From what I can find out online, it's only been closed for a year, but I still can't find the address of Westside Preparatory School - the Garfield Park school which was started in the 1970's by Marva Collins. Does anyone know where it was located and what happened to their building? Lazer
Forum: General Discussion

I went through Washington Park this past Sunday and I noticed a lovely but lonely boarded-up building that was labelled "The Chalet" by an official Chicago Park District sign. I couldn't find any information on it online. Does anyone know what it was used for and when the last time it was open? It looks like it may have been a concession stand at some point.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

I noticed some unusual concrete structures in alleys. They have a hinged metal lid on the top and another one facing the alley at the bottom. Does anyone have any idea of what these are called and what they were used for? My guess is that they were for hot coals, but I really have no idea.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Thanks, b.a.! With the information you provided, I was able to find this site: http://www.csagsi.org/082998.htm Urban & Filip was one of the founding firms of the Bohemian Funeral Directors Association in 1933, so they've been around since then. It looks like Mr. Victor H. Filip was the first president of the association. With its Bohemian roots, this seems like a remnant of the Cze
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

I'm looking for information on the "Morticians" buildling in Pilsen at 1125 W. 18th. Was it ever really a mortuary? Why is the word Morticians written in a pseudo-Chinese style? See photo link below.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

It's not a comprehensive list, but there's an article on Orphanages at the chicago encyclopedia: http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/937.html Here's a link to a much longer list: http://genealogytrails.com/ill/cook/1928asylums.html The Nathan Marks Orphan Home was a home for orphaned Jewish children from 1912-1946 at 1550 S. Albany. The home is still in use, I believe as a nursi
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Any ideas about the original purpose of the forgotten little shack in Peterson Park at the corner of Peterson and Central Park? Perhaps just a storage place for CPD now, but I've never seen anyone use it. The boarded up windows make me think that this was once used for some other purpose. Photo link below.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

Does anyone know what the two pillars on the southwest corner of North and California (Humboldt Park) were from? They look like remnants of something, not monuments.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

I've looked at the two street necrologies on the main site and I didn't see a mention of Johnson Street. Does anyone know where this street was? I have a 1907 directory of synagogues with at least two of them listed on Johnson Street.
Forum: General Discussion

I was at William Powers State Fish and Wildlife Area yesterday and I found a monument commemorating the Nike Missiles which were stationed there. Photo Link:
Forum: General Discussion

Interested! Please expound, Bruce. :)
Forum: General Discussion

After some research, I found this book (in pdf format) that you can use to convert from old to new numbering systems, or vice versa. Caution: it's a 24MB file http://www.chsmedia.org/househistory/1909snc/start.pdf
Forum: General Discussion

Wait, you mean there's a website associated with this forum? ;-)
Forum: General Discussion

I understand that there was an old street numbering system in Chicago prior to the current one. Does anyone have information on how that system worked and how I can convert an old address to a new one? Thanks in advance.
Forum: General Discussion

I was recently crossing the bridge on Central Avenue just south of Grand. When I looked to the east, I saw Prosser Career Academy (see photo below). It looked like a beautiful old building, so I went in for closer inspection. Unfortunately, it looks like an addition has been built in front of the building, blocking the view of the original building, and I couldn't get near the old facade. I went a
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings