From the President

By: Kathy Gemperle

This past spring has been a busy one. In January and February we hosted the Endangered Edgewater exhibit and slide presentation. The exhibit continues at the museum despite the fact that four more homes have been torn down. Then in March LeRoy Blommaert shared his slide program about the demolition of the Edgewater Beach Hotel. Later, when the good weather finally arrived, we hosted walking tours of Granville (North Edgewater) with Wally Bradford as guide, the Bryn Mawr Historic District Tour with architect Thom Greene as tour leader, the Lakewood Balmoral Historic District Tour with LeRoy Blommaert as tour leader and finally the Andersonville Tour with me as guide and John as color commentary. We have been busy.

On the lighter side, our annual fundraising event in March at Charlie’s Ale House was a great success, especially because of the wonderful Silent Auction directed by Zora Rolny. Familiar faces at the registration desk were Betty Mayian, Linda Komosa and Marie Morrissette. Attendees were dressed in their favorite decade and, with my headband and beads, many didn’t recognize me. There were prizes for the trivia contests for each decade - Alice Casey and Marion Volini won several. The costume winners were LeRoy Blommaert, in his WWII uniform and the lady in the fetching red dress, who didn’t leave her address and so is yet to get her reward.

Even more fun was brought to the museum on May 15th with the Those Were the Days Radio Players performance of some scripts from the golden age of radio. Their next performance will be in the Halloween spirit on October 30th at the museum.

And lastly, our Spring Home Tour of the Bryn Mawr area featured the Belle Shore Apartments, thanks to Sheri Kranz, the Renaissance Apartments, thanks to Tom Hoffman and the 1892 home of Fred and Ann Plewa. Tour-goers were treated to a light lunch and some of the most unique dwellings in Edgewater. We are now looking forward to our Fall Home Tour which will feature the Magnolia Glen neighborhood and the Chicago Landmark homes built by Walter Burley Griffin. The date is set for Sunday, September 19 from 12 noon until 4 p.m.

Thanks to the nomination by Greene and Proppe Design, the Edgewater Historical Society Museum was given the Good Neighbor Award by the North Side Real Estate Board. We are pleased to have this award and continue to try to keep up with our building and property. If you are interested in gardening and landscaping, we could use a little help. Just call the museum and let us know when you can give a few hours every once in awhile.

As we look ahead for the remainder of 2004 we are happy to announce that Elizabeth Mayian will assume the Presidency of the Edgewater Historical Society. After 16 years of leadership I am happy to pass this job to the person who has been constantly at my side coordinating an incredible amount of activity for our all volunteer organization. Betty has been the Volunteer Coordinator since we opened the museum as well as serving as the Fundraising chair and the Membership secretary. If it’s happening Betty is keeping tabs on it. Congratulations, Betty, on your new role in the Edgewater Historical Society.