Wayne Miller Three Teenagers in a Kitchenette Apartment, from the "Chicago's South Side" Series c.1946 Wayne Miller, Magnum Photography Great 1918-2013 Ave atque Vale. In the Windy City, jazz started out in small local clubs on the South Side. 2. and 2023 2022 South Side Weekly. If there was one impresario of the South Side during that period, it was Johnny Robinson, also known as Johnny Pepper, who operated three successive clubs from the late 1950s through the early . Chicago Youth Organize Townhall for Mayoral Candidates, Op-Ed: Chuy Garca Isnt Running as a Progressive This Mayoral Bid, Chicago Rapper 8MatikLogan Gives Himself A Second Chance, IRS Approves Federal Nonprofit Status for South Side Weekly NFP, Mayoral Debate was a Poor Night for Chicago, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. In my book Chicago Trolleys (page 107) there is a picture of track work being done at this location on July 17, 1954. African Americans were also denied access to white areas by means less violent, but no less destructive. Chicago, though arguably racially diverse overall, is considered by researchers to be the nation's most racially segregated city. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7238 is southbound on Western at the Douglas Park L on April 22, 1955. Prior to its more official naming, the media referred to the Bronzeville neighborhood and adjacent areas using derisive names such as the "Black Belt," "Black Ghetto," and even more appalling names such as "Darkie Town." At a beach near 29th Street, a white man began throwing rocks at Black boys who were swimming at a perceived whites-only beach, drowning seventeen-year-old Eugene Williams. To the left, is an embankment where Illinois Central commuter trains (now Metra Electric) ran. It is very unlikely that he will ever be able to recoup his investment, but we support his efforts at preserving this important history, and sharing it with railfans everywhere. The South Side is one of the three major sections of the city of Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Geographically, it is the largest of the three sections of the city, with the other two being the North Side and the West Side.It radiates and lies south of the city's downtown area, the Chicago Loop.. Much of the South Side came from the city's annexation of townships such as Hyde Park. Known as "Bronzeville," the neighborhood was surprisingly small, but at its peak more than 300,000 lived in the narrow, seven-mile strip. The ease of getting around that city is amazing. Chapter Titles: 12. Recent publications have variously mentioned that either 107th St. or 109th st. was the south end of the Halsted lines private right-of-way segment in this area. They were concentrated in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on the North Side and are credited for pioneering the fight against displacement due to gentrification spurred by the expanding DePaul University campusa fight they lost. Chicago in the 1950s - The Trolley Dodger Chicago in the 1950s October 29, 2019 15 Comments You would be forgiven for not recognizing this location, but that's the Western Avenue station on the Humboldt Park "L", just north of North Avenue. Here are some shots around Illinois during the 1950s. I can remember the screeching noises and sparks from when the connectors hit the wires. To commemorate these anniversaries, we have written a new book, Building Chicagos Subways. Up until the 1940s, Black residents were confined to this corridor, better known as the Black Belt, which ran along State Street roughly between Roosevelt Road (12th Street) and 79th Street. Look at the bottom of the photo. In the 1980 census African Americans made up about 50% of the Chicago South side' population while Mexicans made up 40% as a result of white flight. Hollstein School was a one-room schoolhouse in Tinley Park. Illinois Terminal: Another fantastic series of photos. Mexican residents of the area around Jane Addamss Hull House settlement housetodays University Villagehad a similar fate as the Puerto Ricans. Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto: Foursquare. While the Gallaghers are said to live on Wallace Street, the house is actually located on Homan Avenue. (Really! 1454 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605. Railroad Record Club Traction Rarities 1951-58 The big building on other side is the old Madison carbarn. [/caption], RRC-OMTT It truly is a phenomenal resource, not only for those interested in transit history, but also for anyone researching Chicago or Twentieth Century urban life. Price: $15.99 Total time 73:14 4 Board of Trustees/Directors minutes May 1952-Oct 1956 draft copy. Late 1950s. Capital Transit: (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA PCC 4101 is westbound on Madison, but where did it cross the Chicago & North Western? Third Avenue El (New York City): Two CTA bus routes served the 79th and Western station: West 79th (to almost Cicero Ave.) and South Western (to 119th St.) The buses shown were manufactured by ACF Brill, probably in the 1940s, because they had stick shifts. At this time, the temporary Van Buren trackage was still under construction, and this picture was taken from the Garfield Park L station, then still in use. Sixty-three percent of the time, Black testers posing as potential renters holding CHA Housing Choice Vouchers experienced some form of discrimination. Chicago is one of the most segregated cities in the United States. I have produced some comments about your most recent photo group (Chicago in the 1950s). (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7236 is at Archer and Western on November 17, 1954. In the early years of the twentieth century, Chicago was the fastest-growing city in the U.S. (Wien-Criss Archive), The Western and Berwyn loop on June 10, 1956. Subways and Superhighways You can help us continue our original transit research by checking out the fine products in our Online Store. