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HomeMy WebLinkAbout054-R-20 African American Heritage Sites6-11-20 54-R-20 A RESOLUTION African American Heritage Sites WHEREAS, recognizing the contributions of Evanston's earliest African American members who settled in Evanston as early as the 1850s and the contributions of the African American community members throughout Evanston's history, and the need for greater awareness of such contributions, and expressing support for the establishment of African American heritage sites; WHEREAS, recognition of historic African American sites and structures throughout all of Evanston will foster local pride and help maintain a sense of overall community; WHEREAS, significant African American buildings and sites are located in downtown, north, south, east and west Evanston areas; WHEREAS, the Fifth Ward continues to be a focal, point of African American community life in Evanston and contains many historic buildings and sites; WHEREAS, we enhance our Evanston community by celebrating the role of history in our lives and the contributions made by dedicated individuals in helping to preserve the tangible aspects of the heritage that has shaped us as a people; WHEREAS, the City of Evanston is home to many pioneering African American residents who established and were involved in significant institutions both past and present; WHEREAS, Maria Murray was the first recorded African American resident in 1855 and lived at 325 Dempster Street; -1- 6-11-20 WHEREAS, Josephine Taylor owned and operated a business Downtown Evanston in 1879 that was located at 323 Davis Street; WHEREAS, Ebenezer A.M.E. and Second Baptist Church were the two earliest established African American Churches in Evanston in 1882; WHEREAS, Sandy Trent became Evanston's first African American police officer in 1894 and lived at 1815 Benson Avenue; WHEREAS, the Fourth Annual Convention of the Illinois State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs was held in downtown Evanston in 1903; WHEREAS, the Emerson Street Branch YMCA opened its doors as an established segregated facility in 1914 and was located at 1014 Emerson Street; WHEREAS, the Iroquois League, a home for non -live-in domestic workers was established in 1917 and was located at 1125 Garnett Place; WHEREAS, the Evanston Chapter NAACP was established first in 1918 and chartered again in 1928; WHEREAS, Edwin B. Jourdain, Jr. was elected as Evanston's first African American alderman in 1931 and lived at 2032 Darrow Avenue; WHEREAS, Captain Fred Hutcherson was honored for his distinguished services in the Royal Canadian Air Force Ferry command in 1942 and lived at 1902 Asbury Avenue; WHEREAS, Community Hospital was dedicated in 1952 that primarily serviced the African American community and was located at 2026 Brown Avenue; WHEREAS, Mayme F. Spencer was the First African American female alderman elected in 1963; -2- 6-11-20 WHEREAS, Joseph E. Hill was appointed as Evanston's first African American Superintendent of School District 65; WHEREAS, William H. Logan, Jr. was hired as Evanston's first African American Chief of Police in 1984 and Sanders Hicks as Evanston's first African American Fire Chief in 1987; WHEREAS, Lorraine H. Morton was elected as Evanston's first African American mayor in 1993 and lived at 2206 Darrow Avenue; WHEREAS, Actress Tina Lifford's extensive acting career has found her in over 100 television and movie productions, and she lived at 2129 Church Street; WHEREAS, the multiple sites, people and events throughout Evanston's history are too numerous to list; WHEREAS, the culture and history of this vibrant community would be best fostered by declaring a series of heritage sites and providing community support for same rather than by creation of a historic district under Evanston's Preservation Code; WHEREAS, in respect and recognition of the passing of the November 12, 2002, 43-R-02 Evanston Resolution on Slave Reparations; WHEREAS, in respect and recognition of the passing of the June 5, 2019, 58-R-19 Evanston Resolution Commitment to End Structural Racism and Achieve Racial Equity; WHEREAS, in respect and recognition of the passing of the November 14, 2019, 126-R-19 Evanston Resolution Establishing a City of Evanston Funding Source Devoted to Local Reparations; -3- 6-11-20 WHEREAS, the establishment of African American Heritage Sites will implement one of the community benefit requirements of 126-R-19 Resolution as championed by the African American community; WHEREAS, the founding of Shorefront and the Shorefront Legacy Center in 2002 and its current role in the Evanston Community representing and upholding the community's input honoring the greater African American community; WHEREAS, the initial programmatic objectives of the African American Heritage Sites will include those described on the Program attached hereto and will expand in the future as the community continues to recognize through a nomination and review process established by Shorefront or a recognized successor; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS: SECTION 1: The City of Evanston does hereby proclaim the establishment of the African American Heritage Sites; SECTION 2: That Shorefront (or future successor) will administer the programmatic aspects of the African American Heritage Sites