. the Cornell and Despres Awards. She also praised People left the happy event with the sense that Rebecca Janowitz and other staff members of the Hyde Park's unique history has been well served. IlliD

Do You Recognize This Building? All of us have seen this building. Some of us may walk by it on a daily basis. This handsome building is the six story apartment building at 5129 South Harper Avenue. Marcia Adelman, who now lives in Winnetka, bought the building as a real estate investment in the mid-1970s. This almost complete water color, painted by Charles Morgan, was found in the building's lobby. Judging from the automobiles and style, the picture was probably painted in the early 1920s. After selling the building in the mid-1990s, Ms. Adelman decided to return the painting to the community where it had spent most of the 20th Century. f­ After a few telephone calls and a trip to Hyde § Park by Ms. Adelman, the painting is now ffi Cl Z headquarters. Thank you, Mrs. Adelman! -FSV ci mU ! I' -'!;~~ Z. -' }II i

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Wintry Lichen Tour In Hyde Park on February 12, half a dozen people met at the Darrow Bridge south of the Museum of Science and Industry in and spent nearly 2 hours checking out local lichens. About 20 species were identified on trees, bushes, rocks, fences mostly in the areas along the north and east side of the lagoon (walking through Bobolink Meadow to the golf driving range and back). Richard Hyerczyk led the group and provided his expertise for identifications. We hope to continue with additional visits to monitor lichens in other areas of Hyde Park. Keep us posted about further activities! - Carol & Leo Herzenberg

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~ HYDE PARK LICHEN ~ i PROJECT SCHEDULE i ~ ~ ~ Rich Hyerczyk of the Morton Arboretum ~ ~ continues his project to identify local lichen ~ ~ species. All interested residents are invited to ~ ~ participate. Remember to dress appropriately ~ ~ and bring a hand lens. Each tour will last ~ ~ approximately two hours. ~ ~ ~ ~ May 28, 2006, Sunday ~ Looking for Lichens in Nichols Park ~ north of 55th Street. Meet just ~ ~ west of the Lake Shore Drive underpass at 3:00 ~ ~ P.M. ~ Nichols Park ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ June 11, 2006, Sunday ~ Lichen Tour ~ Washington Park. Meet near Cottage Grove ~ ~ Avenue just north of the DuSable Museum at ~ ~ ~ A dozen intrepid naturalists came to Nichols Park ~ 3:00P.M. ~ on March 19, a sunny but chilly day, for the second ~ ~ stage of the Hyde Park Lichen Survey. Rich Hyerczyk ~ June 17,2006, Saturday (note different day) ~ of the Morton Arboretum led the search of tree ttunks ~ . 1035 East 67th Street, ~ and branches for the colorful, if cryptic organisms. ~ just inside the north entrance. Tour will last ~ ~ from 9 until 11 A.M. ~ The schedule for future tours is shown below. Please ~ ~ note that a major tour has been scheduled for Oak ~ Additional dates may be set for surveys on the ~ Woods Cemetery Saturday morning, June 17, from 9 ~ Midway and elsewhere . Also, there may be ~ until 11. Lichen-eers will meet just inside the ~ after-dinner tours as the days lengthen . ~ entrance to the cemetery, 1035 East 67th Street, ~ ~ Watch for further announcements. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Roger and Kathy Huff HPHS Show and Tell Maps, charts, and other documents related to the Professors' Row Houses located in the 5600 block of a Success Kenwood Avenue. Most of the material was originally prepared for the centennial of the homes, which were The Society's first major venture into a public constructed in 1903. showing of artifacts, photographs, maps, and other memorabilia collected by members was a tremendous Roland Bailey success. On March 25, in a sunny room in the Hyde Memorabilia from various productions of the Gilbert Park Neighborhood Club, members displayed their and Sullivan Opera Company, including playbills, items on artfully arranged tables and entertained prices, and promotional materials. questions from interested visitors. Contributors to the show were as follows: Janice Knox • Two albums of Hyde Park and Woodlawn post Alta Blakely cards, from her collection of historic post cards. A film of the parade marking the Grand Opening of • Maps and memorabilia of Woodlawn. the Headquarters building, 5529 South Lake Park • Assorted memorabilia from the University of Avenue, October 26, 1980. The original film has been Chicago. converted to DVD format. Roger Keller, who made the conversion, would welcome still photographs which could be identified and added to the DVD for a more complete visual record of the event. If you have such photographs, please contact Alta Blakely at 77 3­ 753-4633.

Joe Marlin • The legal seals from the Keck Bros. Architectural firm. • A Kemper Combi camera from 1893, about 2" x 2" x 1" in size, along with descriptive information about the camera from a book on the history of photography.

Janice Knox and Shirley OIar

Hank Schwab Assorted items from recent times, including brochures on ArtsFest, SECC, Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, and University of Chicago community brochure.

Frances Vandervoort Hyde Park Digs and Discoveries: items related to the geologic history of Hyde Park, and materials related to last year's tree survey.

Bert Benade Joe Marlin with legal seals from Keck Bros. and a tiny "Combi" • 1933 Century of Progress program camera from the 1893 Columbian Exposition • A book about the Lama Temple ofJehore, China • Great University Memorials published by the University of Chicago Press, 1925. • Chicago's Great South Shore, published 1930.

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Steve Treffman Ordinance as introduced by Alderman Leon Despres. Degree certificate from the Old (original) University • Letters related to resolving the case against pastor of of Chicago, ca. 1880s. the church who was arrested during a civil rights • 1993 Chicago World's Fair paper parasol demonstration in Jackson, MS in the 1960s. • Hyde Park Centennial Vest, 1962 • Materials related to the church's involvement with • Photographs from Hyde Park Centennial programs sponsorship ofJapanese citizens (who had been in • Photocopy of legislation creating the Town Relocation Camps during WW II) to be resettled in of Hyde Park in February 17, 1851. Chicago. • Photographs of Hyde Park, 1940s and '50s. • Copy of a page from Construction News, May 1914 • Political and other Hyde Park-related pins. describing houses at 5113 and 5121 S. Woodlawn • Aitchpe (Hyde Park High School yearbook), 1918 Avenue.

Gary Ossewarde • An early Cornell Award • A community recognition plaque from a Chicago Marathon, acknowledging local winners Zeus Preckwinkle and George Davis.

Steve Treffman with 1933 Century of Progress parasol

Carol Bradford • Items from the archives of United Church of Hyde Park, including: • Hyde Park Presbyterian Church • Photographs of original building at 53rd & Gary Ossewarde and Fran Vandervoort study a map of Hyde Park Blackstone geology • Photographs of 1889 structure (still standing) from 1930s • Biographical material on Paul Cornell A complete description ofthe exhibits can be accessed through • Photograph and biography of William Henry Ray the HPHS website: • Photographs of other early members of the church http://www. hydeparkhistory. orglshowtellcontributors. html • 50th Anniversary book (1910) • Hyde Park Congregational Church (formerly at 56th & Dorchester) ,...... Correction...... • Scrapbook including pictures of the site and of the church (now demolished), programs and directories of In the Winter edition of Hyde Park History, the the church. dimensions of the Lady Elgin ("Hyde Park and • Hyde Park Methodist Church (formerly at 56th & the Wreck of the Lady Elgin") were erroneously Blackstone) reported to be, "... 252 feet long by 337 feet • 50th Anniversary Program book (1940) wide..... The acrual dimensions were 252 feet • Blank copy of a Restrictive agreement, long and 33.7 feet wide. 1930s • Letters related to the support of an Open Occupancy

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This article is taken from the book, Chicago's Great South Shore,john C. Spray, editor. Chicago: Sottth Shore Publishing Company, 1930. Hyde Park Herald IS Oldest Newspaper On Ch icago's Great South Shore The Hyde Park Herald is the oldest community newspaper on the South Side. In the issue of the 16th of September, 1884, appeared the annouricement that "at the last meeting of the Hyde Park Trustees, the Hyde Park Herald was unanimously elected as the official paper of the village for the ensuing year." Hopeful and ambitious were the brace of young editors, John D. Sherman and Clarence P. Dresser. "Naturally we are pleased at this recognition of our paper, even if it is somewhat tardy," was their editorial comment. Through the vicissitudes of fifty years the Hyde Park Herald has been a voice with a conscience in the Spencer Castle, Editor-Owner, Hyde Park Herald community of Hyde Park, a true reflection of a community from which comes the source and instrument for building up community feeling in the inspiration of many of the reform movements that midst of a great and growing city. have helped to ventilate the sink of civic corruption in For the first two or three years of its existence, the Chicago. Although the office quarters of the Hyde Hyde Park Herald came out in a form very similar to Park Herald at 5427 Lake Park Avenue are only a its present dress, a sheet of four columns, twelve block away from its headquarters of fifty years ago on inches in length. Then, in 1885, as if in imitation of Fifty-third Street near Lake Park Avenue, the wide­ the dailies, for it had no technical reason, as they had, open spaces ofa village community have been to increase its page size, it lengthened its pages to changed to the crowded streets of a highly urbanized twenty inches and its width to six columns. This community. seemed to have been the typical dress of the Hyde And, though today, Hyde Park is vastly shrunk in Park Herald until its purchase in February, 1927, by point of territory, it is greatly enlarged in point of the present Edi tor-Owner. population. Politically it is the fourth and fifth wards He resumed immediately the early form which it and part of the third; geographically, it is that territory has kept ever since as more sui table to the needs of a lying east of Cottage Grove Avenue, between Sixtieth communIty paper. Street and Thirty-third Street; it is an exclusively Today, the Hyde Park Herald comes out every white territory with a population of75,000 people. It Friday, and has never missed an issue in more than possesses three distinct sections: the hotel group, fifteen years. The very first editor, J. B. Sherman of comprising one of the major hotel communities of the Winnetka, is still living; during the World War, the Middle West; the Kenwood residential section still paper was owned and edited by R. B. Smart and Miss presenting some of the most beautiful homes to be V. B. Morris, now living at 5635 Drexel Avenue; from seen in Chicago, and the University of Chicago 1920-1926, Maurice Vittu or 5431 lake Park Avenue community which again is unique. was the publisher; from 1926-1927, Mrs. Nonie Vittu There is a great difference between the Hyde Park was the publisher; from 1924-1927, Mr. F. A. Herald of fifty years ago and today. Whereas it then Churchill was its able editor; since 1927 Spencer reflected village feeling, it today is the most powerful Castle has been the Editor-Owner. W

