From the President
By: Kathy Gemperle
Thank you for your patience and interest in our newsletter. Our editor, Sandee Remis, is finally back on her feet after an extended illness and surgery.
We will publish only two issues this year, but next year we’ll be back to our normal three. We hope our mini-update mailed in June kept you temporarily informed.
As most of you know, our Edgewater Scrapbook won the top award for publications in the 1991 Congress of Illinois Historical Societies and Museums’ (CIHSM) awards competition.
In each issue we try to publish an original account of growing up in Edgewater. If you would like to share your story, just send the editor a letter, pretending she knows nothing about Edgewater.
If you’re interested in sharpening your writing skills, you can contact the North Lakeside Cultural Center for information on their writing classes and workshops… but this isn’t necessary. Perhaps EHS can someday put together and publish a real community history!
EHS is still looking for material on the Sovereign Hotel. There are few documents still on-site at the building now but, thanks to research done by Peg Frets, we know it was built in 1908.
The Society is frequently contacted by individuals and groups seeking more information about Edgewater. As a result of one of those calls, you may have heard my voice on WBBM at the end of last January, when Edgewater was the featured community of the week!
On April 10, 1992, the Edgewater Historical Society was delighted to receive the Pride of East Edgewater Award for 1991 from the East Edgewater Chamber of Commerce in honor of our service to the community. The presentation was made by the Chambers Board Chairman, Barbara Bernsen, during a lovely reception at the Edgewater Presbyterian Church.
In addition to the award, the Chamber also presented us with the banner from the first East Edgewater Farmers’ Market in 1990. This was in recognition of the assistance former EHS Vice President Gregg Mann provided the Chamber in establishing and promoting the market.
The East Edgewater Farmers’ Market, on Thorndale and Winthrop near the Swift School, is open for business every Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., through October 31 this year.
On July 18, EHS members gathered for a pot-luck picnic at Berger Park and enjoyed the lake breezes on a perfect summer day. July 21 and 22 were busy days for me, giving requested talks on the lake shore at the Kenmore Plaza building and on Andersonville for the West Andersonville Neighbors.
Our 1992 membership renewal and reminder letters were mailed quite awhile ago. For those who haven’t yet responded, we hope we can count on your continued support! If you are interested in serving on one of our committees and no one has contacted you yet, it’s because we have not found a volunteer to do this. It’s an at-home job making phone calls intermittently throughout the year. Please contact me if you can help.
As you can see from page 1 of the newsletter, plans are in the works for our fourth annual Home Tour on Sunday, September 20. If you can suggest a homeowner to contact, please give me a call. In any case, please mark the date on your calendar and plan to attend.
Congratulations to our good neighbor, Rogers Park, for 100 years as a Chicago community! Many special events are planned for its year-long celebration, so watch your newspaper for information.