Skokie boomed in the Roaring Twenties, but the bust was even bigger. By 1948 there was a staggering 30,000 "dead lots" in the village - lots where utilities had been laid but no buildings constructed, some sitting vacant for more than 20 years. Join Forgotten Chicago this Sunday for a tour examining the overlooked built environment of the north suburbs, including a drive past the ruins of the fabled Purple Hotel in Lincolnwood, currently being demolished. Details:

http://forgottenchicago.com/events/september-29-corporate-kings-north-bus-tour/

I always wondered what Chicago would have been like had the depression not occurred. I'm guessing Skokie would look like much of the north side.

The developers of Niles Center (as Skokie was known in the 1920s) wanted purchasers of lots in their subdivision to think it was just on the verge of rapid development, so they "seeded" many of the blocks with one bungalow or three-flat that would look right at home in Rogers Park. Then came the Depression and the war, and for two decades Skokie looked like this:



Drive through the area between Dempster and Oakton and on every block you'll see one or two buildings from the 1920s...surrounded by 1950s ranchburgers.

Yeah, you've got quintessential three-flats next to post-war bungalows. Great view btw.

That is an awesome photo - thanks for posting. We will included it in the book we pass around on Sunday's bus tour.

The SW side of city was similar, empty lots with a few 20's bungalows and apt buildings. Streets and sidewalks laid out, already.

Too bad city didn't annex more land in the 40's, thinking "no one will ever move that far". Could have gotten Bedford Park, Burbank, and other thriving commercial areas.

It would certainly make the metro area less fragmented governmentally.