< Previous8 www.evchamber.com Welcome Letter from the Publisher s the Publisher of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, 100-year Anniversary Community Profile, I would like to thank the Chamber for all that they have done for the community. As it celebrates its Centennial anniversary, I would also like to acknowledge the leadership of the chamber and their tireless service to the growth and prosperity of the Evanston area. We at the Harris Chamber Team, are proud members of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. The Evanston Chamber of Commerce has been invaluable to the growth of our business locally. A During these challenging times of the coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis, the Evanston Chamber of Commerce is that much more crucial to the community than ever before. The spirit of leadership that the chamber has shown during this difficult period has been inspiring to witness. Under the worst conditions imaginable, the chamber team has pitched in to help with Mayor Steve Hagerty’s Corona Task Force as well as leading the Coronavirus Business Working Group to assist with resources and solutions. Let’s celebrate the future of Evanston and another successful 100 years of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. If you have not already joined the chamber, then get involved. Join today! David Harris CEO HarrisChamberTeam.com JONATHAN E. SHIMBERG, ATTORNEY jon@shimbergandcrohn.com LINDA R. CROHN, ATTORNEY linda.crohn@gmail.com “PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO THE EVANSTON COMMUNITY” 9003 Lincolnwood Drive Evanston, IL 60203 847-679-5575 www.shimbergandcrohn.com Areas of Practice: Residential Real Estate Will, Trusts, Powers of Attorney Start up Business Consultation SHIMBERG AND CROHN, P.C.100 Years of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce10 www.evchamber.com 100 Years of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce n Evolving Chamber The Evanston Chamber of Commerce was established in 1921, an evolution of the Evanston Businessman’s Association, which began in 1903. What was once a formal civic club has evolved into a resource for local business owners and managers to make powerful connections, increase visibility and enhance business acumen. From welcoming new businesses with ribbon-cutting ceremonies to strengthening existing businesses to providing networking opportunities, the Chamber engages both large and small businesses. Member businesses acknowledge and embrace Evanston’s rich tradition of social conscience and of accepting responsibility for working collaboratively to improve and grow opportunities for our community. A The Evanston Business Opportunity Summit The Chamber will host the next generation of its procurement workshop in October 2020. Local businesses will learn how to market themselves to larger organizations. Also, several large companies/organizations will discuss how they evaluate potential vendors, what needs they typically have and the best ways to get into their supply chain. Entrepreneurship Support Program The Entrepreneurship Support Program is a city-funded program that aims to provide micro-funding support for startups and existing businesses who have participated in a entrepreneurship education program and have a defined business model. The purpose is to assist in the growth of jobs in Evanston through entrepreneurship, helping residents and local business owners to create jobs by starting sustainable small businesses. To that end, this program aims to provide key support during startup and initial growth stages to local entrepreneurs with viable business models. Chamber Information Series Many businesses aren’t sure what they get from Chamber membership. In Membership 101: How to Maximize Your Chamber Membership, the first in a series of four workshops planned for 2020, we are training our members on the benefits of Chamber membership, including back office, available marketing opportunities, social media and event participation. Storefront Modernization Program The purpose of the Storefront Modernization Program is to improve the appearance and functionality of street-level commercial buildings located throughout the City of Evanston and to support the development of retail uses within the City. The program works to address especially deteriorating and obsolete property conditions and encourage storefront, interior build-out, accessibility and/or sustainability improvements to the property to generate additional business for Evanston’s commercial areas. Program participants are eligible to receive a rebate upon the completion of their approved storefront or interior build-out, project. The City and Chamber offer programs to support businesswww.evchamber.com 11 100 Years of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce Sometimes it’s about who you know. Connect with other Evanston businesses. Smart business owners and managers know that success is not achieved solely by what they know, what they create, or how determined they are. It’s a combination of factors; and at the core, it’s also very much about who they know and who gains their trust. In life and business, relationships are key. Informal monthly events provide ideal settings for