HP Hyde Park Historical Society Non-Profit Org. 5529 S. Lake Park Avenue U.S. Postage HS Chicago, IL 60637 PAID Chicago, IL Permit No. 85 H VoL. 36y dN0. 4 e PublishedPa by ther Hydek Park H istoricalH Society istoAuTuMNr 2014y AutumN 2014 T oor V r ANDE S. V ANCES by Fr by S o T o PH Cordelia Benedict Timika Hoffman-Zoller Margaret Huyck Joe Marlin This Newsletter is published by the Hyde Park Historical Society, a Hyde Park Historical Society not-for-profit organization founded CoLLECTINg AND PrESErVINg HyDE PArk’S History Park Memories in 1975 to record, preserve, and Time for you to join up or renew? promote public interest in the history Hyde Parkers reflect on the role of parks in their lives. Timika Hoffman-Zoller, president of the Elm Fill out the form below and return it to: of Hyde Park. Its headquarters, Park Advisory Council, described the history of this located in an 1893 restored cable car reen jewels—what would we do without them? small park, located immediately north of the 53rd station at 5529 S. Lake Park Avenue, Heartfelt sentiments about park experiences Street Shopping Center on Woodlawn Avenue. The The Hyde Park Historical Society houses local exhibits. It is open to were the rule of the day when approximately 75 community worked together to convert the park from 5529 S. Lake Park Avenue • Chicago, IL 60637 the public on Saturdays and Sundays Gpeople filled the meeting room at Montgomery Place a hangout for drug dealers and other undesirables into ✁ from 2 until 4pm. on Sunday, August 17, sharing joy, amusement, and a place of relaxation and refreshment complete with a Enclosed is my new renewal membership discovery as they described how local parks had changed productive community garden. Web site: hydeparkhistory.org their lives. in the Hyde Park Historical Society. Telephone: HY3-1893 Margaret Huyck mused about how East End Park, Student $15 Individual $30 Family $40 President: Ruth Knack Here are some of the stories: now Harold Washington Park, was a “savior” for her Vice-President: Janice A. Knox when she was doing graduate work at the University of Name Secretary: Gary Ossewaarde In the 1940s, Cordelia Benedict and her brother Chicago. She had two little girls at the time, and she Treasurer: Jay Wilcoxen played on the polished stone slab on the east end of could read and study at the park while her girls played Address Editor: Frances S. Vandervoort Midway Plaisance where the statue of Czech statesman and made friends with other children. She is pleased Zip Email Membership Coordinator: Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, first president of the new that one daughter regularly volunteers at Bobolink Claude Weil country of Czechoslavakia, would be placed after Meadow in Jackson Park. Phone Cell Designer: Nickie Sage World War II. Metal was not available during war years mold this commemorative figure; it was not put in place Melissa Cook told of her efforts to preserve Lorado until 1949. rTaft’s Fountain of Time in Washington Park. When ➤ 2 r2 r7 Welcome to Michal Safar, the UPCOMING EVENTS In September, at a date and location to be Society’s new President announced, local students will present their projects about Hyde Park History at the Michal Safar has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Chicago Metro History Fair. History from Butler University in Indianapolis. She received a Master of Arts in Library and Information In October or November, Susan O’Connor Science from Dominican University in Forest Park, Davis will discuss local history at the Bert Benade Memorial event. Proceeds will go IL. Throughout her professional career, Michal to the Society’s Building Fund. T has served as the assistant librarian for East-West oor V University, Chicago Sunday, October 19, 2PM A panel r IL and the Director discussion about the Hyde Park Art ANDE of the Manufacturing Center will be held at the Hyde Park Art S. V Technology Information Center to discuss the Center’s 75 years Analysis Center for the of service to the Hyde Park community. ANCES Department of Defense. Panel participants will be Neil Harris, Chuck by Fr by She has wide experience Thurow, Leslie Buchbinder, and Executive S o T with both digital and Director Kate Lorenz. o PH hard copy collections. She Robert Despres Janice and Richard Spofford Louise McCurry Julia Bachrach The Annual Dinner of the Hyde Park currently works with the Historical Society will take place on Defense Logistics Agency Saturday, February 28, at the Quadrangle in the management and ➤ ➤ 1 she arrived in Chicago from New Orleans in Joyce Hilkevitch, the founder of Mostly Music, was Club. Further details will be announced documentation of their at a later date. Volunteers are needed to 1981, she enjoyed the fountain’s “spooky look.” By proud to have founded “Pointed