Greenhouse

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Article #1

The following article is from RPWRHS's The Greenhouses of West Ridge, The Historian, Winter 2012, Volume 28, No. 1, pages 4-5.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, West Ridge was primarily farmland. Farmers working the fields raised crops like beans, peas, melons, cabbage, squash, cucumbers, corn, and other vegetables. They took their crops, first on horse-drawn wagons and later on trucks, to the vegetable markets in Chicago. They made a modest living.

Then, greenhouses made their way to the country’s Midwest and the farmers noted that growing and selling flowers was much more lucrative than growing and selling vegetables. Not far away were Calvary Cemetery and St. Henry's Cemetery—and there would be mourners visiting the cemeteries who would be in the market for fresh flowers to lay at a loved one’s grave. How convenient it would be, the farmers thought, if the mourners could simply stop somewhere along the way and purchase their flowers. And unlike vegetables, flowers could even be grown all year long in a steam-heated greenhouse!

In the long run, it was the fact that raising flowers in a greenhouse year round made a farmer a lot more money than raising vegetables did during one short season a year. This is what drove these hardy Luxembourgers and Germans to switch from veggies to flowers.

Article #2

The following article is from RPWRHS's Honoring our Founding Families St. Henry’s Cemetery Tour September 16, 2012

The Greenhouse Business, Ridgeville (1882-1890)

Several events contributed to the success and expansion of farming operations by the second generation of settlers.

In the 1860’s, "The Big Ditch" was dug from Evanston to (now) Pratt Boulevard and then east on Pratt to Lake Michigan This channeled the tributary west of (now) Western Avenue, which drained and opened additional land for agricultural development.

The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad (now: Metra) was built in 1853, opening easier access to Chicago markets and developing new markets throughout the U.S., as well as facilitating transport of day laborers.

The aftermath of the Civil War created a new demand for flowers for decorating the graves of the dead that spurred the transition from vegetable truck farming to growing of flowers. This market broadened with the Victorian taste for use of flowers in home decoration and as personal accessories.

In 1882, Adam Zender’s brother-in-law, Peter Reinberg, who had developed successful greenhouses a mile south on The Ridge, told Adam and his friend John Muno, Jr. "Boys, you better get into flowers." They asked," Pete, is there any money in it?" He said, "he had made better money in flowers than in vegetables" and they "went into it too."

At the peak of his operations, Peter Reinberg was the largest supplier of roses and carnations in the world, with 25 employees in the greenhouse and 6 packers in his Chicago wholesale warehouse. Peter Reinberg entered local politics and attained the office of alderman.

Adam Zender maintained an array of greenhouses on the East Side of Ridge Boulevard from Pratt to Devon, where S&C Electric Company now stands.

John Muno, Jr. maintained 22 greenhouses, with 36,000 sq. ft. under glass (almost an acre of land) near Touhy and Western, with shipments throughout the U.S. through his wholesale operations.

The greenhouse business persisted until the mid 1920s, when competition from growers in Florida and California developed and the land became too valuable for development for residential and commercial use to continue to support agriculture.

End of articles

Dominick Schreiber also built greenhouses.

Murphy Avenue

4600 Block

4633 Murphy Avenue

Peterson Avenue

2100 Block

2136 W. Peterson Avenue

Ridge Boulevard

7455 N. Ridge Boulevard

Seeley Avenue

7456 N. Seeley Avenue

Western Avenue

5200 Block

Budlong Pickle Farm and Factory, north and west of Western Avenue and Foster Avenue.

7200 Block

7302 N. Western Avenue

Wolcott Avenue

7400 Block

7438 N. Wolcott Avenue

Greenhouse Owners

Peter Breit, Jr.

Photos

RPWRHS photo B005-0103 shows eight unidentified members of the Nepper family in their greenhouse, 4633 Murphy Avenue (now 7438 N. Wolcott Avenue).

RPWRHS photo B005-4126 shows the Nepper family greenhouse at 4633 Murphy Avenue (7438 N. Wolcott Avenue) in 1907.

RPWRHS photo C005-73359 shows eleven unidentified men standing in an unidentified greenhouse on Touhy Avenue in 1911.

RPWRHS photo C005-73394 shows four unidentified men in the Welter family greenhouse in 1910.

RPWRHS photo E002-4315 shows Welter family greenhouse, California Avenue and Fargo Avenue SE Corner, 1905.

RPWRHS photo E002-4316 shows Welter family greenhouse, California Avenue and Fargo Avenue SE Corner, 1905. Members of family identified are Jim, Mike, and Mort.

RPWRHS Photo J007-0101 shows an unidentified woman standing inside an unidentified Greenhouse. No date given.

RPWRHS photo M002-5360 shows the Muno Greenhouse on Touhy Avenue west of Western Avenue, circa 1910. Five unidentified men inside.

RPWRHS photo M002-26372 shows the Welter greenhouse on Touhy Avenue west of Western Avenue. No date given, but it must be before 1960. Unidentified man.

RPWRHS photo M002-26373 shows unidentified workers in the Welter greenhouse on Touhy Avenue west of Western Avenue. No date given.

RPWRHS photo M004-0103 shows the Muno greenhouse, circa 1900. Location not given. Eight unidentified persons.

RPWRHS photo N001-4418 shows the Nepper family greenhouse. 4633 Murphy Avenue (now 7438 N. Wolcott Avenue.) Date given is 1907.

RPWRHS photo R044-0213 shows three unidentified children helping out with greenhouse deliveries. No address given. No date given.

RPWRHS photo S001-93573 shows the Sampson family house, probably Weber family house in rear and took care of greenhouse (rear), 7356 N. Rogers Avenue. No date given. There's confusion in the addresses between this photo and photo B002-2001. More research is needed.

RPWRHS photo S013-0162 shows the greenhouses of Swanson the Florist, 7302 N. Western Avenue, February 1984.

RPWRHS photo S013-0476 shows greenhouses of Swanson the Florist, 7302 N. Western Avenue, April 1984.

RPWRHS photo S013-0477 shows greenhouses of Swanson the Florist, 7302 N. Western Avenue, April 1984.

RPWRHS photo S013-0478 shows greenhouses of Swanson the Florist, 7302 N. Western Avenue, April 1984.

RPWRHS photo S013-0479 shows greenhouses and store of Swanson the Florist, 7302 N. Western Avenue, April 1984.

RPWRHS photo T001-0101 shows the Mertens Greenhouse (seven unidentified men standing outside greenhouse).

RPWRHS photo T016-0001 shows the rear view of the Thillens Greenhouse at 2136 W. Peterson Avenue. No date given.

RPWRHS photo T016-0002 shows the Thillens farmhouse & Greenhouse at 2136 W. Peterson Avenue. No date given.