Beverly/Morgan Park Home Tour Showcases Hetherington Family Architects

CHICAGO — The Beverly Area Planning Association and Ridge Historical Society are partnering to celebrate the contribution made to the architectural beauty of Beverly/Morgan Park by three generations of Hetherington family architects with a special exhibit at RHS opening in spring and a showcase of Hetherington-designed homes on BAPA’s Beverly/Morgan Park Home Tour, Sun., May 15.

The tour will start with check-in at Ridge Historical Society/ Graver-Driscoll House, 10621 S. Seeley Ave., Chicago, where visitors can take in the exhibit that will tell the story of the Hetheringtons starting with John Todd and including his son Murray, and grandson Jack, and how their designs influenced the architectural beauty of Beverly/Morgan Park. The exhibit celebrates the 100th anniversary of the building of the Graver-Driscoll House, which was designed by John T. Hetherington and has served as the headquarters of the historical society since the 1970s.

The Hetheringtons designed residences, churches, and park buildings throughout Chicagoland. In Beverly/Morgan Park some of these buildings are iconic: the Ridge Park and Graver Park field houses, the Church of the Holy Nativity rectory, Barker Hall at Morgan Park Academy, the Original Rainbow Cone ice cream parlor, and many of the community’s most beautiful homes.

BAPA’s Beverly/Morgan Park Home Tour will be opening the doors to selected Hetherington buildings for an inside look at the exceptional interior details designed by the three generations of architects. At each location, visitors can enjoy the details of design, decorating, art collections and amenities that make each place a unique example of how the three generations of Hetherington architects contributed to gracious living in Beverly/Morgan Park.

The Home Tour also offers a variety of fun and informative in-home experiences that include beverage and food tastings, music, and the annual Paint Showcase sponsored by Calumet Paint and Wallpaper.

For more than four decades, BAPA’s Beverly/Morgan Park Home Tour has been opening the doors to some of the neighborhood’s most remarkable private residences. Home Tour tickets are $30 in advance and available online at www.bapa.org. The price increases to $35 on the day of the tour.
Home Tour locations are open from 12 to 5 p.m., Sun., May 15. All tours are self-guided and must begin by 3 p.m. at Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S, Seeley, Chicago.

Information about BAPA’s Beverly/Morgan Park Home Tour is available at, 773-233-3100, bapa@bapa.org, or bapa.org. Many thanks to Home Tour sponsors including Mike Haggerty Buick-GMC, OSF HealthCare Little Company of Mary Medical Center, Calumet Paint and Wallpaper and others.

People with Hetherington histories, plans or artifacts who would like to loan them for the RHS exhibit should call 773-881-1675 or email ridgehistory@hotmail.com and leave a message for Linda Lamberty. Neighbors who live in or have information about Hetherington homes are encouraged to contact BAPA and RHS to share their stories. Not sure whether you live in a Hetherington? Email ridgehistory@hotmail.com for information on how to find out.

This press release was produced by the Beverly Area Planning Association. The views expressed here are the author’s own.