Medical Library at the Old Ravenswood Hospital

Original image available on eBay at time of writing

Early Description of Ravenswood, Chicago, 1893.

From John J. Flinn's book Chicago, the marvelous city of the West: a history, an enyclopedia, and a guide, originally published in 1893.

Ravenswood. Situated on the Milwaukee division of the Chicago & North Western railway, 5 miles from the City Hall. Its contiguity to the city makes it a very desirable residence suburb for Chicago people whose business demands their close attention. The town had its origin in the formation of a
syndicate organized in 1868; L. A. Willard. Martin Van Ajlen, Judge G. M. Wilson, D. A. Jones, S. Hodges, C. P. Leland, C. T. Brown, A. F. Seerberger and M. Ladel being its principal promoters. The town was named after a village in New Jersey. Ravenswood has nothing in its history to particularly distinguish it from other suburban towns. Until 1886 it gave no promise of becoming so populous and popular a suburb. But few houses were built by the syndicate. Mr. Leland was at that time auditor of the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana roads, and through him scores of lots were sold to the employes of the road. Many of them had hardly settled there when they were compelled to move. The road consolidated with the Lake Shore and the general offices were moved to Cleveland, Ohio. This
depopulated the town and it became a veritable "deserted village." Following closely came the panic of 1873, leaving it deader than ever. It remained so until the country intervening filled up and the city expanded. Annexation did wonders for Ravenswood. Since that eventful time the town has been given most all the modern improvements. Every street has been macadamized and presents a broad, pleasant and shady thoroughfare. The town has been connected with the Lake View gas system. The Lake View High School is located at the southeast corner of the town. It is one of the completest schools in outfit and thoroughness of training in the country. Besides this there are two excellent graded schools. Four denominations have found homes in Ravenswood and have built fine houses of worship. In 1882 the
citizens formed a public library association and built a two-story, plain stone, library building. It now contains a well-selected library, which is open to the public every evening. There is a hall in the building that is used for public entertainments.

Ravenswood Manor to Be Designated Historic District

Editor's Note: Nearby neighborhood Ravenswood Manor (between Lawrence and Montrose, from the river west to Sacramento) is a favorite of mine. I will occasionally go out of my way to be able to drive down some of its streets. Congratulations on this designation!

Ravenswood Manor to be designated historic district
Residents may be entitled to significant benefits

by Jessica Pupovac

Gary Smith says that the first time he drove through Ravenswood Manor, "it was like the clouds opened, the birds started singing, all the colors came in."

Twenty-some years later, Smith says his enchantment with the neighborhood, which he has called home since 1989, continues to this day.

Ravenswood Manor, centered upon the intersection of Kimball and Lawrence avenues, is a dense commercial and residential district was built along the Northwestern Elevated Railroad's Ravenswood Branch just a few years after that line was completed in 1907. It stretches from Sacramento Avenue in the west to the North Branch of the Chicago River in the east, and runs between Lawrence and Montrose avenues...

For complete story, go here.

Wilson Avenue, Between Ravenswood and Hermitage

This stretch has changed a lot. The cameraman is standing at Ravenswood, looking east down Wilson Avenue towards Hermitage. The building at right once housed the Zephyr Cafe, which closed in 2006 after 30 years of business. This image is courtesy John Chuckman; circa 1910.