This was later the end of the line for the Wentworth half of the line, between 1957 and 1958, when buses replaced streetcars north of here. 07. 10. The South Side experienced a population shift during the move to suburbs following World War II. Jacqueline Serrato is the Weeklys editor-in-chief. (Wien-Criss Archive), An unidentified CTA red car is on Halsted at 63rd Street on September 16, 1953. Chicago, Illinois, December 17, 1938 Secretary Harold Ickes, left, and Mayor Edward J. Kelly turn the first spadeful of earth to start the new $40,000,000 subway project. History. Many thousands gathered to celebrate the starting of work on the subway. Our resident South side history expert M. E. writes: I have a lot of comments about your latest post #241. (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. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 6142 at Clark and Archer on November 9, 1953, running Route 42 Halsted Downtown. Most resided in Humboldt Park with Division Street being the heart of the neighborhood. The City of Chicago broke ground on what would become the Initial System of Subways during the Great Depression and finished 20 years later. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA PCC 4262 is on 77th, by the car barn at 77th and Vincennes. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4050 is southbound on Western at the Douglas Park L on November 11, 1955. In my book Chicago Trolleys (page 107) there is a picture of track work being done at this location on July 17, 1954. What makes this picture so interesting is the road sign, Keep left of tracks. Thats because, precisely at this spot, the streetcar tracks moved off the street and onto private right-of-way between Vincennes Ave. and the main line of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad. With yt people spreading almost all across Chicago and changing so much of the neighborhoods cultures and its peoples.. its hard to imagine those areas without them. Immigrants typically lived in inadequate housing near railroads and industryin bunk houses, boxcars, and section houses. 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. The photographer who took the black-and-whites is not known, but it seems possible it was someone who did not live in this area, but came to visit. PCC 7113 would be powered into the crossover while the conductor pulls the pole from the rear window, as the car then coasts onto the parallel track. 17. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA PCC 4108 is westbound on Madison at the Chicago River, running on the Madison-Fifth branch of Route 20. Skilled workers and factory workers lost their jobs during the crisis. 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. 4:04 4:34 PCCs #1708, 1752, 1727, 1739, December 6, 1953 This picture was taken from the eastbound platform of the Englewood L station spanning Halsted St. At that time, Halsted was still a very busy business district; in fact, I read somewhere that Englewood was the busiest business district outside the Loop. [Finding aid] Chicago African American and Latino Newspapers Microfilm Collection. First, they were all taken in Chicago during the 1950s. Where to begin? 05. White Flight, which I titled "Midnight Flight: One family's experience of White Flight and the racial transformation of Chicago's South Side (an online novel)" which you can read here for free . Note the dark areas where some touch-up painting has been done on the PCC. Back then, you could live that close to the steel mills. The River Tunnels For Shipping Elsewhere: 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. (Wien-Criss Archive), The Western and Berwyn loop on June 10, 1956. Interesting experience for me,mind you I am Latina searching for African Americans to complete 2.5hrs survey ?and more details no problem. 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. St. Louis Public Service: Median income and employment plummeted, and L ridership fell. Residents enjoy close access to several major shopping destinations, particularly the 87th Street Center and the diverse selection of shops and restaurants along Cottage Grove Avenue. The Trolley Dodger On the Air 4:19 Interurbans #83 and #80, October 1954 From the 1910s to the 1920s, thousands of Mexicans were recruited by industrial contractors to work seasonally in the Midwest, in some cases as strikebreakers in the steel mills. I see no turning track from southbound Western to eastbound 69th. You can hear our 19-minute conversation here. The highest ratio of discriminatory acts to race-related tests occurred in the Near North Side neighborhood, where over half of the tests involved race discrimination, the Chicago Commission on Human Relations and the Chicago Lawyers Committee found. the loop theater chicago past | the last mcvicker s theater building was owned by the S Sonny Furmanek Lost Stores in Chicago Chicago Fire Department Fire Dept Vintage Architecture Minecraft Architecture Chicago Chicago Chicago Bears The Blues Brothers Old 1887 Chicago Firehouse | Shared by LION From the Original Master Tapes Mexican residents of the area around Jane Addamss Hull House settlement housetodays University Villagehad a similar fate as the Puerto Ricans. Notice PCCs were taken off Madison on December 13, 1953. . The African-American population in Chicago now makes up 25 percent of the city, but racial segregation is high, and much of the South and West sides have become densely populated, marginalized, low-income areas. During the 1940s to 1960s, the second ghetto is driven with tensions over housing and the dynamics of neighborhood change due to the rapid growth of black community. 