SmoothRT pmed me and asked me to comment on this photo. (I hope you are ok with me answering directly in the thread).
The photo appears to be from the 1920s. It looks like it was Morris Gershbein's Barber Shop. Is this your great grandfather? A Harry Goldfein lived in one of the upper apartments. Amazingly the building still stands, although muddled up some. It appears that it was "modernized" perhaps in the 50s-60s? It also looks as if the building to the right of your great grandfathers in the photo may also be still standing.
The neighborhood itself is now known as the Tri-Taylor area and is in the midst of Chicago's large west side medical district. The neighborhood was pretty diverse in your grandfathers day with Irish, Jewish, Bohemians, and other ethnic groups living within its borders. The neighborhood bordered a couple of interesting ethnic and wealthy centers on the west side like Little Italy around Taylor St, Bohemian Pilsen, and was somewhat close to the Jewish center's of North Lawndale and Maxwell St. (which was changing by the 1920s). The area was also relatively close to another area that was changing by the 1920s, which was the wealthy area surrounding Ashland Blvd./Ave. from *approximately* Harrison to Monroe Street's.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/2010 10:03PM by Berwyn Frank.