Music at the Point” research and development 2001, when she decided to research the life of this programs. She spoke of chamber music concerts plan program, help organize tables, and be projects. Michal joined general go-fers as time progresses. great sculptor, the entire sculpture had been encased on Wooded Island, including Asian groups that the Hyde Park Historical in a wooden shed awaiting funding for the restoration performed near the Japanese Garden. Society in 2004 and of the reflecting pool. With the help of Cindy became Archivist in 2007. Mitchell, Commissioner of the Chicago Park District, Richardson Spofford could hardly wait to tell his She has been working and Julia Bachrach, Park District historian, funding “Point” story. He had been courting a “lovely lady,” since that time to acquire maintenance, and our membership is not as diverse as was found to restore the fountain. Melissa commented now his wife Janice. They ended up on the Point on additional materials for the we would like to see it. that Taft had designed the sculpture group outside Christmas Eve, 1950, where he proposed: they were collection and to make the I look forward to working with the HPHS Board, of the Louisiana State Capitol, a building forever married in 1951. They now live in Montgomery Place collection more accessible our membership, and the community at large to identified with former Governor Huey Long. Another where they enjoy a panoramic view of Promontory to the local community, students, researchers and meet these challenges and continue our mission of famous Taft sculpture is “Solitude of the Soul” in Point and Lake Michigan. HPHS members. Additionally she has chaired the documentation, preservation and dissemination to the Chicago’s Art Institute. And, of course, the esoteric, Strategic Planning Committee and is Chairman of the widest possible audience. and much-used Taft studio remains a University of Janice Spofford, who followed her husband, Jean F. Block Award Committee. Chicago fixture at 60th Street and Ingleside Avenue. described how Hyde Park Herald publisher Bruce Michal, a Hyde Park resident since 1984, and her Michal Safar Sagan helped decorate the ballroom of their new husband Mazin, a U of C alum and Hyde Park resident Joe Marlin, who used to play tennis in East home on Woodlawn Avenue with helium-filled since 1976, live in the historic Promontory Apartments End Park, has learned that there is a large trove of balloons. She speculated that remains of those building, and are enthusiastic members of the Hyde photographs of Chicago’s south side parks in an balloons still might be found in the recesses of where Park Community Garden at 62nd and Dorchester. archive at Indiana University. they had lived for more than 60 years. New Members Robert Despres described how his father, former Louise McCurry, president of the Jackson Park Message from the President The Society welcomes Mr. and Mrs. George Tolley. alderman Leon Despres, would participate in activities Advisory Council, replete with easel, maps, and From its earliest days the Hyde Park Historical at the Darrow Bridge in Jackson Park on the day every photographs, spoke both of the Park as a long- Society has been committed to the documentation, March when Clarence Darrow, whose ashes were established venue for American Youth Soccer League preservation and dissemination of Hyde Park history. placed in the lagoon after his death in 1938, promised activities. She spoke fondly of the importance of We have a strong tradition of presenting programs, Answer to Mystery Quiz: to return to Hyde Park. He also said his father would soccer in Hyde Park, and described the functions nurturing budding high school historians, preserving have boycotted the 2016 Olympics had they been of JPAC. She emphasized that the Park supports the natural and build environment, and generally Hyde Park was founded by Paul Cornell in coming to Chicago. He could not have countenanced activities for people of all ages, including nature study promoting all things Hyde Park. We face serious 1853, and became incorporated into the City of the huge stadium planned for Washington Park. And and programs about the 1893 World Columbian challenges in the coming year. Our historic cable Chicago in 1889. Clarence Darrow has not yet returned. Exposition. car building is in need of substantial repair and Autumnr 20 1 4 Autumnr 20 1 4 r6 r3 Society Invites Nominations for and St. Louis for the honor of hosting the World’s Fair. Inspiration for the entire program was provided by Henry C. Cowles, and later of botanist George Fuller. Paul Cornell Awards The entire Fair opened less than 20 years after Chicago Julia Bachrach, Chicago Park District historian. She Although Jensen’s landscape work was mainly in the had literally burned to the ground.