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Edgewater walking tours (Past)

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: All current tours are now sold out. Check back occasionally to see if new tours are announced.

You must register online for each tour, and pay using this link (bit.ly/ehswalk9)

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 11 walking tours and their scheduled dates/times: [more...]

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty A. Barclay Community Room at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

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

The subject of the meeting is “The Haymarket Tragedy” by Paul Avrich. Click here for a flyer.

2023 Summer Nights in Edgewater (Past)

Join your neighbors again this year, on warm summer nights, for our popular community program of free live performances. From July 12 to August 23, 2023, 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 2023 schedule.

Edgewater’s Heritage Trees (Past)

The Edgewater Historical Society invites you to celebrate National Arbor Day
Friday, April 28, 2023, 6:00 p.m. at the Museum.

With mounting threats to Chicago’s tree canopy, EHS has partnered with the Edgewater Glen Association (EGA), and launched a campaign to protect and celebrate our community’s invaluable “heritage” trees!

EGA initiated a tree study with the purpose that other area block clubs will conduct their own. EHS will support all community drives to map Edgewater’s trees. The EHS Arbor Day reception will include an overview of the EGA tree study.

Chicago’s Early 20th Century Forestry Movement (Past)

Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Edgewater Branch, Chicago Public Library
Betty A. Barclay Community Room
6000 N. Broadway, Chicago 60660

At the turn of the 20th Century, Chicago had grown to become the largest city by territory in the country. Although a few previous suburbs – such as Edgewater – had lovely tree-lined streets, most of the city’s thoroughfares were devoid of trees or other plantings. Women’s clubs and neighborhood improvement associations soon convinced local officials to adopt a tree ordinance and create a new position of City Forester.

Jacob H. Prost became Chicago’s first forester. Working closely with local clubs and organizations, he distributed information on proper tree care and developed a “penny tree campaign” which resulted in the planting of hundreds of thousands of trees by local school children. Julia Bachrach, author of The City in a Garden: A History of Chicago’s Parks, will give a presentation on this fascinating topic in honor of Arbor Day. Click here for a flyer.

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

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty A. Barclay Community Room at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

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

The subject of the meeting is Margaret Burroughs. Click here for a flyer.

2023 Annual Meeting (Past)

Greg BorzoThe Edgewater Historical Society invites you to the 2023 Annual Meeting, presenting candidates for your Board of Directors and telling you about plans for 2023-24. The meeting will be on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Betty A. Barclay Community Room of the Edgewater Branch Library, 6000 N. Broadway. Click here for a flyer.

Our speaker, Greg Borzo, a prolific author on Chicago history, will discuss his book “Lost Restaurants of Chicago,” in which he recalls many of Chicago’s lost, but fondly remembered, restaurants.

Face masks are strongly encouraged in all CPL locations. The program is free to the Public.

Aldermanic candidates survey (Past)

As part of its public education mission, the Edgewater Historical Society polled each of the 10 candidates for the 48th Ward aldermanic position about their knowledge and attitudes about Edgewater’s built environment and the value of preservation. Five of the candidates (listed here in alphabetic order) – Joe Dunne, Isaac Freilich-Jones, Brian Haag, Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth and Larry Svabek – responded. The questions and the candidates’ unedited responses can be found at: bit.ly/ehsx101

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty A. Barclay Community Room at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

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

The subject of the meeting is Gwendolyn Brooks. Click here for a flyer.

Distilled in Chicago (Past)

Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Edgewater Branch, Chicago Public Library
Betty A. Barclay Community Room
6000 N. Broadway, Chicago 60660

Liquor has influenced nearly two centuries of Chicago’s existence, beginning with the city’s first three permanent businesses. Join David Witter, author of Distilled In Chicago: A History as he shares stories of the temperance movement and how cocktails fueled the sin in the Levee District, spawning Chicago’s first gangsters. This program is in partnership with the Chicago Public Library. Click here for a flyer.

This event takes place in person. Masks are strongly encouraged in all CPL locations.

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