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WUmettes 75th Anniversary 1872-1947WILMETTE LIFEWhatheological students gladly con-wooden bridge that spanned the Bist Was Lifeducted services. Their financialDitch about where Sheridan roadcompensation was limited to thePioneer Lifenow crosses the sanitary canal, IILikgenerosity of the contributionit was a daytime emergency in dryeWhat was life like in the North Back inbasket.Shoreweather someone stood by the gates pioneer days a hundred and watched for a cloud of yellowyears ago?dust rising toward the tree tops.PioneeOne of the early teachers in 1847rThis might be the doctor driving Days?later mentioned in reminiscence thatThere were less than 500apell-mell.t this location the sailing vesselspeople in Ridgeville (now Ev-PhysiciansDr. Byron C. Stolp came to Wil- Were Scarce;came so close to the shore line thatanston), In all New Trier town-mette about 1873 to become theEarlyone could distinguish the names of Settlers Often Took ship were scattered less thanmuch loved and revered family doc-thPatentor throughout the entire locality.t Indian RemediesMe rpsassing ships.. Edward Mendsen, daughter200.o* * *f Matthias A. Gedney, in speakingMost folks lived in log cabins.BAt that time there were lessyof her early school days on the lake James D. W. KlineThe first school house, built 100shore recently mentioned this, andthan 100 houses in Wilmette andIt would be a mistake to conveyyears ago, was of logs, and itthat at times she could see the crewas yet no telephones, making itthe idea that the entire settlementnecessary to send a message toomembers on the boats and heav theserved for a church, too.f the North Shore was congestedwithithe doctors house to have himnsound of their voices. By hugging a mile along the lake bankOne of the best and quickestcall. When this occurred, Mrs.aclosely to the shore line at "Grosset Lake avenue.ways to get to and from ChicagoStolp stepped out upon the porch*Pointe" in fair weather the sailing *Adistancewas by lumber schooner. between Milwaukee andof their home and blew lustilyn 1850 survey of Ridgeville, whichChicago could be shortened. In foulupon a cow horn. This wellprecededClergymen were scarce. So Evanston, shows only aweather this location was given aknown trumpet sound reverber-scattering of settlers along the GreenBaated through the woods andywidwere physicians. People de-e berth by rounding the point at road. There were probably 44could be heard for a consider-oapended in those days on Indian considerable distance off- shore.r 45 settlers on the road itself withherb remedies. The medicineable distance. The news wasa scattered few, perhaps as manymorcarried from person to persone toward the south end at RoseMinister * sshow that peddled Kickapoo of the gospel wereHilluntil somewhere someone met.not the only members of earlycure-alls was a popular insti-Ridgevillthe doctor or knew where he wase extended from Centralsocial life that were a scarcity.tution.and gave him the message that ,street, Evanston, to Rose Hill. TheThe medical profession was al-he was wanted and he drovepopulation of Ridgeville as indicatedmost entirely unrepresented.home as soon as possible to findin 1852 was about 443 and that ofThere were few doctors of ac-tions of mankind. The migratoryNewout who the patient might be. Trier 175 persons. Developmentcepted standing.bone doctor was sometimes consid-along the North Shore was not rapid. * *ered a benefit even though at times * * Home remedies were important tohe failed to discriminate betweenDr. Stolps interests were not lim-In 1847 a log school house servedthe housewife who had her own herbthe afflictions of the bone and theited to the practice of medicine. Hethe purpose of church and socialgarden. The Indians understood theflesh.took an active part in public affairscenter. By 1863 this had been ie-I medical value of ginseng and manyThe Kickapoo Indian medicineand the development of the schoolplaced by a frame structure on thfother wild roots and herbs. Fi omshow was as popular in the 1890ssystem, Stolp school having beeneast side of Green Bay road at theI them the "yarb doctor" and peddleras the small time carnival. Admis-named for him. The development ofpresent intersection line between Ev-I of Indian remedies came into being,sion was usually 25 cents for theEvanston Hospital association wasanston and Wilmette.and then the itinerant white manIndian pow-wow and entertainment,one of his professional interests. Dr.#I "Indian doctor" became a frequentand all the spellbinder could take * *and Mrs. Stolp were active mem-ChucI visitor. Liniments and ointmentshfrom the audience for the sale ofbers of the Wilmette Methodist services in the logI were a regular stock item in thestructurehis snake oil and other concoctions.church in its earliest years. He must have been irreg-I trading post and pioneer store.ular and dependent upon circuitThe advertised curative qualitiesriders who were only occasionalofMedica* * #l practice followed theWserivlmede tt14 consecutive years on thee school board and was a early-day patent medicines werevisitors. After the founding- ofwave of westward migration.member of the first board of trusteesNorthwesterunlimited in their claims to relieven university in 1851,and to cure all the physical afflic-The accepted and regular physi-of the New Trier Township Highcian was a true pioneer who en-school. He died in 1917.dured many hardships beyondthose of the frontiersman. HeDr. Rufus B. Stolp followed innot only had to compete with thehis fathers footsteps. True to hisquackery of the self styled doctorheritage and the ethics of his profes- )but his means of transportationsion, "Dr. Rufus" was as highly es-was limited to horse and buggyteemed as his father. His willing-or wagon and frequently horse-ness to sacrifice personal wellbeingback, regardless of the time ofand comfort for that of his patientsyear or weather. In the perform-was an outstanding characteristicance of his professional servicesand his devotion and contributionshetoward the betterment of his pro- traveled long distances overroadsfession placed him in the highest impossible to present dayconvenienceregard of his associates. Dr. Rufus, deep in dust ormudB. Stolp died November 3, 1942.. depending upon the wea-ther, and over frozen ruts inthe winter time.BUSY OFFICIALWithou* * *t telephone service in thoseLouis J. Pierson was village pres-early days it was necessary to sendident 1898-1899, and village attorneyWha messenger to notify the doctorfrom 1892 to 1893, and in the yearsand then wail. H Ms call was macte1898 to 1900. He was state represen-yalter dark his approach was herald-tative from 1905 to 1913, and fromed by the sound ot hoot beats and1916 to 1917.Mothethe rumble of wheels crossing th?r Quit BakingThe Patty ShopHISTORIC RESIDENCE Above is the residence of Andrew TajlcrSherman, in which the first meeting of the Wilmette village boardTrywas held on November 7, 1872. and in which John Gedney Westerfiek Our Cakes, Pies and Pastrieswas elected as its first president. The house, now owned by the Augustand Frances Specht estate, still stands at 1136 Greenleaf avenue.823The photograph from which the reproduction was made was taken Ridge RoadWilmette 1870in 1880 and was made available by Roger A. Sherman, 1430 Lake ave-nue, a grandson of Andrew Taylor Sherman.