Just wanted to mentioned I tried looking for a photo. There are snippets about his life online and in the Chicago Tribune over the years. Much of it centers around his lumber business and contributions after his death, but no photos. Also quite a few mentions of his lighthouse days in old publications but again no photos. Given that his photo was not in the Tribune, perhaps it appeared in
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Archer and 35th Recreational Bowl on 35th and Archer, original home of the Peterson Classic tournament, was on the 2nd floor.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Tons of information in the Chicago Tribune Historical Archives. It can be accessed through the Chicago Public Library. Even if you don't live in the city you can get either a reciprocal library card or an online E-card. I'd be happy to assist with any questions. Please call me at the Clearing Library in Chicago 312-747-5657 (Rob).
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

I've seen this discussed before and was interested in what this group thought. What do you consider the Southwest side of Chicago? Which streets define where the Southwest side is? For example I've seen it suggested on Realtor website's that Bridgeport is considered the SW Side and others that say Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood are the SW Side. Any thoughts?
Forum: General Discussion

The school building on the corner of the airport was called Hale School and was there from 1926 until it was closed in 1953. It was a full service school with a healthy enrollment but finally closed due to the increasing air traffic and eventually was moved to 61st and Melvina. Here is a shot of the school on the airport property: https://www.flickr.com/photos/94714889@N07/10809413114/
Forum: General Discussion

I'm assuming this is not the church, St. George Catholic Church. It's located nearby in Bridgeport: http://www.whatwasthere.com/browse.aspx#!/ll/41.8346824645996,-87.6486206054688/id/5917/info/details/zoom/18/
Forum: General Discussion

There were a group of buildings on that corner which were removed in the early 60's, including a laundramat. Here are several photos of that corner at various dates: https://www.flickr.com/photos/94714889@N07/10809280566/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/94714889@N07/10809534623/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/94714889@N07/10809416354/
Forum: General Discussion

Robert Ambrose won the award in 1901 for bravery while on duty October 22 1899, he apparently did not die in action, at least not on that occasion. I can send you the article if you like since it can't be posted here (subscription service). Send me a private message on this site if you are interested. Obviously this only proves that the street is unlikely not named for him. I'm still loo
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Also, Ambrose St. appears to have been around since 1876 according to some Tribune references I've found. This predates Carter Harrison.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Here is an article about your great-grandfather: http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1901/10/06/page/39/article/the-bravest-man-in-chicago-is-robert-ambrose-say-swenie-and-musham The street doesn't appear to be named after him unless they named it after him while he was still alive. Here is a directory of firehouses that lists him at one firehouse and directly below is another firehouse wit
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

The person I contacted is still looking but found this 1857 photo: http://chicagology.com/pre-fire-chicago/prefire01/prefire104/
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

I found this 1849 photo, captioned "Chicago Flood 1849":
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

I've posted this question to an early Chicago historian. Let you know what his response was.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Here's a somewhat more scientific analysis of the "Chicago Accent" from WBEZ: WBEZ
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

The brand name is apparently "Tumbl Togs". I've found many ads with them for sale but can't pin down where they were made. There is a link to the patent for "Tumbl Togs" but it can only be accessed by subscription: http://www.mocavo.com/Index-of-Patents-Issued-From-the-United-States-Patent-Office-1956-Volume-Index-1956/932107/666
Forum: General Discussion

According to a 1948 Tribune article Sarcinelli's restaurant stood at 637 West 26th St. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=%22sarcinelli%27s+restaurant%22
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

It became Central Community Hospital on January 3 1958. Also, here is a previous discussion of the hospital: http://forgottenchicago.com/forum/1/1901/8960/re__southtown_hospital I do have to disagree with the statement that it was opened in 1932 because I've found references to it in the Tribune as early as 1929.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

So far all I could find so far is that it was located at 5701 S. Wood and became known as Central Community Hospital sometime in the late 1950's. Central Community Hospital closed around 1990.
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

According to the Cook County Assessor's website the building is 101 years old. This date is + or - 5 years so that puts the date of the building between 1909 and 1919. http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/Captcha/VerificationPage.aspx?pin=19202150440000
Forum: General Discussion

According to Robert Hill's book "A Little Known Story of a Land Called Clearing" regarding the tavern on the "NW corner of 65th and Central" in 1917, it was owned by Lambert Bere (who started the Clearing Bank in 1913) It was said to have been operated 24 hours a day and to have catered almost exclusively to the railroaders.
Forum: General Discussion

You can see them from Google Maps. Here is the best angle I was able to get: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7009204,-87.652994,3a,75y,245.43h,92.65t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sniYz-vz45EYNBitTDUiFlg!2e0
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

According to a Tribune Ad from 1961 the address was 5505 S. Archer Road in Summit. As explained above Archer addresses can be confusing because west of Harlem Archer Avenue turns South and becomes Archer Road. This would put the original location just after the "turn" near the Summit Park District. Looks like that was the original location and it then moved to 5620 S. Harlem.
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Received a response from Kathy Headley, president of the Chicago Lawn Historical Society, regarding this building: "In answer to your question about the building at 63rd and Central Park, I found that in the 1930s when the originial station on the west side of the railroad tracks was demolished to allow for the elevation of the tracks, this new 'modern' station was erected east of the
Forum: General Discussion

If you Google "Frost Club for Girls" there are some random articles. Article about a "peeping Tom" at the Frost Club: http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1952/04/22/page/4/article/seized-as-peeping-tom-on-fire-escape-of-club-for-girls
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

I'm trying to help someone find the name of a tavern that was located between 912 and 916 South Western in 1958. She remembers that famous baseball players used to frequent the tavern. Any information would be helpful.
Forum: General Discussion

I asked Kathy Headley of the Chicago Lawn Historical Society about the building. Here is her response: "If I remember correctly, the original street level station was on the west side of the tracks and was demolished when the tracks were raised and the viaduct was built. I’ll look through the files as soon as I can to very that though for you."
Forum: General Discussion

Another photo and some more info: https://www.flickr.com/photos/23688072@N06/11517683435/in/photostream/
Forum: General Discussion

Here is another view of the station: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dwdavidson/4149169432/ Also, I have inquired about the building with Kathy Headley of the Chicago Lawn Historical Society and awaiting her reply.
Forum: General Discussion

daveg
Forum: General Discussion

I'm a librarian with the Chicago Public Library and let me say that the Tribune Historical Archive is one of my favorite. QlassiQue has provided some very useful tips. Let me add that often things won't be picked up in a search due to a misspelling or an error in the scanning process. You often need to use a combination of trying different spellings for a word or narrowing it down by dates
Forum: General Discussion