Showing posts with label Memories from Readers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Memories from Readers. Show all posts
February 23, 2011
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.)
February 12, 2011
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.
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.
February 11, 2011
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
February 6, 2011
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
-----
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!
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
-----
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.
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.
January 20, 2011
When Gangs Came to Uptown, or Uptown and Hollywood
Bill Matteson
Uptown Chicago History Correspondent
We always had a good time growing up in Uptown, hardly any problems, no gangs so to speak of. We all belonged to many groups but not one specific gang. I would hang out on Leland and Kenmore, sometimes at Wilson and Hazel, Clarendon field house, or with the group from the Arcadia Roller Rink. About 1949 / 50 a change started to take place in Uptown
I noticed that there were groups starting to call themselves gangs. A book came out called The Amboy Dukes
by Irving Shulman [Ed. who wrote West Side Story]; it was about a gang in N.Y.C. We all read it and it wasn't a big deal until a movie came out called "City Across the River" (Tony Curtis' first role). Then all hell broke loose. Gangs were forming--zip guns, clubs, brass knuckles, blackjacks, and weapons of all kinds were appearing. Even my good buddy Howie made a zip gun that shot a .410 shell. Everyone was walking around trying to look cool and imitate Tony Curtis. We all got D.A. hair cuts (Duck's Ass or Duck Tail, however you remember it.) We started wearing clothes with strange names, One Button Roll, Pegs, Drapes, Outer Seams, Drop Loops, Box Cars, Slim Jims, and Mr B's. We developed a new way to walk, sort of a shuffle. We had to have our collar turned up at the back of the neck, and when we walked, we had to have our hands in our back pockets.
I think John Wayne copied from us.
We just all walked around looking cool and no one really got into any serious trouble.
Now if any one of our friends got into any difficulty with a rival group, we would mass together to meet the other group and usually end up with a lot of name calling. That was about it. Once we were going to fight some stupid group that came in wearing gang jackets. Our gang equipment was adhesive tape, which we put on our noses and backs so we could identify each other.
The Cops from Town Hall station got wind of this and came down hard on everyone that was there. We pulled all our tape off and walked quietly away and the stupid gang with matching jackets got beat and arrested by the cops.
Editor's Note: Bill Matteson is a regular correspondent for the Uptown Chicago History blog. Click the link below to read more of his stories of growing up in Uptown.
Uptown Chicago History Correspondent
We always had a good time growing up in Uptown, hardly any problems, no gangs so to speak of. We all belonged to many groups but not one specific gang. I would hang out on Leland and Kenmore, sometimes at Wilson and Hazel, Clarendon field house, or with the group from the Arcadia Roller Rink. About 1949 / 50 a change started to take place in Uptown
I noticed that there were groups starting to call themselves gangs. A book came out called The Amboy Dukes
by Irving Shulman [Ed. who wrote West Side Story]; it was about a gang in N.Y.C. We all read it and it wasn't a big deal until a movie came out called "City Across the River" (Tony Curtis' first role). Then all hell broke loose. Gangs were forming--zip guns, clubs, brass knuckles, blackjacks, and weapons of all kinds were appearing. Even my good buddy Howie made a zip gun that shot a .410 shell. Everyone was walking around trying to look cool and imitate Tony Curtis. We all got D.A. hair cuts (Duck's Ass or Duck Tail, however you remember it.) We started wearing clothes with strange names, One Button Roll, Pegs, Drapes, Outer Seams, Drop Loops, Box Cars, Slim Jims, and Mr B's. We developed a new way to walk, sort of a shuffle. We had to have our collar turned up at the back of the neck, and when we walked, we had to have our hands in our back pockets. I think John Wayne copied from us.
We just all walked around looking cool and no one really got into any serious trouble.
Now if any one of our friends got into any difficulty with a rival group, we would mass together to meet the other group and usually end up with a lot of name calling. That was about it. Once we were going to fight some stupid group that came in wearing gang jackets. Our gang equipment was adhesive tape, which we put on our noses and backs so we could identify each other.
The Cops from Town Hall station got wind of this and came down hard on everyone that was there. We pulled all our tape off and walked quietly away and the stupid gang with matching jackets got beat and arrested by the cops.
Editor's Note: Bill Matteson is a regular correspondent for the Uptown Chicago History blog. Click the link below to read more of his stories of growing up in Uptown.
January 18, 2011
My Memories of the Churches of Uptown Chicago
Bill Matteson
Uptown Chicago History Correspondent
CHURCHES
There were three churches in my life that gave me that certain something I was missing. Even at a young age, I realized that religion was very important to a person's development. So at about the age of nine I set out on a quest to find God.
