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Edgewater walking tours

Submitted by Larry on Sun, 05/19/2024 - 10:02am

Walk Edgewater

Enjoy views of the historic buildings of Edgewater in our own unique outdoor museum. Edgewater has three historic districts, designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior, and many blocks filled with historic homes. Tours will be led by knowledgeable guides. For descriptions of the tours, click “more…” below.

Note: There are only 9 tours available. Sign up before they sell out.

Surprising Broadway:
DATE: June 8, 2025; TIME: 1:00 p.m.

Andersonville Historic District:
DATE: June 22, 2025; TIME: 11:00 a.m.

Lakewood Balmoral Historic District:
DATE: July 9, 2025; TIME: 5:00 p.m.

North Edgewater Beach:
DATE: July 10, 2025; TIME: 6:00 p.m.

Magnolia Glen:
DATE: July 12, 2025; TIME: 11:00 a.m.

Discover the Art Underfoot: (Osterman Beach pier)
DATE: July 19, 2025; TIME: 10:30 a.m.

Bryn Mawr Historic District:
DATE: August 2, 2025; TIME: 11:00 a.m.

Edgewater Glen Historic District:
DATE: August 9, 2025; TIME: 11:00 a.m.

Discover the Art Underfoot: (Foster beach house)
DATE: August 24, 2025; TIME: 10:30 a.m.

You must register online for each tour, and pay using this link (bit.ly/ehswalkXX)

There is a limit of 20 in each tour. Our tour guides, who will have microphones, will lead you through the tour, and share with you our researched brochure. Face masks are recommended but optional. The fee for each tour is $15, which supports the Edgewater Historical Society Museum.

Here are descriptions of all 8 walking tours and their scheduled dates/times: [more...]

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Thu, 05/16/2024 - 5:02pm

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty A. Barclay Community Room at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

The subject of the meeting is “The Tunnel under the Lake: The Engineering Marvel That Saved Chicago” By Benjamin Sells. Click here for a flyer.

Unearthing the Mysteries of the Green Mill Lounge (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Tue, 05/07/2024 - 9:45am

Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
Edgewater Branch, Chicago Public Library
Betty A. Barclay Community Room
6000 N. Broadway, Chicago 60660

Robert Loerzel has been delving deeply into the early years of the Green Mill – and related things, like the development of the Uptown neighborhood. He also reported on this topic for WBEZ’s Curious City program. Find out some of the secrets he has uncovered about the beginnings of this beloved jazz club. Click here for a flyer.

Blacklisted! (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Tue, 05/07/2024 - 9:45am

blacklistedJoin us Sunday June 30 at 5 p.m. at the Colvin House, 5940 N. Sheridan Rd., for a special concert, Blacklisted!, referring to performers who were blacklisted during the McCarthy era in the 1950s. Professional Cabaret singers and Carla Gordon, who produced the show, will perform. Before and after the show, 3-4 The Road will play protest songs of the era in the outside courtyard.

Tickets are $20 and are available at the door or from bit.ly/ehsevent3. Click here for a flyer.

The main concert will take place indoors. Please feel free to bring along your favorite adult beverages if you like. Light snacks will be available for purchase from Colvin House.

2024 Summer Nights in Edgewater (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Tue, 04/30/2024 - 9:45am

Join your neighbors again this year, on warm summer nights, for our popular community program of free live performances. From July 10 to August 21, 2024, every Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., different local musicians will entertain you in the beautiful EHS garden. Children and pet friendly! All are welcome. Click here for the 2024 schedule.

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Sun, 03/03/2024 - 10:32am

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty A. Barclay Community Room at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

The subject of the meeting is “Broken Icarus: The 1933 Chicago’s World Fair, the Golden Age of Aviation, and the Rise of Fascism” By David Hanna. Click here for a flyer.

A tree grows in Edgewater! (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 03/02/2024 - 6:33pm

Edgewater is one of Chicago’s premier neighborhoods for trees. Over the past year, dedicated volunteers working with the Edgewater Historical Society (EHS) have surveyed and documented all our community’s “Heritage Trees” – or those which are 50 years and older.* The results may surprise you!

Please join EHS for our Arbor Day festivities on Friday, April 26, at 5 p.m. at our museum, located at 5358 N. Ashland Ave., where we will:

  • reveal the results of our survey, including which block clubs had the most trees
  • discuss some of the key findings of our campaign
  • identify looming challenges to Edgewater’s – and Chicago’s – tree canopy
  • discuss next steps for continuing our crusade for our leafy friends

Special guests at the program will include local alderpersons, members of the Mayoral Urban Forestry Committee, OpenLands, representatives of the Save the Ash Tree campaign, and other tree advocates. Refreshments, including adult beverages, will be served.

* The Edgewater Glen Association block club initiated Edgewater’s first tree survey in 2023 and was the inspiration for the larger community effort.

Unpacking Chicago’s Community Areas (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 03/01/2024 - 11:40am

Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Edgewater Branch, Chicago Public Library
Betty A. Barclay Community Room
6000 N. Broadway, Chicago 60660

Chicago’s official map of 77 community areas has remained unchanged since Edgewater received its designation in 1980. Now, an effort is under way by University of Chicago Professor Emily Talen to possibly change that map to more closely reflect where community residents think they belong. Prof. Talen will lead a lively examination of how Chicago first got its community map, how it has served the City for the past 100 years, and how it could change. Click here for a flyer.

2024 Annual Meeting (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Thu, 02/29/2024 - 11:32am

Geoff SmithThe Edgewater Historical Society invites you to the 2024 Annual Meeting, presenting candidates for your Board of Directors and telling you about plans for 2024-25. The meeting will be on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty A. Barclay Community Room of the Edgewater Branch Library, 6000 N. Broadway. Click here for a flyer.

Our speaker, Geoff Smith, Executive Director and Principal Investigator of DePaul University’s Institute for Housing Studies, is perhaps the Chicago area’s leading expert on the challenge in affordable housing. He will discuss recent trends in the housing market, and how a difficult situation is being further strained by the recent influx of refugees to the Chicago area.

Click here to view Geoff Smith’s presentation.

Riding the Rails in Chicago (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 12/16/2023 - 12:08pm

Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Edgewater Branch, Chicago Public Library
Betty A. Barclay Community Room
6000 N. Broadway, Chicago 60660

David Sadowski is a lifelong Chicagoan who grew up riding the “L” all over the city. He has leveraged his love of public transit into a busy writing career and is the author of Chicago Trolleys, Building Chicago’s Subways, Chicago’s Lost “L”s and The North Shore Line, all from Arcadia Publishing. He will draw from several of his books as he discusses the history of rail riding on Chicago’s North Side. A limited number of books will be available for purchase. This program is in partnership with the Edgewater Branch. Click here for a flyer.

This is an in-person event. Masks are strongly encouraged in all CPL locations.

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