A few years back I enrolled in a course at Harold Washington College entitled “Public Art” and taught by Jeff Huebner. I found it very captivating, somewhat surprisingly for an engineer like myself. I carried around my camera and snapped pictures of just about everything. I had no problem passing the course, which consisted of researching and writing a paper. When I bicycle through the area with my cycling friends I act like a docent. Even visiting tourists lend an ear.
One particular part of the course dealt with a fund started by Benjamin Franklin Ferguson, a wealthy lumber merchant who died in 1905 and left a bequest of $1,000,000 to be used for public art and administered by the Art Institute of Chicago.
This thread under the category “Ferguson Fund” will tell the story.
blumenthal-hart Ltd. is no longer in business. We cannot accept any resumes, solicitations, or consulting assignments. You should adjust your mailing lists accordingly.
We offer a sincere “Thank you” to all of our customers for their support and business through the years spent in executive search and management consulting.
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Blumenthal is the German word for “Valley of Flowers.” The name was used by Moses Blumenthal, the first Blumenthal to live in America. Despite my mother’s desire to change it to “Bloomingdale'” we’ve kept it as is. The other sides of the family have had a number of changes, e.g. Marwilinsky, to Marwilsky, to Marwill.
For the most part, my research has only concentrated on the American side and not the European ancestors. That may change if I keep running into some dead ends here in Chicago (and Texas).
I have been the recipient of many items from my parents, grandparents, and other relatives to the point where I would almost require the services of an archivist to organize and preserve.
One area of interest are the siblings of my grandfather Abraham who disappeared from the family. Please leave comments or contact me if you have any information or need a verification of some of your own research.
The northern terminus of the Lakefront Path is a good resting spot and watering hole. Unfortunately there are only a few options to continue -- Evanston is not one of them.
When October comes around the days get cooler, the weather less predictable, and one must take each day as if might be the last opportunity to ride. Our “Seniors” group tends to do Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning at the beautiful Rulland Grove at DuSable Harbor. North or South depending on wind to the end of the train and back using an alternative set of streets. Routes that involve Evanston are rapidly becoming something that this author is putting on his “Do not ride” list. Sheridan Road or Chicago/Clark are really not bicycle friendly.
Fall rides are especially colorful with both leave and hardy wild flowers along the way. I need to bring my big, heavy, multi-lens SLR along to do justice to the scenery.
Joan and I recently celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary by having a family gathering on Hilton Head Island. We followed up with a few days in Savannah.
On the Beach
Image 1 of 15
Joan loves the beach and ocean, but the temperature-humidity index of 106 put a real damper on our activities.
Sometimes the stars don’t align in the correct manner and regardless of what your meticulously prepared plans, just doesn’t turn out as expected.
As a amateur radio ham I am (or at least want to) participate in the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service by operating portable in an official park. There are several hundred of these locations. The objective is to contact as many other hams as possible. When you are operating in a park, then you are an activator.
The Chicago Portage is an affiliated area in this event, and it’s an easy drive from downtown. I’ve been there dozens of times as it is an integral part of the I&M Canal and the history of Chicago. Marquette and Joliet first traveled through this area in the late 1600’s.
So, I pack up my radio, antenna and other equipment and head out. Setting up my Buddistick antenna was time consuming, even though I had a very good antenna analyzer to help. I tried setting after setting, which on this antenna involves moving a clip on a coil of wire, up one turn, down another, etc. to get the perfect adjustment.
Finally, I’ve got it.
Antenna set and ready to go after a long period of adjustment.Ready to jump start. I’m in the outhouse waiting.
Next I attach my radio to the antenna and hit the power on switch. Nothing happens! After a short while I realize that I left the headlights on in the car. To power the radio I have to put the ignition in the ACC position, but that also leave accessories on. I remembered the AC and courtesy lights, but the headlamps!!!
OK, so I’m dead in the water. No transmitting, no AC, no starting the car. Thanks to AAA they were there in under 30 minutes. We jumped and figured it best to just pack up and leave. I’ll get this park activated or else, but next time I’m using an alternative battery source.
The Griswold family was on their way to Disneyland when they decided to stop off in Chicago for the fireworks at Navy Pier. Clark had the large grill in the back of the station wagon with a cooler filled with sausages from Milwaukee. They were clever to cordon off their private space using trash and recycling containers provided by the Chicago Park District and some left over crime scene yellow tape. The actual show started at 9:30 pm but Clark had some of his own fireworks from a visit to Indiana where he gassed up the car (less tax). By morning they had packed up and were taking US 66 to California.