"Christ Died for Our Sins" Church
I never knew the actual name of the church at Sheridan and Wilson but that was the big sign on the top, so that is what we called it. They would send out street ministers to preach to the drunks and sinners on Wilson Ave, usually around Kenmore. The minister would start around 7 PM Friday. He would use a large easel 4 foot long and 3 feet high and a lot of colored chalk. He would draw pictures then relate his drawings to God, religion, and spirituality and around 8 PM he would have 8 to 12 people on their knees, praying for salvation. At the proper time he would walk them the block over to the church. They would all file in and he would start with the preaching in such a manner that I was sure a thunder bolt was going to hit me right there, but it never did; it always seemed to get the other guys. They would say that you could feel the holy spirit enter your body.
I would help the sidewalk minister with his easel and chalk. I tried getting saved but it never worked. I just felt maybe only older people got saved. I wondered what power that minister had; we would set up the easel and then he would have a bunch of people on their knees right there on Wilson Ave.
I would go to Sunday School there and they gave me a bible for going 12 Sundays in a row. The Sunday school teacher wrote in the book "this book will keep you from sin and sin will keep you from this book." I showed the bible to mom and dad; they couldn't figure out why I was going to church. I even sang in the choir.
THE PEOPLES CHURCH
The minister at the time was Dr. Preston Bradley; he was on the radio every Sunday. I would sit in the balcony and I was always amazed at his diamond ring that would sparkle under the lights. But they had a lot of things going on for us neighborhood kids and it was fun.
Later in life, I would mention that I heard Dr Preston Bradley. I would be asked what I thought of him. Well, he had this big, shiny ring!
ST THOMAS
At thirteen I drifted over to St. Thomas. Now they had a real neat parish priest, a Monsignor Fox. He was a cool old guy who would walk the parish every night, talk to people, shake hands, etc. I converted when I was 15 and baptized Catholic.
My wife graduated from St Thomas and now that I was a Catholic, her mother would think I was a nice guy and trust me a little.
Mom and Dad were really starting to worry about me.
Today I don't know what I miss more, Uptown or being a teenager.
---
Editor's Note: Click the "Bill Matteson" link below to read more of Bill's memories of growing up in Uptown.
Uptown Chicago History Correspondent
CHURCHES
There were three churches in my life that gave me that certain something I was missing. Even at a young age, I realized that religion was very important to a person's development. So at about the age of nine I set out on a quest to find God.
"Christ Died for Our Sins" Church
I never knew the actual name of the church at Sheridan and Wilson but that was the big sign on the top, so that is what we called it. They would send out street ministers to preach to the drunks and sinners on Wilson Ave, usually around Kenmore. The minister would start around 7 PM Friday. He would use a large easel 4 foot long and 3 feet high and a lot of colored chalk. He would draw pictures then relate his drawings to God, religion, and spirituality and around 8 PM he would have 8 to 12 people on their knees, praying for salvation. At the proper time he would walk them the block over to the church. They would all file in and he would start with the preaching in such a manner that I was sure a thunder bolt was going to hit me right there, but it never did; it always seemed to get the other guys. They would say that you could feel the holy spirit enter your body.
I would help the sidewalk minister with his easel and chalk. I tried getting saved but it never worked. I just felt maybe only older people got saved. I wondered what power that minister had; we would set up the easel and then he would have a bunch of people on their knees right there on Wilson Ave.
I would go to Sunday School there and they gave me a bible for going 12 Sundays in a row. The Sunday school teacher wrote in the book "this book will keep you from sin and sin will keep you from this book." I showed the bible to mom and dad; they couldn't figure out why I was going to church. I even sang in the choir.
THE PEOPLES CHURCH
The minister at the time was Dr. Preston Bradley; he was on the radio every Sunday. I would sit in the balcony and I was always amazed at his diamond ring that would sparkle under the lights. But they had a lot of things going on for us neighborhood kids and it was fun.
Later in life, I would mention that I heard Dr Preston Bradley. I would be asked what I thought of him. Well, he had this big, shiny ring!
ST THOMAS
At thirteen I drifted over to St. Thomas. Now they had a real neat parish priest, a Monsignor Fox. He was a cool old guy who would walk the parish every night, talk to people, shake hands, etc. I converted when I was 15 and baptized Catholic.
My wife graduated from St Thomas and now that I was a Catholic, her mother would think I was a nice guy and trust me a little.
Mom and Dad were really starting to worry about me.
Today I don't know what I miss more, Uptown or being a teenager.
---
Editor's Note: Click the "Bill Matteson" link below to read more of Bill's memories of growing up in Uptown.
January 12, 2011
Tops, Marbles, and Yo-Yos
Bill Matteson
Uptown Chicago History Correspondent
TOPS, MARBLES AND YO YOS
These are things every boy in Uptown had that kids nowadays don't even know what they are or how to use them.
TOPS
There were two types of tops, Travelers and Spikers. Travelers had a rounded tip and the Spiker had a sharper tip. Both were made out of wood. The game consisted of two boys. We would draw a circle on the sidewalk or street; one kid would throw in a Traveler top; because of the rounded tip it would move around in a small circle -- hence the name. The other kid would then throw his Spiker at the traveling top with the intent of hitting it and, if hit right, the top would split in half. The traveler was thrown with an under hand movement while the Spiker was a sharp overhand downward thrust. One of the most treasured possessions was a split top.
