The Historian Preserving & Promoting Neighborhood History
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The Historian Preserving & Promoting Neighborhood History Volume 32, No. 1 Winter 2016 In This Issue Volunteer Profi le: Dona Vitale page 2 From the Editor page 3 Society president Ken Walchak relaxes at his post as he waits to Residents don’t pay admission. welcome visitors. Rogers Park’s Norman Ross, Sr., Olympian Swimmer, Military Pilot, and Broadcaster House Walk 2015 Revisits “Birchwood page 5 Beach” Neighborhood of Rogers Park Fun, Games, and Good Cheer at the Annual Holiday Party for By Kay McSpadden Members and Volunteers page 11 In keeping with the Historical Society’s Betsy Downs who had welcomed visitors policy of alternating the annual house walk in 2000; the home of Bob Vernille and Rogers Park/West Ridge between Rogers Park and West Ridge, David Thompson which once housed a Historical Society 2015 was Rogers Park’s turn. For this 29th small synagogue; Pat Shaw-Kahn’s home Trivia Contest page 12 Annual House Tour, the Society went back located on a lot which was part of Catherine to the northeast Rogers Park “Birchwood Touhy’s inheritance from her father Phillip Loyola U. History PhD Beach” neighborhood which was the site Rogers; the residence of long-time owner Students Inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu of a house walk in 2000. Holding it in this Bindy Bitterman, displaying some of her page 13 neighborhood of some of the grandest and collection of antique and “kitsch” objects; oldest homes in Rogers Park provided the and the Prairie/Tudor-style home of the Nothing is More Constant opportunity to revisit a home designed Scholl-Roche family which retained many Than Change by noted Prairie School architect Walter original details. page 14 Burley Griffi n, to include the recently Many tourgoers commented that each of named Marion Mahony Griffi n Beach Park these homes was “a gem,” and the number as a “walk-by,” and, best of all, to start the of homes was “just right” for the length of tour from the Society’s new home in the the tour. beautifully restored 1920s building on the southeast corner of N. Greenview and W. The neighborhood history in the house walk Jarvis Avenues. booklet made reference to the elegant past of the northeast Rogers Park neighborhood. The homes open on the tour were built Many of the homes in that neighborhood between 1891 and about 1914. They date from the earliest growth of Rogers included the Griffi n-designed J. Benjamin Park, and many multiple dwellings east Moulton house, still owned by architect page 2 • Winter 2016 • The Historian The Historian walk there; Kay McSpadden who identified published quarterly by docent volunteers and helped edit the house The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society walk booklet; Colleen Sen who assisted the homeowners with write-ups about the history Editor of the homes; Hope Shannon who supervised Hank Morris publication of the booklet; Jeff Smith, home history researcher; Ken Walchak who assisted Managing Editor David Richert with logistics; and Dona Vitale who identified Production Editor homes to be included and coordinated the entire Kathryn Siemianowski Long-time volunteers and Society members, Rob Case and house walk organization. Sue Sosin, arriving on the tour. Design Consultant Greeters at the homes included: Dave Kalensky, Kathleen Paluch of Sheridan Road were built during the Ken Walchak, June Finfer, Gerardo Gallegos, population boom of the 1920s when the Matt and Gaby Amyx, Bill Morton, Mary Editorial Staff neighborhood reached its peak of 90,000 Oellrich, Amelia Serafine, and Anne Crowe. Ellen Credile residents and was promoted for its resort David Richert Organization of the 2016 house walk, scheduled Sue Sosin atmosphere. for West Ridge on Sunday September 11, is The Cabbagehead The House Walk Team included: Stephanie beginning; the specific neighborhood has E-Newsletter Editor Barto, current office assistant; Kim Brown, yet to be identified. Dona Vitale, again the Hank Morris previous office assistant; Summer Damra, coordinator this year, would like to hear both Northside Prep senior; Gwen Gregory, long- from homeowners who would like to participate time public relations volunteer; Dave Kalensky, and from volunteers interested in serving on the new Board member who as Peterson Woods committee. resident helped organize the 2014 house Volunteer Profile: Dona Vitale By Kay McSpadden In our Volunteer Profiles, we’ve tried to show the variety of volunteers we have. This time we decided to focus on one of the leaders of the organization. Dona Vitale is a retired professional who has been a Board of Directors member since March of 2014. In addition to taking on major roles, she has brought her