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7208 is on Western near 34th on September 3, 1950. The sign indicates that this bridge is going to be converted to one man operation, meaning that it will be operated from only one tower instead of two. The South Side is the area of Chicago lying south of the citys large Downtown area. Geographically, it is the largest of the three Sides of the city that radiate from downtown-the other Sides of the city being the North Side and the West Side.South Side, Chicago. IND Subway (New York City): Riverdale is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Chicago since 478 crimes are reported annually in a small population of just 13,000 people. https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic512.jpg, https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic530.jpg, https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic534.jpg, https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic535.jpg, https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic544.jpg, https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic555.jpg, https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic558.jpg, https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic556.jpg, https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic566.jpg, https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic568.jpg, https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7788385,-87.6447587,3a,75y,3.14h,91.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYcGafc7OK9fQ0w712doa2A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192, https://chicagology.com/wp-content/themes/revolution-20/century/194063rdhalsted.jpg. Over the last century, an array of political and cultural forces have created clear lines of division between racial groups. My Auntie Stell and her co-workers, Chicago. By 1964 most of the large packers had disappeared. Altoona & Logan Valley: (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7240 is at 69th and Morgan on October 25, 1954. (Wien-Criss Archive), Passengers are getting off northbound CTA 7192 at Western and Van Buren on October 10, 1952. This portion of the old Humboldt Park line was not demolished for another decade, and the story goes that it would have been used by Chicago Aurora & Elgin interurban trains as a midday storage area, if service on that line could have continued after 1957. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7042, in the distance, is about to clear a temporary switch so that the car on the right can cross over to that side during track work. 10:36 (recorded May 3-7, 1958 line abandoned July 1958) Two laws in 1947, the Blighted Areas Redevelopment Act and the Relocation Act, helped create the Chicago Land Clearance Commission, enabling the City to raze areas that it deemed blighted without regard for who it would displace. The area is on the south side of the city. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4037 is on Western at the Chicago River on June 10, 1956 just one week before the end of streetcar service on Route 49. Wandering the streets of the 'Black Belt.' 1941. When I got to Western they ended and I recall seeing a few feet of track bent down from the last support. One day I got off at Damen and walked under the tracks to see where they went. https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic535.jpg You would be forgiven for not recognizing this location, but thats the Western Avenue station on the Humboldt Park L, just north of North Avenue. The lack of such a track indicates that any Western car ending its run and heading to the 77th and Vincennes barn had to start at the 79th and Western terminal, go north on Western, then turn east on 69th. . They lived around Halsted ave. Great Photo Set! 3. At the end of Shameless, Lip has decided to sell the Gallagher house for a mere $75,000 a far cry from the $250,000 he was offered by a developer before he pushed too hard and lost that deal. This is our 241st post, and we are gradually creating a body of work and an online resource for the benefit of all railfans, everywhere. Jacqueline Serrato is the Weeklys editor-in-chief. 5:37 Cars #606, 605, and 601, December 31, 1954 Striking B&W Photos Capture the Black Experience in 1940s South Side Chicago. This move included the expansion of popular music styles, bringing jazz to Chicago and the rest of the country. Roy lived in the Roseland area since his birth in 1963, at 103rd Street & Wentworth Avenue. This view is looking south along Western at 71st St. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7037 is on Western at the Chicago River on June 10, 1956. History. By the 1960s, Black residents had moved into "grade B" (blue) communities in the South Side, such as Roseland and Beverly. The city, which had been 85.9 percent white in 1950 and 76.4 percent in 1960, saw that proportion fall to 65.6 percent in 1970 and 49.6 percent in 1980. In 1991 the Chicago White Sox began to play in a new Comiskey Park across the street from the old stadium. The other bus company running from the south suburbs into Englewood was the Suburban Transit System, which ran primarily east and west along 95th St. out to Oak Lawn and beyond. Between 1950 and 1960, most white residents in Chicago's south side Woodlawn neighborhood fled as poor blacks moved in. (Wien-Criss Archive), Riverview Park at Western and Roscoe on June 10, 1956. Though most of the series is shot on a sound stage at Warner Bros. Studios in California, the exterior shots in Shameless are filmed on-location in Chicago. Our friend Kenneth Gear recently acquired the original Railroad Record Club master tapes. Most famously, the Clarks were a middle-class Black Chicago family that in 1951 attempted to move into a Cicero apartment, but couldnt last a day after thousands of white protesters set their belongings and the whole property on fire. Extending trolly lines is much easier and economical than L tracks. Black families in Chicago lost between $3 billion and $4 billion in wealth because of predatory housing contracts during the 1950s and 1960s, according to a new report released Thursday. Black residents did not enjoy the same geographic freedom. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Brace Yourself: Chicago's 'Hawk' Winter Wind Turns 50, Lin-Manuel Miranda Touts New Song To Raise Money For Puerto Rico: LISTEN, 'Stranger Things 2' Uses Wrong Skyline For 1980s Chicago, Obama Doesn't Want To Take A Selfie With You, And This Is Why, Chicago Is Close To Prince Harry's Heart: His GF Is A Northwestern Alumna. 12:40 Car #202 (ex-1202), between Springfield and Decatur, February 1955 Railroad Record Club North Shore Line Rarities 1955-1963 08. Capital Transit: The date is June 17, 1955. Notice https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic568.jpg Early 1960s: Unequal learning opportunities lead parents in Chicago's South Side to protest public school . (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7123 at Western and 69th on January 28, 1954. The interactive map shows that by the 1950s, Black residents had started to trickle into "grade C" or "yellow-lined" European immigrant neighborhoods on the West and Southeast sides. 1:39 (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4053 at Western and Leland on June 10, 1956. 05. Another clue that helps pinpoint the date is the light lettering on dark background seen on license plates in this image. (1) The red-and-white bus in the background belonged to the South Suburban Safeway Lines. Although the show is set in Chicagos Back of the Yards neighborhood, the house used for filming is actually located in the citys North Lawndale neighborhood. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA prewar PCC 4027 (at left) passes a postwar car on Western at 24th on June 7, 1956. For Shipping to US Addresses: #535 looks north on Halsted from the L station, this was the main crossroads of the Englewood shopping district. If the station was open, there would be a sign advertising this, similar to ones seen in some of the other pictures in this post. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA PCC 7057, a product of the St. Louis Car Company, is at Waveland and Halsted, the north end of Route 8. (Wien-Criss Archive). Subways Since 1960 At the turn of the twenty-first century, as the City realized the projects sat on prime real estate, then-Mayor Richard M. Daley introduced a plan to transform public housing in 1999. The Dearborn-Milwaukee Subway Their numbers fell off during the Depression amid intensified immigration crackdowns, according to researchers. From the Original Master Tapes White flight caused redlining as the community was now at almost 90% black by 1960. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7157 is northbound on Western at 67th on June 15, 1955. Chicago Photos . (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA prewar PCC 4039 is at Cottage Grove and 115th, south end of Route 4. Through the citys use of eminent domain, much of that neighborhood, which included Black, Italian, Greek, and Jewish residents, was razed in the 1960s for the construction of the Dan Ryan Expressway and the development of the University of Illinois Chicago Circle Campus. I always knew about racism growing up in the 70s, recall seeing the hippies in Old town. The streetcar is running on the Halsted/Vincennes/111th St. line, heading northeast on Vincennes. You can see the shadow of the now-gone Ogden Avenue viaduct at the bottom of the photo. What was South Side Chicago like in the 1950s? https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic558.jpg You can hear our 19-minute conversation here. It was converted to apartments in 1985. 