Wilmette Public Library Local History Digital Collection

Fred Stickney Northam (1904-1979) oral history

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Track 15, Transcript p. 45-47: Track 15, Transcript p. 45-47
Transcription: Track 15 RA: That's right. And there was another very fanciful series of juvenile books that were written for the adolescent p.46 RA: girl about that time, and I'm trying to . . . I can't think. FN: Well, I can think of Tom Swift. RA: Oh, yes. My husband was a Tom Swift fan. FN: As a boy, oh, yeah. We used to read all those Tom Swift books one after another. RA: Tom Swift and the Diamond Makers. Tom Swift this and that . . . Oh yes, he had many adventures and all kinds of things. FN: I was an avid reader. I loved to read. I used to haunt the old west side library. Miss Anna Law was the librarian there. RA: Now tell me about the . . . Where was the first library that you remember? FN: Well, it was the old Carnegie Library. Every town had one. If you saw one in one town, you saw one in every town in the United States -- (Laugh) - big old red brick ugly thing. (Laugh) RA: . . . that you had to climb. FN: Yes. Massive porch. RA: Steps. FN: They still exist in some towns. RA: Oh, yes. I know where there's one not . . p.47 FN: And it was Carnegie's gift to the world. RA: . . . very far from here. FM: Miss Anna Law was there. She was a very wonderful woman, I have nice memories of her. RA: And she had a great impact on the community, I understand. FN: She was . . . she was elderly even when I was a little boy. RA: She had a sister. FM: She had a brother named Prentiss RA: Law. FN: . . . but I don't remember about the sister. This you'll have to ask my aunt. RA: I see.
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/

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