Questions and Answers (Q&A) Forgotten Chicago Forum
Have a question about a specific element in Chicago's history? Ask Away!
American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
Eric F
()
Date: July 02, 2014 10:46PM
Went past it hundreds of times in my life,but now I can't seem to find a photo of it online, so I was wondering if anyone had information or memories of it. In 1987 they still had 600 union employees, and I know that trains loaded up shipments right out back of the structure. For the life of me I can't remember how many stories high it was. Thanks in advance.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
mikbasile
()
Date: July 02, 2014 11:04PM
I know the building, Claremont track behind, Sears Roebuck to the north. Peacock carwash across the street. American Can Co. was a big white building on the east side of the street.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
zeker434
()
Date: July 03, 2014 02:46PM
My father worked there as a millwright until he passed away in 1971. Here's a website that has older aerial photos:
http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?op=home
Also, Google Earth can show older aerial photos.
http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?op=home
Also, Google Earth can show older aerial photos.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
bowler
()
Date: July 15, 2014 06:47PM
Here are two photos, one a close up of the factory building and another an aerial of the factory:
[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/34126404@N06/14660892191/]American Can[/url]
[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/34126404@N06/14477485218/]American Can Aerial[/url]
[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/34126404@N06/14660892191/]American Can[/url]
[url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/34126404@N06/14477485218/]American Can Aerial[/url]
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
mikbasile
()
Date: July 15, 2014 09:09PM
Yup! Thats it, cant forget the front of that building, rode our bikes passed it many times,on our way to Gage Park swimming pool.!
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
Eric F
()
Date: July 15, 2014 09:27PM
Forgot how big the place was, going back east. I'll bet they had alot more than 600 employees in there peak years. Really sad what's happened to Chicago industry.
Thanks for posting that.
Thanks for posting that.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
bowler
()
Date: July 16, 2014 05:15PM
By the way I forgot to add that these photos are courtesy of the Chicago Lawn Historical Society.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
daveg
()
Date: July 17, 2014 02:06PM
Thanks for posting these photos Rob.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: January 31, 2015 10:49PM
Hey Guys, Your all talking about the big White Elephant. 5 stories high 4 buildings wide with 35 box car loading docks, 27 trucking docks putting out 150 truck loads a day and 50 car loads a day with three switchs per day. It also had one floor large packaging area and a seperate chemical building. Approximate 1.8 million sq. ft. of storage. In 1968 we had 2,000 union employees and 157 clerical and management personnel. It was the largest can making facility in the US. Larger than Continental and National Can. I grew up in the Back of the Yards passing this plant to go to Sears. I was in the the plant only to have our Gage Park Little League banquets never thinking that I would work there someday. I started their in 1968 as a shipping supervisor and closed the plant in 1991 as the Plant Quality Manager of North America when we merged as American National Can. I retired with alittle under 39 years with "Canco"
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/2015 11:03PM by SWEDE.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/2015 11:03PM by SWEDE.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: January 31, 2015 11:07PM
I have photos of when the demolished the plant along with my office. We still had 350 union employees and approximately 40 clerical/management. Most of them had enough time to retire and some of us took a transfer to other smaller more practical and economically stable plants. We were just too big. It was a great plant to work. We also had the number one First Place industrial softball team at Gage Park and Grant Park for years in the 60's 70's. We had bowling and golf leagues. Most of us did all the sports.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: February 03, 2015 10:56PM
zeker434 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My father worked there as a millwright until he
> passed away in 1971. Here's a website that has
> older aerial photos:
>
> http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?op=home
>
>
> Also, Google Earth can show older aerial photos.
What was your fathers name? Did he pass away at Larado bowling alley? I knew several millwrights back then, Mac, Stoney, Big John Balling, Prezbilski brothers, Fred Lavoe, Steve Bartel, Steve Blasko, Big Ed Jasko "The Bowler", Jerry Deweir.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2015 12:27AM by SWEDE.
-------------------------------------------------------
> My father worked there as a millwright until he
> passed away in 1971. Here's a website that has
> older aerial photos:
>
> http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?op=home
>
>
> Also, Google Earth can show older aerial photos.
What was your fathers name? Did he pass away at Larado bowling alley? I knew several millwrights back then, Mac, Stoney, Big John Balling, Prezbilski brothers, Fred Lavoe, Steve Bartel, Steve Blasko, Big Ed Jasko "The Bowler", Jerry Deweir.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2015 12:27AM by SWEDE.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
rjmachon
()
Date: February 11, 2015 06:36PM
Who brought this property?
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: February 11, 2015 10:45PM
Tha last time I heard anything about that area, they built strip malls where CANCO once stood.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
rjmachon
()
Date: February 13, 2015 07:52PM
@Swede, do you remember a guy named Jim Hamilton at American Can?