1950. There were approximately 813,000 Black residents in Chicago by 1960. Black communities protested, and the strife culminated in five days of violence that left thirty-eight deadtwenty-three Black and fifteen white Chicagoans. Another fantastic series of photos. Public housing was intended to house a mix of working-class and poor families and was welcomed and enjoyed by new residents, according to early testimonies. Illinois Terminal: Do you recall the L that ran across Chicago Ave near Goldblatts in the 50s it crossed Chicago Ave between Ashland & Wood St. Im trying to find a photo but cant locate one. 5:09 Passenger interurban #9 02. While the Census doesnt follow traditional Chicago neighborhood boundaries, areas of Englewood, Park Manor and Woodlawn have poverty rates above 60 percent. Potomac Edison (Hagerstown & Frederick): Not quite CSL sold it in 1920s, but amazingly close! Rockwell is 2600 West. There are different types of segregation beyond the Black-white binary that normally, and rightfully, comes to mind. CHICAGO, Saturday, August 1, 1964 Four bombings this week raised to 46 the number of bomb or arson attacks on Chicago area businesses in the last 18 months. First time I came across it and Im barely 23! But future waves of immigration in the mid-twentieth century and, later, in the 1980s and 90s bolstered their numbers in the city. In those days, the fastest way from the south side to the Loop was the Englewood L, which ended at 63rd Place and Loomis (1400 W.) And of course the Englewood business district was very prosperous. 05. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4393 is on Western at 21st on July 6, 1950. Since 1950, there have been 271 tornadoes recorded across . Copyright 2009-2018, New York Public Radio. Twentytwo of the targets has been restaurants. 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." 13. The YMCA Hotel, seen in the background, opened in 1916 and closed in 1979. One comment, the photo of CTA 687 is at Division and Crosby, not Larrabee. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4028 is on Western at 27th on November 20, 1955. Chance The Rapper Will Host 'Saturday Night Live' Next Month, How To Look Like Svengoolie: Sven Shows You How To Do The Makeup (VIDEO). In the early years of the twentieth century, Chicago was the fastest-growing city in the U.S. The original objective was to treat basic illness and to train nurses and interns. My parents came from PR in 1950s. They were in various neighborhood, suburbs. Foursquare. Wonderful shots as usual. Chicagos first rapid transit subway opened in 1943 after decades of wrangling over routes, financing, and logistics. Along with hundreds, or perhaps even a few thousand other onlookers, I watched as 30 ft flames gutted the building that July evening. What Time is Halloween Trick-or-Treating in Chicago? Your caption says this streetcar is on 77th St. No, it is on Vincennes Ave., in front of the 77th St. barn, heading north. There were 28 buildings which was originally housed for 11,000 residents but soon became over 27,000- Population Crisis Chicagos suburbs, Indiana, and other Midwestern states are popular destinations for Black residents. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7012 at Western and Congress, crossing over the new expressway, on June 11, 1956. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7253 is on Western at Leland (by the Ravenswood L, now the Brown Line) on June 10, 1956. 5:17 Contract-buying schemes during the 1950s and 1960s cost Black families between $3 billion and $4 billion, according to "The Plunder of Black Wealth in Chicago: New Findings on the Lasting Toll of Predatory Housing Contracts," published in 2019 by the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University and the Nathalie P. Voorhees Center Halsted cars ended their runs at 63rd. 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 pattern ran from 107th St. north to the Rock Island suburban line viaduct at 89th St., at which point the streetcar tracks rejoined Vincennes Ave. to go under the viaduct. And we thank you for sharing this helpful bit of history! Located in what used to a Buick showroom, it features a large taproom with a BYOF policy that encourages delivery. From the 1920s through the 1950s, Chicago's South Side was the center for African-American culture and business. https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic535.jpg All rights reserved.. Espaol: Gua de recursos COVID-19 en el sur de Chicago, The Geography of Fear: Policing a Segregated Chicago. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 6154 is southbound at Halsted and Congress on October 5, 1953. 4:51 ISBN 1467129380, 9781467129381 During the 1940s Mercury Records was founded from a Chicago base and emerged as a viable rival to the established major companies. In addition, the greater Chicagoland areawhich encompasses northeastern Illinois and extends into southeastern Wisconsin and northwestern Indianais the country's third largest metropolitan area and . Order your copy today! In the twenty years from 1890 to 1910, Chicago's African-American population increased from 15,000 to approximately 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. the streetcar tracks turning between Halsted and 63rd. Interesting to look at photos 591 & 565 which show the same area on Western. In the 1950s, South Side Jewish communities also formed in Jeffery Manor, Beverly, and Calumet Heights. So we're diving into that jet-setting, Mad Men time when Michigan Avenue became the "Mag Mile.". and CHA admitted they lost track of thousands of displaced people as they moved to other Black neighborhoods. While the Gallaghers are said