|
The Beverly Hills/Morgan Park neighborhood is filled with extraordinary architecture and fascinating history, as well as playful parks, busy shops, and active institutions. Because the neighborhood is long and narrow, we have separated this self-guided bike tour into three parts to make it easier to print out and carry with you on your visit. Because this is a residential neighborhood, there aren’t many places to stop for refreshments, so bring water. Also, remember to wear bike helmets!
If you’re bringing your bike on the Metra, get off at the 111th Street Station and walk west up the hill to Morgan Park Academy, #1 on this route. If you’re driving, street parking is available along 111th Street up the hill. We suggest that before you start your bike ride, drop in at the new Beverly Arts Center, 2407 S. 111th St. (111th and Western), to see this fantastic new facility and pick up a schedule of theater, music, art, and film events.
1. Morgan Park Academy
2153 W. 111th Street
Morgan Park Academy has a long history of education, opened in the late 1800s as a military school, and now serving Chicago’s southwest communities and suburbs as a top private school for children in preschool through 12th grade.
2. The Goodspeed House
11216 South Oakley
The charming farmhouse was built in 1876 for Rev. Thomas Goodspeed, the first pastor of Morgan Park Baptist Church and a professor at the Baptist Theological Seminary. His son authored the controversial translation of the Bible call the "Goodspeed Bible."
3. George C. Walker Library
11071 S. Hoyne
One of the finest examples of Romanesque revival in the city, the twin-towered and twin-gabled Walker branch library was build in 1890 by architect Charles S. Frost.
4. Church of the Mediator
10961 S. Hoyne
Built in 1889 and locally known at the time as the "Village Church," it is the 2nd oldest church in the area.
5. Gately House
10655 S. Hoyne
Designed by local architect Murray Hetherington, this house was built in 1924-26 for James C. Gately, at one time head of the Chicago Park District and founder of the Gately's People's Store in Roseland.
7. Chambers House
10330 S. Seeley
This home built in 1874 was originally owned by Beverly and Alice Chambers. It was later the residence of artist Louise Barwick, a local schoolteacher and artist who captured many community scenes in watercolors. Many of her paintings can be viewed at the Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley. Call 773-8811675.
8. LeBosquet House
10224 S. Seeley
Built in 1911 for Mr. and Mrs. Maurice LeBosquet, this attractive house was their home until 1939. Nearby was the pump house and source of local spring water.
9. Waid-Coleman House
9332 S. Damen
Originally designed and built in 1894 by Daniel Everett Waid as his own residence, this house gets its charm from a 1906 Queen Anne style remodeling by architect Henry K. Holsman. The home was once owned by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.
10. Vincennes Trail Marker
91st and Pleasant
The Vincennes Trail ran from Chicago's Fort Dearborn to Indiana's Fort Vincennes. This marker, installed by the DAR in 1928, notes where the Trail came up onto the Blue Island Ridge.
11. Belding House
9167 S. Pleasant
Hiram H. Belding, a silk manufacturer, commissioned architect Henry Hale Waterman to build this house in 1894.
12. William M. R. French House
9203 S. Pleasant
William Merchant Richardson French, first director of the Art Institute of Chicago, had this Colonial Revival home built for himself and his wife in 1894. French is credited with having brought artist John H. Vanderpoel to the community, and Mrs. French reportedly named Beverly Hills. Inside is sculpture by Daniel Chester French, the owner’s brother.
13. Young House
9215 S. Pleasant
Colonel Edward C. Young, a veteran of the war with Spain, and his wife, Mary, were area social leaders. They had this Queen Anne house built in 1893 and lived there into the early 1930's.
14. Markland-Hubbard Gourmet Provisions.
95th Street at Metra Tracks (1 block east of Longwood Drive)
Gourmet coffees and beverages.
15. Ridge Park
96th and Longwood
The Ridge Park Fieldhouse was designed by architect John T. Hetherington in 1912 and remodeled by his son, Murray, in the 1930's. This full facility park offers indoor and outdoor activities, and a gallery housing the exceptional John H. Vanderpoel Art Association collection of American Impressionist art.