17. The segment actually ran not quite two and a half miles from 89th St. to the 10800 block of Vincennes (where 108th St. would have been had it gone through). 1. A bit of detail on photos (pic571.jpg & pic572.jpg) at 71st & Western, the temporary facing crossover was installed without a corresponding crossover overhead wire. We are donating $5 from the sale of each disc to Kenneth Gear, who saved these and many other original Railroad Record Club master tapes from oblivion. 04. The YMCA Hotel, seen in the background, opened in 1916 and closed in 1979. This bar is well-known by DePaul University students who frequent here on the weekends, and god knows also the weeknights. In the twenty years from 1890 to 1910, Chicago's African-American population increased . HOUSING SEGREGATION IN 1950S SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO (Setting: A Raisin in the Sun) Already experiencing a population boom after Reconstruction, Chicago was a popular destination for African Americans moving from the South to the North in the early 20th century. I lived in Portland, OR for 6 years and they still have street cars. Images of America My parents came from PR in 1950s. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 687 is at Division and Larrabee on May 17, 1954. Burned in 1980s and in what was a real mindblower, the reporter on scene actually called it an old CTA facility. St. Louis Public Service: Housing discrimination is still a significant problem in Chicago. Street Scenes of Chicago in the 1970s Through Amazing Photos October 24, 2020 1970s, Chicago, Illinois, life & culture, street Charles William (Bill) Brubaker (1926-2002) was a member of the Chicago-based architecture firm Perkins & Will from 1950 until 1998. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7038 is on Western at Van Buren on June 11, 1956. While the Census doesnt follow traditional Chicago neighborhood boundaries, areas of Englewood, Park Manor and Woodlawn have poverty rates above 60 percent. The Chicago and South Side Rapid Transit Railroad Company was the first to successfully obtain right-of-way and permission to build an elevated passenger railway in Chicago. With maybe at least a few St.Louis-built cars being included in some of those orders; the Pullman cars were largely gone from the streets by the end of 1955. Baltimore Transit: The Gallagher House is the home of the Gallagher Family. Twentytwo of the targets has been restaurants. Residents enjoy close access to several major shopping destinations, particularly the 87th Street Center and the diverse selection of shops and restaurants . Wonderful shots as usual. . 11. First, a nit: I think this picture is at 107th rather than 105th. Perhaps there was a parade on State Street that day (between 1939 and 1949 there was no State Street bridge, and this would have been the regular route for 36 then). This segment focuses on the Chicago Outfit during the period after Prohibition. As always, if you have any information to share about these pictures, or simply have a question or comment, do not hesitate to let us know. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4059 on Western at 28th on November 20, 1955. 14. They were in various neighborhood, suburbs. The 1919 Race Riots, which were part of the racial violence seen across the country during a period known as the Red Summer, were provoked by an attempt to enforce segregation in the waters of Lake Michigan. Google view shows the approximate location from which #536 was taken. PCCs were taken off Madison on December 13, 1953. Check out these old photos of Illinois from the 1940s. In the background, you can see the large Chicago Bridge and Iron Works, which fronted on the north side of 107th St. Buses terminate at the nearby Howard L station. They were simultaneously subject to predatory practices such as contract selling, in which realtors would deceive buyers into signing contracts to buy marked-up houses on installment with high interest rates and no guarantee of title. It appears that the street has already been made a one-way, which did not happen until November 16, 1953. It should be taught in school. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7253 is on Western at Leland (by the Ravenswood L, now the Brown Line) on June 10, 1956. Photo 513 has a pet peeve caption as far as I am concerned. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4373 and others at the Western and 79th loop on November 23, 1952. Where is Rembrandt in The Night Watch painting? 03. 