professional development, relationship building and information exchange. Networking Breakfast Get your morning started with a high-energy, meet-and-greet breakfast hosted by fellow Chamber members in the community. Held the fourth Tuesday of each month, this breakfast helps you expand your network before you even get to the office. Evanston Women in Business Luncheon The Evanston Women in Business Luncheon was created to provide a gathering place for women in and around Evanston who are interested in business. Whether you own a business, run a company, manage a group, manage an office, or work at one of the many fine local businesses, the EWIB is perfect for you. Entrepreneurial Growth & Profit Group This lunch-and-learn opportunity features guest speakers and interactive programming geared toward challenges and issues facing small businesses, although many topics are relevant to companies of all sizes Business After Hours This is Evanston’s #1 after-hours networking event hosted by different Chamber members each month. Enjoy an evening of connecting with old friends and new contacts over great food and beverages. First Fridays Black Professional Networking Group Join us for great networking and excellent food! We want to help you develop and nurture your network as well as provide a forum for new business ideas and best practices. Young Professionals Networking A great way for the 35 and under to advance their careers, the networking activities offer fun ways to engage with their peers and other promising leaders and enhance their business savvy.12 www.evchamber.com Carrie Crawford-Smith Owner, Smith Employment Agency Not long after moving to Evanston, Carrie Crawford-Smith (1877– 1954), an African American mother of six from Tennessee, opened an employment agency in 1918. During the era of mass migration of African Americans from the South to the North, Crawford-Smith saw her business as a chance to help new arrivals find work. Her business catered to both black and white clients, but mainly focused on African Americans, who were moving north following World War I. Crawford- Smith grew her company by becoming the go-to agency for domestic help. But her business was about more than just jobs—she also saw her venture to promote racial advancement and dignity, especially in the face of ongoing racism. Her “standards,” which anyone who wished to employ one of her clients had to accept, were intended to protect black women’s reputations. She also insisted that employers treat her clients with dignity and respect. The agency closed briefly during the Great Depression, but re-opened and operated until Crawford-Smith’s death in 1954. John & Carrie Fleming Proprietors, Fleming’s Grocery & Market Fleming’s Grocery and Market, owned by Georgia natives John Fleming (1894–1970) and Carrie B. Dent Fleming (1898–1996), was the first black- owned grocery store in Evanston, Illinois. Initially located at 1101 Clark St. in the 1920s, it moved to 1723 Simpson St. in 1937. The store was located on a large plot of land that also included the Fleming’s personal home and garage. Dr. Isabella Garnett Hospital Superintendent, Community Hospital Isabella Maude Garnett (1872–1948), one of the first African American medical doctors in Illinois, founded the first hospital in Evanston specifically for black patients. The daughter of one of Evanston’s first African American settlers, Garnett graduated from Chicago’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. By 1910, Evanston hospitals were segregated for non-emergency care, so Garnett and her husband, Dr. Arthur D. Butler, opened the Evanston Sanitarium at their residence (1918 Asbury Ave.) in 1914. Butler died suddenly in 1924, and Garnett renamed the hospital in his honor. During the Great Migration, as Evanston’s black population doubled, Butler Hospital was the sole provider of medical care to roughly 5,000 African Americans. In 1930 the hospital relocated to 2026 Brown Ave. and was renamed The Community Hospital. Garnett served as superintendent of the hospital until 1945, when she retired to private practice. She died in 1948 at the hospital to which she had dedicated her life. In 1952, Evanston hospitals began to integrate, and Community Hospital finally closed in 1980. 100 Years of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce lack Business Pioneers www.evchamber.com 13 100 Years of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce William H. Gill Publisher, Businessman & Public Servant William Hamilton Gill (1886–1961), a Hoosier by birth, was a businessman, publisher and pioneer in integrating Evanston neighborhoods. In 1909 Gill and his wife bought a home at 818 Washington St. Hill was an early financial supporter of the Emerson St. YMCA as black Evanstonians sought to match funds raised in the white community. He was elected constable—the first black to hold that office—and served eight years. At this same time, he began to publish several newspapers: one with future alderman Edwin Jourdain. By the late 1920s Hill was involved in real estate and insurance and was a leading voice for the growing black community. He also continued publishing, including the Church and Business Directory. Upon his death in 1961, the Evanston Review stated that, as