MARBLES
I was the Northside marble champion. I won at Stewart School. A group of us had our picture in the Chicago Tribune in 1949. The citywide championship was held at Clarendon Park. I didn't even place.
Now, marbles was a simple game with a few rules, which had to be stated at the very beginning of each game. No mounds, no cow paths, no hunching, no squabbles, and knuckles down. If the rules were not stated, this is what could happen. A shooter could make a small mound, similar to a golf tee, place the marble on top of it then shot at it. A cow path was a line drawn in the dirt from the shooter to the object marble. Hunching was moving your shooting hand over the line into the ring. Knuckles down was exactly that, those knuckles had to be touching the dirt.
Squabbles is hard to explain. If you didn't say "no squabbles" at the beginning of the game, anyone could come by and holler squabbles then take all the marbles. But if you said "no squabbles" they couldn't. The strange part of all was this was a code of ethics; no one lied.
YO-YOS
Right after the war we found two important things, yo-yos and bubble gum. There I was, nine years old, and I never heard of bubble gum. I stood in line to get one penny's worth. I was able to blow bubbles right away and couldn't wait to show Mom and Dad. Well, I never did that again.
I saved my money and went to Woolworths 5 & 10 cent store on Broadway, just North of Wilson. Wow a real Duncan yo-yo, and they had two Filipino yo-yo experts that were amazing. I gave one my yo-yo and he carved my name in it and a palm tree on the other side in about two minutes flat. They could do all sorts of tricks and ended up sending the yo-yo into the air and catching it in their inside pocket. I practiced as much as I could, got pretty good at it, then I showed my mom and dad what I could do. No more bubble gum, no more yo-yos. Sometimess, life just ain't fair for a nine year old.
Uptown Chicago History Correspondent
TOPS, MARBLES AND YO YOS
These are things every boy in Uptown had that kids nowadays don't even know what they are or how to use them.
TOPS
There were two types of tops, Travelers and Spikers. Travelers had a rounded tip and the Spiker had a sharper tip. Both were made out of wood. The game consisted of two boys. We would draw a circle on the sidewalk or street; one kid would throw in a Traveler top; because of the rounded tip it would move around in a small circle -- hence the name. The other kid would then throw his Spiker at the traveling top with the intent of hitting it and, if hit right, the top would split in half. The traveler was thrown with an under hand movement while the Spiker was a sharp overhand downward thrust. One of the most treasured possessions was a split top.
MARBLES
I was the Northside marble champion. I won at Stewart School. A group of us had our picture in the Chicago Tribune in 1949. The citywide championship was held at Clarendon Park. I didn't even place.
Now, marbles was a simple game with a few rules, which had to be stated at the very beginning of each game. No mounds, no cow paths, no hunching, no squabbles, and knuckles down. If the rules were not stated, this is what could happen. A shooter could make a small mound, similar to a golf tee, place the marble on top of it then shot at it. A cow path was a line drawn in the dirt from the shooter to the object marble. Hunching was moving your shooting hand over the line into the ring. Knuckles down was exactly that, those knuckles had to be touching the dirt.
Squabbles is hard to explain. If you didn't say "no squabbles" at the beginning of the game, anyone could come by and holler squabbles then take all the marbles. But if you said "no squabbles" they couldn't. The strange part of all was this was a code of ethics; no one lied.
YO-YOS
Right after the war we found two important things, yo-yos and bubble gum. There I was, nine years old, and I never heard of bubble gum. I stood in line to get one penny's worth. I was able to blow bubbles right away and couldn't wait to show Mom and Dad. Well, I never did that again.
I saved my money and went to Woolworths 5 & 10 cent store on Broadway, just North of Wilson. Wow a real Duncan yo-yo, and they had two Filipino yo-yo experts that were amazing. I gave one my yo-yo and he carved my name in it and a palm tree on the other side in about two minutes flat. They could do all sorts of tricks and ended up sending the yo-yo into the air and catching it in their inside pocket. I practiced as much as I could, got pretty good at it, then I showed my mom and dad what I could do. No more bubble gum, no more yo-yos. Sometimess, life just ain't fair for a nine year old.
December 22, 2010
Cricket Field Becomes Cricket Hill, Uptown Chicago
From reader Bill Matteson:
CRICKET HILL
Some time in the late forties there was a big field we called Cricket Field. How it got that name was always a mystery. There were no crickets and no one played cricket, but Cricket was just as good a name as any name, so it was Cricket Field. In the middle of that field was a jungle of sumac and trees of heaven and a lot of bushes. Also along the streets on each side of the viaducts the "jungles" went for a half block or a full block. They were the "summer homes" for all the bums and perverts in the ares. We never went into the jungle alone. Their nests were all around. A bed of newspaper and empty wine bottles were the tell tale signs.