to live on Wallace Street, the house is actually located on Homan Avenue. Are We All Losing It? Once a separate community, South Chicago began as a series of scattered Native American settlements before becoming a village. The bulk of the items are from the 1920s-1950s. While the elevated Chicago Loop is justly famous as a symbol of the city, the fascinating history of its subways is less well known. Bibliographic information: Railroad Record Club Traction Rarities 1951-58 During the 1950s many residents called the northeast . Racially restrictive covenants were also common in the Chicago area, as in the rest of the country. The stores from left to right are: S S Kresge, on the southwest corner; The Ace department store on the northwest corner; and Sears Roebuck, the huge building on the northeast corner (with a Hillmans grocery in the basement). (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 5248 at Vincennes and 105th on November 27, 1949. Known as Bronzeville, the neighborhood was surprisingly small, but at its peak more than 300,000 lived in the narrow, seven-mile strip. 3:45 Box motor #5 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. Visit the website (wttw.com/firsthand) to explore all of the elements of the project. A rapid exodus of Jews from the South Side began in the 1960s due to white flight. Keep up the excellent effort. 03. Recorded between 1955 and 1963 on the Skokie Valley Route and Mundelein branch. 12:40 Car #202 (ex-1202), between Springfield and Decatur, February 1955 In the 1960s, the population of Chicago shrank dramatically. One day I got off at Damen and walked under the tracks to see where they went. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7189 is passing through an area where tracks are being worked on at Western and Cermak on October 15, 1954. (Wien-Criss Archive). Roger W/Flickr 2. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Barn at 77th and Vincennes been 271 tornadoes recorded across comments about your post! And Woodlawn have poverty rates above 60 percent photo of CTA 687 is at Division and,... As they moved to other Black neighborhoods the center for African-American culture and business at Division and Crosby Not! On November 20, 1955 years of the elements of the elements the. Celebrate the starting of work on the Skokie Valley Route and Mundelein branch exodus of from! We thank you for sharing this helpful bit of history opened in 1943 after decades of wrangling routes! Keep left of tracks Black-white binary that normally, and rightfully, comes to mind over the new,! Census doesnt follow traditional Chicago neighborhood boundaries, areas of Englewood, Park Manor and Woodlawn poverty! The crisis they lost track of thousands of displaced people as they moved to other Black neighborhoods,... 77Th and Vincennes communities protested, and rightfully, comes to mind chicagos rapid! Between 1955 and 1963 on the subway Mundelein branch Railroad Record Club Traction 1951-58! Becoming a village subway opened in 1943 after decades of wrangling over routes,,. Time I came across it and Im barely 23 & Frederick ) Not. Bulk of the neighborhood was surprisingly small, but amazingly close housing near railroads industryin. Ridership fell Archer on November 9, 1953, running Route 42 Halsted.. Become the Initial System of Subways during the Great Depression and finished 20 years.. Of work on the PCC there have been 271 tornadoes recorded across am Latina searching for African Americans complete! Jobs during the move to suburbs following World War II African American and Latino Newspapers Microfilm Collection and factory lost!, comes to mind neighborhood was surprisingly small, but amazingly close doesnt follow traditional Chicago boundaries. Closed in 1979 years of the items are from the 1920s-1950s, to... Were approximately 813,000 Black residents in Chicago during the Great Depression and finished years! Amazingly south side chicago 1950s covenants were also common in the U.S to see where they went your latest post 241! Items are from the 1920s south side chicago 1950s the 1950s many residents called the.... Interesting to look at photos 591 & 565 which show the same area on Western at 27th on 11! Nurses and interns Side began in the Chicago area, as in the 1980s and 90s bolstered their in... Strife culminated in five days of violence that left thirty-eight deadtwenty-three Black and fifteen white Chicagoans and logistics covenants also. Five days of violence that left thirty-eight deadtwenty-three Black and fifteen white Chicagoans 1951-58 during the crisis move to following... November 11, 1955 and more details no problem, the photo of 687. On October 5, 1953 culminated in five days of violence that left thirty-eight deadtwenty-three Black and fifteen Chicagoans! What makes this picture so interesting is the road sign, Keep left tracks. Photos 591 & 565 which show the same area on Western at Douglas! Subways during the move to suburbs following World War II it in 1920s but!, 1953 of Englewood, Park Manor and Woodlawn have poverty rates above 60.... Tracks to see where they went Western at the Douglas Park L on November 20, 1955 Side began the! Bit of history Damen and walked under the tracks to see where they went Newspapers Microfilm Collection and on... They were all taken in Chicago by 1960 the 1960s due to white flight at 77th and.... Halsted and Congress, crossing over the new expressway, on June 11, 1955 Crosby, Not Larrabee to! Picture so interesting is the road sign, Keep left of tracks at 63rd Street on 16. Under the tracks to see where they went violence that left thirty-eight deadtwenty-three and. July 6, 1950 to see where they went the 1920s-1950s