GAZETTE Spring/Summer 2020 Volume 27 No. 1 http://www.winnetkahistory.org

Naughty but Nice: Commercial Illustrator Gillette Elvgren Upcoming Events by Helen Weaver Due to the coronavirus dates are subject to For 15 years from the early 1940s until change. Please check our the late 1950s, Winnetka was the home base of Gillette (Gil) Elvgren, a highly website for updates. successful commercial artist, best known www.winnetkahistory.org for his paintings of scantily clad women published in advertising calendars for the WHS Annual Meeting Brown & Bigelow Company. Elvgren, his Tuesday, May 19, 6:30 PM wife Janet and their children Karen, Gil @ Community House Jr., and Drake, lived in a rented house on Foxdale from 1941-1951. The Elvgrens Winnetka then bought a French Provincial house at Featuring the presentation, 1153 Pine Street, designed by Russell S. “Smart and Gutsy Winnetka Walcott in 1920. Elvgren converted the Women in History” by attic into a studio and painted more than speaker Holly Marihugh. 20 paintings a year there until 1956 when continues on page 3 Gillette Elvgren and Chicago model Myrna Hansen pose for a publicity photo c. 1950. Deep Family Roots in Winnetka Inspire by Holly Marihugh Piloting a Thunderbird Huey Service to Country and Community helicopter over the Mekong Delta in Vietnam took Phil Hoza a long way from the North Shore. But WHS Annual Gala, through a twist of fate, sudden fire “History Pops!” from Viet Cong forces changed the outcome of Hoza’s life and even- Saturday, June 13, 6:30 PM tually returned him safely to his Celebrating “History Pops!” family here. See Gala house photo and The year was 1967 and Hoza, event details on page 5. who’d joined the Army after gradu- ating from the University of North Dakota, had trained as a helicopter pilot. “I was flying as a gunship pilot and was protecting the transport of troops,” Hoza says. “I was shot in the leg while flying over a Viet Long-serving WHS Board Member Philip J. Hoza III in 1967 when he piloted Army Cong unit with my platoon leader. helicopters in Vietnam. I was medevacked to Saigon and

Non-profit then to Japan. From there, I ended Organization up at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in U.S. Postage PAID Colorado.” Permit No. 27 Back in Vietnam only ten days Palatine, Illinois The museum is currently later, Hoza’s entire crew was killed closed to the public due to the when the helicopter they were flying coronavirus. Please check our in was shot down by the Viet Cong. website for updates. www.winnetkahistory.org continues on page 7 Spring/Summer 2020 Vol. 27 No. 1 Winnetka Historical Society Gazette page 2 Winnetka Story Film Release

In December, local residents gathered to watch the HD remastered, “Winnetka Story: The History of Winnetka and the North Shore.” Created by Winnetka native and filmmaker John Newcombe, the film now includes new aerial footage. North Shore Country Day School graciously hosted the showing.

Visit winnetkahistory.com for your download of the film.

