General Discussion Forgotten Chicago Forum
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Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
jessesgirl
(---.dsl.emhril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: August 05, 2009 11:46PM
Does anyone remember Olsen Rug's outdoor garden. My brother and I went there with our parents in the 60's. I remember walking up stairs above the waterfall. I was really young and am not sure the purpose of this place. I also remember in the fall they would decorate it for Indian Summer. Am I right? I am not completely sure about this. I would love more information.
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
fleurblue
(---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: August 06, 2009 12:44AM
Yes, I do remember the Falls. We walked across the bridge at the top and enjoyed the spray of water on hot nights. They did have the "Injun Summer" display on the lawn for Halloween complete with haystacks and a giant witch and full moon over the falls.
Some of the entries relating to Olson Rug were deleted this month.
Here is a site describing the history of the display.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/The_Olson_Memorial_Park_waterfall_was_a_replica_of_what_waterfall
http://dimbeautyofchicago.blogspot.com/2007/10/olson-rug-factory-rock-garden.html
Here's another:
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/2009 12:47AM by fleurblue.
Some of the entries relating to Olson Rug were deleted this month.
Here is a site describing the history of the display.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/The_Olson_Memorial_Park_waterfall_was_a_replica_of_what_waterfall
http://dimbeautyofchicago.blogspot.com/2007/10/olson-rug-factory-rock-garden.html
Here's another:
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/06/2009 12:47AM by fleurblue.
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
marfair
(---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: August 06, 2009 12:50AM
The waterfall was a landmark on the northwest side and it was well known throughout the city. Following their purchase of the property, Field's removed the falls in the late 70s to create a parking lot.
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
jessesgirl
(---.dsl.emhril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: August 06, 2009 01:14AM
Thank you so much for the site links. It brings back so many memories as I think we went there quite regularly.
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
Philomena
(---.frstil.dsl-w.verizon.net)
Date: August 06, 2009 01:39AM
After going to the waterfall, my parents would take me to the Diversey side of Olson to see the ducks. We were allowed to feed them.
Do you remember the free post card you'd receive at Olson Waterfall?
Do you remember the free post card you'd receive at Olson Waterfall?
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
fleurblue
(---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: August 06, 2009 02:00AM
Yes, I remember the post card (I probably took one each visit and still have one). I also remember the guest book tucked in a little alcove. I signed that too every time.
Here is a site depicting the Injun Summer cartoon which was replicated on the Olson Rug lawn in the fall. A full moon and giant witch on a broom sat atop the falls.
http://www.tkinter.smig.net/Chicago/InjunSummer
Here is a site depicting the Injun Summer cartoon which was replicated on the Olson Rug lawn in the fall. A full moon and giant witch on a broom sat atop the falls.
http://www.tkinter.smig.net/Chicago/InjunSummer
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
Philomena
(---.frstil.dsl-w.verizon.net)
Date: August 06, 2009 02:08AM
I certainly remember Injun Summer at Olson Waterfall, a beautiful time of the year! Thanks very much for the cartoon site. It's one of my favorites. The Chicago Tribune used to publish it every year, then stopped when it wasn't "politically correct."
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
jk
(---.apk.net)
Date: September 11, 2009 03:07AM
The now defunct (Archbishop) Weber High at 5252 W. Palmer had sports teams named the Red Horde, supposedly after an Indian tribe. In the 60s, at least, a pep squad of fake Indians would pose on the waterfalls for their yearbook photo.
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
daveg
(130.36.62.---)
Date: October 07, 2009 04:20PM
fleurblue Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, I remember the post card (I probably took one
> each visit and still have one). I also remember
> the guest book tucked in a little alcove. I
> signed that too every time.
>
> Here is a site depicting the Injun Summer cartoon
> which was replicated on the Olson Rug lawn in the
> fall. A full moon and giant witch on a broom sat
> atop the falls.
>
>
> http://www.tkinter.smig.net/Chicago/InjunSummer
I'm new here. Thank you very much for this link. Many years ago, my brother painted this picture on a bank (Capitol Federal on Millard?) window on 26th street around Halloween. We also visited the Olson Rug waterfall with the family several times.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes, I remember the post card (I probably took one
> each visit and still have one). I also remember
> the guest book tucked in a little alcove. I
> signed that too every time.
>
> Here is a site depicting the Injun Summer cartoon
> which was replicated on the Olson Rug lawn in the
> fall. A full moon and giant witch on a broom sat
> atop the falls.
>
>
> http://www.tkinter.smig.net/Chicago/InjunSummer
I'm new here. Thank you very much for this link. Many years ago, my brother painted this picture on a bank (Capitol Federal on Millard?) window on 26th street around Halloween. We also visited the Olson Rug waterfall with the family several times.
