My parish has plaques on the wall listng members of the parish killed in WWII. I've never counted but there must be at least 50 names from one parish. If 50 people may have died from one parish, does anybody have any information as to how many service people from Chicago died during the war? Did the city ever have any official recognition or records? I don't recall seeing any big city sponsore
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

I remember in the 60's getting trading stamps at many of the businesses my family did business with. I believe National gave out S&H and I remember Plaid stamps which may have been given out by A&P. Even my local butcher had their own trading stamps books where after filling up the books, you received $2 off. Stamps seemed to be at many businessses including the local gas stations we we
Forum: General Discussion

There have been a couple of recent posts about WW II memorials and a tank, which brings to mind the disappearing veterans organization buildings. Many of these neighborhood posts were founded after WWI and WWII which gave returning veterans a venue for community service and a social outlet with other veterans. This was a time when people typically never moved far from where they were born annd m
Forum: General Discussion

I also remember seeing in my neighborjood back in the 60's a black and white sign with a serviceman's name attached to lightposts. I don't know from what war or who was responsible or any other details. There may have been one of those WW II or possibly WWI memorials at one time at the corner or Webster ad Hoyne but it is long gone. I like the idea of honoring our fallen military men more so tha
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

While not a lagoon, I seem to remember at one time Riis Park had a pond of some type. Can anybody supply any info?
Forum: General Discussion

Growing up in the 60's, I barely remember my uncle taking us to a big fair that I believe was called the Back of the Yards fair. Does anybody have any info on its history? Does it still exists? If not when did it end?
Forum: General Discussion

I rememeber reading that Western Electric once had a huge manufacturing plant that was a mini city and employed thousands. Is there anything left standing? When did it close? Does anybody have memories of working there?
Forum: General Discussion

ccC
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

In addition to the waterfalls being gone for years, Macy's closed the warehouse down several years ago, Can anybody explain why a company would want to maintain and pay taxes on such a huge property instead of selling or knocking down the huge warehouse space? Just like the old Sears complex on Homan and Arthington, there is not much value in old multi-storied warehouses. The big issue now days
Forum: General Discussion

I was driving someone to Midway Airport going south on Cicero and noticed a empty complex of buildings at Cicero a block from Lake. Does anybody know who occupied the property and when it was shuttered?
Forum: General Discussion

Obviously because of our interest in Chicago history, my favorite memories is when he would do the Chicago history shows. I believe at one time he had two guests, one who was a fireman and the other I think was a professor. Can anybody identify the guests?
Forum: General Discussion

The Park was located at 6851 Touhy. According to this link http://www.villageprofile.com/illinois/niles/07rec/main.html it was replaced by Pioneer Park at the corner of Touhy and Harlem. The site where the park was,is now the home of the new Public Services Facility. Here is another link from a Niles newspaper about the final approval of the land swap of the park despite the protest of the co
Forum: General Discussion

When I went to school in the 60's the local candy store had a small fountain where the drinks were 7 or 10 cents. In addition to Green River, another favorite was cherry or a mixture of cherry and cola. Another memory of the fountain was that for food they served a grilled cheese,hot dog,hamburger, or cheesburger. They did not have a grill and this was long before microwaves, so the sandwiche
Forum: General Discussion

The latest reference that I could find for Tauber Ford in the Tribune, was in 1957. The address listed was at 6035 Broadway and the phone number was Longbeach 1-0860. They were selling a 1954 Ford Tudor for $395. In the 60s ad 70s the ads for a dealer at that location were for VWs and Fiat.
Forum: General Discussion

Someone did a posting about stables near Lincoln Park , which called to mind a memory of pony rides at Lincoln Park Zoo. Does annybody have any memories or details as to when the rides closed?
Forum: General Discussion

There is a Nov 23,1972 Tribune article that mentions the Metropolitan Sanitary District going after nine major tanneries for dumping waste into the sewer systems. All the tanneries appear to be in the Goose island area. A.H. Ross Tannery 1229 N. Branch Superior Tanning 1244 W. Division Gutman 1503 W. Webster Chicago Rawhide 1301 N. Elston Hoffman Stafford 1001 W. D
Forum: Questions and Answers (Q&A)

