Ambrose St. in Chicago.


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Ambrose St. in Chicago.
Posted by: dkennycpd ()
Date: March 14, 2015 12:52AM

We've been told that for a while a street somewhere near Bridgeport was called Ambrose St. It was so-called, allegedly, for my great-grandfather, Robert Ambrose, A Chicago firefighter that died in the line of duty. We know that part is true because he received the Carter-Harrison Award and it still hangs in the Chicago Fire Academy. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

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Re: Ambrose St. in Chicago.
Posted by: nordsider ()
Date: March 14, 2015 08:35AM

Ambrose Street was changed to 22nd Place --- Range Changed: Leavitt to Wood

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~itappcnc/pipcnstreetfind.htm

http://www.chicagohistory.org/documents/research/resources/streetNameChanges.pdf



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/2015 09:34AM by nordsider.

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Re: Ambrose St. in Chicago.
Posted by: bowler ()
Date: March 14, 2015 05:49PM

Here is an article about your great-grandfather:

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1901/10/06/page/39/article/the-bravest-man-in-chicago-is-robert-ambrose-say-swenie-and-musham


The street doesn't appear to be named after him unless they named it after him while he was still alive. Here is a directory of firehouses that lists him at one firehouse and directly below is another firehouse with an Ambrose St. address:

https://books.google.com/books?id=l_ZFAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA69&lpg=PA69&dq=%22robert+ambrose%22+street+chicago&source=bl&ots=yUZ35tloVH&sig=_aF8KU1aDF-lQGP-hjWJ5Q7e-to&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UpAEVbGdMKSSsQSL2IKYAg&ved=0CDYQ6AEwBjgK#v=onepage&q=%22robert%20ambrose%22%20street%20chicago&f=false

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Re: Ambrose St. in Chicago.
Posted by: bowler ()
Date: March 14, 2015 06:12PM

Also, Ambrose St. appears to have been around since 1876 according to some Tribune references I've found. This predates Carter Harrison.

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Re: Ambrose St. in Chicago.
Posted by: nordsider ()
Date: March 14, 2015 07:15PM

bowler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Also, Ambrose St. appears to have been around
> since 1876 according to some Tribune references
> I've found. This predates Carter Harrison.


and also, on page 161 of the book, "Industrial Chicago: The building interests" published in 1891; the comment about Ambrose street in the year 1876:

"St. Paul's Catholic church of 1876, on South Hoyne avenue and Ambrose street, holds the name of the old church of St. Paul's established before the fire."

https://books.google.com/books?id=lFU6AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA161&lpg=PA161&dq=ambrose+street+name+chicago&source=bl&ots=h9gz5mcgW5&sig=ec3ueNtk01Y7KbkI2uheV3-xdQg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=KZsEVcaCKsvhgwTT3oKwCA&ved=0CFUQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=ambrose%20street%20name%20chicago&f=false

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Re: Ambrose St. in Chicago.
Posted by: bowler ()
Date: March 14, 2015 07:30PM

Robert Ambrose won the award in 1901 for bravery while on duty October 22 1899, he apparently did not die in action, at least not on that occasion.

I can send you the article if you like since it can't be posted here (subscription service). Send me a private message on this site if you are interested.

Obviously this only proves that the street is unlikely not named for him. I'm still looking for more info regarding the street. Since it dates back so far it is difficult to find the origin of the name.

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Re: Ambrose St. in Chicago.
Posted by: nordsider ()
Date: March 15, 2015 09:25AM

In the book: Streetwise Chicago: A History of Chicago Street Names by Don Hayner and Tom McNamee (1988), the authors comment that the card file of the City's Department of Maps and Plats is the final authority for street name changes.

This is the web-site:

City of Chicago Maps and Plats

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/maps_and_plats_kiosk.html

This web-site is tedious and difficult, in my opinion, however, someone more patient than myself may be able to find information about the Ambrose street name change.

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Re: Ambrose St. in Chicago.
Posted by: dkennycpd ()
Date: July 15, 2015 02:52AM

You people are really smart!! What an amazing website. Thank you Thank you. Hopefully I can someday return the favor of information.

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