My mother grew up near where the Eisenhower was built. She said that they started clearing land back in early 40's and built in stages. The Old Post Office had the cut out floor pre-built. And it was part of Burnhams 'Grand Plan'. So, wide highways were not built overnight. I know some urbanists hate the X-ways, but nowadays there are more reverse commuters than ever. They helped bring people b
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

German descendants assimilated into middle class America and moved all over the place. Many also intermarried with others of same religion, Luthern, Catholic, etc. My grandmother's family was German-American, and she came to Chicago in 1937 with grand dad from Southeast Missouri, which was once part of French Catholic Louisiana Territory, then German Catholics mixed in the 1800's to 1920's.
Forum: General Discussion

I went there a few times with family. 1967 Boat Show, 1970 Auto Show, 1974 Circus, and World of Wheels in 1978. I mostly remember the Auto Show, and the Stockyards manure smell outside.
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It did take a few years to build the Northwest/Kennedy Expessway, for a 1960 opening, so that theory is on target. The only major highway I remember under construction vividly is I-355, and many buildings sat a 2-3 years before demolition.
Forum: General Discussion

I graduated GT in '79. The candy factory was running until about 6-7 years ago. But, it took a year or so to tear it down, was built to last. The townhomes took awhile to sell out also. Near Horner Park is ugliest billboard in city. It's in front of a small house on IP Rd., near Western. Owner relies on $$ from it. I hope it gets removed soon!
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Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica is still there, can be seen from Ike. Only one steeple on it, the 2nd one burned in late 80's. Can't always assume something is torn down, ;-) My mom and dad went there for grammar school, but they were 5 years apart. They met in 1959, when in their 20's and the common 'hood got them to get aquainted.
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Oh, I've seen the aerials, just wanted first hand memories. ;)
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Midway was Chicago Munincipal Airport before 1945 or so. Arrow is most likely for the airport, not downtown.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Before the plastic city issued garbage bins, homeowners had to get their own cans. Beside the typical cans from hardware stores, some used old industrial barrels, similar to crude oil ones. My dad got old tomato sauce factory barrels.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

My favorite memory of dime stores was all the toy cars of almost every make and model on the street. Now, kids are into video games of car racing.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Try accessing it thru the Chgo Public Library website.
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This intersection is under the Kennedy, what was there before? It's one of few major intersections covered by an X-way.
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Yep, my cousin's Baptism party was there, in 1964. It was a ritzy banquet hall then. The big Lions sign was there until the 80s at least.
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I went to Gordon Tech in late 70's and was amazed at the 'newer' homes in area. To native Chicagoans, 'newer' used to mean after 1945. The candy factory at Irving and river used to have butterscotch scent. The ice rink in California Park was opened around 1975, btw
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

I wish Belmont went all the way through to Dupage, would be a nice alt route. The lettered streets were numbered up until maybe the 1920's? On some SW side burbs, there's numbers for all directions, such as Cicero and Palos area. I'd like to see the M, N, O, and P street names continue all through the area. The K's go from Skokie to Matteson.
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The movie theater near there was the Tiffin, on south side of North Av. The Lions hall was on north side of the avenue.
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I miss the old signs! There was a smokestack at Keeler and Kennedy, painted as a man pointing to exit for Nickey Chevrolet.
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GT absorbed many girls from closed all female Catholic HS's. I think Resurection is only one on North side now. I remember jokes about 'you belong in Dunning' as a kid. Also, at least in 1970, at Irving there was still a RR Xing sign. My older brother visited after being away in 1992 and laughed at the 'Dunning Shopping Center' signs in its place.
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My parents grew up in Garfield Park, my dad went to St. Philips HS near there. Fifth used to be called Colorado Ave. Was renamed after the famous NYC avenue to drum up business for the area.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

The Chicago American/Today were afternoon papers, along with the Chicago Daily News. TV evening news took business away from them. Maybe we will see these old boxes in T3?
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

In my opinion, Ogden was tore out to keep "them" out of Old Town/Lincoln Park. Grew up in city and know all about turf wars and segregation. Now, at least barriers are slowly coming down.
Forum: General Discussion

Dutch's Drive-In was on NE corner of Division and Laramie. Loved to go there in 60's to get Frozen Custard, or as I thought at age 5-8, was just "ice cream". Also loved the burgers. When an early Burger King opened at 5000 W North Ave, it was the place to go in 1969!
Forum: General Discussion

My family moved into area in 1970, and we called it 'Pat-i-o'. In my memory, kids and parents said it that way, older folks & nuns said 'Pai-sho' They pronouced it the same as 'ratio', not specifically saying 'Pay Show'. True Chicagoans say 'da show' for cinema/film theaters. Back in 70's, it the low end of the movie theaters to pick. Milford was below it. The Portage and Will Rogers were
Forum: General Discussion

Open Pantry was one of the first convienience chains. I'd walk to get a gallon of milk nearly 3 times a week when I was a pre-teen. At Central and Grace St. 7-11 bought some OP's in 1971, and kids in the 'hood loved the candy and Slurpees.
Forum: General Discussion

Around late 70s, the SW corner of Irving and Central changed from a small drug store to an ice cream shop. Many old independent corner drug stores died off in the 70's.
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It was my parent's bank when we lived in Austin 1960-70. Was called Citizen's Bank. When we moved to Portage Park, we had to swith to Irving Bank. The days before branch banking, had to change checking accounts to closest banks.
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Near Portage Park, 1970: Mayflower at Central and Addison, then Kohl's, then Dominicks, now flat. National on Central near Berteau, turned uinto banquet hall Jewel at Lawrence and Central, still there Steve's and then T&C, a Centrella store at Irving and Austin. Boulevard, a Certified across the street from T&C, now a conveinence store, with same name. Small grocery at 6100 Addiso
Forum: General Discussion

According to a Portage Park history book I have, those tracks were used by the "crazy train". Also, check the 1938 map under 'maps' here in Forgotten Chicago and see where these tracks run, they go right into the old Dunning MH.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

In the 60's my mother would take me to the dime store, a Woolworth on Chicago Ave near Laramie. I would ask "why aren't you calling it Woolworth"? One of the last Kresge's was at Belmont and Central and I used to get plastic model cars, and other toys. There was a fire in 1976 or so, and I rode my bike fairly close to the back door of store after fireman hosed it down. I saw the toy d
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

The El line that runs on east 63rd was never the Red Line, it was the Jackson Park El. The color coded names for the subway/El was not until the 1990's. Also, most agree that the State St Mall was a huge flop. Oak Park and a few other towns tried the same thing and have since removed these 'malls'.
Forum: General Discussion