Newsletters 1987
Volume 9, Number 1
April, 1987
1836 - 1986
by Wallace Rusterholtz
Wallace Rusterholtz, historian of the Unitarian Church, is also a member of the Hyde Park Historical Society.
Only three years after Chicago was incorporated as a town, our church was founded in 1836. A few young men, inspired by a visiting Unitarian minister, started our church by adopting by-laws and planning a church building. After calling a minister, a building was constructed on the site of the Picasso figure in Daley Plaza.
The new congregation had sharp ups and downs, financial and other wise, during much of the nineteenth century. Ministers came and went with short pastorates. The church moved three times, always, southward, following the growth of the city. We built our present Hull Chapel in Hyde Park in 1897 as merely a mission, but the whole church followed in 1909.
Meanwhile, other important developments included the creation of a ministry-at-large in 1859. This became a social agency soon headed by Robert Collyer, supported by the church and staffed by volunteers. It was said to be "the only private agency for general relief at that time" when the government did lit tle for the poor and needy. Collyer was an outstanding pioneer social worker.
When the great Chicago Fire of 1871 leveled much of the city, it merely scorched our church on South Wabash Avenue because neighboring buildings were dynamited to contain the flames. The church opened its doors to the homeless. Ten years later, the women's organization started a kindergarten, probably the first free one in Chicago. They even erected a building for it eventually.
The twentieth century has been a period of longer pastorates, especially Von Ogden Vogt's from 1925 to 1944. He was promised a new church building by Morton Denison Hull, long-time trustee and treasurer of the Society who previously had given us Hull Memorial Chapel. A new structure was designed by Hull's son who constantly consulted Vogt, an authority on church liturgy, art and architecture. Adjacent to Hull Chapel, it was completed in 1931 at a cost of nearly one million dollars. Our next minister was Leslie T. Pennington who served us with distinction from 1944 to 1962. During his pastorate, we doubled our membership, acquired two additional buildings, and took leader ship in the community. He led us in to racial integration and then, with others, founded the Hyde Park Kenwood Community Conference. He stated its purpose to be "reckon ing directly with the issues of racial integration, community conservation and renewal, and the develop ment of a genuinely integrated community of high standards." Hyde Park became a model for the city and nation.
During Pennington's ministry, Christopher Moore became his assistant and started a children's choir. He rapidly built it into the huge, city-wide Chicago Children's Choir. During its thirty-year history, it has drawn in thousands of children of all races, ethnic groups, creeds, and social backgrounds.
Jack Mendelsohn came to our ministry in 1969. During his pastorate of nearly ten years, we launched the Center for Family Development. It has developed into a family counseling service with substantial professional staff head ed now by the Rev. David Arksey who is also a member of our church staff.
Mendelsohn and our congregation became increasingly concerned about civil rights, especially when rights are violated by law enforcement agencies. We helped to form the Alliance to End Repression, a coalition of organizations concern ed with civil liberties and urban problems. Mendelsohn became its first president. The Chicago police "red squad" spied for years on these and other organizations, including our church and minister.
Duke T. Gray came to our ministry from Toronto in 1980. We finally completed our long-term efforts to separate the Chicago Children's Choir and the Center for Family Development from the church legally. They remain closely associated with the congregation, but had become heavy financial burdens. They now can receive more outside funding. This really extends our church's outreach to the community and city.
Four Receive Coveted Paul Cornell Award
by Jay Mulberry
At the annual meeting this year, the Society presented four Paul Cornell Awards to nominees recommended by the Board. Receiving the coveted honor were Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Bender, Edward Campbell, Eileen Edwards and Mr. and Mrs. Julius Thomas.
The Benders received the award which has become customary during the last few years for restoration of homes by nonprofessionals. The Bender efforts, which span several years, involved the substantial interior refinishing of an 1890 period two story row house in the 5500 Dorchester block. In addition to new mechanical systems, the Benders removed many layers of paint and wall coverings from walls and woodwork and restored original features of the house. They re landscaped the rear yard and constructed a patio and deck.
The young Ms. Edwards already
has had an enviable career as history teacher at St. Thomas School. During the last two years she has been a member of the teachers' advisory board which has shaped the new Junior History Fair to compliment the long-successful Metro History Fair and students in her classes are involved in the best tradition of "hands-on" learning as they create their own directory of local history sources. Ms. Edwards has earned the reputation at her school of performing that formidable trick of "making history fun" and for this the Society (and all Hyde Parkers) should be grateful.
Edward Campbell is a semi retired architect who, after a successful career, returned to school for a master's degree involving a fine thesis on the use of terra cotta in Hyde Park. The thesis is a splendidly thorough study of the architectural conventions in terra cotta ornament which grew up after the great Chicago fire, flourished during the first quarter of this century and died out almost completely during the depression. Though the making of terra cotta is almost a lost art, its memory is preserved in Hyde Park on countless buildings -- nearly all of which Ed Campbell has noted and described. Earlier this year, Campbell set up a notable display of photographs and ornaments at the Historical Society headquarters and assembled a comprehensive catalog to accompany it. The catalog is still available and provides the basis of a fascinating walking tour through the neighborhood and its architectural past.
