Norwood Park Historical Society

2010 Events

March 27: Native American Artifacts (more info available)
April 18: Tea Party
April 24: House History and Renovator Resource Day (more info available)
June 19: Yard Sale (more info available)
July 24: Birthday Party: Civil War Interpretation and Movie Night (more info available)
September 11: Wine Fest (more info, buy tickets)
November 7: Antiques Appraisal Day (more info available)
December 1-5: Victoria's Holiday Boutique (more info available)
December 4: Holiday House Tour (more info, buy tickets)

General Monthly Meeting (Wednesdays at 7 p.m.)

November 17: American Legion: Members of the Edison Park American Legion Post #541 will present colors and celebrate Veterans Day. They will relate the mission and goals of the American Legion and discuss the history of the Edison Park Post, which now includes the Norwood Park Post, as well as the specific programs and activities of the Edison Park Post. Please join the NPHS in welcoming members of the Edison Park American Legion Post and celebrating our veterans.
October 27: Civil War Re-enactor: In July, Kevin Naughton, Civil War re-enactor, representing the 10th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, pitched his tent and set up camp on the front lawn of the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House. He will return, this time as a guest speaker. He will discuss the daily life of Civil War soldiers, especially what they did in camp when not engaged in battle. He will come in uniform and bring with him various authentic and reproduction artifacts. This is a wonderful opportunity to examine his clothing and equipment and ask questions. Everyone is invited, including children.
September 22: It Starts With the Arts: The Norwood Park Historical Society will kick off its fall program season with a presentation on Park Ridge’s early Artists’ Colony and the legacy it left for new generations of area residents. Historian Anne Lunde will discuss the Kalo Foundation’s “It Starts With the Arts,” a two-week salute to that legacy, which helped to launch the Park Ridge city centennial celebration in May. Kalo organized an exhibit of works by more than 80 artists, representing some 120 years of residents’ work, along with displays of fine silver from Clara Barck Welles’ Kalo Shop and other local silversmiths, and two solid weeks of arts and history programs. The program is free and open to the public.
May 26: Pickle History: This free talk on the history of pickles will be presented by David Leider. Leider will detail the local Squire Dingee Company, which was around long before the Pennsylvania-based Heinz company was started. Other important Chicago firms were Budlong, Clausen, Libbey and Reid Murdoch. Most of them had large farms devoted to growing--Dingee and Clausen on the north side of Chicago. This was to end with the Great Pickle Blight of 1911. Learn what happened next, plus how pickles were made and transported. Pickle “treats” will be available to attendees.
April 27: Tree Care: Evan Shorr, certified arborist for The Care of Trees, will present a wide range of tree-related information, including how to chose the right tree for your yard, how to care for it (feeding, fertilizer, pruning, etc.), and the latest status of tree pests (Emerald Ash Borers and others) and what you can do to prevent them and/or treat your trees.
March 24: Amish Cabinet-Making: The Norwood Park Historical Society will host a unique program on Amish cabinet-making. This event is free and open to the public. Local Norwood Park business owner Steve Bailey will speak about the history of the Amish and their wood furniture-building process. His talk will center around Amish Custom Kitchens, the business he has owned since 1995. All cabinets that he designs are made by Old Order Amish from Central Illinois. Several cities make up these Amish community in Illinois, including Arthur and Arcola. Anyone interested in upgrading their kitchen and its cabinets will be enthralled with this talk. Visitors can view an example of these Amish cabinets at the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House, site of this event.
Feb. 24: Chicago's Forgotten Railroads: The Norwood Park Historical Society will host a free presentation about the history of the forgotten railroads that operated beneath downtown Chicago. Bruce Moffat will give an oral and visual presentation on the history of Chicago's long-forgotten railroad that operated beneath the streets of downtown Chicago for more 50 years—the Chicago Tunnel Company. Unique among the world's railways, Chicago's "freight tunnel system" moved parcels between downtown department stores and connecting railroad and truck terminals for delivery, handled the delivery of heating coal and removal of ashes from major downtown buildings, and even carried some mail. The idea was to reduce wagon and truck traffic on downtown streets. Closed in 1959, the tunnels gained new prominence in 1992, when the system flooded with river water, shutting down large parts of the Loop for weeks.

All events are at the Noble-Seymour-Crippen house unless otherwise noted.

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