Photographs by Christine Murdoch Spring/Summer 2020 Vol. 27 No. 1 Winnetka Historical Society Gazette page 3

We also are looking forward to Peter Butler, WHS Board President this year’s Gala at Kip and Sara Naughty but Nice, Kirkpatrick’s wonderful home on the evening of June 13th. It is the cont. from page 1 Using History to Make Connections social highlight of the year for us and one of the biggest sources of Spring is Look back where the vision is the support for what we do. Please in the air. clearest and then bounce forward come for one of the most relaxing Maybe. If with anticipation and uncertainty of and enjoyable evenings in town this you live in what tomorrow may bring. summer. Winnetka To help share stories this year, At the Historical Society, we near the lake, we are thrilled to bring Mike try to capture the past and share spring is here Leonard to the Community House history about the people who one day, gone stage. Due to coronavirus precau- have brought pride to what we the next, tions about large meetings, we had do locally and more broadly. We maybe not to postpone this event, but will also try to use our history to make to return until June. But regardless announce a new date soon. Mike connections among us who live of the weather, spring breaks are is an Emmy Award winning tele- here and who we might otherwise upon us as is a new baseball season vision journalist, New York Times not get to know. This is one of the where all the teams are currently best-selling author, filmmaker, reasons the Mike Leonard event undefeated. We also know that and former 32-year NBC national and gala are so much fun—a time Some WWII bomber pilots used this 1940s spring will be a time when new network correspondent and regular to mingle with old and new friends, era Elvgren pin-up as inspiration for air- memories are made, history will be contributor to the “Today Show.” something our busy calendars just plane nose art. written, and stories will be told in He is a master storyteller, a pas- don’t seem to let us do very often. the years ahead. That’s what we do sionate resident of Winnetka, and is Looking forward to seeing you at the family moved to Florida. at the Winnetka Historical Society. more than ready to share his reflec- the Gala. — Peter Butler ■ Born and raised in St. Paul, Try to tell the stories of the past. tions on a town he loves dearly. Minnesota, Elvgren came to Chicago in 1933 after eloping with his childhood sweetheart, Janet Cummins. He attended the Curator’s Corner: American Academy of Art, graduat- ing early after just two years. The Early Days of the North Shore Health Resort (1900s-1930s) In 1937, Elvgren got his first big break when the Louis F. Dow Company hired him to paint a collection of “pin-ups.” His subject was the girl-next-door caught in a compromising position and thus naughty, but still nice. Her skirt was accidently blown up by the wind, tugged by a dog, or caught on a fence to reveal a little extra leg and a garter. These Dow pin-ups became popular collectibles when they were reprinted and marketed to soldiers overseas during World War II. Many amateur artists reproduced Elvgren’s images on aircraft noses and flight jackets. As the advertising industry in Chicago was beginning to boom, the Stevens-Gross Studio offered Elvgren a staff position in 1940. A postcard depicting the elegant grounds of the North Shore Health Resort on Sheridan Road. He produced work for numerous commercial clients including Coca- by Rachel North Shore Health Resort from founded by a German émigré by the Cola, Ovaltine, Ford, Sylvania Ramirez the Chicago Daily Tribune. The name of Dr. I.H. Hirschfeld. The Electric, Serta Mattress, and others. ad, under the “Health Resorts” resort, originally more of a sanitari- Elvgren’s advertisements appeared “Come section of the classifieds, lauds the um than a hospital, was a place “for in the Saturday Evening Post, and Get facility’s “Scientific care combined rest and convalescence,” a beautiful Cosmopolitan, McCall’s, Redbook, Well,” calls with ideal surroundings,” “beautiful retreat on the lake to recover from and Woman’s Home Companion. a 1918 grounds,” and a “bathing beach.” both physical ailments: “rheuma- He painted many of the iconic advertise- Established in 1901, the North tism, digestive disorders, heart “Coke Girls” seen on billboards ment for the Shore Health Resort (NSHR) was continues on page 4 continues on page 5 Spring/Summer 2020 Vol. 27 No. 1 Winnetka Historical Society Gazette page 4

