I don't remember when Emil Denemark moved from Ogden Avenue to 47th and Pulaski, but the family was evidently out of the business before they closed down. I believe the dealership was called Heritage Cadillac before they closed. I am somewhat surprised by the allegations that Mrs. Denemark was Al Capone's mother in law. As someone has rightfully pointed out, Al's wife was the former Mae Coughli
Forum: General Discussion

My grandfather owned a small mid block store at 316 S. Loomis, between Jackson and Van Buren, from 1923 until his retirement in 1953. He had originally started as a fruit and vegetable peddler in the area, and the store was a big step up. Over the years he expanded into a delicatessen, sandwich shop, and tap room in addition to the store. After his retirement, he moved next door to us, and for
Forum: General Discussion

North and Ogden used to meet. Ogden went over Goose Island on an overpass, and crossed over North Avenue around Larabee Street. I think it finally ended at Wisconsin Street. The overpass was torn down years ago, and the street north of the overpass was torn up and used for new development years ago.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Just stumbled across this Robert Feder obit that may help you: http://www.timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/15389261/howard-shapiro-1926-2012
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Just found the name of the novel: Calumet K
Forum: General Discussion

I have seen the book on shelves at local stores recently. Mr. Solzman was kind enough to give me an autographed copy when I gave him a copy of an old novel from the turn of the century based on the building of a grain elevator on Lake Calumet!
Forum: General Discussion

I can also recommend Mr. Solzman's book. I would like to mention that for years, he has conducted tours of the Chicago inland waterway system under the sponsorship of the University of Chicago, usually in September. The tour leaves from the Chicago River, at the Wendella dock near the Wrigley Building, out into Lake Michigan, down the Chicago South Shore, and entering the Calumet River near the
Forum: General Discussion

Many years ago, I lived on Damen Avenue near Montrose. I lived in a large court apartment building that is now a condo. Back in those days everyone was friendly and used to meet at the old LeSabre Restaurant on the corner for coffee (now Marmelade). Anyway, a woman who was a nurse at Ravenswood Hospital was very excited about taking a trip to Germany. She went to Berlin, and came back showing
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

I've asked this question before and no one really seemed to know the answer, but I have always wondered why the 1700 S. block disappears throughout a large part of the city and the western suburbs. There is a 17th street near the Pilsen area, but when you get further west, in Berwyn for example, addresses go directly from 1600 S. to 1800 S., with no 1700 S. block at all.
Forum: General Discussion

There is a big Drum & Bugle Corps in Rosemont, IL. You often hear about them in the Journal & Topics local newspaper.
Forum: General Discussion

I might be mistaken but I always thought the Northern Indian Boundary Line was represented by Rogers Avenue, and Forest Preserve Drive across the north and northwest sides of the city. Where they intersect with the southern boundary, alas, I am not sure.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Belushi's father's restaurant was on Irving Park Road, just east of Lavergne, on the north side of the street. Can't remember the name of the place off hand, but it was a Colombian steak house the last time I drove by.
Forum: General Discussion

I had always wondered exactly where the Chicago Gospel Tabernacle was located. I believe it was founded by Rev. Paul Rader, who was pastor of Moody Church back in the teens and early twenties, and who eventually left there because the church did not want to affiliate with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. I had heard about the meetings at the Chicago Gospel Tabernacle from a friend of mine
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

While I never personally lived in the area, I heard a lot about the area from a friend of mine who lived there for years. Charlie was an usher at Moody Church, and he was actually an usher there before the present edifice was built. I believe he was there when the wooden tabernacle was still there in the early 1920's. He worked for Montgomery Ward, and later Commonwealth Edison, never married,
Forum: General Discussion

I have often heard that cocaine was quite a problem back in the 1930's, but the information I heard was mostly hearsay from people who lived back then. I was also surprised to hear that back during those days Prague was the cocaine capital of the world, not South America as is today. I heard specifically that there was a lot of cocaine traffic in and around the 22nd Street strip of Cicero, but a
Forum: General Discussion