a longtime real estate broker, “It was through his efforts that many areas were opened to Negroes.” Leon G. Robinson Jr. Owner, Robinson Enterprises Born in Evanston, Leon G. “Sonny” Robinson Jr. (1929–2019) helped build one of the country’s largest African American-owned bus companies. Along with his parents and brother, he founded Robinson Enterprises with two Mobile gas stations and a fleet of taxicabs. The early 1960s brought Head Start and voluntary racial integration, along with a need to broaden busing to Evanston schools. Robinson’s father bought the first bus after driving Head Start kids to schools in his taxicab. By the 1990s, it boasted a fleet of more than 700 buses, and by the end of that decade, was acquired by a British-based company. He opened a commercial driver’s license (CDL) driving school to train and license African American bus drivers, as well as aid African American mechanics with on-the-job training and certification. Robinson also was a strong presence in Evanston real estate, acquiring residential, commercial and industrial properties. He was president of the National School Transportation Association, a member of the Evanston Chamber and Rotary International, and served on the boards of Evanston First Bank & Trust, Family Focus, Evanston Hospital and Oakton College. Randolph R. Tomlinson Sr. Publisher, North Shore Examiner A native of Panama, Randolph R. “Randy” Tomlinson Sr. (1917–2009) began his career as a bookkeeper with the U.S. Navy. In 1947, he entered the newly built University of Panama School of Journalism, and two years later, started a new career with The Nation, a daily in Panama City. In 1953 he co-founded The Panama Review, a bilingual publication. He left Panama to join his mother who lived in Evanston and entered Northwestern’s journalism school, graduating in 1965. After a brief stint as a proofreader with a publishing firm, he started the North Shore Examiner. The Examiner was published monthly and in the mid-1970s had a circulation of 20,000 subscribers, with about 10% living out of state. Tomlinson died Jun. 26, 2009 at St. Francis Hospital. Local philanthropist owners, Hecky Powell and his wife, Cheryl, both come from social service backgrounds. The couple believe in giving back to the community as a part of their business plan. Hecky hires local young people and provides them with the necessary skills and training to pursue higher level customer service positions. In 1994, Hecky established the Forrest E. Powell Foundation to honor his late father who espoused the following three values: family, community, and spirituality. The foundation provides scholarships for young people seeking technical training and honors residents whose lives espouse the values Forrest Powell taught him. In 2015, Hecky debuted the restaurant’s newest product, Juneteenth Strawberry soda. Juneteenth is the name given to the celebration of the end of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865. Texas was the last state to end slavery in the U.S. Traditional Juneteenth celebrations include ‘red’ colored foods, including barbecue, red velvet cake and red beans and rice. Hecky developed Juneteenth Strawberry soda to honor his paternal great grandfather who was born into slavery in Missouri. In June 2016, Hecky founded the Work Ethic (WE) program as a part of the foundation to formalize the vocational training and employment opportunities available to Evanston Township High School Students. HECKY’S BARBECUE Hecky’s Barbecue started in 1983 with only $100.00 in the cash register and quickly became famous for its barbecued food, and sauce. “It’s the Sauce” is the restaurant motto. The recipes come from Hecky’s ‘Creole’ grandmother from New Orleans and have been passed down for generations.14 www.evchamber.com 100 Years of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce The corner of Church & Dodge The intersection of Church St. and Dodge Ave. is at the heart of Evanston’s black community. Located across the street from Evanston Township High School, the corner once housed two prominent African American owned businesses—Gibbs’ Cabs & Service Station and Morrison’s Pharmacy. Today, the site is the location of the city’s Gibbs- Morrison Cultural Center. Gibbs-Morrison features a recording studio, meeting space, performance venue and restaurant. Programming at the Center is funded in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Thomas Gibbs Jr. (1907–1991) owned a taxicab company and service station that hugged the corner of Church St. and Dodge Ave. A native of South Carolina, Gibbs was a cab driver who opened his service station at 1827 Church St. in 1947. The pharmacy located next door was owned by Dr. William H. “Doc” Morrison (1900–1989). Morrison was the go-to person for pharmaceutical consults by neighbors. Many of his customers could not afford to see a doctor and sought advice at his pharmacy at 1823 Church St. Source: Leon G. Robinson Jr. Helped Build One of the Country’s Largest African American-Owned Bus Companies, Bob Seidenberg, Evanston Roundtable, Jul.10, 2019. Images: Courtesy of Evanston History Center and Shorefront Legacy Center. William H. Twiggs Barber & Publisher, Reporter and Directory A native of Davenport, Iowa, William Henry Twiggs (1865–1960) came to Evanston in 1884 and attended Garrett Biblical Seminary. He opened his first barbershop located at 573 Orrington Ave., now 1573 Sherman Ave. While earning his living through the tonsorial business, Twiggs became interested in the print trade and studied under Edward L. Kappelman and Robert F. Milne. His first periodical published in 1889, The Afro- American Budget, grew to have a national subscription. Soon after, he opened a print shop in the location of his barbershop. After moving one block north, his business expanded with the publication of the Reporter and Directory and Pythian “PEP” Review. The final location of his print shop was the family residence at 1315 Emerson St. Twiggs became an archivist of Evanston’s African American community, collecting photographs for display in his office. He was active in civic affairs and his church—helping raise funds to build the first YMCA and served on the committee for the erection of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church at 1109 Emerson St. He died Nov. 10, 1960. Because of his commitment and contributions to Evanston, Twiggs was honored by the dedication of a nine-acre city park in his name on Simpson St. in 1986.www.evchamber.com 15 100 Years of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce omen Business Pioneers W A school for those who will greet their future with eyes wide open and full of wonder. Nationally recognized for educational excellence, we balance academic rigor with whole child development, giving students the skills, stamina and ethical framework to succeed in life. PS-8th grade students thrive in our innovative, experiential learning environment. To schedule a personal tour or for more information, please call 847-425-5800 or email admissions@bakerdemschool.org. 201 Sheridan Road, Wilmette bakerdemschool.org Edna & Clara Baker Founders, Baker Demonstration School Edna Dean Baker (1883–1956) was a pioneering educator who helped develop standards for early childhood education in the U.S. She served as president of the National College of Education (now National Louis University) from 1920 until 1949 and, with her sister Clara, founded the Baker Demonstration School. The two were early proponents of kindergarten and preschool, where they developed their “learning by doing” approach. A nationally recognized author, Baker also served on numerous national panels and committees promoting new standards in child education and care. Clara Belle Baker (1885–1961) earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University in 1909. Upon her graduation from Northwestern University, Baker and her sister Edna took control of a private kindergarten previously run by Laura Ella Cragin. Under their leadership, the school was renamed Evanston Elementary School. The Baker sisters ran the school until 1917. The following year Clara and Edna founded Baker Demonstration School, formerly the Children’s School, at National College of Education. Clara served as director of the school from its founding in 1918 until 1952 when she retired. Lois Mae Williams Davis Owner, Peaches Cab Co. & Better Cab Association Lois Mae “Peaches” Davis (1896–1966), was born in Gloster, Miss. and relocated to Evanston in 1924. She became the first woman in Illinois to hold a chauffeur’s license and the first North Shore taxicab to use a two- way radio system. Davis started driving a cab in 1939 after first checking with the chief of police to ensure there were no laws against black women being cabbies. By the next year she had opened her business—Peaches Cab Co.—and while there were no laws against female cab drivers, the male cabbies were not welcoming. When she tried to take calls at a cabstand, the men refused. When one finally did agree, the men went on strike. Not willing to admit defeat, Davis started taking calls at her home. In 1947 Davis and her son, Joseph, formed the Better Cab Association of Evanston with some associates. She died Oct. 25, 1966 at St. Francis Hospital.16 www.evchamber.com 100 Years of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce Fanny Bianucci Lazzar Restaurateur, Fanny’s World-Famous Restaurant Fanny Bianucci Lazzar (1906–1991) operated an award-winning restaurant at 1601 Simpson St. from 1946 until 1987. She started with a small, four-table café begun by her father, an Italian immigrant. Although it was in a working-class neighborhood, Fanny’s Restaurant became quite popular with local residents and visiting notables from Marshall Field III to Louis Armstrong, Mae West to Pres. & Mrs. Eisenhower—and celebrated for its world-famous food. In a 2010 article, Chicago Magazine cited Fanny’s as one of the 40 best restaurants ever. She received the Chamber’s Community Service Award in 1966. The salad dressing and meat sauce won the International Epicurean Award of France. Additional awards came from Epicurean Magazine, Bon Apetit, along with winning the Grand Prix d ’Excellence of the International Culinary Service in London. Allegedly, Kraft Foods offered $75,000 in 1948 to obtain the salad dressing recipe. Fanny declined. In her 80s and declining health, Lazzar shuttered the restaurant in 1987 and died three years later. Catharine Waugh McCulloch Legal Counsel, Woman’s Christian Temperance