didn’t make the news. One such New Curator Joins the Winnetka Historical Society patient was a young man named Theron Kline. by Ann Thompson that require proper care, storage, Native?” exhibit at the Mitchell Recently, one of his descendants documentation, and exhibition. Museum, which Meagan curated came to me asking if I could find Meagan McChesney comes well prepared from start to finish. She has taught anything about this man she knew McChesney for the challenge. Impressively, extensively at the university level so little about. All she knew was is the newest she recently completed her PhD in and has been a researcher for the that he had checked into the NSHR Winnetka History and Public History from U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage in June of 1929, and didn’t stay for Historical Loyola University. Her dissertation Association with an emphasis on long. Society topic was tribally-run museums, shipwrecks across the Great Lakes. I was unable to find out more (WHS) staff which highlight the significant New exhibit and outreach about Theron’s stay. This got me member role historical organizations like ideas are underway at WHS, and thinking – where are the records who recently ours play in their communities and McChesney will be an integral part of these early patients? In 1968, began her role as Curator. The beyond. of these programs. The Curator the facility, by that time renamed Curator’s job is an important one In addition to her academic also provides reference services to the North Shore Hospital, closed. for the organization because the training, McChesney has wide patrons who come to 411 Linden What happened to any paper trail main focus of WHS is the care of experience in public history, having Street to research buildings and remains a mystery. If the records the artifacts amassed over an almost interned at the Mitchell Museum other local history topics. Her love weren’t given to another institution, 90-year history. These collections of the American Indian and the of history and expertise in histor- the private hospital was probably include everything from clothing, Chicago Cultural Alliance. In those ical themes will be an asset to our not required to keep them longer furnishings, and other daily remind- roles, her hands-on experience researchers. We hope the communi- than 10 years after the last visit—by ers of the past to photographs and included research, exhibit develop- ty will take advantage of her many today’s regulations anyway. It’s archival records that document the ment, and collections management. skills and get to know this newest possible they were more lax in the village’s history. There are approx- Some readers may be familiar member of our staff. ■ 1960s. imately 15,000 catalogued items with the “Did You Know They’re As a historian, it is somewhat troubling to contemplate the threads of these stories being snipped off, When questioned about why Morris but whether records were destroyed Curator’s Corner, cont. from page 3 had been left alone, NSHR staff institutionally or details quieted argued it was likely an accident by grieving family members, I am caused by her health condition. She always reminded of the personal had been staying for heart disease, and emotional side of telling his- not “mental disorder or melan- tory. How deeply research can go cholia.” Dr. Hirschfeld said to the is determined by the record that Tribune, “We take no patients who remains, and when it comes to require constant watching.” issues of mental health, it is perhaps Over the next three decades, the not surprising that we get our story facility continued to maintain a from postcards, newspapers, and reputation for excellent care, but the curious relatives in later genera- “constant watching” was always an tions—those who just needed to issue. For example, the essay “Big know. Quiet from Winnetka” (in WHS Today, the pleasant, grassy area collections) written by William overlooking the lake at Centennial Webster Garman, tells the story of Park still does have it all, those the writer’s grandmother, Hazel “ideal surroundings,” advertised Hartzell Royer. Garman says that in the early 1900s. The pretty spot Nurses and patients rocked and chatted on the porch, which featured an expansive view of Royer had an undiagnosed mental gives little in the way of clues to its Lake Michigan. illness off and on during the 1920s other past, which is why I hope we and was checked in to the private all keep digging and remembering disease,” and mental conditions: other postcards, horse drawn car- sanitarium in 1933. One day in the places that came before. “recuperation from worry, over- riages or cars wait outside. Women December, about a month into her This article only discusses the work, and nervousness.” and men amble down the sidewalk, stay, Royer slipped away from her earliest decades of the North Shore The red brick building stood with pleasant greenery and foliage nurse and went to the lake, where Health Resort. If you’d like to learn grand at 225 Sheridan Road. It had all around them. she drowned. Garman says that he about how the land became park plenty of windows and a tower on But the peaceful, almost dreamy wrote the essay because his family space, read “Centennial Park: one side topped by a gazebo-like