I can't remember the name of the place but there was an independent bottler located on Archer Ave a few blocks east of Cicero Ave. I believe it was close to the RR tracks. This was back in the 60s. It was on the north side of the street as I recall. My Dad used to go there occasionally and I *think* they carried Green River and a few other local brands of soda. I just Google mapped the area
Forum: General Discussion

While many here probably know about this, for those who don't, here is a great site for all things related to the Chicago "L" system. http://www.chicago-l.org/ Check out the Memories section. Enjoy but we warned. You can spend hours there.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Wonderful story ChicagoDog and Happy Anniversary.
Forum: General Discussion

Yes, I remember the red and white stripped building on Cicero, a bit south of the airport. Wonder if it just went out of busines, got bought out, or morphed into something else. Ooops. I shoulda clicked on the link in the OP. That answered the question.
Forum: General Discussion

bowler Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > BTW, the old Goldblatt's store on Chicago and > Ashland has been converted into the new West Town > Branch of the Chicago Public Library. Memebers of > the Goldblatt's family were there for the grand > opening in September. > > http://www.chipublib.org/branch/details/library/we > st-town/ &g
Forum: General Discussion

Welcome caryatid62. This is a friendly place to visit for all things Chicago. Have fun with your students on the tour. And yes the Daley's attended De La Salle on 35th and Wabash. So did I. ;-) As WayOutWardell has mentioned, lots of other interesting things to see in these areas.
Forum: General Discussion

South side: There was a Goldblatt's on 26th street a few blocks west of Kedzie. It's gone now but I recall it being a rather large (several storied) building back in the 50s. I'll guess many of these stores were of the same style, with the one on 26th looking similar to the Chicago Ave. store. Of course, the State Street store was huge. The building is now owned by DePaul University.
Forum: General Discussion

Nice set of videos. Thanks for providing the link Tim. Nothing to do with the buildings but I did notice in the first segment the year of the Chicago Fire was said to be 1870.
Forum: General Discussion

Thanks for the links shekaago. Sunoco story follows: My dad had a 56 Pontiac, two-tone Chieftain with an Indian hood ornament. One fine Sunday I asked if I could drive it solo to church. He said yes (big mistake as it turned out). It needed gas and I filled it up with Sunoco 260. When I drove it home I "stomped" on it, as there wasn't much traffic on Sunday morning. It started
Forum: General Discussion

We're starting to drift off topic. Perhaps a new Western Electric thread can be created and notes from this thread moved there. I think we'd need a moderator to make this happen.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

I recall the Western Electric plant. It was named Hawthorne Works. It was huge and employed thousands for decades. They had a gym and park facility a few blocks west of Cicero Ave. on Cermak. I think the Cicero town hall now occupies that space. A mall now sits on the SE corner of Cicero and Cermak. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorne_Works
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Above link worked fine for me a few minutes ago. Interesting site. I remember the A/C on the trolleys. I think they were called "220s". Pull up 2 windows and go 20 miles per hour. :-)
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

shekaago, The article link took me to the CPL. Not living in the city, but having a suburban library card, I couldn't get past the login screen. Tried from my suburban library and was able to get to the Chicago Tribune archives and searched for Mount Olive Cemetery. Found lots of articles but none earlier than 1918.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Slotkowski, the company, is no more. They were purchased but still live on: http://atkfoods.com/brands/slotkowski/ ATK is Chicago based.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Thanks for the link Kchi. Too bad the building is owner troubled and half occupied. With that area boomin' these days one wonders why someone with a good idea and $$ can't make it a showcase for that area.
Forum: General Discussion

fleurblue - thanks for the great story and the link.
Forum: General Discussion

Here's the link to the Noel State bank discussed in the Q&A section: http://forgottenchicago.com/forum/5/3272/noel_state_bank_-_info_request
Forum: General Discussion

We occasionally fed the red skinned peanuts to the pigeons way back when. They didn't seem to mind. Of course, almost anything is food to a pigeon.
Forum: General Discussion

There was a bowling alley at Hines VA in Maywood. The VA turned over several buildings to Loyola U. Medical Center and the gym and bowling were among them. I worked at the Med. Center back in the 70s through the early 80s. Not sure if anyone ever used the bowling alley but the gym was popular. My guess is that those old VA styled red brick buildings are all gone now.
Forum: General Discussion

I often wondered how (or if) the dial on the Sunoco pumps worked. I think they went up to "260".
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My wife's uncle owned a tavern on 26th a few blocks west of Pulaski years ago. He passed away some time ago but her younger uncle remembers a place a block or two away called the fishing hole. He said there was a (tiny) lake in the middle of the floor.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

South siders called it the "show" too. I still say "let's go to the show". I remember spending many a Saturday at the Cal show on 26th street. I'd say 100% of the audience were kids. Cracker balls thrown on the walls of the darkened theater made a spark and their noise. Sometimes we'd even watch the movies, usually a double feature. Gave our Mom a breather for a few h
Forum: General Discussion

This interesting Ghost Sign link was mentioned on WTTW's Chicago Tonight yesterday: http://www.artic.edu/~ndonoh/
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

And no meat on Fridays for some of us years ago. That was NOT the union's doing but came from a higher authority. Good for the fish markets though. ;-)
Forum: General Discussion

Last night on WTTW NOVA's subject was elevators. History, current and future elevators were discussed. Story of a guy that was trapped in an elevator in New York city. Spoiler - it had a happy ending. Worth a look. http://video.pbs.org/video/1570054124/
Forum: General Discussion

On the FC West Town tour last Sunday, the new street lighting project was mentioned. Higher efficiency bulbs, no more orangeish glow, etc. Thanks for the Western Ave. update.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Chuck Percy was U.S. Senator (Illinois) from 1967 to 1985. He's still with us at 91 years old. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_H._Percy
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Thanks for the list Steve B. Probably all familiar names to many here. I believe Jays potato chips also came in metal cans, way back when. Once the chips were done - which didn't take long - it became a drum.
Forum: General Discussion

Humm. My wife told me that her uncle once owned a tavern right around that area. I'll have to check about exactly where it was located. Could be 26th and Kildare. Could be.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Wonderful story Fran. Thanks.
Forum: General Discussion