C.M. & St. Paul Station, Sheridan Park, Chicago

A nice view of the old Sheridan Park station, currently on eBay

Click link below for other images of the Sheridan station.

And the Crowd Goes Wild at the Rainbo, Chicago, 1952

Sun-Times' Fun Club boys enjoying the Jimmy Martinez and Chester Mieszala fight at Rainbo Arena, December 8, 1952 in Chicago.

Get the original image here: Rainbo Fight Night

Wilson Avenue from the EL, 1955

Another great image with buses, streetcars, and lots of pedestrian traffic. It's currently for sale on eBay

More Photos from Graeme Stewart in the 1950s

Editor's note: We've had a number of reunions this week! Since we started posting old class pictures, a number of readers who were classmates way back when have found each other! These were sent in by Marilynne Marcos, who grew up in Uptown. Do you recognize yourself in the images? Drop a line in the comments section! (To view larger versions, click on image and then click again.)

Paulina and Sunnyside

Currently for auction on eBay here: Sunnyside and Paulina

Uptown Folk Fair, Kenmore and Sunnyside, Chicago 1961

Judy Alt, an employee of the Uptown Federal Savings Bank, enjoying some cotton candy while the Uptown Folk Fair goes on beneath her, August 26, 1961 at Kenmore and Sunnyside in Chicago.

Original image available (at time of posting) from here: Uptown Folkfest

Strange Sight on Sheridan

Even in 1954, I can't image having an unsecured mailbox on such a busy street as Sheridan.

Original photo available here: Sheridan Road

Memories of Baseball in Uptown and a Chicago Cubs Player

Editor's Note: Reader Wally Moy e-mailed this to us. If you have stories to share, e-mail editor(a)compassrose.com.

This blog really brings back memories.

In the late 50's, I lived on the 800 block of Montrose next to Lang Dental labs, where they made false teeth in the basement. The neighborhood kids played fast pitch in the vacant lot next to it, where they would chalk up a strike zone on the brick garage back and would try to throw a tennis ball as fast as we could past the opposing batter.

I played baseball at Clarendon park. I belonged to the Boy's Club little league. Back then, the Chicago Boy's Clubs had a small branch next to the park on Clarendon and Agatite. We played on the field behind the old water pumping station, but I remember the team would hop on the L and travel to play other boy's clubs teams in neighborhoods all over the city.

In the summer, semi-pro softball teams would play at Clarendon on Friday and Saturday nights on the big field next to the Clarendon Field house. It was the only diamond with lights in those days.

Because of our proximity to Wrigley Field, a few Cubs and Bears players and ex-players lived in the neighborhood. Hippo Vaughn, who pitched for the Cubs during the dead ball era, lived across the street. We loved visiting with him after our games. Mrs. Vaughn would serve us cookies and lemonade, and Hippo, long since retired, would regale us with stories of how baseball was played in the old days, and how the Cubs should have beaten the Red Sox in the 1918 World Series.

James Leslie "Hippo" Vaughn was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs during the 1910s. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Reading this blog brings half forgotten memories into sharp detail, as if they happened last week rather than more than 50 years ago.

Graeme Stewart Second Grade Class, Uptown Chicago, 1951

Another great photo sent in by Cheryl Peck Deters. Click on image and then click image again for larger views. Do you recognize yourself in the photo? Say "hi" in the comments section.

Do you have a photo of your time in Uptown that you'd like to share? Send it to editor(a)compassrose.com and I'll be sure to post it.

Graeme Stewart Third Grade Class, October 1952

Sent in by Cheryl Peck Deters. Click on image and then click on again for larger view.

If you have photos of your time in Uptown that you'd like to share, send them to editor(a)compassrose.com

Clarendon Avenue at Graceland (Now Irving Park)

A nifty Childs postcard of Clarendon. Original postcard available here: Clarendon

Jens Rask, Decorator, 4868 Broadway Chicago

The address puts it at what is now a parking lot between the Uptown Post Office and American Metro Bank.

