Huckleberry Idyllic in Chicago: A Memoir
Mike Zimmerman grew up in West Ridge in the late 1940s and the 1950s. Now retired, he recently sent us this memoir about his childhood adventures.
News & Updates
Living History: Growing Up in Rogers Park and West Ridge
Despite a bitterly cold and icy evening, about thirty-five people attended the Living History program, Growing up in Rogers Park and West Ridge, on February 5, 2019. 5 panelists, all current neighborhood residents, talked about what it was like growing up in the Rogers Park and West Ridge of the past.
A Walk On the Quiet Side: Spirits of Rosehill Cemetery Tour
On Saturday, June 9, after a dreary, rain-soaked morning when the spirits were willing but the sunshine was weak, an eager group met to take the Spirits of Rogers Park/West Ridge at Rosehill Cemetery tour. Indefatigable and resourceful guide Glenna Eaves led twenty-plus tour takers on a 3-hour walkabout of selected grave sites of local notables.
Living History: The Delicious History of Chicago’s Iconic Foods
At a Living History program on Wednesday April 11, 2018 at the Budlong Woods branch of the Chicago Public Library, the three editors of The Chicago Food Encyclopedia talked about the importance of Chicago in the history of food, and the importance of food to the history of Chicago.
2018 Annual Meeting Recap
On March 24, the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society’s 2018 Annual Meeting opened with a review of the accomplishments of the past year, followed by election of new board members and a talk by featured speaker, State Senator Heather Steans.
Volunteer Profile: Tom Nall
Long-time RPWRHS volunteer Tom Nall, a retired history teacher, has had a conventional life, but spiced up with some unconventional adventures, as Society Vice President Kay McSpadden learned when they sat down for this chat.
Living History: The Immigrant Experience: From Russia to Rogers Park
Bena Shklyanoy and her family were part of a wave of Russian Jewish emigrants who were allowed to leave the Soviet Union from 1968 to 1979. Her tales of coming to Rogers Park in 1976 are another fascinating chapter in the immigrant history of our neighborhood.
Living History: Urbs in Aqua: Richard Lanyon on the History of Chicago’s Water System
Because the low-lying north side of Chicago barely rose above the level of Lake Michigan, it had to be dried to be made livable. In the latest Living History series talk Richard Lanyon told the story of “draining the swamp” that became Chicago.
Living History: Julia Bachrach and David Orr speak at RPWRHS programs
In our year-long exploration of Activism, two Living History talks by long-time neighborhood activists illustrated how advocacy for a wide range of causes can lead to important change.
2017 Annual Meeting Re-cap
Did you miss our annual meeting? Check out the PowerPoint to see what you missed. Download the file by clicking here or view it below.