The perverts would hang outside the jungle near the street and try to entice a kid in. But we were streetwise little punks and when this happened we could always find a cop, tell him what happened. He was there in an instant, arrested the perv, or sometimes just beat him with his nightstick. We never had to make a report or go to the station, all we had to do was point.
Then a few days later the perv or pervs were right back doing the same thing.
One day, me, Jimmy Thomas, and Norman Sobiesk were coming home from the lake and decided to play War. We found empty wine bottles [alongside the jungles], which became hand grenades and we were throwing them around when Jimmy threw one way up and it came down on my head. Knocked me out. When I woke up, they were carrying me down Lawrence Ave with my shirt covering my head and I was real bloody. They got me home and Mom shaved the back of my head and butterflyed it up. I still have a four-inch scar across the back of my head. Mom felt real sorry for me and Dad made me stay in for a few days for being stupid.
The Park District decided to do away with all the jungles and the big jungle in Cricket Field was cut down. They dug a big, deep hole where the jungle was. I think they needed land fill somewhere and a place to put some garbage, so they filled in the hole over the next few years and kept piling on the dirt. Cricket Field was gone forever.
Hello Cricket Hill.
Cricket Hill is between Montrose and Wilson Ave [east of Lake Shore Drive].
CRICKET HILL
Some time in the late forties there was a big field we called Cricket Field. How it got that name was always a mystery. There were no crickets and no one played cricket, but Cricket was just as good a name as any name, so it was Cricket Field. In the middle of that field was a jungle of sumac and trees of heaven and a lot of bushes. Also along the streets on each side of the viaducts the "jungles" went for a half block or a full block. They were the "summer homes" for all the bums and perverts in the ares. We never went into the jungle alone. Their nests were all around. A bed of newspaper and empty wine bottles were the tell tale signs.
The perverts would hang outside the jungle near the street and try to entice a kid in. But we were streetwise little punks and when this happened we could always find a cop, tell him what happened. He was there in an instant, arrested the perv, or sometimes just beat him with his nightstick. We never had to make a report or go to the station, all we had to do was point.
Then a few days later the perv or pervs were right back doing the same thing.
One day, me, Jimmy Thomas, and Norman Sobiesk were coming home from the lake and decided to play War. We found empty wine bottles [alongside the jungles], which became hand grenades and we were throwing them around when Jimmy threw one way up and it came down on my head. Knocked me out. When I woke up, they were carrying me down Lawrence Ave with my shirt covering my head and I was real bloody. They got me home and Mom shaved the back of my head and butterflyed it up. I still have a four-inch scar across the back of my head. Mom felt real sorry for me and Dad made me stay in for a few days for being stupid.
The Park District decided to do away with all the jungles and the big jungle in Cricket Field was cut down. They dug a big, deep hole where the jungle was. I think they needed land fill somewhere and a place to put some garbage, so they filled in the hole over the next few years and kept piling on the dirt. Cricket Field was gone forever.
Hello Cricket Hill.
Cricket Hill is between Montrose and Wilson Ave [east of Lake Shore Drive].
December 18, 2010
The Hager Sisters and Uptown Chicago in the Late 1800s
Here's another great memory from reader Bill Matteson. Click the link at the bottom of the post that says "Memories from Readers" to read more of his letters to us.
THE HAGER SISTERS
The very last stop on my newspaper route was the Hager sisters at Winthrop Ave and Lawrence near the NW Corner. They were without a doubt the oldest people I knew, in and about 1944 I guessed them to be around 90. They were short and round and always tried to make me drink milk with the homemade cookies they gave me. I hate milk. But they were always good for a dime tip.
I complained about the freezing weather one particularly cold day. They told me I had never really experienced cold. Then came the history lesson.
In the days I believe before the Chicago Fire, at the site of the present Uptown Theater, was an old ramshackle frame structure that housed a tavern. People would wait for a mule-drawn conveyance that ran on tracks down Broadway. Men waited inside the saloon for the transportation, but no self-respecting woman would
ever go inside one. Regardless of the cold.
But these men were gentlemen and would build a council fire for the women to do a squaw dance around the fire to keep warm by. On the other side of Broadway was swamp that ran east to Kenmore Ave where the Lake proper started. Land fill came and the Lake was pushed back to where Clarendon Ave is. Hence the Clarendon Beach Bath House, later to become the Clarendon Field House and Teenage center where I used to hang out as an early teenager. More land fill pushed the lake back to its present position.
I loved those two old Ladies; they were the nicest people on my route. I moved out of the area when I was 16 in 1952. As far as I knew, they were never married and they were not twins.
I now am 75 years old and I think about those days a lot
Regards,
Bill Matteson
THE HAGER SISTERS
The very last stop on my newspaper route was the Hager sisters at Winthrop Ave and Lawrence near the NW Corner. They were without a doubt the oldest people I knew, in and about 1944 I guessed them to be around 90. They were short and round and always tried to make me drink milk with the homemade cookies they gave me. I hate milk. But they were always good for a dime tip.