The award presented to Julius and Marsha Thomas was a token of appreciation for their restoring the interior of their Hyde Park Place Cafe just north of 55th and Cottage Grove in Washington Park -- the former lawn bowling clubhouse whose exterior renovation the Society undertook last summer. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, who also own the Park Place Cafe in Lincoln Park, worked closely with former Society President Devereux Bowly for more than one year and with him succeeded in creating a place of grace and charm which begins to renew some of the vast potential of Washington Park. Members of the committee
responsible for evaluating this year's Cornell Award nominations were Win Kennedy, Roberta MacGowan, Emma Kemp and Jay Mulberry. Nominations for next years Awards may be submitted at any time and are welcome now.
Volumn 9, Number 2 and 3
August, 1987
Promontory Point - 50th Anniversary Exhibit
by, Roland Kulla
One special element of the July 4th celebration of Promontory Point's 50th anniversary is a comprehensive exhibit which features photographs Jent from Park District files showing the actual construction of the Point from the early 1920's through the completion of the fieldhouse and original landscaping. The selection of aerial photos is particularly interesting in that they show not only the location of the original breakwaters and landfill, but also the transformation of the old Fine Arts Building into the Museum of Science and Industry and the building of the landmark hotels that fill the shoreline today.
The Park District also shared copies of the original blueprints for E.V. Buchsbaum's fieldhouse and the original landscape design by Alfred Caldwell as well as plans for the later addition of the council rings and an intriguing plan for extensive perennial gardens. The landscape photos confirm that Caldwell's design was fully executed with the exception of the retaining wall around the perimeter of the Point. Caldwell had planned a gradually sloping series of limestone ledges, complete with pockets for rock garden plantings. This was apparently too costly, and the existing stone blocks were installed instead.
The exhibit notes architect Caldwell's link to the great prairie school landscape designer Jens Jensen, whom he served as foreman on several major projects in the 1920's. Caldwell's design is a masterful interpretation of the prairie concept, creating a large open meadow surrounded by groves of native trees and shrubs, but broken on ·the north and south to permit vistas of the city. Caldwell went on to design the Zoorookery in Lincoln Park as well as much of the Lincoln Park extension between Montrose and Foster. He taught with Mies van der Rohe at IIT for many years and is responsible for the landscape design of the campus, where he still resides.
Hard times are noted with plans and photos that showed the Nike radar station located on the Point from the mid-1950's to the early 1970's. This installation destroyed significant plantings which have never been replaced. But the photos also show, despite this inappropriate use, the Point continued to be a rallying place for the community.
In the present, the exhibit highlights the wide variety of activities sponsored by the Park District at the fieldhouse, and notes increased opportunities for community participation through the local advisory committee.
The future includes a survey of plant materials by local landscape architects to determine what of the original plan still remains. There is interest in using this information both to develop a master plan for future restoration and possibly to seek National Register designation of the Point as an historic landscape.
The exhibit continues on display at the Society's headquarters through September. The photos and plans will then be placed in the Historical Society's archives. If you stop to take a look, be sure to pick up one of the brochures prepared by the Friends of the Parks and the Hyde Park Historical Society detailing the Point's history.
Roland Kulla, board member of the Society, prepared the current Promontory Point exhibit. In his research he uncovered old materials, photos, and blueprints in the recently opened Archives of the Chicago Park District which bring new dimensions to the history of the Point. Hours are 2 to 4 on Saturdays and Sundays.
A Picnic Extraordinaire
Perfect weather and high spirits marked the occasion of the 4th of July picnic in celebration of the 50th birthday of Promontory Point. Co sponsored by the Hyde Park Historical Society and the Friends of the Parks, the day was reminiscent of an old-fashioned 4th of July community bash. The castle building was adorned in red, white and blue bunting, artfully hung by committee member Clay Anderson, and activites for all ages abounded.
Hat making, face painting and sidewalk drawing continued throughout the afternoon while clowns and jugglers circulated. A special thanks is due Historical Society board member Zeus Preckwinkle for providing both entertainment and instruction in the art of juggling. Kids and adults alike stood
spellbound as he tossed everything from eggs to flaming lorches in the air. (Not recommended for beginners).
As the afternoon progressed, games such as 3-legged races, family wrapping, and volleyball were enjoyed while others stood in line for ice cream and popcorn. Experienced popcorn popper, Helen Bailey, demonstrated considerable expertise learned in her high school days. Balloons and flags were distributed and the picnic culminated in music and speeches. Leon Despres, a reowned public speaker, sang a mean tune as he led the group in a song written for the occasion by Bob Ashenh urst.
Another special feature of the day was the exlu15if prepared oy ooara member--Rt5tand Kulla tracing the history of The Point. This illuminating exhibit, researched and designed by Roland, is now on display at the Headquarters of the Historical Society through September. (See article describing the exhibit in this issue).
Kudos and thanks particularly to the hard working committee who planned the picnic and the many Historical Society volunteers who helped make this event such a success. Not to be overlooked is our appreciation for the tremendous cooperation and help we received from ShapelJ Smith and her staff from the Park District and Deone Jackman and Kay Clement from the Friends of the Parks.
Picnic Committee:
Clay Anderson Rita Dukette Eileen Edwards Emma Kemp Roland Kulla
Theresa McDermott Zeus Preckwinkle Enid Rieser
Marie Schilling Grace Williams
Co-chairs:
Penny Johnson Jay Mulberry