Hyde Park Historical Society Fall + Winter 2023 Bulletin
-UPCOMING EVENTS-
-RECENT EVENTS-
Open House Chicago @ the HPHS was a Success!
Click Here to check out more photos from the exhibition!
-IT TAKES A VILLAGE-
As a small non-profit, that is completely volunteer run- we are so grateful to all those in the community whose support helps us continue to fulfill our mission. We want to express our gratitude to a few other special people who have continued to go above and beyond!
-JAN GLOWACKI-
Maintaining our building can be very costly. We are so grateful for Jan Glowacki, from Professional Masonry Restoration, who donated his time and materials to caulk our windows and install a salt screen to protect the building. Thank you so much Jan!
-TIMOTHY MURPHY-
Local drone photographer, Timothy Murphy has once again created a stunning 2024 calendar filled with aerial photos around Hyde Park. Not only do his calendars bring smiles to the faces of countless current and former Hyde Parkers, but he also donates $1 from the sale of every calendar to the Hyde Park Historical Society each year. He also took some great shots of the headquarters when he visited during the Open House in October. Thank you again for your support, Timothy!
-OUR TREASURER, BRIGID MANIATES-
The Hyde Park Historical Society is happy to announce that we are the recipient of a $5,000 State of Illinois Back 2 Business Arts Grant! Thank you to our Treasurer, Brigid Maniates for her work in applying for this grant on behalf of the HPHS!
-NEW FROM THE ARCHIVES-
Potter-Ford Family Collection
Thanks to Karen and Alan Potter-Ford for their donation of Karen’s grandmothers photos and memories of Hyde Park and Kenwood. Her grandmother was Caryce Brooks Ford, whose father was Jonathan William Brooks, Jr, of Pitkin & Brooks Rich Cut Glass. In 1898, Mr. Brooks moved with his wife and eight children to 4912 Woodlawn Ave. The album contains a plethora of great photos from the history of the area, with unseen pictures of the 47th street Metra Station and even of the Dewey School (which would later become the lab school).
-PRESERVATION NEWS-
Frederick Douglass/Haiti Pavilion Memorial Plaque Reinstallation
On January 2, 1893 Frederick Douglass, world famous abolitionist, activist, author, and orator gave a speech at the Haitian Pavilion at the World’s Columbia Exposition in Chicago’s Jackson Park. Douglass reminded all that Haiti, on January 2, 1804 became only the second independent nation in North America, the first Black republic in the world, and the first nation to permanently ban slavery. He offered Haiti as an inspiration for Black citizens in their fight for full freedom and respect. “There is no Negro problem….The problem is whether the American people have honesty enough, loyalty enough, honor enough, patriotism enough to live up to their own Constitution.” He was unaware that the first non-Indigenous resident of Chicago was the Black Haitian Jean Baptiste du Sable. Haiti, Douglass and du Sable now stand as powerful points in the history of Chicago.
On May 15, 1979 a memorial plaque was installed in Jackson Park to mark the spot where Douglass gave his speech to open the Haitian pavilion. A teacher from South Shore High school and a group of students raised awareness of Douglass’ role at the Exposition, petitioned the Chicago Park District and raised the $3,000 to produce and install the plaque.
Due to DuSable Lake Shore Drive reconstruction related to the Obama Presidential Center construction in Jackson Park, the Douglass/Haiti pavilion memorial plaque was removed from its location and placed upside down under a tree. The Hyde Park Historical Society notified the Park District of the danger to the plaque. Thanks to quick action by Park District Preservation Architect Michael Fus, the plaque is now in protective custody and awaits reinstallation.
The Hyde Park Historical Society and the Jackson Park Advisory Council will now work together to develop a plan to reinstall the plaque in a respectful manner.
-Jackson Park Advisory Council’s Historic Bridge Committee
JPAC has an interest in the park’s historic bridges. A Historic Bridge Committee met on September 26, 2023. This meeting focused on the Clarence Darrow Bridge and featured a presentation by Tim Samuelson, Chicago Cultural Historian from 2002 until 2021. Tim has a long and fabled history of sharing his knowledge and love of Chicago’s historic architecture with the public. He has a very special love of the Darrow Bridge. He spoke about the bridge’s origin, its history, and its future. Information on future committee meetings will be posted on The Jackson Park Advisory Council website.
Likewise, be sure to click on the two articles about the Darrow Bridge and Jackson Park:
Trish Morse Herald article about the Darrow Bridge
Marc Monaghan Herald article about Jackson Park
-Chicago Mail Chutes-
Hyde Parker, Diane Schirf, has started a map project to document all the old mail chutes around Chicago! Multiple have been mapped in Hyde Park.
Do you have a mail chute in your building? or know of one on the south side?! Add to the map!
Photo is from Diane Schirf of Mail Chute at the Flamingo Building in Hyde Park, 5500 S Shore Dr, Chicago, IL