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
adgorn
(---.dsl.emhril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: April 10, 2010 06:46PM
I found an article on the Olson Rug site at
http://nwchicagohistory.org/jphs_january2008.pdf
Alan
http://nwchicagohistory.org/jphs_january2008.pdf
Alan
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
shekaago
(---.sub-75-211-47.myvzw.com)
Date: November 20, 2010 07:13PM
Here are two photos of the falls taken in 1963.
[url=http://www.trolleybuses.net/chi/htm/usa_h_chi_sl_9412_pulaskidiversey_19630728.htm]Olson Waterfall[/url]
[url=http://www.trolleybuses.net/chi/htm/usa_h_chi_sl_9412_rt53_pulaskidiversey_19630728_ss.htm]Olson Waterfall Closer View[/url]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/2010 07:20PM by shekaago.
[url=http://www.trolleybuses.net/chi/htm/usa_h_chi_sl_9412_pulaskidiversey_19630728.htm]Olson Waterfall[/url]
[url=http://www.trolleybuses.net/chi/htm/usa_h_chi_sl_9412_rt53_pulaskidiversey_19630728_ss.htm]Olson Waterfall Closer View[/url]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/2010 07:20PM by shekaago.
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
Susasn Selle
(192.227.62.---)
Date: April 13, 2011 06:55PM
When my Dad had vacation in the 1950's we used to go to the Waterfall. They had a vendor selling hot dogs and my mother would always buy me one. I love the waterfall it was so beautiful. I wish that it was still there. Does anyone know what happened to it?
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
Anonymous User
(---.wi.res.rr.com)
Date: May 06, 2011 08:01AM
Wow , I use to walk by this all the time when My sister use to attend madonna High School . That place Brings back memories of Me living around Kelvyn Park High School in chicago . That was one of the most coolest things to see in the city . I think marshal Fields torn it down in the mid 1980's or so . I know it was gone by then , I use to work in the Warehouse back then , It was a very cool site to see . I think they may have moved it to rosemont , Illinois . Im not for sure if the waterfall at the intersection of higgins and river road in rosemont . I think it was removed stone by stone and placed over there . You may want to check it out .
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
Kchi
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 06, 2011 11:52AM
In addition to the waterfalls being gone for years, Macy's closed the warehouse down several years ago, Can anybody explain why a company would want to maintain and pay taxes on such a huge property instead of selling or knocking down the huge warehouse space? Just like the old Sears complex on Homan and Arthington, there is not much value in old multi-storied warehouses. The big issue now days is the inefficiency and expense of moving product up and down on elevators versus modern single story warehouses that use forklifts and other automated equipment, cross docking and just in time delivery to keep inventory as low as possible.
In addition, I am curious, did Olson Rug ever make rugs or was the property simply used for warehousing and distribution?
In addition, I am curious, did Olson Rug ever make rugs or was the property simply used for warehousing and distribution?
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
Anonymous User
(---.wi.res.rr.com)
Date: May 06, 2011 05:21PM
Just warehousing Only . To my understanding They never use too manufacture carpets over At that location . I think the rugs were made by another company other that olson rug company .
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
Chipast
(---.dsl.chcgil.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 06, 2011 10:37PM
Why demolish?, It has some sort of history to it. It CERTAINLY beats those cookie-cutter eyesores by light years.
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
Anonymous User
(---.wi.res.rr.com)
Date: May 07, 2011 05:48AM
Well Talk to Marshall Fields , They removed it for a parking spaces in that area . I know that it suck what they did , but we cant change that . It was there property then . So out it came thanks to them .
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
the_mogra
(---.hfc.comcastbusiness.net)
Date: April 20, 2015 03:32PM
i went to olsen falls a lot as a kid. my earliest memories were if my mom continued driving a couple blocks further north on pulaski rd then i'd see the original old madonna high school building (2 or 3 story, brown brick) on the east side of pulaski before belmont
a very hackneyed if dated officeplace remark was "well we couldn't afford to give the wife a trip to niagra falls, so we instead went to olsen falls"
my recollection is it all turned into the proverbial parking lot in 1969
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/2015 03:34PM by the_mogra.
a very hackneyed if dated officeplace remark was "well we couldn't afford to give the wife a trip to niagra falls, so we instead went to olsen falls"
my recollection is it all turned into the proverbial parking lot in 1969
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/2015 03:34PM by the_mogra.
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
SWEDE
(---.lightspeed.iplsin.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 12, 2015 01:11AM
We use to pass the falls when we visited my Dads brother on the Northside. It sure was a landmark.
Re: Olsen Rug Waterfalls
Posted by:
lee520
(---.administ.org)
Date: May 20, 2015 05:22AM
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