image conveyed in advertising and hid the fact that his grandmother Settlers, Sanitarium and Open structure. Many images of the postcards are not echoed by news- died by suicide. He didn’t discover Space” by Susan Whitcomb at North Shore Health Resort exist paper accounts of the time. While her full story until 1990. winnetkahistory.org. from this early period, particularly a lakeside spot certainly would be The newspapers reported other in the form of Real Photo Postcards. a beautiful place to recuperate, it is deaths that happened at the facility This is a final column by former In one scene, large rocking chairs perhaps not the safest. over the years, some accidental and WHS Curator, Rachel Ramirez, are lined up along the deck while In 1906, a woman named Sarah some not. Without a doubt other who is now the new Curator at the patients and nurses sit together, Morris died while a patient at the patients were treated and moved on Wilmette Historical Museum. ■ relaxing in a three-season porch. In resort, her body found near the lake. without incident, and their stories Spring/Summer 2020 Vol. 27 No. 1 Winnetka Historical Society Gazette page 5 Naughty but Nice, cont. from page 3 2020 WHS Gala: “History Pops!” than 20 paintings, including several Brown & Bigelow pin- ups as well as universal bill- board paintings that Elvgren produced for the Schmidt Lithography Company. Hansen started to work with Elvgren at the age of 15 and even wore her own prom dress to pose for a painting. In 1953, Hansen won the Miss USA contest and was runner-up for Miss Universe. She went on to have a career in Hollywood as a film actress. The most famous model to work with Elvgren was Kim Novak, who was born in Please join us for the WHS Annual Gala on Saturday, June 13, 6:30 p.m., Chicago in 1933. at the Kirkpatrick Family home on Mt. Pleasant Street. Kip and Sara While some viewers might Kirkpatrick will open their doors to an evening of mingling with friends consider Elvgren’s pin-up while dining, perusing treasures at a silent auction, and listening to music Elvgren produced many “Coke Girl” images from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. during a 25-year span representing the Coca-Cola paintings risqué, compared Company. to some modern advertising, they are fairly tame. In a 2005 The 2020 Gala home was designed by Orren Pickell Building Group, and in magazines throughout the Chicago Tribune article, book who for nearly 50 years has enjoyed a reputation for excellence as one of 1940s and 50s. He also did work editor Dian Taschen described Chicago's finest luxury custom builders. This house on Mt. Pleasant artful- in support of the war effort in ads Elvgren’s style: “He was the master ly marries stone, cedar, and classic lap siding into a stunning transitional for clients like Swift Meats and of the forbidden peek. You got a shingle-style home. The earthy palate blends seamlessly into the landscape General Electric. sense that you were catching some- and the intersecting gable rooflines are an Orren Pickell signature. In 1944, calendar publisher thing that you weren’t supposed to . Brown & Bigelow hired Elvgren . . almost as if the girl was conspir- Visit winnetkahistory.org for tickets and details. to produce 24 calendar pin-up ing with the wind to have her skirt paintings a year for $1,000 a paint- blow up.” ing. This made him, according to In the same article, pin-up his- Carleton Washburne: Winnetka Celebrates biographer Charles Martignette, torian Greg Theakston added: ”It’s “one of the highest paid illustrators cute; it’s not meant to bash you 100 Years of Progressive Education in America.” over the head with sexuality. It’s Elvgren continued to do work for supposed to titillate you.” A blog- answer keys for self-checking, sit other commercial clients, including ger on Coke art at wordpress.com at desks and tables designed in Coca-Cola with whom he had a puts it this way: “Elvgren conveys graduated sizes for their comfort, 25-year partnership. One of his the ideal of real life, fun, beauty, who have sinks and counters in later clients was Napa Auto Parts and sensuality in every one of his their classrooms for projects, who, whose calendar girls were similarly paintings. Never sexual, always even as kindergartners, can reach beautiful, but with more modest sensual, their style is the epitome the drinking fountains, climb on attire. of the age of elegance in which he playground equipment like a jungle Elvgren was also a talented lived.” gym, can join clubs and service photographer and always painted Elvgren’s career continued organizations at their junior high from posed photos that he himself successfully though the early schools, probably have Carleton had taken. Models would come to 1960s, but as magazines turned to Washburne to thank for innovating his studio and be posed in elaborate full-color photo illustrations, the or popularizing