General Discussion Forgotten Chicago Forum
Feel free to discuss anything related to the website here.
Wozniak's Casino
Posted by:
b.a.hoarder
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: February 04, 2013 01:26AM
In another thread Roadway mentioned the McCormick Reaper Works and that made me think of Wozniak's. We used to go back to the "old neighborhood" sometimes for a wedding, or some such event held at Wozniak's Casino. That was on Blue Island just east of Western and I remember dad mentioning that the building was originally the executive "get-a-way" for the McCormick Works. I would guess they had a bath house, bar, smoking room, full kitchen, etc., like a private club to unwind in.
We always called the plant the tractor works, I think they built bulldozers there into the '70's, maybe even later.
We always called the plant the tractor works, I think they built bulldozers there into the '70's, maybe even later.
Re: Wozniak's Casino
Posted by:
nordsider
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: February 04, 2013 10:00AM
There was also a restaurant located on the west side of Western Avenue, and just north of Blue Island, that seemed to be popular with the farm tractor engineering department personal; that was nestled within in the Tractor Works plant in the late 50s . . . which in my experience, was located midway between Western Avenue and California at 31st Boulevard.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2013 09:58AM by nordsider.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2013 09:58AM by nordsider.
Re: Wozniak's Casino
Posted by:
b.a.hoarder
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: February 04, 2013 11:14AM
Maybe my post wasn't real clear, the original owner of the property was the McCormick factory and at some point it was sold to Mr. Wozniak. I was trying to point out that like the "Company Houses" mentioned by Roadway they also owned the Blue Island building. My bad, I should have been more concise.
Re: Wozniak's Casino
Posted by:
nordsider
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: February 04, 2013 11:58AM
b.a.hoarder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe my post wasn't real clear, the original
> owner of the property was the McCormick factory
> and at some point it was sold to Mr. Wozniak. I
> was trying to point out that like the "Company
> Houses" mentioned by Roadway they also owned the
> Blue Island building. My bad, I should have been
> more concise.
My apology, my mistake.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe my post wasn't real clear, the original
> owner of the property was the McCormick factory
> and at some point it was sold to Mr. Wozniak. I
> was trying to point out that like the "Company
> Houses" mentioned by Roadway they also owned the
> Blue Island building. My bad, I should have been
> more concise.
My apology, my mistake.
Re: Wozniak's Casino
Posted by:
Bill_Baar
(---.tic.va.gov)
Date: February 04, 2013 01:58PM
A bit on Stan Woziak http://outstandingcommunityleaders.blogspot.com/2010/02/stan-wozniak-outstanding-nightclub.html
Chicago Trib did an article not so long ago I think on Wozniak's Casino. I can only search the pre-86 and you'll find some nice articles on Reagan's visit to Wozniak's.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2013 06:28PM by Bill_Baar.
Chicago Trib did an article not so long ago I think on Wozniak's Casino. I can only search the pre-86 and you'll find some nice articles on Reagan's visit to Wozniak's.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2013 06:28PM by Bill_Baar.
Re: Wozniak's Casino
Posted by:
Bill_Baar
(---.tic.va.gov)
Date: February 04, 2013 02:04PM
Also this: http://digital-libraries.saic.edu/cdm/search/collection/mqc/searchterm/%20Wozniak's%20Casino%20Lounge%20No.%202/mode/exact
I used to eat at Bruna's in the late 70s early 80s. I never went to Wozniak's and don't have much of an image of the building as it was surrounded by trees. I just knew it because Vrdolyak would use it for events so it was in the paper a lot.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2013 06:28PM by Bill_Baar.
I used to eat at Bruna's in the late 70s early 80s. I never went to Wozniak's and don't have much of an image of the building as it was surrounded by trees. I just knew it because Vrdolyak would use it for events so it was in the paper a lot.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2013 06:28PM by Bill_Baar.
Re: Wozniak's Casino
Posted by:
jak378
(---.hsd1.fl.comcast.net)
Date: February 04, 2013 03:00PM
Ronald Reagan, while President, was a visitor to Wozniak's in around 1989. He ate lunch there and then travelled to Wrigley Field where he sat in on the play by play for an inning or two. The whole thing was a well guarded secret until he actually arrived. There was a pretty good Italian restaurant around the corner also, called Febo's, Famous for Nothing.
Re: Wozniak's Casino
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: February 04, 2013 09:21PM
[b]Around the corner I think Levitt street was said to have the finest Italian resturants.[/b]
Re: Wozniak's Casino
Posted by:
Roadway
(---.hfc.comcastbusiness.net)
Date: February 06, 2013 01:12PM
McCormick Works burned down in maybe the late 50's or very early 1960's--it had on it's tower an old time blue neon sign in large letters reading "McCormick Works"--mysterious since the building wasn't lit up and probably there were no city street lights since south of Blue Island was McCormick Works property.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2013 02:22PM by Roadway.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2013 02:22PM by Roadway.
Re: Wozniak's Casino
Posted by:
nordsider
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: February 06, 2013 01:22PM
McCormick Works
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/results.asp?keyword1=mccormick&keyword2=reaper+works&search_field1=collection_name&search_type=advanced&sort_by=date&boolean_type1=and
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.wisconsinhistory.org/700003050960/0305010353-l.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/fullimage.asp?id%3D87013&h=382&w=600&sz=57&tbnid=zypOOF8orlZxbM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=141&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmccormick%2Breaper%2Bworks%2Bmap%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=mccormick+reaper+works+map&usg=__W45PKZ_tqHQTTOKgM4nqOkliDvY=&docid=QQD-2xmljAkrdM&itg=1&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hR8RUYnDC46WyAG7jIHADQ&ved=0CEMQ9QEwAw&dur=656
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2013 05:35PM by nordsider.
http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/results.asp?keyword1=mccormick&keyword2=reaper+works&search_field1=collection_name&search_type=advanced&sort_by=date&boolean_type1=and
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.wisconsinhistory.org/700003050960/0305010353-l.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/whi/fullimage.asp?id%3D87013&h=382&w=600&sz=57&tbnid=zypOOF8orlZxbM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=141&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmccormick%2Breaper%2Bworks%2Bmap%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=mccormick+reaper+works+map&usg=__W45PKZ_tqHQTTOKgM4nqOkliDvY=&docid=QQD-2xmljAkrdM&itg=1&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hR8RUYnDC46WyAG7jIHADQ&ved=0CEMQ9QEwAw&dur=656
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2013 05:35PM by nordsider.
Re: Wozniak's Casino
Posted by:
Roadway
(---.hfc.comcastbusiness.net)
Date: February 06, 2013 02:20PM
nordsider, thanks for the link.....Photo of the McCormick Works right on the West Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River-----they actually petioned and were granted permission to fill in the West Fork--think it went almost to the Bridewell jail. Like, West Fork, Marquette and Joliet, Chicago Portage--that West Fork. Clout.
That is why Western Avenue dips a bit lower south of Blue Island Avenue--River bottom.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2013 04:44PM by Roadway.
That is why Western Avenue dips a bit lower south of Blue Island Avenue--River bottom.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2013 04:44PM by Roadway.
Re: Wozniak's Casino
Posted by:
Jazzman
(---.bankofamerica.com)
Date: March 07, 2013 10:44PM
Wozniaks closed in the early 90's,
Theresa Wozniak and her excellent food is still available and served for banquets & Parties.. at [b]Stardust Banquets 5688 N Milwaukee in Chicago[/b]
Theresa Wozniak and her excellent food is still available and served for banquets & Parties.. at [b]Stardust Banquets 5688 N Milwaukee in Chicago[/b]
