Wilmette Public Library Local History Digital Collection

Fred Stickney Northam (1904-1979) oral history

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Track 1, Transcript p. 1-4: Track 1, Transcript p. 1-4
Transcription: Track 1 RA: When did you first come to Wilmette? FN: I was born in 1904 in July and it was on - ah - Fifth Street in what is called Llewellin Park, and it was a region of small houses, and most of which still exist. About the only name of any person in the neighborhood that I can recall at this time, that I could remember, would be the Weedon family which lived -- we were off here on the west side of the street about -- I should say about the 200 block starting from Isabella Street, and the Weedons were kitty--corner across the-corner, and I think I was born in the second house on the west side of the street from that corner. And I don't remember very much about those years except we did have horse--drawn cabs.-- And one time we were coming home from grandma's or someplace, and they let little Freddy stand up with his hand on the door looking out, and I couldn't have been more than about two, if that, just big enough to hang on -- and the door opened and I fell out onto the Street and that is my earliest memory. And that was quite something. I can remember the whole details, you see. You know, I was a very tiny baby (laugh), but nothing happened. RA: Do you remember -- FN: The horse didn't step on me or anything. The wheels p.2 FN: didn't go over me, I just bumped my head, I guess. RA: My sister did that from a car. FN: They had a little step, like a footscraper, that you stepped up into the cab - this taxi, I guess you'd call it. (laugh) RA: Yes, ah, where did the cabs come from, where were they -- FN: I have no idea. But I know they didn't have anything but horse-drawn vehicles way back then. That was the Victorian Age, really. RA: Were there people around you who had their own horses, do you remember? FN: Oh, lots of people. I don't recall that early because the only horses that I ever saw were drawing delivery wagons or pulling an ice vehicle or something like that on the street. Those are the only things that I really recall. RA: They delivered the groceries with the cart? FN: Oh yeah, sure. The fact is that one of the places I lived in Wilmette, our next door neighbor -- but that's getting ahead of the story a little bit. RA: Yes. Tell me, you lived on Fifth Street. Was there any commercial area in that immediate area? FN: No. RA: In Llewellin Park? FN: These were all homes here, as it is now. It has changed very little. p.3 RA: But over at Fourth and Linden, for example -- FN: That was practically non-existent as an area until they extended the railroad in one night. And I can remember that when I was real young they came in the night -- they sneaked in Fourth and Linden and put all the tracks in and had the thing running before the Village could run them out. RA: Tell me about - do you know about what date this was? This I can't tell you. FN: No, I don't recall that good. RA: I am told it was about 1912. FN: It must have been because I could remember then doing it because along in that same area I must have been anywhere between ten to twelve, because it was about the time they were digging the Canal. RA: I see. FN: And they had to make a bridge over the Canal for this extension and I recall that. RA: In one night! In one night they made a bridge? FN: And they did everything and went - it was something. don't know how they accomplished it. RA: That must have been quite a feat and very well planned to have -- but it was because of opposition was it not, that it was done that way? FN: Oh yes. I'm sure it must have been. This I don't recall. See, I was very young. RA: I have heard this story from others. p.4 FN: My father used to take us down and we'd look at the hole where they were digging the Canal and watch them, and it looked immense to a small boy, you know, and stuff like that.
Creators: Northam, Fred Stickney, 1904-1979, Interviewee; Adler, Rhea Saul, 1906-1990
, Interviewer
Media Type: Audio; Image; Text
Item Type: Audiocassettes
Description: Interview with Fred Northam by Rhea Adler in Wilmette, Illinois, in the fall of 1977.

ABSTRACT:
Birth in Wilmette — Llewellin Park - Early childhood experiences

“L” tracks run into Wilmette overnight on CMSTP right of way - Digging Sanitary Canal

Wilmette business district Central/Wilmette Avenue and West Railroad Avenue (Green
Bay Road)

Account of Drury and Northam families — Grandparents — Parents locale in village

Socialized with Chicago families

Gage’s Woods — Marshes “Small town” feeling

Circulation of petitions for New Trier High School by Grandfather Drury - President of
Wilmette

Life at the 900 block of Linden Avenue - Father CPA for International Harvester at 606

South Michigan

Grant Park a “garbage dump” - landfill

T. Slater Gillette - Photographer; Drs. Byron and Rufus Stolp

Moved to Glencoe brief - Return to Wilmette to 1614 Elmwood - Back of Grandma Bell’s
farm house, later remodeled (ca. 1936 by Matots) on 1600 block of Greenwood Avenue

Death of Mr. Northam, Sr. - Left wife and five children

Mrs. Northam — Wilmette’s first welfare employee

Description of surrounding area to Kenilworth

Episodes of childhood

Move to 423 10th Street after death of father

Reichmann, Gibson, Leary, Wilson neighbors
Wilson Bakery - Delivery wagon

Description of first movie at Ridge/Lake; Mueck grocery store — Licorice balls (“penny
candy”)

Started school at (“Logan School”) now called McKenzie

Glassblower lived and worked near Park Ave./Wilmette Ave.

People of area — “Nigger” Smith’s store

Home gardens — Vegetable — Household activities early twentieth century

Description of Grandpa (Horace) Drury’s house

Wilrnette elementary schools; New Trier High School

Teachers he remembered at New Trier High School

Reading — First movies seen - Presbyterians

Old Carnegie Library — Anna Law — Importance in lives of children of that era

Portius Gage Stanley Steamer Breaker Beach Club -
Gage Piers — Henry Gage - Stanley Gage

Andreas - History of Chicago 3 Vol.

Andreas – History of Cook County 1 Vol.

Discussion of source material
Place of Publication: Wilmette, Illinois
Date of Original: 1977
Subject(s): Public schools
Oral histories
Wilmette (Ill.) -- Residents
Personal Name(s): Northam, Fred Stickney
Local identifier: R977.31 NO
Language of Item: English
Copyright Statement: Protected by copyright: Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Copyright Date: 1977
Copyright Holder: Wilmette Public Library
Copyright Holder Contact Information: 1242 Wilmette Av.
Wilmette, IL 60091
U.S.A.
Recommended Citation: Northam, Fred, and Rhea Saul Adler. Fred Northam. Wilmette, Ill: Wilmette Public Library District, 1977.
Contact: Wilmette Public Library
Email:refdesk@wilmettelibrary.info
Website:
https://www.wilmettelibrary.info/

Agency street/mail address:
1242 Wilmette Avenue
Wilmette, IL
60091-2558
U.S.A. Phone: 847-256-6930