these concepts. situations to mimic the pin-up scene type of art Elvgren specialized in Washburne was recognized as Elvgren had in mind. He preferred was no longer in vogue. He died in Carleton Washburne, circa 1933. a force in the educational com- to work with younger inexperienced 1980 at the age of 65. In the late munity early in his career. In the models. In a book he co-authored, 1990s, several books on pin-up art (Adapted from a 1998 Gazette 1920s, while he was developing Elvgren: His Life & Art, son Drake in general and Gillette Elvgren’s article) his progressive education methods Elvgren remembers: “He wanted a work in particular have brought As superintendent of Winnetka in Winnetka, Washburne’s findings cute girl-next-door, the approach- some acclaim to this illustrator. public schools from 1919 to 1943, were published in more than one able girl -- cute was more important Today he is recognized as one of Carleton W. Washburne created a hundred articles in national and than beautiful.” the most important glamour artists model of education that received internationally recognized educa- One of Elvgren’s favorite models of the 20th century. ■ worldwide recognition. tion journals. was Chicago high school student Children everywhere who use During the 1930s, Washburne Myrna Hansen. She posed for more workbooks and textbooks with continues on page 6 Spring/Summer 2020 Vol. 27 No. 1 Winnetka Historical Society Gazette page 6 Washburne, cont. “Winnetka Treasures: from page 5 15 Decades, 15 Objects,” spent his summers lecturing in the education programs of colleges the Exhibit Continues and universities throughout the United States, and in 1936 he Guests circle and learn about addressed the World Conference on New Education in England. artifacts illuminating histories The Winnetka Graduate Teachers from Winnetka’s past during College, which he helped to found, opening night of the exhibit in also spread his ideas and influence. When Washburne’s “dream November last year. school”—Crow Island—opened in 1940, educators everywhere Featured are artifacts and sto- were watching. More than 10,000 visitors and 30 national magazine ries about “Old Jim,” a 1,720 articles quickly spread its concepts. lb. draft horse who hauled for Many school districts, rushing the Winnetka Coal and Lumber to accommodate the baby boom generation, copied the innovative Company during the 1930s; a features that were part of his vision custom “Winnetka” Monopoly- for a truly child-centered school. style Game from the 1980s; and Separate wings for different grade levels, self-contained classrooms a weather-beaten door from the with activity space, and child-scale doomed steamship, the Lady fixtures and furniture all became Elgin, which sank off the coast commonplace. Crow Island School was added to the National Register of Winnetka in 1860. These arti- of Historic Places in 1990, in facts will no doubt spark village part because of the reputation of memories of your own. Carleton Washburne. The school still generates much worldwide interest in the fields of education The museum and exhibit is cur- and architecture. rently closed to the public due After Washburne resigned as superintendent in 1943, he accepted to the coronavirus. Please check a commission in the U.S. Army to our website for updates. reopen schools and universities in www.winnetkahistory.org. Italy and rid them of fascism. He remained overseas until 1949 when Photographs by Dina Spoerl he became Director of Teacher Education at Brooklyn College. In 1961 he joined the faculty of Michigan State University, College of Education as a distinguished professor. Despite the fact that “progressive education” fell out of fashion in the late 1940s, Washburne continued to write and enjoyed an international reputation until his death in 1968. Today, the Carleton W. Washburne Memorial Library in The Skokie School contains Washburne’s publications, cur- riculum materials, textbooks, and other professional papers. This valuable collection documents his many contributions to the Winnetka public schools and the world of education. ■ Spring/Summer 2020 Vol. 27 No. 1 Winnetka Historical Society Gazette page 7

he’s been a WHS board member Board of Directors Deep Roots, continued from page 1 for 41 years (two separate terms), Anne Bahan giving him the status of being one Peter Butler, President of the longest serving. Amy Capocchi Since the 1970s, Hoza has Joan Conlisk also served on the Board of the Layla Danley Winnetka Youth Organization and Paige Dooley the Skokie School Foundation. Joan Evanich, Vice President In addition, he was a two-term Tom Flemma, Officer At Large Clerk of New Trier Township and Phil Hoza a two-term Township Trustee. He Holly Marihugh, Secretary created a local tornado alert system Christine Murdoch, Treasurer Charlie Shabica and coordinated a Township CPR Ann Smith training program for residents. Dina Spoerl, Officer At Large Hoza’s service includes all that and Ann Thompson more beyond village borders. Peter Tyor One of the most satisfying expe- Helen Weaver riences of Hoza’s public service Mary Westerman Bulgarella was raising the funds and leading a team to build a memorial honor- Sustainers ing longtime community doctor, Beth Anaclerio Clarence Minnema. A large bronze Barb Aquilino circular plaque with the doctor’s Nancy Behles The bronze circular plaque honoring Winnetka’s Dr. Clarence Minnema who practiced medicine in his Elm Street office from 1933-1975. In 1977, Phil Hoza (right) raised funds image was dedicated on Memorial Bean Carroll and led a team to install the plaque at the corner of Elm and Chestnut Streets. Day 1977 and was embedded in Susan Curry the brick sidewalk at the corner of Nancy Davis “Fate is strange,” Hoza says as access to O’Hare Airport now. Elm and Chestnut for more than Cindy Fuller he looks down at the commemora- Walter Bratschi, a Swiss immi- 40 years. The location was fitting Harry Grace tive bracelet encircling his wrist. It grant, opened the doors to his since Dr. Minnema had treated Nan Greenough bears the name of the 336th Army namesake company in 1937. Four patients in his office at 817 Elm Betsy Hammond Assault Helicopter Company and generations of the family have Street from 1933-1975. Mary Happ represents an enduring connection worked at the company, including “Dr. Minnema would respond Louise Holland to his fellow soldiers. Phil’s oldest daughters, Betsy Hoza to accidents and jump to help any Becky Hurley During his three-year Army Harootyan and Carrie Hoza, who time someone was hurt badly,” Nancy Judge career, Hoza earned the rank of is a licensed journeyman plumber. Hoza says. “Back in that day, they Anne Kelly Betsy Landes Captain and returned with a Purple Carrie was an Army Captain like didn’t have ambulances or para- Penny Lanphier Heart, two Distinguished Flying her dad, and she served in Iraq. medics. They had a station wagon Betsy Meuer Crosses, an Air Medal for Valor, Hoza’s paternal grandfather, with a red light on the top, which Maureen Mitchel and 15 Air Medal Decorations for Philip Hoza Sr., was a tailor for meant basically, load ‘em and go.” Luvie Myers combat. Marshall Field’s Department Store (Ambulance/Paramedic service in Liz Nesler When he returned to the North and then opened a shop on Lincoln Illinois began in 1972.) Jude Offerle Shore, Hoza reconnected with Avenue in town and another in Five grown children from two Jan Pavlovic the deep roots his family has in Lake Forest. During the Great marriages make up the Hoza family, Cynthia Peters Winnetka, which now make up four Depression, Grandfather Hoza and everyone graduated from New Laurie Petersen generations of family. Currently, earned extra income from the Trier High School. Sally Schneiders Hoza heads Bratschi Plumbing, family home on Arbor Vitae Road. “I put five children through Marcia Sutter which his grandfather, Walter “As a child growing up, I would college,” he laughs. “There’s no Mary Ward Bratschi, founded. go to my grandparents’ house, college debt, but there were five Susan Whitcomb Both sets of Hoza’s grandparents, and there’d be all sorts of strange cars and five wrecks.” Sally Wille the Bratschis and the Hozas, moved people,” Hoza says. “All the rooms When Hoza thinks back on his Nancy Yurek to the village in the 1920s. After had locks on the doors. That’s how early days in Winnetka, he remem- living in Chicago, they found that they got through the Depression, by bers Maple Street Beach in the Gazette Editorial Staff Winnetka offered an inviting small renting out rooms. A lot of homes in summer. Holly Marihugh, editor town life. Winnetka became rooming houses “As a child, I saw they had a Siera Erazo, design editor “They all lived in the same during that time.” pool where you could clean your Peter Butler Chicago rooming house and liked The grounding of his family feet off, and it had a plug,” he says. Rachel Ramirez to play cards together. Eventually in village history has spurred “The best part is that I’d fill it up, Ann Thompson they moved up here,” Hoza says. Hoza to make community service make rivers, and then let the water Mary Trieschmann Helen Weaver “There were a lot of homes then a priority, including joining the out. Maybe that’s why I became a that were not that expensive. So Winnetka Historical Society Board plumber. Because of my earliest © Winnetka Historical Society you could live comfortably here, in 1974. In 1980, Hoza stepped up memories of playing in the water and you had good access to the to become WHS president when he and sand on Maple Street beach.” 411 Linden Street, P.O. Box 365 railroad.” Having a railroad close was only 37, making him one of the He smiles. ■ Winnetka, IL 60093 by then is akin to having ready youngest leaders in that role. Now, 847-446-0001 winnetkahistory.org