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: February 13, 2015 10:19PM
e: American Can Company 6017 S Western new
Posted by: rjmachon ()
Date: February 13, 2015 04:52PM
@Swede, do you remember a guy named Jim Hamilton at American Can?
Do you know when and what department he worked in or what job function.
Posted by: rjmachon ()
Date: February 13, 2015 04:52PM
@Swede, do you remember a guy named Jim Hamilton at American Can?
Do you know when and what department he worked in or what job function.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
rjmachon
()
Date: February 14, 2015 02:33PM
@Swede, this would have been around 1986. I am not sure of the department.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: February 14, 2015 07:25PM
I don't recall the name. In the late 80's we were downsizing.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: March 21, 2015 12:06AM
I'll ask one of old buddies this weekend if he remembers a Jim Hamilton
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: March 21, 2015 12:06AM
I'll ask one of old buddies this weekend if he remembers a Jim Hamilton
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: March 25, 2015 03:32PM
My buddy said that he was not familiar with the name. We still had 360 employees when we closed in 1991.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: March 27, 2015 11:01PM
Any can makers out there? Anyone work for Continental Can, National Can, Crown Cork & Seal or Campbells Soup?
At American Can we made any can you can think of: food cans, beer and soda cans, varnish cans,every size paint cans, aerosl, coffee, lard cans, anti freeze cans, small as 1oz oil cans to 150lb lard cans, solder side seams, crimped side seams, welded side seams, pear shaped ham cans, 25lb oblong ham cans for the military, drawn food cans. Don't forget we made caps, covers, nozzles, handles, plugs and lids for the same.
At American Can we made any can you can think of: food cans, beer and soda cans, varnish cans,every size paint cans, aerosl, coffee, lard cans, anti freeze cans, small as 1oz oil cans to 150lb lard cans, solder side seams, crimped side seams, welded side seams, pear shaped ham cans, 25lb oblong ham cans for the military, drawn food cans. Don't forget we made caps, covers, nozzles, handles, plugs and lids for the same.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
carmech
()
Date: May 24, 2015 01:27AM
I worked at National Can on Central down the street
from Midway airport for a short while in 1967 operating
foot pedal operated press making lids.
I also worked at the Western Union repair shop
next to Continental Can in 1968.
from Midway airport for a short while in 1967 operating
foot pedal operated press making lids.
I also worked at the Western Union repair shop
next to Continental Can in 1968.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
carmech
()
Date: May 24, 2015 02:18AM
Correction I worked at Western Union repair shop
next to American Can , not Continental Can.
I distincly remember viewing the can line moving
through the open windows at the Amer Can.
next to American Can , not Continental Can.
I distincly remember viewing the can line moving
through the open windows at the Amer Can.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: May 24, 2015 07:53PM
Western union was right next door to us on the North side of Canco. Do you know that they made some gangster movies at the Western Union.
I started out working for National Can during the summers of 63 - 66. I went to the service in 67. Did you know Billy Dilly, Joe Kasmersky, John Budziena, Wally Judd, Chester? They were all supervisors.
I started out working for National Can during the summers of 63 - 66. I went to the service in 67. Did you know Billy Dilly, Joe Kasmersky, John Budziena, Wally Judd, Chester? They were all supervisors.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
carmech
()
Date: May 25, 2015 01:00AM
My friends father was a supervisor there, his name was Stanley Judd.
He was supervisor there when I worked there in 67.
He was supervisor there when I worked there in 67.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: May 25, 2015 01:30PM
Carmech,
You are correct it was Stanley Judd, supervisor in the Press room. I worked for him for a couple of summers. He took me under his wing. I started out on the die liners, packer , unloader, press feeder. I said Wally Judd only because Wally worked for us at American Can and he was Stanleys cousin. Good old memories.
Did you Coffman the personell manager? I can't remember the nurses name but she was good.
You are correct it was Stanley Judd, supervisor in the Press room. I worked for him for a couple of summers. He took me under his wing. I started out on the die liners, packer , unloader, press feeder. I said Wally Judd only because Wally worked for us at American Can and he was Stanleys cousin. Good old memories.
Did you Coffman the personell manager? I can't remember the nurses name but she was good.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: May 25, 2015 01:34PM
Was Tiny still there at National Can. He worked in shipping. He would lift a dock plate with out any fork lift. Rose Hill in shipping was my first packer or forker instructor.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
carmech
()
Date: May 25, 2015 05:29PM
I started out working a foot pedal operated press punching out lids
and putting the lids in a machine that spun them up and put sealer on them.
I never had any contact with any other departments. I worked under a
small woman, don't remember her name.
and putting the lids in a machine that spun them up and put sealer on them.
I never had any contact with any other departments. I worked under a
small woman, don't remember her name.
Re: American Can Company 6017 S Western
Posted by:
SWEDE
()
Date: May 25, 2015 11:58PM
Did she always wear white shoes, short hair and spoke with a slight accent?