The original advertising card is available here: Decorator

Broadway from the El, circa 1920s

An awesome view of Broadway taken from the El. It is currently available on eBay here: Broadway from the El

Montrose Urban Progress Center Opens, Uptown Chicago, 1965

Original caption reads: Urban Progress Center Opens with picketers on Montrose calling themselves Community Union of Poor People in Uptown, Feb 12, 1965.

Image available at time of posting from: Montrose Urban Progress Center Opening

Magnolia North from Wilson, Uptown Chicago

The original image is available from here: Magnolia and Wilson

Edgewater Beach Hotel Dishes in Use

Okay, this isn't a terribly interesting picture, I know. The caption reads, "Chicago socialite Mrs. Berta Baurf adjusting her earring while talking with Everett Dirksen, candidate for U. S. Senator, at a luncheon in the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago, October 13, 1950."

But if you're like me, and collect old dishes and glassware from the Edgewater Beach Hotel, you can't help but notice what they're eating from. This is the only photo I've seen that has a close up of the dishes in use.

Mrs. Wong, circa 1964

Mrs. Wong, wife of Jimmy Wong, who did much to help revitalize Uptown in the 1960s. Read about Jimmy Wong here.

Original photo available for purchase here:
Mrs. Wong

Wintertime in Uptown Chicago

Bill Matteson
Uptown Chicago History Correspondent

WINTERTIME IN UPTOWN

It snowed, you shoveled it, that was it; the city would not shovel side streets or your alley. We were lucky if some of the main streets were plowed. The city salt spreading went something like this:

A city dump truck loaded with sand and salt would stop in the intersection; two workers in the bed of the truck would throw the salt / sand mixture onto the street, intersections only. They used coal shovels and it was cold, backbreaking work. That was the city's snow program. I was watching the news the other night a couple of days after the snow fall, listening and watching to all the complaining. These lazy slackers could never have survived in the 40s.

Snow, what an opportunity to make a buck. Side streets unplowed, we would help dig out a car, then push it out of the parking space. We would used pulverized cinders that we would have in an old bucket and spread them out under the wheels for traction, then go on to the next car.

Cinders were free. Here is how we got them.

We would have to help the janitor of the building we lived in; we would pull the "Big Clinkers" from the furnace, spray them down with water, then smash them up with a sledge hammer. After the furnace was cleaned out we would add coal around the sides, starting from the middle of the furnace outwards; this was called banking the fire. We then  added some in the middle.

In order to get the clinkers out, we had a long metal claw devise that twisted on one end; we would pick them up and put them on the basement floor without burning ourselves.

I tried explaining what a clinker and cinders were, to some of my grandchildren; I never got past the coal part.

Memories of Graeme Stewart School and Other Uptown Chicago Locations

Editor's Note: Cheryl Peck left these comments on one of the posts, but I didn't want to risk such great memories getting lost, so I'm transferring them to a post of their own. If you have memories of Uptown you'd like to share, e-mail me at editor(a)compassrose.com.