I complained about the freezing weather one particularly cold day. They told me I had never really experienced cold. Then came the history lesson.
In the days I believe before the Chicago Fire, at the site of the present Uptown Theater, was an old ramshackle frame structure that housed a tavern. People would wait for a mule-drawn conveyance that ran on tracks down Broadway. Men waited inside the saloon for the transportation, but no self-respecting woman would
ever go inside one. Regardless of the cold.
But these men were gentlemen and would build a council fire for the women to do a squaw dance around the fire to keep warm by. On the other side of Broadway was swamp that ran east to Kenmore Ave where the Lake proper started. Land fill came and the Lake was pushed back to where Clarendon Ave is. Hence the Clarendon Beach Bath House, later to become the Clarendon Field House and Teenage center where I used to hang out as an early teenager. More land fill pushed the lake back to its present position.
I loved those two old Ladies; they were the nicest people on my route. I moved out of the area when I was 16 in 1952. As far as I knew, they were never married and they were not twins.
I now am 75 years old and I think about those days a lot
Regards,
Bill Matteson
December 14, 2010
A Reader's Memories of The Silver Palm Tavern / Burlesque Bar, Uptown Chicago
The Silver Palm was located at 1117 Wilson Avenue in Uptown Chicago. We recently featured another photo of it as it looked back in the day. This prompted a reader, Bill Matteson, to write in with his memories:
THE SILVER PALM BURLESQUE BAR
Well, it was about 1948 on a Saturday afternoon. I was 12 years old; me and my buddy Jimmy Thomas were going to the DeLuxe Theatre at the corner of Wilson Ave and Clifton, which is just west of the El tracks. Jimmy and I stopped in front of the Silver Palm to see if we could peek in and see something that would be worthwhile for a 12 year old boy to see.
Three big black sedans pulled up; men jumped out of the cars carrying sledge hammers and axes. They smashed through the locked front door. Jimmy and I, being boys, followed right in after them. We stood on the side and watched them smash tables, bottles, the bar and even the walls, and there on the walls were pictures of Nude Women. We were in our glory. The smasher guys told us to stay out of the way and we could have anything we wanted.
We stole an old wagon from the outside back of the bar, took all the pictures, and behind the bar were some small cartons containing little plastic telescopes on a key chain. Inside the scopes were women nude from the waist up. Other boxes contained "8 pagers". The outcome was me and Jimmy took the wagon back to the "Pretzel Benders Inn" on Leland Ave. just west of Kenmore and sold everything we had to a few of the "boys." We made about $10 each.
We didn't really want to see Abbot and Costello meet Captain Kidd
any way
An 8 pager was exactly that--page 1 was the cover then 7 other pages of hand drawn sex acts.
The Deluxe Theater was razed and is now part of the Truman Campus. $10 was a huge amount of money for a 12 year old. 12 cents got me into the movie. Riverview had 2 cent days. Can you imagine 50 rides for a buck?
Who were those guys in the black sedans? I never found out; it never made the newspaper. The speculation in the neighborhood was the "mob" or the IRS or "Big 10" from Townhall police station. Big 10 was an unmarked squad car with three detectives and nobody ever messed with Big Ten.
Regards
Bill Matteson
THE SILVER PALM BURLESQUE BAR
Well, it was about 1948 on a Saturday afternoon. I was 12 years old; me and my buddy Jimmy Thomas were going to the DeLuxe Theatre at the corner of Wilson Ave and Clifton, which is just west of the El tracks. Jimmy and I stopped in front of the Silver Palm to see if we could peek in and see something that would be worthwhile for a 12 year old boy to see.
Three big black sedans pulled up; men jumped out of the cars carrying sledge hammers and axes. They smashed through the locked front door. Jimmy and I, being boys, followed right in after them. We stood on the side and watched them smash tables, bottles, the bar and even the walls, and there on the walls were pictures of Nude Women. We were in our glory. The smasher guys told us to stay out of the way and we could have anything we wanted.
 |
| The Silver Palm as it looked in 1951, shortly after the events in the story. The original image can be purchased (at time of writing) from here: Silver Palm. |
We stole an old wagon from the outside back of the bar, took all the pictures, and behind the bar were some small cartons containing little plastic telescopes on a key chain. Inside the scopes were women nude from the waist up. Other boxes contained "8 pagers". The outcome was me and Jimmy took the wagon back to the "Pretzel Benders Inn" on Leland Ave. just west of Kenmore and sold everything we had to a few of the "boys." We made about $10 each.
We didn't really want to see Abbot and Costello meet Captain Kidd
any wayAn 8 pager was exactly that--page 1 was the cover then 7 other pages of hand drawn sex acts.
The Deluxe Theater was razed and is now part of the Truman Campus. $10 was a huge amount of money for a 12 year old. 12 cents got me into the movie. Riverview had 2 cent days. Can you imagine 50 rides for a buck?
Who were those guys in the black sedans? I never found out; it never made the newspaper. The speculation in the neighborhood was the "mob" or the IRS or "Big 10" from Townhall police station. Big 10 was an unmarked squad car with three detectives and nobody ever messed with Big Ten.
Regards
Bill Matteson
August 3, 2010
A Reader Writes in With Her Memories of Uptown Chicago
Editor's Note: We love hearing from former Uptown residents. The following e-mail was sent to us by Chris L., who has kindly given her permission to include it. If you have memories of Uptown to share, write to us and we'll include them here.
Thank you so much for your website and all the memories. My family moved to Eastwood Avenue in 1955 when I was in 2nd grade. I walked to St. Thomas of Canterbury and knew the neighborhood intimately. Once the Lennon sisters were playing the Aragon and our pastor got them to come and give us a 3-song concert in front of the school as we all stood outside.
The Aragon had Top 40 shows on Sunday afternoons. Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper were scheduled to play, but their plane went down in Iowa. I remember seeing Freddie Cannon and Bobby Rydell there. You could hang around the alley door and wait for autographs. BTW, I just Googled Bobby Rydell and he is still touring, if you can believe it!
I remember the Backstage on Wilson. You couldn’t see in, but there were black and white pictures of the girls wearing pasties in the front windows. Their dressing rooms were on the second floor and in the summer the windows would be open.
I can still smell the BBQ and hot grease from the exhaust fans of Ribs by Roberts on Sheridan Road. The Parthenon Theater on Sheridan was a dim echo of the fabulous Uptown, but its plaster columns, statues of gods and goddesses, and monster movie Saturday nights for kids – back-to-back Frankenstein, Dracula and Werewolf movies. Also on Sheridan was a very upscale Spaulding’s dress shop with several display windows on either side of its front door. The most glamorous outfits, cocktail dresses and suits with dyed fox collars and such, were nearest the door. Grayson’s was a more reasonable, but still nice, dress shop on the corner of Sheridan and Leland across the street from a card shop and kitty corner from a little snack shop. There were lots of bars, taverns, taps and liquor stores up and down the major arteries of Wilson, Sheridan and Lawrence.
I remember guys with jackets that said “Revels” on the back in turquoise script.
There was a bowling alley with several floors of pool tables above it on Wilson. Crittenden’s record store on Racine behind Goldblatt’s had a row of soundproof booths where you could listen to a few 45s they would pipe in to you from the counter.
The Peter Pan restaurant was on the northeast corner of Broadway and Lawrence. A very different Peter Pan from the Disney version leapt out in 3-D from above the front door holding a hamburger on a plate above his head. Kitty corner from it was the very classy Peter Pan dress shop. I always wondered if the same person owned both businesses. If not, how did they come to be named? One of life’s mysteries.
Anyway, thank you for letting me share these memories. It’s fun to reminisce.
Chris L.
Thank you so much for your website and all the memories. My family moved to Eastwood Avenue in 1955 when I was in 2nd grade. I walked to St. Thomas of Canterbury and knew the neighborhood intimately. Once the Lennon sisters were playing the Aragon and our pastor got them to come and give us a 3-song concert in front of the school as we all stood outside.
The Aragon had Top 40 shows on Sunday afternoons. Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper were scheduled to play, but their plane went down in Iowa. I remember seeing Freddie Cannon and Bobby Rydell there. You could hang around the alley door and wait for autographs. BTW, I just Googled Bobby Rydell and he is still touring, if you can believe it!
I remember the Backstage on Wilson. You couldn’t see in, but there were black and white pictures of the girls wearing pasties in the front windows. Their dressing rooms were on the second floor and in the summer the windows would be open.
I can still smell the BBQ and hot grease from the exhaust fans of Ribs by Roberts on Sheridan Road. The Parthenon Theater on Sheridan was a dim echo of the fabulous Uptown, but its plaster columns, statues of gods and goddesses, and monster movie Saturday nights for kids – back-to-back Frankenstein, Dracula and Werewolf movies. Also on Sheridan was a very upscale Spaulding’s dress shop with several display windows on either side of its front door. The most glamorous outfits, cocktail dresses and suits with dyed fox collars and such, were nearest the door. Grayson’s was a more reasonable, but still nice, dress shop on the corner of Sheridan and Leland across the street from a card shop and kitty corner from a little snack shop. There were lots of bars, taverns, taps and liquor stores up and down the major arteries of Wilson, Sheridan and Lawrence.
I remember guys with jackets that said “Revels” on the back in turquoise script.
There was a bowling alley with several floors of pool tables above it on Wilson. Crittenden’s record store on Racine behind Goldblatt’s had a row of soundproof booths where you could listen to a few 45s they would pipe in to you from the counter.
The Peter Pan restaurant was on the northeast corner of Broadway and Lawrence. A very different Peter Pan from the Disney version leapt out in 3-D from above the front door holding a hamburger on a plate above his head. Kitty corner from it was the very classy Peter Pan dress shop. I always wondered if the same person owned both businesses. If not, how did they come to be named? One of life’s mysteries.
