Join the Clear-Ridge Historical Society on Wednesday August 1st at 6:00 PM. as they host Midway Airport Historian and author Christopher Lynch as he shares stories from his new book, "When Hollywood Landed at Chicago's Midway Airport" at the Clearing Library, 6423 West 63rd Pl. See photos from the book and learn how Chris' quest to write the book led him on an 8 year oddysey to tell the
Forum: General Discussion

The Clear-Ridge Historical Society is happy to announce the first Garfield Ridge Historical Tour. See the sites that shaped our history. Find out where Long John Wentworth's Farmhouse was, see where Mud Lake used to be, see the 'House in the Alley', and tour some famous churches in the area. The tour will be on Saturday June 9th at 1:00 PM. Cost of the tour is $15 ($10 for Clear-Ridge Historic
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

It looks as though Cincinnati Public Library has some sort of access to the Chicago Tribune as well as the New York Times: http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/resources/research.asp?group=14 Another option is if you know someone who has a Chicago card. There is no restriction on using another person's card with their permission. Also, check in some of the surrounding areas (county libraries
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Found this reference: "...The announcer for both the station ID and the movie intro is Jerry Golden, who during this period typically worked these overnight weeknight hours, as well as weekday mornings and some weekend afternoons. He was quite a character and one of my favorite WGN staff announcers. I have an audio recording of him doing the open for the All Night Show (which followed The
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Check out the article in the Tribune about the building: http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2012/02/midway-airport-neighbors-upset-over-planned-razing-of-1927-building.html
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

" I have nothing to do with the Calmet412 site. I'm just a guy with an interest in Chicago related stuff, like most are here." I'm convinced Daveg is a supervillian who is slowly absorbing any and all Chicago knowledge with the ultimate plan of taking over the world. ;)
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

The township of Lake does still exist, although people rarely identify with the townships anymore. The boundaries of Lake Township were historicaly 39th street to the north, 87th street to the south, State Street to the east and Cicero Avenue to the west, but were extended at some point to include the Chicago neighborhoods of Clearing and Garfield Ridge afer they were annexed to the city from 191
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

This history of Cook County book gives a good overview of the Town of Lake starting on page 322: http://books.google.com/books?id=MtUpAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA324&dq=%22town+of+lake%22+cook+county&hl=en&sa=X&ei=qD0fT7W3I4aYgwfNpZGcDw&ved=0CDwQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22town%20of%20lake%22%20&f=false
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

There is a "Town of Lake" Directory online, complete with all the names of the board of directors, etc. Just click on the "Read Online" link to see the directory. I did a quick search and couldn't determine if the dairy is listed in there. http://www.archive.org/details/townoflakedirect00rrdo
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Great, it's always nice to see some Forgotten Chicago regulars out at our programs.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Check out this recent editorial in the Chicago Tribune blog: http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/2012/01/a-letter-to-cityscapes-a-neighborhood-gem-near-midway-airport-is-threatened-with-demolition.html Look for a full article soon, as we've been in contact with a reporter doing a story on this building.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Way to go Dan!
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Join the Clear-Ridge Historical Society for the program, "Connecting Worlds: The Story of the Chicago Portage" on Wednesday February 15th at 6:00 PM at the Clearing Library, 6423 West 63rd Place. Watch the documentary of the same name and join us as the Friends of the Chicago Portage volunteer Jeff Carter discusses the Chicago Portage, which was the historic passage-way through the Mi
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Richard, It's not called the "Back of the Yards Journal" anymore. Several years ago they changed the name to the "Journal News". The offices for the paper used to be located in Back of the Yards, in a strip mall near 47th and Damen but currently it's being published out of the offices at 7019 West Archer in Garfield Ridge. The paper covers the area from Garfield Ridge eas
Forum: General Discussion