personal and professional expertise to bear on decision-making. This issue’s Volunteer Profile is about Dona Vitale. One of her roles is Chair of the Outreach Dona, what does Outreach consists of? Committee, one of the five committees that form the basic structure of the Historical Society. Outreach deals with all the ways the Historical (The others are Governance, Education, Media, Society interacts with the community, including and Fundraising.) She organized the 2015 our volunteers and members as well as other House Walk and is making plans for the 2016 local organizations and the general public. The event. Just recently, she took on the position of teams comprising the Outreach Committee Treasurer, replacing Margaret Ferguson who focus on Membership, Volunteers, Community resigned. Relations and Marketing. Here are her responses to questions about her What has been the focus of the Outreach contributions to the Society. Committee, and what has been accomplished? Continued on page 4 One of the first things the Community Relations Team did was to reach out to local organizations to let them know we’re here and willing to work with them on projects. One result, among others, was an oral history project with several founders of Lifeline Theater. We also realized early on that we needed a better way to track of all of our outreach efforts, so for over a year now, some technology-savvy volunteers have been developing an improved page 3 • Winter 2016 • The Historian From the Editor In this issue, we’ll take an in- Saturday, March 19, Annual Meeting, 12 noon, Northtown depth look at WW-I and WW-II Library, 6435 N. California Ave. The speaker will be long-time military pilot Norman D. Ross, member and volunteer John Fitzgerald, who will relate the Sr. Norman was also the owner of successfully completion of his and his wife Judy’s almost 50- a record store on Davis Street in year adventure to visit all 3,143 counties in the U.S. (Completed Evanston and a Olympic 3-gold in Luce County, MI, on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 6:47 am medalist in swimming. Many of EST). those of us who have lived here for quite a while remember his eldest Additional 2016 Events, Definite but dates and locations are son, Norman A. Ross, Jr. from TV not yet finalized: and Radio. But, his dad preceded April ?? Grace DuMelle, presentation on “How to Research the him on WGN, and other radio Editor, Hank Morris History of Your House.” stations, too. June ?? Part 2 of “Clark St. Then and Now Walking Tour” Norman, Sr. is best remembered in Rogers Park for his legendary swimming to work at WGN-AM in the Tribune October?? Prof. Ted Karamanski, from the Loyola U. History Tower most days from his home at 7639 N. Eastlake Terrace Dept., will speak about “American Indians in the Early History (9-1/8 miles, one way). of the Chicago Area.” Our 29th Annual House Tour came off without a hitch. Nice Progress at our New Home weather and interesting locations to visit made for a well- The Society’s name is now emblazoned on our front window. received event. Five houses were open to visitors on the tour and we had walk-bys, too. The check-in was conducted from We participated actively in Jarvis Square holiday activities. our new location 7363 N. Greenview Ave. This way, everyone We were very well decorated for Christmas with one 6-foot on the tour had a chance to see our new home. tree, a tabletop tree with vintage decorations, colored icicle As has become a year-end tradition, we held our annual lights across the window. And, we participated in “Shop Jarvis members’ party. This year, as was done two years ago, we Square” on celebrated at Gullivers Pizza and Pub, 2727 W. Howard St. Saturday, December 12 by having 2 craft vendors in our Almost endless Pizza and salad, ensured stuffed and happy storefront and volunteer Rob Case on hand to represent the members. Society and give away posters, past house walk booklets, and Upcoming 2016 Events (definite dates): other things. Wednesday, February 17, Jim Akerman, Curator of Maps at the Finally, this is a great time to renew your membership. Why not Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., will talk on “Mapping the come by our new digs and say “Hi.” Early Roads of Chicago’s North Side, at the Budlong Woods Hank Morris, Library, 5630 N. Lincoln Ave., 6:30 p.m. Editor continued on page 4 www.rpwrhs.org www.facebook.com/RPWRHS page 4 • Winter 2016 • The Historian Volunteer Profile: Dona Vitale (continued from pg. 2) One of the first things the Community Relations Team did was to big place, and it can be very impersonal, but volunteering in the reach out to local organizations to let them know we’re here and community makes me feel like I live in a very friendly small willing to work with them on projects.