Ah, it's funny you bring up the barber shop! I was just talking with my dad about that place. I don't know what it was called but they still have the big metal or concrete poll on the corner from when my dad was a kid there (1960s)! http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3100+s+komensky+chicago&sll=41.831144,-87.760098&sspn=0.007403,0.016469&ie
Forum: General Discussion

We walked the Berwyn Bungalow tour today and my friend Perry (poster frworksonpaper here) took this photo of a side walk stamp on 33rd & Wesley.
Forum: General Discussion

I don't know about a gas station on 28th & St. Louis, but there is an old non operation gas station on 27th & Lawndale that still has the old Sunoco sign displayed. When did Sunoco stop operating in Chicago? 1980s? http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2800+s+st+louis+chicago&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=63.215425,134.912109&ie=UTF8&
Forum: General Discussion

Artista, is that sewer in front of the building? If so it may be a pit for an ejector pump. That cement extension could be some early design that is covering a rod out?
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

A neighbor offered me one a few weeks ago, he wants to get rid of it. The City of Berwyn wants him to buy a demolition permit to get rid of it. Can you believe that? They told him to bust it up with a sledge hammer and throw it away piece by piece. He told them, then why the do I need a demo permit?
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

That's what I am thinking Artista. I could be wrong about the V though. That is a perfect mystery for the administrators of Forgotten Chicago. They are very good at figuring out these oddities like sidewalk stamps and that.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Jerry, I sent you a pm.
Forum: General Discussion

Artista, I am kind of puzzled as to what the V means. I will have to do some research on that. I know you're gonna like this. I am going to post some rare real photo post cards of the area from my collection. Here is a view of the corner of Grand & Harlem circa 1908. The building was owned by John W. Thompson who had a general store there and also dealt in real estate. Here is
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Artista, great pictures! I LOVE 1920s architecture! My hometown Berwyn is FILLED with it! Ok, I did a little research and I found that the occupants of the building in 1929 were J.J. Olk Drugstore which occupied the bottom floor. A dentist, Roger Corrin was probably upstairs in the corner flat. I may be wrong but I believe the V may have been the last initial of the original owner/one
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Thanks for posting the picture Perry! I told him Artista was cool and would love to see the picture!
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

I am having a discussion about my book with slides at the Berwyn Public Library on Saturday October 2nd. I would love to meet you and sign your books. See you there! Discussion on Chicago's Little Village Lawndale-Crawford. When? Saturday October 2nd, 2010 2:00pm Where? Berwyn Public Library 2701 S. Harlem Ave. Berwyn, IL 60402 708-
Forum: General Discussion

The Berwyn Historical Society presents: The Historic Berwyn's Bungalow Tour: Bungalows and More Sunday, September 26th Noon-5pm The tour includes a distinguished Tallmadge and Watson prairie style house, listed on the National Register Of Historic Places, as well as a Frank Lloyd Wright American System-Built house. Proceeds will benefit the Berwyn Historical Society, NFP For more inf
Forum: General Discussion

I just listed a more modern green sign for sale on e-bay. S. Laflin St. -$75.00 buy it now or $49.95 and bid. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140453114313
Forum: General Discussion

Wow! I love how you got the bus in the newer photo. Goes nice with the street car in the vintage photo.
Forum: General Discussion

More signs sold. S. Broad St. -$124.99 http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-CHICAGO-1950-YELLOW-PORCELAIN-STREET-SIGN-BROAD-/160473093709?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255cf1164d N. Parkside Ave. -$124.99 http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-CHICAGO-1950-YELLOW-PORCELAIN-STREET-SIGN-PARKSIDE-/390230427327?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5adb8bc6bf S. Wallace St. -$99.99 http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-CHI
Forum: General Discussion

This book is a must have. Perry and Greg did an amazing amount of painstaking work on the photo's and research for the content. I would recomend ANY Chicago history buff to check this book out. The photographs are nothing short of AMAZING. Perry Casalino is a dear friend of mine and has asked me to work on a volume of this book concentrating on the west side featuring the neighborhoods of Nor
Forum: General Discussion

Check out this guys signs for sale. he's got a bunch of them. http://shop.ebay.com/tonythemouth/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340
Forum: General Discussion

Mike, also as a little matter of interest, some of Berwyn's earliest settlers were Swedes. They had a colony called "Upsala" which was around 31st St. & Oak Park Ave. They had a Sweedish Baptist Church and most of the early members of Berwyn's fire Dept. were Swedes.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Street Sign Update S. Parnell Ave. -$102.50 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390216989837&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT S. Wallace St. -$51.00 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390216990638&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT S. Avers Ave. -$50.99 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250668179824&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
Forum: General Discussion

What is Unexpected Chicago? What did they have on the "sub-division" on Monroe & 5th Ave.? I have a very cool 1910 ear real photo postcard in my collection of those homes.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Here is the barn from 1358 S. Komensky. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1400+s+karlov&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=63.215425,134.912109&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=1400+S+Karlov+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60623&layer=c&cbll=41.862521,-87.727043&panoid=l_NXeufuD5lF3cQ9JobMlg&cbp=12,52.3,,0,6.31&ll=41.862522,-87.726924&
Forum: General Discussion

I took a ride through North Lawndale this afternoon on my way back from downtown. Very very sad. It literally gets worse every time I drive through there. I am particularly sad because as I mentioned in the very first post of this thread that I am really fascinated with the corner stores that were on pretty much every corner in the neighborhood, particularly in the "Merigold" part of
Forum: General Discussion

That is a great story FranCarmen. Why was the Stege Brewery a subject on a Pilsen/Little Village tour? Did you visit the tied houses in Little Village? 15th & Ashland itself is NOT in Pilsen. The north Border of Pilsen is 16th St. which is separated from 15th by the railroad. Here is a couple of neighborhood maps. "Official" City of Chicago neighborhood map. http://egov.
Forum: General Discussion

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 "m
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

I didn't even know there was a walking tour for Forgotten Chicago in Pilsen & Little Village yesterday. How many people showed up?
Forum: General Discussion

Jared, I would appreciate if you did NOT use any of the reasearch I did on the photo in your auction. Run it as an unidentified photo.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Huh? Are you serious? I am no longer interested. This is why I do not do more business with you Jared.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

George Tomek owned the tavern at 1759 W. 21st St. Interestingly he was still there in 1960 when three robbers brandishing shot guns came into the tavern and relieved him of $270 in USC.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

VERY cool pic!
Forum: General Discussion

The history gods told me where to look.:D Seriously, I have figured out many totally "unidentifiable" photo's that have baffled some of my history buddies. It just takes patience and the right tools.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)