I went to Graeme Stewart School from 1950-1952, 1st-3rd grade. The last time I stopped by the school was 2008 when they had the street torn up. The building looks pretty much the same. I would love to see if I could get in touch with some of the kids I went to school with. That would be wonderful. I have many fond memories of the Uptown area. I lived on Lawrence, Leland and Sheridan Road. I believe my mom had an apartment of Argyle and Sunnyside when I was a baby. The last place my grandma lived was on Kenmore across from St. Thomas of Cantebury Church where my sister and I were baptized. Her building was demolished and replaced with the Salvation Army Building. My grandma lived there until 1964. I remember going to the Lakeside Theatre, the Pantheon Theatre, the Riviera and Uptown Theatre. I even saw Mary Hartline on Sheridan Road, shopping. Sheridan Road and Broadway were such nice shopping areas. It is a shame that all changed for the worse. And of course, the Aragon. I remember seeing the signs out front when Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey were playing there and I was just a kid. Also, it was so cool to see the people going there for shows all dressed up in their fancy attire. I remember getting my Bonnie Braids doll at Ford Hopkins on Wilson and Sheridan across from the church which my girlfriend Ingrid lived in because her father was the person who cleaned and took care of the church. I also remember going to the People's Church on Lawrence of which I lived down the street from, bobbing for apples on Halloween. I actually walked down the street at night at age 5 or 6 and didn't have to be afraid. I remember eating ice cream sundaes at Walgreens on Lawrence and Sheridan and eating hot corned beef sandwiches at Happy Jack's across the street from Walgreen's. Anyone remember Thompson's Cafeteria? On Wilson and Broadway, I believe. I would spend my 12 cents that my mom gave me for lunch there on jello before school. I remember the Kresge's on Sheridan where I got caught stealing playing cards. They were real nice there though. They didn't stop me but waited until my mom and I were shopping together and they pulled my mom aside when I was in the bathroom. Boy did I get it when I got home from my dad. I learned to roller skate in a gangway on Sunnyside with one skate, then two. I have so many happy memories of going to the Jewish Deli on Lawrence before the El Station. I would buy smoked fish and kosher pickles for my grandma and we would eat them together after she took all the bones out for me. So many good memories. As I say my grandma's building is gone and so is the building I lived in on Leland off of Sheridan which was either owned or run by the aunt of Bill Hayes (who is on Days of our Lives). I remember her asking me if I knew of him and that he was her nephew. I was 8 at the time. The memories will always remain unless Alzheimers takes them away. ...

I remember a lady teacher, Miss Goulet - like Robert Goulet. I'm not sure of the spelling. I remember her taking us to the Lincoln Park Zoo and buying us popsicles. Lincoln Park Zoo is still my favorite zoo and my husband and I are members. I took my kids there when they were young and now take my great and great great nieces. I also have a memory of being asked to go to a classroom with another girl for some reason, I think to clean up and instead made one of the biggest messes ever. Does anyone remember powdered paints in black and whatever color was in the container. Well, I went to take the lid off and it spilled all over the floor. There I was trying to clean it up with wet rags. The mess kept getting bigger and bigger. Funny the silly things you hang onto. Also, does anyone remember having the dentist come to school and check your teeth? They would even fix them. Well, my sister was being checked when she decided to run out of the room and I had to chase her up a couple of flights of stairs. She never did get back in the chair. Cheryl Peck

Uptown Theatre by Night

The Uptown Theatre fan page on Facebook has posted an incredible view of the Uptown Theatre at night. This thumbnail doesn't do it justice. See it here: Uptown Theatre and become a fan, if you're not already.

Edgewater Beach Hotel Under Construction

Edgewater Beach Hotel, Unit 2, Now Under Construction for occupancy in 1924:

The original card is available here (at least it was at time of posting): Edgewater Addition

1957 Ad for Apartments at 4200 Marine Drive, Chicago

Frick Co. refrigeration ad featuring the apartments at 4200 Marine Drive in Chicago. Original can be purchased here: 4200 Marine Drive Chicago

1904 Sheridan Park Cookbook, Uptown Chicago, St. Simon's Mission

I love old cookbooks, and here's an interesting one currently on eBay. The cook book is from St. Simon's Mission of Sheridan Park, Chicago, and is dated 1904.

You can purchase it (at time of posting) from here: Sheridan Park Cookbook

Shenandoah at Sunnyside and Kenmore

We've featured this image before, but I wanted to give readers a head's up that there is another original postcard available of it on eBay. Go here: The Shenandoah

Barouge Lounge Trade Token, 1203 Wilson Avenue

Back in November, we featured an exterior shot of the Barouge Lounge on Wilson taken during the fifties. See it here: Barouge Lounge.

Reader John Mutch sent us these images of a trade token from the Barouge.

A note from John: "There are many Chicago trade tokens — most of them don't say Chicago on them, but quite a few have a street address. I enjoy being able to find old photos that show the storefronts.  One I am working on right now is from the South Side during WWII: Bill & Jim's Old Bar Inn at 5212 Lake Park Ave. So far no luck in finding a picture."

Can anybody help John out? Drop a note in the comments section.

If you have any Uptown collectibles you'd like to share, send a photo of it to editor(a)compassrose.com along with any details you know about it.

An Explanation of Chicago Trade Tokens

Editor's Note: We've recently featured a number of images of trade tokens from local area watering holes. (Type "token" into the search bar at the top and they should pop up.) Regular correspondent Bill Matteson explains their purpose.

Bill Matteson
Uptown Chicago History Correspondent

In most bars in the 30s 40s and into the early 50s there was a "26 girl." She was in a small booth or kiosk as we would describe it today. Her job was to entice customers into spending more money by gambling, shaking the container with dice in it. They would play a game called 26.

I think if you threw the five dice and it totaled up to 26 points you won. But they couldn't give you money--that's gambling. But this being Chicago, there was always a way around the law.

You were paid off in tokens or chits that were good for drinks only. If you lost, the "26 girl" kept the money and at the end of the night she would split with the bar. Of course, she would accept drinks from all the patrons, which she never drank; she would split that money, also. And she got tips.

When my mom would find tokens or chits in my dad's pocket, there was hell to pay; she was only 4'11", but when she got her Irish up, we all ran.

Speaking of working around the law. Bingo was outlawed, too. Hello Darto! We had carnivals come around the neighborhood every so often. In a vacant lot on Leland, just east of Winthrop, a carnival with rides and pitch games would set up for a day or two before moving to Leland and Clarendon. They played Darto, since Bingo was outlawed. Numbered balls were pulled just like in Bingo. It was strange to hear the caller: D5 A22 R30...

Only in Chicago

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If you have questions for Bill of what it was like to grow up in Uptown, e-mail us at editor(a)compassrose.com and we'll pass them along. Also, if you have your own memories of Uptown you'd like to share, we'd love to hear them. And if you have pictures, all the better!

Baseball in Uptown Chicago Back in the Day

Bill Matteson
Uptown Chicago History Correspondent

We Played Baseball.

We played ball without the help of our parents, adult supervision, or Little League organizations. Yet we managed to get along and learned how to play ball and use good sportsmanship. The team you had was the kids on your street; the kids on the next street were another team. We considered ourselves lucky to have a baseball and a bat; we would share gloves and we had special rules if we couldn't fill out a team. Then it was right field out, and /or pitchers hands out.

But most ball playing was soft ball--not the 12" ball, but Chicago Softball, a big 16 incher. There were two official balls that could be accepted in a game, the Windy City Ball of the Clincher. The Windy City Ball had regular seams like a league ball and the Clincher had an accordion or staggered seam.

Now, I lived at 4737 Kenmore--it used to be postal zone 40--and I played in Alderman Freeman's midget league. Alderman Freeman was in the 48th ward then.

There were a lot of teams playing at Clarendon Park. Some of them even had uniforms. I had a shirt that had "48th Ward" on it and that was the extent of it.

I still have a 16" Clincher and the kids and grandkids laugh at it.

Editor's Note: Did you used to play baseball or softball in Uptown? We'd love to see the pictures! Send them to editor(a)compassrose.org and we'll be sure to post them.

We love to hear from our readers. If you have memories of growing up in Uptown, we'll publish them here. Just drop us a line at editor(a)compassrose.com.

Trade Token for the Press Inn, 4110 Sheridan Road

Thanks to reader L. for giving us the head's up on this item. It's a trade token for the Press Inn; as near as I can figure it was a saloon once located at 4110 Sheridan Road. The token was worth 25 cents.

This original bit of Uptown history is available for purchase here: Press Inn

Back Porch of 4532 N. Magnolia, Uptown Chicago, circa 1912

Every once in a while, it's nice to put a real face on the people who lived in Uptown. Here we have Joseph Richard Zettelman (49) and Henry Joseph Zettelman (5) on the back porch of 4532 Magnolia Ave, Uptown, Chicago.

Original image available for purchase here: 4532 N. Magnolia

Sheridan East of Pine Grove, Chicago

Sheridan Road, east of Pine Grove.

Original available at: Sheridan and Pine Grove