The High Low on North Harlem Avenue in Elmwood Park was in the 2600 N. Block, not the 3100 N. Block. The site is now taken up by several large apartment buildings. Just south of it, on Harlem, is the original Caputo's site, now a Planet Fitness. I remember that my grandfather would drive my mother over to High Low to do her shopping, and my grandfather would then wander over to Caputo's, which
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Trainutlen-I am curious just where Clark Equipment was located out here. I work in that area between I-294 and Mannheim Road, right where the new baseball dome was erected. When we moved out here, there was a small freight terminal on the site of the baseball dome, but that was subsequently torn down. You can see the foundations of some buildings around here, but I am not sure what they were.
Forum: General Discussion

My old grade school is "kinda" closed. I attended St. Priscilla School on Addison Street, and still remember when the church was actually located in the school basement. The "new" church building, on Addison Street, was built while we attended school. After the new church was opened, the basement was converted to additional classrooms and a library. I guess the school close
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

WayOut-The restaurant in the Travel Lodge was called "Snack Time." I remember it well because my mother's cousin had a restaurant with the same name at Fullerton and Cicero. No relation between the two. Another place that just struck my memory is a diner that was on the northwest corner of River Road and Higgins...I want to say it was called Mac's Diner. The building is long gone and
Forum: General Discussion

The name of the buffet on River Road, on the current site of the CTA Station came back to me. It was called Heuer's. I believe they reopened somewhere far northwest but not sure where. I was living in NYC at the time.
Forum: General Discussion

Having worked in Rosemont for quite a few years now, I am familiar with most of the restaurants out here. Yes, it appears that the chain restaurants are taking over here. A longtime favorite was Abruzzi, in the shopping center just west of River Road on Higgins. It was formerly known as the Olympic. Abruzzi closed down about two years ago as there was some problem where they had to tear up the
Forum: General Discussion

Thanks for checking this out for me. I have gone back to Kaufman's again, and gotten a three pound rye with seeds. It is the old Imperial Rye. Matter of fact, I bought a second loaf, and sent it down with some buchta from Daisy Brand as a care package for some friends in New Orleans. Kaufman's is on Dempster Street, in Skokie, just east of the intersection of Bronx Avenue. If you don't drive,
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Those of you who miss Imperial Rye, take heart. I did some research on what happened to Imperial, and it seems that after the Dworkin family sold the bakery to Rosen's in 1976, they retained the name. In 1982 they purchased Kaufman's Delicatessen in Skokie, and after a few set backs and a fire, they continue in operation. I drove up there Sunday, and ordered a pastrami on rye to check out the r
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Interesting thing about Gross is that he was also an author, and had a long standing suit against the Frenchman Edmond Rostand. Gross claimed that Rostand stole the story of his play "The Merchant Prince of Corneville" for Rostand's hit Cyrano de Bergerac.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Just noticed, that should read 1011 N. Damen, near Damen & Augusta.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

For years, Imperial Rye Bread was the bread of choice in our family. I remember going to the store as a young child and buying a two pound rye with seeds for my family. I can still remember the red, green, and white paper wrappers, and the little paper tag that was always on the end of the loaf. I was talking with a friend of mine who, after immigrating to the US in the early 1960's, actually w
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

There was also a Ronnie's III at VanBuren and Wabash in the mid 1970's, but not sure if its still there. The steaks were cheap and tasty.
Forum: General Discussion

As a side note, the Unity Savings (Bass Family), later taken over by Talman, then eventually by LaSalle Bank, building at Cullom and Harlem was recently demolished. Bank of America bought out LaSalle, cut off the line of credit to Maurice Lenell Cookies so that firm collapsed, then demoted this office from a key office to a minor branch, with a new building across the street where Starks used to
Forum: General Discussion

Years ago, I had a girlfriend that worked for the old Manufacturers Bank at Division and Ashland, and used to get off of work late. I would go from my job downtown and swim at Eckert Park and she would come and meet me later. It seems that Eckert had a lot to do with the neighborhood. I was always kind of surprised by the old grain silos off of Ogden Avenue there, and it turns out that was Bern
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

For years, the grassy fields in front of the field house at Shabbona Park were sunken about two feet from the sidewalk level and filled with water for a skating rink. It was fun when spring hit, and before all of the water ran out, as we had our own private lake out there. Used to go by it every day on the way home from grade school at St. Priscilla. The ground has since been filled in and is n
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)