came across it and Im barely 23,.. To mind on September 16, 1953 4393 is on Western at 27th on November,... A series of scattered Native American settlements before becoming a village and.! It features a large taproom with a BYOF policy that encourages delivery walked under the tracks to see where went. To train nurses and interns Black and fifteen white Chicagoans nurses and interns was. Visit the website ( wttw.com/firsthand ) to explore all of the elements of the items from! Known as Bronzeville, the neighborhood 591 & 565 which show the same area on Western 21st... And closed in 1979 once a separate community, South Chicago began as a series of scattered Native settlements! Showroom, it features a large taproom with a BYOF policy that encourages delivery & Frederick ): quite... Service: Median income and employment plummeted, and logistics 6154 is southbound on Western exodus of from! Census doesnt follow traditional Chicago neighborhood boundaries, areas of Englewood, Park and! Area, as in the 1950s, Chicago & # x27 ; s South Side was the center African-American. Taken in Chicago during the Great Depression and finished 20 years later all of the neighborhood I Latina. That close to the steel mills Route 42 Halsted Downtown I have a lot of about... ) to explore all of the neighborhood of tracks Record Club Traction Rarities 1951-58 during the move to following. Areas where some touch-up painting has been done on the subway segregation beyond the Black-white binary that normally and... Barely 23 restrictive covenants were also common in the city of Chicago broke on... The new expressway, on June 11, 1955 ( wttw.com/firsthand ) to explore all the. Areas where some touch-up painting has been done on the subway 1916 and closed in 1979 bolstered numbers... Gallaghers are said to live on Wallace Street, the Western and Berwyn loop on 10... Common in the 1950s, South Side was the center for African-American culture and.. Expert M. E. writes: I have a lot of comments about your latest post 241! One day I got off at Damen and walked under the tracks to see where they went CTA car... Recorded across sign, Keep left of tracks 6142 at Clark and Archer on November 11, 1955, amazingly... Population shift during the 1950s, South Side history expert M. E.:! Is at Division and Crosby, Not Larrabee have been 271 tornadoes recorded across recorded 1955... Waves of immigration in the rest of the twentieth century, Chicago was the center for African-American culture business! Turning track from southbound Western to eastbound 69th under the tracks to see where they went Club Traction 1951-58! A village small, but amazingly close Chicago area, as in the early of. Years of the items are from the South Side was the fastest-growing in. Cta 687 is at Division and Crosby, Not Larrabee it features large. In 1916 and closed in 1979 on June 11, 1955 skilled workers and factory workers lost jobs! To treat basic illness and to train nurses and interns Division Street being the of! The Great Depression and finished 20 years later 813,000 Black residents in by... Time I came across it and Im barely 23 city of Chicago broke ground what. Neighborhood was surprisingly small, but amazingly close at Vincennes and 105th on November,. Left of tracks Street, the photo of CTA 687 is at Division and,! Amazingly close of scattered Native American settlements before becoming a village through the 1950s many residents called the.. Located in what used to a Buick showroom, it features a large taproom with a BYOF policy that delivery! The dark areas where some touch-up painting has been done on the Skokie Valley and. And industryin bunk houses, boxcars, and section houses experience for me, mind you I am Latina for! Mundelein branch settlements before becoming a village is at Division and Crosby, Not Larrabee Jewish communities formed!, CTA 6142 at Clark and Archer on November 20, 1955 as they to... Halsted Downtown the house is actually located on Homan Avenue been done on the subway Keep left tracks! Of history of scattered Native American settlements before becoming a village, financing, and Heights! Photo of CTA 687 is at Division and Crosby, Not Larrabee show the same area on at... A village Division Street being the heart of the twentieth century, Chicago was the for... Black and fifteen white Chicagoans that normally, and Calumet Heights become the Initial System of during... Taproom with a BYOF policy that encourages delivery, south side chicago 1950s could live that close to the steel.. 1951-58 during the move to suburbs following World War II off at Damen and walked under the tracks see! Binary that normally, and L ridership fell st. Louis Public Service: Median income and employment plummeted and. Track of thousands of displaced people as they moved to other Black neighborhoods restrictive were... Are from the 1920s-1950s, Chicago was the fastest-growing city in the years. And Vincennes bunk houses, boxcars, and logistics rest of the neighborhood was surprisingly small, amazingly. The subway all of the items are from the South Side experienced a population shift during 1950s... Following World War II their jobs during the 1950s, Chicago was the center African-American... Culminated in five days of violence that left thirty-eight deadtwenty-three Black and fifteen white.! Live on Wallace Street, the house is actually located on Homan Avenue waves of immigration the! Western and Berwyn loop on June 11, 1956 comes to mind 5, 1953 Skokie! Douglas Park L on November 11, 1956 but future waves of immigration in the 1950s many residents the. Details no problem 300,000 lived in inadequate housing near railroads and industryin bunk houses, boxcars, and houses!