Author: lbchicago1@hotmail.com

Signs of the Times

When I walk around the Chicago Area taking photos, I see a lot of signs both old and new and large and small and I love them all! How they look says a lot about the business and the time it was designed. There are so many interesting signs, so this is just part 1 of this series. Enjoy!!

Fulton River District – Chicago

Please join me for a brief walk down Milwaukee Avenue through the Fulton River District neighborhood of Chicago. Although there is so much more to see of the Fulton River District, Milwaukee Avenue is a good representation of the timeline of Chicago industrialism and heart of the neighborhood. I have always been interested in early Chicago history of the 1800s, especially industrial history, so walking down Milwaukee Avenue in the district felt like this was the real Chicago……at least to me.

The 1830 original plat of Chicago included much of the area that is now the Fulton River District. The street grid and block layout of this small area defined the pattern of Chicago’s development as the city grew. Commerce dominated the district throughout its history. Lumber and grain were shipped through the district. Randolph Street became the center of wholesale produce distribution in the late 19th century.

Bohemian National Cemetery

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).

Bryn Mawr Avenue in North Park

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.

This is where I lived while attending Northeastern Illinois University.

Belmont Central – Chicago

Belmont Central is a Chicago neighborhood located in the Belmont Cragin community area. It is on the Northwest side of Chicago. During the 1920s a retail shopping district began to develop along Belmont Avenue, and it became known as Belmont Central. There were large department stores such as Goldblatt’s, Woolworth’s, and JC Penney. These stores are now located in the Brickyard Mall. There was also the Will Rogers theater, which was demolished. The area is now primarily Hispanic, but many Polish and Italian businesses also still remain.

I worked in the Belmont Central Area as an assistant manager at a retail store after graduating college and I shopped there a lot as a child. My husband and I also used to go to the Will Rogers theater to watch Disney movies. I enjoyed visiting the Belmont Central area last week. I loved the mixture of the Polish, Italian and Mexican cultures I experienced there…..especially the large variety of ethnic foods available at Tony’s Fresh Market!

Going Home

Some say you can’t go home again, but I did. Last week I went to Avondale – where I grew up. I visited my old house and my friends’ houses in the neighborhood, as well as other special places we frequented. The places all looked very different, but just as beautiful as they always were! Maybe you don’t live close to your old neighborhood so can’t visit, or maybe your neighborhood (or its special places) don’t exist anymore……in that case you can pull out old photos or just your memories to go back home and see it’s beauty again!

The apartment building on North Drake where my friend Dee-Dee lived.
My old house on North Drake Avenue.
The house by the alley on North Drake Avenue where Flo and her family (including her brother who later became my husband) lived.
My first best friend Lori’s house on North Drake Avenue.
The house where my friend Lisa lived(aka Lisa’s Grandpa’s house), and later where my friend Jimmy (I called him James) lived.
My friend Floretta’s house on North Drake Avenue.
The building where my Friend Linda lived on Belmont and Central Park. Her parents owned the tavern in the building.
The building where my friend Marlene lived.
My friend Sue’s house on Melrose Street.
My friend Eva’s house on Monticello.
My friend Lydia’s house on North Ridgeway.
What used to be The dry cleaners on Drake
Avondale park

St. Wenceslaus Church

St. Wenceslaus School, where I went since first grade.

St. Hyacinth- anther church in the area.
Reilly School-the public grade school. I attended kindergarten there.
This used to be a candy store on St. Louis and Barry, that we frequented.
This was Hoppe’s – another store we went to.
This used to be Jimmy’s – a fast food place we’d get beef sandwiches and gravy bread at.
This was my friend Linda’s house on Central Park.

Oak Park – Illinois

The village of Oak Park was settled in 1835 and incorporated in 1902 when it separated from the town of Cicero. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright settled in Oak Park and heavily influenced its architecture. It is home to the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio and the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District. Oak Park is accessible by the CTA EL blue and green lines and Metra. Oak Park has beautiful and historic houses, churches and downtown center.

Oz Park – Chicago

Oz Park is located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, at 2021 North Burling Street, which is at the corner of Lincoln and Webster. The park features statues from the Wonderful Wizard of Oz book written by Chicago reporter L. Frank Baum. He was a resident of the Lincoln Park neighborhood in the 1890s. Fans of the Wizard of Oz would gather in the park for an Oz festival annually and in 1974 the park was officially named Oz Park. The Oz Park Advisory Council raised money for the creation and placement of sculptures of Dorothy and Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion by sculptor John Kearney.