Anyway, thank you for letting me share these memories. It’s fun to reminisce.
Chris L.
August 1, 2009
Clarendon Park Memories
Looks like we've inspired a local resident to start a blog with memories of Clarendon Park. Be sure to visit The Park.
If you have memories of your own of Uptown you'd like to share, e-mail us at blog(a)compassrose.com.
If you have memories of your own of Uptown you'd like to share, e-mail us at blog(a)compassrose.com.
May 2, 2009
Bugs Moran, the Sheridan Plaza Hotel, Buena Church, and the Green Mill: A Reader's Perspective
Editor's note: Thanks to Joe Ragont for sharing his memories of growing up in Uptown! He has kindly given his permission for us to post his recent e-mail to us.
I loved reading your blogs about Uptown. I was born at Ravenswood Hospital in 1939 and grew up in Uptown. In fact I lived at Montrose and Dayton (800 west) from birth until I got married in 1960.
My mother took me to Buena Church when I was four years old. I grew up going to Sunday school, DVBS (where I received Christ) Youth groups, etc. My wife and I were married there in 1960. Our four children were baptized there. I continued to teach Sunday school until we moved to the suburbs in 1969. Five years later we decided to attend Buena again. The minister, Dr. Larkin, asked me to be Director of Christian Education in 1974. We accomplished much the next year, but living so far away and working a full-time job proved too much and I had to
resign.
After the collapse of the building, my wife and I visited the rubble and just wept. Buena was and in many ways still is our church.
Incidentally your other blogs have also stirred great memories. Stewart School was where I went all eight years. And the Jesus People USA's headquarters at 937 Wilson Ave. was the very sight of my father's barber shop. I spent countless hours there after school and summers and
cleaned it on a weekly basis. Ironically, above the barber shop was a bookie joint, and next door was a strip joint called Backstage. As a youngster I used to amble out the back door of the shop and wonder what was going on in Backstage, where their back door was always open.
My father also owned the barber shop in the Sheridan Plaza Hotel in the late twenties and early thirties. Many of his "clients" were members of the Bugs Moran mob which had its headquarters at Lawrence and Broadway, across from the Green Mill and the Uptown Theater. After moving to the 937 Wilson shop, his clients became many Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears who lived at the Sheridan Plaza and played just down Sheridan Road at Wrigley Field.
During the summer I used to go to neighborhood movie theaters just about every day. In addition to the large theaters like the Uptown and Riviera, there were the smaller Pantheon and Lakeside. On Saturdays I would venture to the tiny Mode, just south of Irving Park, which always showed two cowboy pictures, three cartoons and a serial.
I really appreciate your blogs which have brought back so many great memories!
Joe Ragont
I loved reading your blogs about Uptown. I was born at Ravenswood Hospital in 1939 and grew up in Uptown. In fact I lived at Montrose and Dayton (800 west) from birth until I got married in 1960.
My mother took me to Buena Church when I was four years old. I grew up going to Sunday school, DVBS (where I received Christ) Youth groups, etc. My wife and I were married there in 1960. Our four children were baptized there. I continued to teach Sunday school until we moved to the suburbs in 1969. Five years later we decided to attend Buena again. The minister, Dr. Larkin, asked me to be Director of Christian Education in 1974. We accomplished much the next year, but living so far away and working a full-time job proved too much and I had to
resign.
After the collapse of the building, my wife and I visited the rubble and just wept. Buena was and in many ways still is our church.
Incidentally your other blogs have also stirred great memories. Stewart School was where I went all eight years. And the Jesus People USA's headquarters at 937 Wilson Ave. was the very sight of my father's barber shop. I spent countless hours there after school and summers and
cleaned it on a weekly basis. Ironically, above the barber shop was a bookie joint, and next door was a strip joint called Backstage. As a youngster I used to amble out the back door of the shop and wonder what was going on in Backstage, where their back door was always open.
My father also owned the barber shop in the Sheridan Plaza Hotel in the late twenties and early thirties. Many of his "clients" were members of the Bugs Moran mob which had its headquarters at Lawrence and Broadway, across from the Green Mill and the Uptown Theater. After moving to the 937 Wilson shop, his clients became many Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears who lived at the Sheridan Plaza and played just down Sheridan Road at Wrigley Field.
During the summer I used to go to neighborhood movie theaters just about every day. In addition to the large theaters like the Uptown and Riviera, there were the smaller Pantheon and Lakeside. On Saturdays I would venture to the tiny Mode, just south of Irving Park, which always showed two cowboy pictures, three cartoons and a serial.
I really appreciate your blogs which have brought back so many great memories!
Joe Ragont
March 18, 2009
A Resident's Memories of Uptown Chicago
Frank, one of our readers, had written in to share his memories of growing up in Uptown. You can read all of his posts here, but we wanted to pull out one and feature it here:
We lived on Sheridan right off Windsor . We use to go my brothers and sister to the UPTOWN theatre or the Riviera at the time like once a week for under a dollar. They both showed cheap movies back then. We'd go to church at the north shore church, now called Uptown Baptist, on Wilson and Sheridan once a week. Lots of times we'd just play outside, for neighborood kids just did that back then. Kids are always looking to get into something. Our mother kept us indoors often protective. Didn't want us getting into trouble.
Going to the arcade at Pops Arcade, probably primitive today's arcades standards, but they had pinball, and gunfight, more like carnival games was somthing kids did. Going to Stewart school and play on the swings and things, and jumping off to see how far we could get.
My friend James who was very bright had a collection of comic books 5 feet high. He and his brother were big star trek fans, and watched it everyday. The original Star Trek that is. The Next Generation didn't exist. He use to loan me comics. I bet they are valuable now if he still has then 35 years later.
Coming home from school and watching tv was usually the first things kids did. Cartoons, kids shows etc. to keep us entertained, because quality tv didn't require cable subscription, but you did have to endure the commercials. Cable tv didn't exist, or computer for the household. personally i think kids seem somewhat smarter with the computers today, but somehow doesn't seem like they have as much to me as before them.
Anyways Uptown was and is a diverse area, and it's an area that's always changing with immigration . Many people move there, and later move out. I have lived in uptown since 1981 , and then for 2 years in 1985 and 1986 on Kenmore and Montrose. Me and my whole family. I will always consider Uptown my roots no matter what changes it brings the memories are what we take with us.
By the way this is a great uptown sight and history of uptown.
One important person who needs recognition is Romla Remis Dunlap. She lived right on Sheridan past Winsor for years. She was the first Lady To play Dorthy in the first Wizard of Oz the silent version.
Anyway when uptown was like hollywood way back then she was probably its last legacy She died in the 1980s, She was a piano teacher and christian scientist . You can find her on the net.
I better go. I spoke a mouthful. Wish we could all go back.
We lived on Sheridan right off Windsor . We use to go my brothers and sister to the UPTOWN theatre or the Riviera at the time like once a week for under a dollar. They both showed cheap movies back then. We'd go to church at the north shore church, now called Uptown Baptist, on Wilson and Sheridan once a week. Lots of times we'd just play outside, for neighborood kids just did that back then. Kids are always looking to get into something. Our mother kept us indoors often protective. Didn't want us getting into trouble.
Going to the arcade at Pops Arcade, probably primitive today's arcades standards, but they had pinball, and gunfight, more like carnival games was somthing kids did. Going to Stewart school and play on the swings and things, and jumping off to see how far we could get.
My friend James who was very bright had a collection of comic books 5 feet high. He and his brother were big star trek fans, and watched it everyday. The original Star Trek that is. The Next Generation didn't exist. He use to loan me comics. I bet they are valuable now if he still has then 35 years later.
Coming home from school and watching tv was usually the first things kids did. Cartoons, kids shows etc. to keep us entertained, because quality tv didn't require cable subscription, but you did have to endure the commercials. Cable tv didn't exist, or computer for the household. personally i think kids seem somewhat smarter with the computers today, but somehow doesn't seem like they have as much to me as before them.
Anyways Uptown was and is a diverse area, and it's an area that's always changing with immigration . Many people move there, and later move out. I have lived in uptown since 1981 , and then for 2 years in 1985 and 1986 on Kenmore and Montrose. Me and my whole family. I will always consider Uptown my roots no matter what changes it brings the memories are what we take with us.
By the way this is a great uptown sight and history of uptown.
One important person who needs recognition is Romla Remis Dunlap. She lived right on Sheridan past Winsor for years. She was the first Lady To play Dorthy in the first Wizard of Oz the silent version.
Anyway when uptown was like hollywood way back then she was probably its last legacy She died in the 1980s, She was a piano teacher and christian scientist . You can find her on the net.
I better go. I spoke a mouthful. Wish we could all go back.
November 16, 2008
Memories from a Reader -- Tangles with Al Capone's Mob and a Brush with Nat King Cole
Editor's Note: We received an e-mail this week with memories from a past resident who lived near Sheridan and Argyle in the 1940s. If you have similar memories you'd like to share, write us!
I lived in the Morlond Hotel (above Walgreen's) while in school, age 18, 1946-47. It was owned by a daughter of Brach (candy). Was in front of the Argyle Bar (north side) adjacent to the El @ 6 A.M. or so when it was machine-gunned by "one of the last of Capone's mob", (nickname:"The Mop"(?)). Thompson sub-machine blast missed me by a few steps. Visited the bar in the El building on the south side of Argyle when it featured Nat King Cole trio, before he was "known and appreciated". A fine local restaurant, Jack Piper's, was a half block south on Sheridan.
The Walgreen's lunch counter was the place to eat breakfast or bet a horse thru Louie, who had the paper stand outside. He spent one day in jail once a year for his transgressions, but he put his kids thru college, I believe!
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