the original Gertie's was at 59th and Kedzie.
Forum: General Discussion

someone posted pics on flickr which re-started up my curiosity about this place. there is a giant, freestanding gymnasium at 39th and archer avenue. the building has an ambiguously churchlike countenance, and the front cornices feature faux-classical sculptures of boys representing sport - one in a circa 1920's football helmet, the other holding a tennis racket. when i was small they used to ho
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

bwalsh, yeah i remember the lawndale location too, definitely. that kedzie location did have a "phone co" look to the building (i should know, i worked for ma bell).
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

i'm looking for info about the locations of two old Com Ed payment centers, which i'm not sure are operational any longer. the first was either off Pulaski or Kedzie in the 45th-50th street range, and was situated on a sidestreet just west of the main street. i remember this one from my childhood because of my mother dragging me along with her in the early morning hours to pay a bill. they utilize
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

there are still some industries there. on google it shows an American Labelmark, a "Midco International", a Steiner Industries, Beltone, and a couple others. the weird thing is, there's a tiny strip of cemeteries right in the middle of those businesses, Ridge lawn and Bethel. are these the oldest cemeteries in that group around there?
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no cream city was where the cermak pool is/was. that predated fairyland. fairyland was right at 40th and harlem. god, i used to love the handcars. another small amusement park was at 95th and pulaski, where they eventually built venture. i thought there was also one where chicago ridge mall now stands, but it may have only been goldblatts with the starlite drive in theatre behind it.
Forum: General Discussion

just east of the Crawford generating station, in a small, separate square of streets bounded by 34th, 35th, Hamlin and Lawndale, older maps show an "Isolation Hospital". historicaerials shows the current industry that's there back up to the 1988 shots, where some different buildings appear. the only reference to it i can find online is at the Chicago Public Library archives site, and re
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thanks, bwalsh! yeah, the point at which the ballfields look the newest and most "in-use" are on the 80's historicaerials. before '72 it's just empty land.
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while googling around, i noticed what appeared to be an abandoned, overgrown park with two faint baseball diamonds, at around 72nd and Kostner. the diamonds are barely visible in the current sattelite imagery. it is right in the middle of the industrial area behind Ford City, by Solo Cup. streetview shows a small wooden structure, possibly a fieldhouse, that appears to date back to the 50's. it do
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Bwalsh, you're right, I think it was a processing facility. If I recall correctly, it was light blue tile with darker blue trim. it is visible on historicaerials.com at least from the 1972 date. at least someone else remembers it besides me!
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Fleet's Inn? (In?) this was a major punk rock hangout.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Richard Stachowski Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Anybody remember Fairyland Park at 40th and harlem > in Lyons? Also the cabins on the south side of it? YES. and i was always fascinated by those cabins, until the woods grew up around them so high they were almost obscured. i think they let the fire dept tear them down for practice. were they a small
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i wish i could find more information about the p.o. that was on cicero across from Ford City mall in the early 70's. it was primarily surrounded by woods there, and was right before that little feeder bridge that crossed over cicero. as far back as i can remember, the building was in disuse but was an awesome piece of blue tile art-deco architecture. would that have been the old bedford park p.o.
Forum: General Discussion

Richard, do you know about the little roadside park that's directly across from Sma's (formerly Tim's) carryout? It's a long rectangular plot on a small hill surrounded by a short stone fence and has a statue of a soldier(?), some sort of memorial, historical marker. Looks like it dates back to the 30's as some sort of picnic/rest area, you can see where cars could once pull in but is now grassed
Forum: General Discussion