4:13 Loco #12 Then, Douglas Park L trains used these tracks from 1954-58. In 1950, Miller's Pub was a dark, no-frills saloon and a reputed front for a . Total time (3 discs) 215:03. From speakeasies in the '20s to rooftop bars today, Chicago's seen a lot of wild nights. The cars have 1953 license plates. At this stage, it appears the Western Avenue bridge over the Congress Expressway was not yet finished, as the streetcar (and auto traffic) are using a shoo-fly. From 1915 to 1960, more than 5 million African Americans moved from the rural South to the North in a phenomena called the Great Migration. Western/Berwyn canopies lasted a long time, into late 80s, before they rusted off at the ground! Visit the website (wttw.com/firsthand) to explore the elements of the project. Tens of thousands of Black residents are also leaving their traditional South and West side neighborhoods in recent years, as has been extensively reported, in what some are calling an outmigration or a reverse migration. The citys Black population peaked in the mid-twentieth century and is now at its lowest level since then, with 787,551 Black residents as of 2020. For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here. Since 1950, there have been 271 tornadoes recorded across . Through a century of discriminatory strategies from the City and the real estate industry, in addition to antiquated attitudes toward Black residents and people of color, Chicago continues to be a city of neighborhoodshighly segregated neighborhoods. Chicago Loop. 5:20 #80, October 1954 (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4393 is on Western at 21st on July 6, 1950. Pullman post-war PCCs did not disappear in one fell swoop. The University of Illinois at Chicago's digital photo collections archive has about2,300 black-and-white scans of photos of various intersections and notable outdoor areas throughout the city from the 1920s-50s. As we have said before, If you buy here, we will be here.. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4096 is westbound on Madison, crossing over the Chicago River. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7213, the last streetcar to operate in Chicago, is on Western at 21st on July 16, 1951. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA PCC 4108 is westbound on Madison at the Chicago River, running on the Madison-Fifth branch of Route 20. 3:32 Box motor #5, May 24, 1953 (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4044 is on Western at the Douglas Park L on June 22, 1955. Open in Google Maps. The date is June 16, 1954. (Wien-Criss Archive), An unidentified CTA red car is on Halsted at 63rd Street on September 16, 1953. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7156, sporting unusual yellow numbers, is on Western at Van Buren on August 13, 1954. After that, the streetcars had to use the 77th and Vincennes barn. What I would also love to see is pictures of what the Chicago neighborhoods and its residents looked like during that specific time period. Appearing to rise above the L platform is the corner tower of the Sears Building, looking carefully on the enlarged view, the SEARS name can be seen. 3:45 Box motor #5 I remember old Chicago trolley buses from when I was a little girl. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 640 is running under the L on Halsted at 63rd Place on May 25, 1954. ?etc Note the difference in fonts used for the numbers. Take a look at these stunning historical photos of Chicago in the 1960s that shows the street, roads, transport, nightlife, and everyday life. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA PCC 4201, operating on Route 36 Broadway-State, has apparently been diverted from State Street, possibly due to a parade, and is northbound on Dearborn at Lake Street. 4:34 PCCs #1708, 1752, 1727, 1739, December 6, 1953 As he led a march through Marquette Park on the Southwest Side, he was attacked with bricks by a racist white mob. 02. 16. This northeast corner was originally occupied by the long defunct Becker-Ryan Dept. The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.Read the press release here. Join us in looking back on three swanky nightclubs from the '60s. The developments were primarily clustered into six groups in addition to scattered sites with low-rise buildings and row houses. Maps of Chicagos early ethnic composition show that immigrants and their descendants lived in clusters. https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic512.jpg Under the Plan for Transformation, the City began to knock down the projects one by one like dominos. The tracks going to the right were for the 67th/69th/71st line, which used Western to travel between 69th and 71st. 4. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 153 is northbound at Halsted and Congress on October 5, 1953. CHICAGO If you think your neighborhood has changed since you first moved in, you should see what it looked like 60 years ago. chicago Go To Homepage Before You Go 5:09 Passenger interurban #9 At one point, Chicago boasted the largest Irish population and the second-largest Polish population of any city in the world. The Near North Sides Cabrini-Green complex at one time had 3,606 apartments. Chicago Park District - Marquette Park Bridge over the lagoon--east side of the park. So the suburban bus line went as far as 63rd Place and Halsted (next to the L station). Photo 537 I believe shows a detouring Halsted car turning off of Division st. onto Crosby St., not Larabee. 2008- University of Michigan launch a study Moving Towards Opportunity. The State Street Subway Also, its wonderful to see all the old advertising signs on the street cars and the buildings. Last Run of the Hagerstown & Frederick: The light green paint originally used on these cars faded badly and was hard to match. National Archives Stateway Gardens, a housing project on Chicago's South Side, housed nearly 7,000 people in 1973. All Rights Reserved. During the 1950s, Puerto Ricans began to arrive in the city of Chicago.