It's much clearer on this 1892 map. Cook is the next block east of Throop near the Stockyards, zoom all the way in for a great view: http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/maps/chi1890/G4104-C6-1892-R3-SE.html (Also note that it is indeed and extension of Elizabeth St.)
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Found Cook Street on this 1890 Chicago and Suburb Map: http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/maps/chi1890/G4104-C6-1890-M3.html It's just south of the stockyards (in fact if you extend it a few block it would make the western border of the stockyards as displayed on tbis map), east of Western near Paulina and just North of 55th Street. (Actually, look for the township grid number 8 on the map
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

The 1900 Census map shows the 30th Ward as being from 47th to 63rd and from State St. to Cicero: http://www.alookatcook.com/1900/1900ChgoCtymp.htm I could not find an 1890 Census Map and the 1880 map only shows like 17 Wards.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

The Facebook Sites for the various Chicago neighborhoods are great for this. I checked out the Brighton Park one and it seems to be quite active. People frequently post pictures and you can ask very specific neighborhood questions and get good responses. You can often view the content without signing up for Facebook but you'd have to join to post questions etc: https://www.facebook.com/#!/gr
Forum: General Discussion

The funny thing is that the other 3 buildings mentioned in the article are by no means a threat to airline safety, so the motives of this acquisition are unclear. We, at the Clear-Ridge historical Society are going to see what we can do regarding this demolition. I did however speak to a retired pilot who explained to me in great detail just how that building on 63rd and Central affects the
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Link to Sun-Times article: http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/8548212-418/city-says-plans-to-buy-land-around-midway-are-for-safety-not-expansion.html
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

The building is known as the "Crane & Moreland" building and was built in 1927. It was originally an office for the Clearing Industrial District. Crane & Moreland was a real estate company and also built many houses in the area. It's listed on the Chicago Historic Resources Survey as a building with some historical signifigance, but apparently not enough to stop its demolition
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Join the Clear-Ridge Historical Society for the program "Route 66 in Illinois" on Monday December 5th at 6:00 PM at the Clearing Library, 6423 West 63rd Place. Garfield Ridge Chamber of Commerce Vice President Ed Kozak will give a presentation on Historic US Route 66 in Illinois. Route 66, also known as The Mother Road and The Main Street of America, is USA's most famous highway. It e
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Another photo: http://photofiles.lib.uchicago.edu/db.xqy?one=apf2-10011.xml
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Found this picture of them demolishing the hospital in 1962 on Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Demolishing-Lewis-Memorial-Hospital-1962-4x5-PHOTO-NEG-/260814863845
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Bruce, Great stuff as usual! But unfortunately Ghosts do not really exist, so this is all a moot point.:D
Forum: General Discussion

Bruce, Is this the "missing" discussion? http://forgottenchicago.com/forum/1/4170/4223/re__ghost_story_from_the_sag#msg-4223
Forum: General Discussion

Interestingly enough Robey Street appears to have been previously called "Long John" after "Long" John Wentworth former Mayor and owner of the "Brighton Trotting Park" which was a horse track in operation in the 1850's and 1860's on the current site of McKinley Park. You can see it on the following maps: http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/maps/chifire/G4104-C6-1873-
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

According to the book "Chicago: A Historical Guide to the Neighborhoods" Robey Street was named after James Robey, "a real estate developer who lived on the corner of Robey and Washington on the city's West Side in 1863" page 142. http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=%22james+robey%22+chicago&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=27858l28608l0l28874l7l3l0l0l0l0l157l329l2.1l3l0&um=1&i
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Dave, According to two articles from the Tribune in 1927 the origins of the Robey Street name are vague but seem to point to it being named after James Robey who was a squatter/farmer in the area and eventually opened a roadhouse around Madison and present day Damen from 1861-1863. If anyone is interested in the articles send me a PM with your email (I already know yours Dave ;) )
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Join the Clear-Ridge Historical Society for their next program, "A Virtual Tour of Historic Clear-Ridge". See remnants of historical sites in the neighborhoods of Clearing and Garfield Ridge and learn why they were important. Learn about Mud Lake, the 63rd Place Streetcar, the "Lost Village" and much more. The program will be held Monday, October 3rd at 6:00 PM at the Clea
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings