Questions and Answers (Q&A) Forgotten Chicago Forum
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Rebels
Posted by:
jak378
()
Date: January 25, 2012 10:20AM
I am wondering if any of you "Back of the Yarders" remember a kind of street gang from the 50's called the Rebels. They were primarily from the area of Cornell Square. They had competition in a gang that started out as a softbal team, called the Outlaws from around Garfied Blvd. The Outlaws were kind of short lived.
Re: Rebels
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: January 25, 2012 11:30AM
I came across a pretty extensive site dedicated to the old street gangs/greasers. About 2/3 of the way down, the Cornell Square Rebels are mentioned. Hope this helps!
Chicago Stone Greasers
Chicago Stone Greasers
Re: Rebels
Posted by:
Steve B.
()
Date: January 25, 2012 11:50AM
The Cornell Square gang faught many rivals in the 50s and 60s, including the Almighty Saints (43rd/44th and Honore/Wolcott) and the Unicorns (Davis Square Park and the Settlement (46th and McDowell). I believe the 49th Street railroad tracks was the northern turf boundary back then for Cornell and one dare not cross it! I heard a gang mamber at Cornell Park was killed during one clash.
Re: Rebels
Posted by:
jak378
()
Date: January 25, 2012 02:09PM
I don't remember the details of the killing, but I do remember that it happened. I am pretty sure that it was a guy from St. Basils that did the killing and it may have had somethng to do with another murder. I just sent an email to another survivor of those times and I will hopefully hear back shortly. I somenow remember that the guy that was killed was a soldier on leave.
Re: Rebels
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
()
Date: January 25, 2012 09:41PM
I hung with them in the mid 50's. They got a lot of publicity in the news papers but much of it was exaggerated. Thier pastime was going around hangouts in other niehborhoods and attacking other gangs. Some went to jail and some like myself just grew up . Most of the guys grew up and turned up ok. one of the guys years later owned a tavern at 50th & Oakley and many of the old gang began to hang out there again.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/25/2012 09:44PM by Richard Stachowski.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/25/2012 09:44PM by Richard Stachowski.
Re: Rebels
Posted by:
coops4
()
Date: January 25, 2012 10:05PM
Rich, do you recall the name of the bar?
Re: Rebels
Posted by:
jak378
()
Date: January 26, 2012 09:11AM
I remember that they became a ittle bit inept in later years. When I was about 16, 1956, I lived around 55th and Damen. A buddy and I walked to the Tastee Freeze or Dairy Queen at about 53rd and Damen for ice cream on evening. On the way back we were accosted by 2 guys who said they were Rebels and demanded our money. They were about our age, and we kind of laughed at them and stated to continue walking. They followed us and one of them tried to grab my friend. I knocked the other one down, while my friend was knocking his assailant down. We walked away and they decided not to push things further. Maybe by then they were kind of a ghost of what they had been.
It was my understading that these gangs were mostly the outgrowth of baseballl or softball teams. They clearly were nothing like the gangs that Chicago has today. I'm pretty sure that the members of thegangs of those old days generally came from stable, homes both financially and domestically.
It was my understading that these gangs were mostly the outgrowth of baseballl or softball teams. They clearly were nothing like the gangs that Chicago has today. I'm pretty sure that the members of thegangs of those old days generally came from stable, homes both financially and domestically.
Re: Rebels
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
()
Date: January 26, 2012 05:01PM
The bar was on the southwest corner of 50th & Oakley. Roger Casper and his wife Stella owned and operated it. They and thier families left and moved to the suburbs. The bar has been closed for some time.coops4 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Rich, do you recall the name of the bar?
-------------------------------------------------------
> Rich, do you recall the name of the bar?
Re: Rebels
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
()
Date: January 26, 2012 05:08PM
[b]From what I know a group of guys hung around St Micheals at 48th & Damen and this started the Rebel gang. They then began to hang around cornell park at night and others from the area began to hang out with them. I lived across from the park on 50th and Wolcott and was aware of all that went on. I found it better to hang with them then not.[/b]jak378 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am wondering if any of you "Back of the Yarders"
> remember a kind of street gang from the 50's
> called the Rebels. They were primarily from the
> area of Cornell Square. They had competition in a
> gang that started out as a softbal team, called
> the Outlaws from around Garfied Blvd. The Outlaws
> were kind of short lived.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am wondering if any of you "Back of the Yarders"
> remember a kind of street gang from the 50's
> called the Rebels. They were primarily from the
> area of Cornell Square. They had competition in a
> gang that started out as a softbal team, called
> the Outlaws from around Garfied Blvd. The Outlaws
> were kind of short lived.
Re: Rebels
Posted by:
coops4
()
Date: January 26, 2012 06:04PM
Richard, a friend of mine married his (Roger) daughter. They are now living up near the Chain of Lakes. I remember that bar as we played basketball across the street on the cement courts.
Re: Rebels
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
()
Date: January 26, 2012 10:16PM
[b]I still see Roger's grandaughter and his wife Stella[ from time to time at Petco when we get our dog trimmed. They are living in Oak Lawn now. Most of the guys now have passed on./b]coops4 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Richard, a friend of mine married his (Roger)
> daughter. They are now living up near the Chain of
> Lakes. I remember that bar as we played basketball
> across the street on the cement courts.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Richard, a friend of mine married his (Roger)
> daughter. They are now living up near the Chain of
> Lakes. I remember that bar as we played basketball
> across the street on the cement courts.
Re: Rebels
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
()
Date: January 31, 2012 05:30PM
What guys did you know from the rebels?
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