Month: January 2021

Last week while I was walking around in the North Park neighborhood of Chicago I discovered the Bohemian National Cemetery. The cemetery is located at 5255 North Pulaski Road in Chicago. It was established and built in 1877 by members of the Czech community. It’s known for its limestone gatehouse and decorated columbarium niches where ashes are stored. Czech American military veterans are honored through a Civil War, Spanish American War and World Wars memorials. There is a memorial to the victims of the Eastland Shipwreck Disaster and a memorial to Anton Cermak (a mayor of Chicago that was assassinated in 1933). Other famous people buried there are: Otto Kerner, Sr. (judge and former Attorney General), Elsie Paroubek (a five year old kidnapping and murder victim), Charles J. Vopicka (U.S. Ambassador), and Wanda Stopa (Assistant U.S. Attorney). There is also a Chicago Cubs Columbarium for Cubs fans called Beyond the Vines. The Mother statue is a beautiful work by the sculptor Albin Polasek completed for the cemetery’s 50th anniversary in 1927. The Masaryk Memorial Mausoleum was dedicated in 1956 to honor Thomas Garrigue Masaryk, the first president of the Republic of Czechoslovakia. The Ladimir Klacel Circle was dedicated in 1885 to honor Ladimir Klacel (a Bohemian philosopher and teacher).

Last week I visited a stretch of Bryn Mawr Avenue in the North Park neighborhood of Chicago. I walked from Kimball Avenue to Kedzie Avenue, and it was like taking a walk back in time, because I lived on Bryn Mawr and Kimball and attended Northeastern Illinois University in the early 1980s. The little shops and the architecture of the buildings made me feel like I was in Germany or Sweden – which made sense because I when I did some research it said North Park was originally settled by Swedish immigrants. Today the neighborhood is a blend of cultures. You can still find Swedish businesses such as Tre Konor Nordic restaurant and the Sweden Shop. The Czech influence can be seen at the Bohemian National Cemetery. There is also a heavy Asian presence in the community today. When I lived there in the early 80s the area also had a Jewish presence. There is still a Jewish grocery store there.