Found this great website link that explains all the freight lines coming into Chicago. http://www.dhke.com/CRJ/routes.html
Forum: General Discussion

I've found a website for Trainfest in Milwaukee. They claim to have the largest operating model railroad show in Nov. http://www.trainfest.com/ Has anybody been to this event? Is it worth the ride?
Forum: General Discussion

Belt Railway - Kenton North I found this link describing the Cragin Junction at Grand. The article states that this is as far north as the Belt Railway goes. http://www.dhke.com/CRJ/cragin.html Can anybody confirm or dispute this? In looking at a map,it appears to show that the tracks run along Kenton until it reaches the old Chicago and Northwestern tracks around Montrose and Cicero.
Forum: General Discussion

Thank You for all the information. I've been watching Tracks Ahead on channel 20 at 7:30 PM on Mondays and it makes me curious about the rail lines I have been driving under for years. Would anybody like to take a stab at another rail line I am curious about. The tracks run north and south around 4400 West. I drive under these tracks while driving down Diversey or Belmont so I have no idea
Forum: General Discussion

Heard back from Navy Pier. Their reply was, due to the fact that they don't charge admission, the costs were too high. I would still like to know if the layout or other layouts ever appear publicly.
Forum: General Discussion

As a Cub Scout in the 60's, we used to have a annual event in the Fall at Fort Dearborn Boy Scout camp near O'hare airport. We would gather wood and build a big bonfire sing songs, roast marshmallows, and drink hot chocolate. I was too young to remember much about the camp, but I remember seeing cabins there. Does anybody remember this camp from earlier days. I would have to assume that thi
Forum: General Discussion

I found a public notice dated Oct 28,1983 that mentions the acquisition of two parcels of land of 2,800 and 3,500 square feet in the middle of the intersections of Milwaukee,Central,Foster,Northwest Highway. To me, this would indicate that both parcels may have been private property at one time. I still have not been able to find any mention of businesses being run on these parcels. Chipast m
Forum: General Discussion

Although not used in years, my parish this past Fall dismantled the incinerator, althought they left the at least 100 ft smokestack. As schoolchildren and scouts, we used to dump the trash in the incinerator and the caretaker would usually burn the weeks trash on Friday nights. In its place are a combination of carts and the big private dumpsters. Does anybody know whether these incinerator
Forum: General Discussion

Link to info on Windsor located at 1225 N. Clark. http://cinematreasures.org/theater/4073/
Forum: Forgotten Chicago Sightings

I was watching Tracks Ahead on WYCC channel 20 , a program on Monday nights at 7:30 about real and model trains. The Feb 7th show which I think was from 2008 featured a model train layout at Navy Pier's Winter Wonderland. Just this past Christmas, we went to Navy Pier's Winter Wonderland and there was no train layout. Does anybody know why or what happened to the layout? Are there any
Forum: General Discussion

I seem to remember that at one time there was a business in the middle of this busy intersection. Currently there are flowers and benches. It seems strange that this may have been private property since I doubt whether there would have been parking allowed. I believe the business may have been for windows. Can anybody shed any light as to whether my memory is correct and if so fill in any de
Forum: General Discussion

Since the track is elevated, most of the old factory buildings that I remember along the route did not have room for a siding where the cars could be lowered to street level. Does that mean that these factories would have been doing the loading and unloading at what would be the second floor of the factory? Does anybody have any information as to what factories used the line or the type of fre
Forum: General Discussion

In doing further research, I ran across this link for antique bottles where someone wrote in about Linco. The writeup mentions that Linco was the company name and was located on 80th street in Chicago. The bottles they refer to were brown, while I remember clear bottles. Don't know whether the company sold to distributors in bulk and then the distributor bottled into their own bottles and made
Forum: General Discussion

Back in the early 60's, my aunt had a number of babies in diapers. At the time, there were no disposable diapers, and they could not afford a diaper service. Since she washed the diapers herself, she used to soak the dirty diapers in a container of bleach water until she did the laundry. To save money, she used to get a home delivery of bleach. I was young myself, but I remember seeing all the
Forum: General Discussion