and establish a review process for additional nominated sites. SECTION 3: That the City of Evanston, the Evanston Preservation Commission and Shorefront will act, in the spirit of this resolution, in a collaborative manner. SECTION 4: That the City of Evanston is determined to preserve Evanston as a diverse community and to safeguard equity for all of its residents. IE 6-11-20 SECTION 5: That this Resolution 54-R-20 shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and approval in the manner provided by law. Attestp�;�1 `� Devon Reid, City Clerk Adopted: .tune 22nd , 2020 --5 J114-k k %AY-U�- Stephen H. Hagerty, Mayor Approved as to form: Kelley A. Gandurski, Corporation Counsel 6-11-20 Exhibit A African American Heritage Sites First Initial Sites for Public Recognition The following initial sites this initiative intends to recognize for the African American Heritage Sites honors several "firsts". Future sites will be recognized in the future and moving forward administrated through Shorefront through a nomination and review process established by Shorefront or a recognized successor Lorraine Hairston Morton 2206 Darrow Avenue Educator, Alderman, and Evanston's first African American Mayor, Lorraine Hairston Morton served the community for over 50 years. Morton was elected Mayor in 1993, and re-elected in 1997, 2001, and 2005. She began as an educator at Foster School in 1953, and continued as a middle school teacher at Nichols and Chute, and principal of Haven Middle School. While principal, she also served on Evanston's City Council as Fifth Ward alderman for nine years before winning election as Mayor. Edwin B. Jourdain, Jr. 2032 Darrow Avenue Home of Edwin B. Jourdain, Jr. who was Evanston's first African American alderman in 1931. Before he took seat, Harvard graduate Jourdain was a managing editor of the Chicago Bee and Sports editor of the Chicago Defender. Jourdain was instrumental in his fight against the city's adoption of Jim Crow practices and championed desegregating movie theaters, public beaches and other public areas, Jourdain held his seat until 1947 years. He has served as the midwestern representative of the NAACP. Jourdain died in 1984 Evanston Sanitarium 1918 Asbury Avenue Established in 1914, the sanitarium opened to service the African American community. The founding physicians, Dr. Isabella Garnett and Dr. Arthur Butler. The doctors and their children lived in the house at the back of the lot. After Dr. Arthur Butler died in 1924, Dr. Isabella Garnett continued to run the hospital for six more years until the facilities were renamed and then transferred to its new site at 2026 Brown Avenue. Butler Livery Stable 914 Davis Street IIM 6-11-20 Henry Butler, along with a business partner, formed Butler Livery which remained in operation from 1891 to 1930. The offices were located on Grove Street west of Elmwood Avenue, and two stable locations in today's downtown Evanston area: 914 Davis Street and 1024 Emerson Street. He and his wife, Mary, lived at 327 Dempster Street. Butler Groceries 1031 Sherman Avenue Site of home and grocery business of Cornelius and Barbara Butler. Arriving in Evanston in 1878 from Kenosha Wisconsin, they sold their farm and brought much of their livestock by train to Evanston. Their sons later started their own businesses in roofing and livery, most notable, Henry Butler's Butler Livery Stable Maria Murray Robinson and George Robinson 325 Dempster Street Site home of Maria Murray Robinson and George Robinson. Maria was the first recorded African American brought into Evanston as a indentured domestic in 1855 at the age of 14. George Robinson came to Evanston in 1865.They later married and moved into the 325 Dempster Street home. The Robinson's were founding members of Second Baptist Church in 1882. William Twiggs Print Shop 1619 Sherman Avenue After owning and operating his barbershop on Orrington Avenue just south of Davis Street for eight years, William Twiggs opens a print business at 1619 Sherman Avenue. There he produced two newspapers, the North Shore Colored American in 1904 and the Reporter and Directory in 1909. He later moved his print business (and his home) in 1911 to 1315 Emerson Street. The building burnt down in 1956. Ebenezer A.M.E Church 1813 Benson Avenue Stemming from the early interest group, Ebenezer A.M.E. Church was formally recognized on October 30, 1882. The Rev. George H. Hann was their first pastor. During his tenure, the first house of worship was built at 1813 Benson Avenue between Clark and University Place on land leased from Northwestern University. The frame structure served the congregation until a fire destroyed the building in 1902. New land was purchased in 1903 and its new structure was dedicated in 1908 at its present location 1109 Emerson Street. -7- 6-11-20 Exhibit B African American Heritage Sites Proposed Markers and Information The initial and future sites should have tangible and informational items for posterity, distribution and education. Items can be, but not limited to the following: 1. Freestanding directional kiosk for self -guided tours located in public spaces 2. Website with map, site indicators and historical writeups 3. Brochure / nomination form containing website addresses and criteria for nominating a site for inclusion 4. Unobtrusive markers at site locations