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Claude Weilloves Chicago and, in his words, has explored it "from end to end." As a history buff, he HPHS Spring Events is fascinated by language and names wherever they appear. He offers the following list ofthe origin of Schedule local street names taken from Streetwise Chicago, by Hayner andMcNamee, Loyola University Press, 1988. • Saturday, April 29, 2006, 2-4 P.M. Tom Heinz will sign his new book, The Frank Lloyd Wright Field Street Names Guide, from 2 to 4 at the HPHS Headquarters. • Saturday, May 20, 2006, 2-4 P.M. DePaul and FORRESTVILLE AVENUE J ackson Park Exhibit, HPHS Headquarters. (532 E. from 4300 S. to 13452 S.) Forrestville was a hamlet on the South Side in the • Sunday, May 28, 2006, 3-5 P.M. Burnham Park 1850s near what is now Hyde Park. This street runs Lichen Survey. Meet just west of the Lake Shore through the village. Drive Underpass at 3 PM.

GREENWOOD AVENUE • Sunday, June 11, 2006, 3-5 P.M. Washington Park (1100 E. from 4212 S. to 13300 S.) Lichen Survey. Meet west of Cottage Grove Avenue just north of the DuSable Museum. This avenue was named either for Mississippi's Choctaw Indian Chief Greenwood Leflore (1800­ • Saturday, June 17, 2006, 9-11 P.M. Oak Woods 1865) or for William M. Greenwood, a lawyer and Cemetery lichen tour. Meet inside the north gate, Chicago real estate developer in the 1840s. 1035 East 67th Street. INGLESIDE AVENUE (930 E. from 4700 S. to 13520 S.) • Sunday, June 17, 2006, 2-4 P.M. Peter Ascoli will Named for Ingleside, Illinois, located north of Chicago sign copies of a biography of his grandfather, Julius near Fox Lake. Ingleside was a popular summer resort Rosenwald, at a site to be determined. for Chicagoans in the nineteenth century. Don't miss it! ______KINGSTON AVENUE (2524 E. from 7300 S. to 9356 S.) Paul Cornell, the founder of Hyde Park and other Chicago communities was born in the state of New Tom Heinz York and named this street for Kingston, NY (Note: Claude Weillived in Kingston, , in 1942 The Frank Llo~d Wright before coming to Chicago.) Field Guide OGLESBY AVENUE (2332 E. from 6700 S. to 13758 S.) Please join us on Saturday, April 29 at 2:00pm Richard J. Oglesby (1824-1899) was a soldier in the to hear Tom Heinz speak on The Frank Lloyd Mexican-American War, a U.S. senator from Illinois, Wright Field Guide. The Frank Lloyd Wright and governor of Illinois from 1865 to 1869 and again Field Guide provides the first complete visitors' from 1885 to 1889. During his term as senator, guide to all of Wright's buildings in the United Illinois ratified the 13th and 14th amendments to the States and around the world. This new, single­ Constitution and repealed its racially discriminatory volume edition is written and compiled by "Black Laws. " architect and Frank Lloyd Wright expert Thomas A. Heinz, AlA. In a highly readable PAYNE DRIVE (800 E. in Washington Park) and informative style, Heinz presents each John Barton Payne, born in 1855 in Virginia, moved building page by page, providing brief histories to Chicago in 1883 and practiced law. He was and background details, information on president of the South Park District in 1922. accessibility and viewing, and driving directions. Every entry is accompanied by a photograph and location map. Buildings are arranged geographically.

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This Newsletter is published by the IIgJe Park IHsloriml Sodely Hyde Park Historical Society, a not-for­ COLLECTING AND PRESERVING HYDE PARK'S HISTORY profit organization founded in 1975 to

Time for you to join up or renew? record, preserve, and promote public Fill out the form below and return it to: interest in the history of Hyde Park.

The IIyJe Park IHslorical Sodelg Its headquarters, located in an 1893 5529 S. Lake Park Avenue • Chicago, IL 60637 ~...... restored cable car station at 5529 S. Enclosed is my __ new __ renewal membership Lake Park Avenue, houses local exhibits. in the Hyde Park Historical Society. It is open to the public on Saturdays

and Sundays from 2 until4pm. __ Student $15 __Sponsor $50 __ Member $25 __ Benefactor $100 Web site: hydeparkhistory.org Telephone: HY3-1893 Name President: Carol Bradford Address ______Editor: Frances S. Vandervoort Contributing Editor: Stephen Treffman Zip Designer: Nickie Sage