16. Tanner House
9640 S. Longwood
This fine example of Prairie Style architecture was designed by Talmadge and Watson in 1909.
17. Evans House
9914 S. Longwood
A contemporary design even by today's standards, this Prairie Style house was built in 1908 by Frank Lloyd Wright.
18. Roberts House
10134 S. Longwood
Now serving as the St. Barnabas Rectory, this home was built in 1893 by lumberman E.L. Roberts, whose fine woodwork can still be seen in the home.
19. Horton Mansion
10200 S. Longwood
Horace E. Horton, founder of the Chicago Bridge and Iron Co., had this extraordinary Colonial Revival mansion built in 1890. It is the design of architect John T. Long and was once the home of baseball player Red Ormsby.
20. Irish Castle
103rd and Longwood
Probably the best known community landmark, the Castle, a replica of a castle in Ireland, was built in 1886 by real estate developer Robert C. Givins. Construction cost $80,000 due to the hauling of limestone by oxcart from the Joliet area.
21. Bell Tower Condos
10321 S. Longwood
Built in 1916 for the 13th Church of Christ, Scientist, this Neoclassical building was originally designed by Howard Lowell Cheney and was converted into a 16 unit luxury condominium complex in 1992. Many original architectural features remain untouched, and mother-of-pearl stained glass windows were saved and used throughout the individual condos and common areas.
22. Frank Anderson House
10400 S. Longwood
This Italian Renaissance mansion was designed by Oscar McMurry and built in 1924. It has been home to many prestigious persons, including Marshall Field and Co. president John McKinlay and produce baron Joseph LaMantia. It is now the residence of the president of Chicago State University.
23. Driscoll House/Ridge Historical Society
10616 S. Longwood Drive
The Ridge Historical Society has its museum, research library, and headquarters in this stately hilltop Tudor home designed by John T. Hetherington and built in 1922. It is open to visitors Sundays and Thursdays, 2-5 p.m. and by appointment. On display are exhibits of artifacts and costumes depicting life in the Ridge community. Enter from 10621 S. Seeley.
24. Barker House
10650 S. Longwood
The Barker House, built in 1910 by architect Henry Waterman, now houses Beacon Therapeutic School, a diagnostic and treatment center for special needs children.
25. Rest Stop: Java Express, 107th & Hale
Sweet, sandwiches, and gourmet beverages.
26. Walter Burley Griffin Place/104th Place
This street contains the largest concentration of Prairie School houses in Chicago, most of which were designed by Walter Burley Griffin, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. Griffin received international acclaim for his design of the city of Canberra in Australia, but is best remembered as a talented Prairie School architect. The 104th Place block was renamed and received landmark designation from the city of Chicago in 1981.
27. Landmark Homes
109th block of Prospect
Dickey House, 10900 S. Prospect, Arts and Crafts style built in 1912 and designed by architects Chatten and Hammonf.
Blackwelder House, 10910 S. Prospect, once the residence of Isaac Blackwelder, the president of the Village of Morgan Park, the original portion of the house was built in the Italianate style in 1874, with a Queen Anne style addition to the front added in 1887.
Dr. German House, 10924 S. Prospect, this Queen Anne style home was built in 1884 by William German the first physician in Morgan Park, and designed by his brother Frederick German.
William G. Ferguson House, 10934 S. Prospect, an Italianate villa built in 1873 for the manager of Lancaster Fire Insurance Co.
Lackore House, 10956 S. Prospect, built in 1870-72 by Thomas Lackore, a relative of the area’s first settler, DeWitt Lane.
Dr. Woods House, 10970 S. Prospect, built in 1872, this home served as the residence and office for Dr. Arthur Woods from 1913 to 1964.
28. 111th Street Train Station
111th and Hale
A John T. Long design and built in 1892, it is believed that the cost of construction was split between the railroad and community residents, replacing a small station that had been built in 1870. Metra recently completed an extensive restoration of the station, using historic design elements to match the original building. |