Union Catharine Waugh McCulloch (1862–1945), a lawyer, suffragist and political activist, was the first woman in the U.S. to serve as a justice of the peace and is integral to the passing of the 19th Amendment. McCulloch embarked on an impressive educational career and received a law degree and was admitted to the bar in 1886. Initially, it was a challenge for McCulloch to find a position at an established law firm, turned away by male attorneys, with one even offering her a job in exchange for sexual favors. In 1887, she returned to Rockford and opened her own law practice. After she married Frank McCulloch, they moved to Evanston. The McColloch’s opened a law partnership in Chicago where they continued to work on women’s rights. McCulloch was a woman who earned her place in Evanston, Illinois and U.S. history. After a brief cancer-related illness, she died at 82 in Evanston Hospital. Lois K. Stewart Realtor, Hokanson & Jenks Lois K. Stewart (1907–1985), a graduate of Roycemore School and Northwestern University, was a long-time businesswoman in Evanston. For 30 years she was the owner of Hokanson & Jenks, Inc., an Evanston real estate firm located at 511 Davis St. A member of the Evanston-North Shore Board of Realtors, she served as the organization’s president in 1954. She was recognized as its Realtor of the Year in 1975. Stewart served on Evanston Chamber’s board in 1968 the only woman on the board at that time. Stewart died Sep. 4, 1985 in Morton Grove. Florence Dahl Walrath Founder, The Cradle Florence Dahl Walrath (1877–1958) founded The Cradle adoption agency in 1923, which she headed until 1950, in response to her sister’s experience with infertility. Walrath created an organization that was influential in the world of adoption and pioneering new medical techniques to reduce infant mortality rates. Walrath had arranged over 80 adoptions by 1923, housing the babies for an initial observation period at Evanston Hospital at her own expense. However, there was a larger demand for babies than the hospital could support and the expense was too great for Walrath. Charles Dawes, along with four other businessmen, each donated $1,000 to buy a building in Evanston to house the organization. The Cradle came under criticism for some of its practices regarding adoption. In response, the mostly volunteer- run organization introduced a standard casework practice and cooperated with professional adoption agencies. In 1950 she retired as managing director of The Cradle. She died Nov. 7, 1958 at the Mather Home. Bertha Yerex Whitman Architect Bertha Yerex Whitman (1892–1984) was an architect who was the first woman to graduate from the University of Michigan College of Architecture and Design in 1914. Whitman moved to the Chicago area in 1921. She initially had difficulty finding work in Chicago architecture offices, but she eventually joined the firm of Perkins, Fellows and Hamilton. She obtained her Illinois architectural license in 1926 and began taking on independent commissions for residences. In 1928, Whitman became one of the nine founders of the Women’s Architectural Club of Chicago. The club was active into the 1940s, when it merged with the American Institute of Architecture. In 1931 she won a “Better Homes Award” from a contractor’s association for the house she designed at 2719 Payne St. During a career spanning five decades, Whitman designed more than 50 residences, as well as apartment buildings, schools and churches. She returned to her native Michigan later in life and died in 1984.www.evchamber.com 17 100 Years of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce Born out of pre-existing Monday night dinners in the First Methodist Church of Evanston on Nov. 4, 1921, the Business and Professional Women’s Club was a place for professional women to meet and discuss ideas and opportunities. Marion Norris, who believed that women were not civically engaged in their community, was elected the first president. Norris authored two books—The Ways of a Business Woman and A Business Girl Chooses. Other early members included Dr. Mary Mars, former assistant head physician at the Cook County Insane Hospital; Mary E. Holmes ; Frances Faltz ; and Helen Boylan . The club hosted guest lecturers who spoke on a wide range of topics the women would be interested in—everything from economics to makeup. The club financially supported girls and women in their educational pursuits, as well as local organizations, especially those by or for women. Membership grew from an initial membership of 60 women in 1922 to more than 250 members in 1931. The Business and Professional Women’s Club of Evanston was the largest branch of the organization in Illinois and a member of the National and State Federation. Sources: evanstonwomen.org/lifting-as-we-climb/; Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II, Cheryl Mullenbach Chicago Review Press ©2013, pg. 35; The Evanston Review, Sep. 12, 1985, pg. 14; Evanston News-Index, Mar. 10, 1931. ancestry. com; shorefrontcenter.org; Bertha Yerex Whitman, architect 50 years, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 4, 1984, p. 23. Images: Courtesy of Evanston History Center and Shorefront Legacy Center Business & Professional Women’s Club of EvanstonNext >