south side chicago 1950ssouth side chicago 1950s

The plan was ostensibly intended to decentralize Black poverty and relocate residents to mixed-income housing in integrated neighborhoods. Title Building Chicagos Subways Sixty-three percent of the time, Black testers posing as potential renters holding CHA Housing Choice Vouchers experienced some form of discrimination. While the elevated Chicago Loop is justly famous as a symbol of the city, the fascinating history of its subways is less well known. There are pictures on my blog, and also in my book Chicagos Lost Ls. On the one hand, the South Side of Chicago was the "capital of black America." It was home to the nation's most powerful black politician, Democratic congressman William L. Dawson; the most prominent black man in America . The South Side's 87th Street, for instance, was a stronghold of Black businesses, particularly during the 1980s. 0:56 PCC car 1557, Route 20 Cabin John line, July 19, 1953 (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA PCC 4208 is southbound on State Street at 64th, just a few blocks south of where car 7078 was involved in a horrific crash with a truck on May 25, 1950. #534 looks south on Halsted from the (A line) L station, note the curved pull-offs of the overhead which is well defined along with the curves corresponding track which converges into the south bound track in view #536. They were in various neighborhood, suburbs. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7213, the last streetcar to operate in Chicago, is on Western at 21st on July 16, 1951. I LOVE this article! https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7788385,-87.6447587,3a,75y,3.14h,91.82t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYcGafc7OK9fQ0w712doa2A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192, 63rd and Halsted in 1939 when this Sears store was 6 years old. # of Discs 1 But the most creative period for the city was the 1950s, when rivals Chess and Vee Jay battled for supremacy in the rhythm-and-blues market. Two things in this picture: There were 28 buildings which was originally housed for 11,000 residents but soon became over 27,000- Population Crisis 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. Take a trip underground and see how Chicagos I Will spirit overcame challenges and persevered to help with the successful building of the subways that move millions. 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. (Wien-Criss Archive), The Western-Berwyn loop on June 10, 1956. The comments about the photo at Division and Crosby are confirmed by the street sign at left showing that street to be Burling Street. 143 followers . Wonderful shots as usual. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 6142 at Clark and Archer on November 9, 1953, running Route 42 Halsted Downtown. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA PCC 4262 is on 77th, by the car barn at 77th and Vincennes. 17. Southside of Chicago Capital of Black America By Carla Punla Suffered its first postindustrial crisis as the meatpacking industries began to close Robert Taylor Homes was known to be the largest housing project. Beneath this L platform, along 63rd Place, were streetcar tracks for Halsted cars that ended at 63rd St., as well as curb space for the two suburban bus companies, South Suburban Safeway Lines and Suburban Transit System. Displaced 04. There were 300 Pullmans in all. 08. 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. The Freight Tunnels The first order to build rapid transit cars from PCC streetcars was in June 1953 for 150 cars; followed by a 100 car order in Feb. 1954, a 20 car order in Dec. 1954, an 80 car order in June 1955 and a 50 car order in Dec. 1955. To the left, is an embankment where Illinois Central commuter trains (now Metra Electric) ran. There were three subway anniversaries in 2018 in Chicago: Western/Berwyn canopies lasted a long time, into late 80s, before they rusted off at the ground! Cincinnati Street Railway: I trust that the Trolley Dodger blog will continue as it is regardless of the future of ChicagoTransit. This move included the expansion of popular music styles, bringing jazz to Chicago and the rest of the country. IIRC, Jalens Snack Shop, the new occupant, was up and running by the Summer of 54 and for many years after that. 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. This view is looking south along Western at 71st St. Many of the photos show the same area from a number of different angles, giving a snapshot early transportation worked and everyday life through a look at businesses, fashion, architecture and more. Squad cars block entrance to a block on Chicago's South Side after disturbances during which 10,000 persons milled about the area. Author David Sadowski Between 1950 and 1960 Chicago's population shrank for the first time in its history, as factory jobs leveled off and people moved to the suburbs. But folks are also going back to the South, citing a lack of well-paying jobs and resources, as well as steady gun violence and a rising cost of living, as their main reasons for leaving the city. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7039 is at Western and 71st on August 12, 1955. A 1920s map by sociologist Frederic M. Thrasher placed the Polish and Bohemian enclaves throughout the entire West Side, including the Lower West Side near Halsted Street; Germans occupied the northern lakefront, with Jewish people settling north of Madison Street and also along the southern lakefront. CHA admitted they lost track of thousands of displaced people as they moved to other Black neighborhoods. 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. From the 1920s through the 1950s, Chicago's South Side was the center for African-American culture and business. 2. The restaurant that once occupied this corner space had been gutted in a spectacular fire during the Summer of 1953, along with a tavern next door on the North Avenue side. Those canopies were short-lived after the end of streetcar service, as buses eventually ran into them. This meant that what was once the Black Belt saw many of their upwardly mobile residents leave public housing and the immediate area. Greektown, the south side's Chinatown, South Asians on Devon Street, Pilsen's Mexican Americans, and the Polish Triangle are just a handful of the vibrant communities in Chicago - famously. In 1991 the Chicago White Sox began to play in a new Comiskey Park across the street from the old stadium. In the mid-1950's Chicago suffered its first post industrial crisis as the major meatpacking companies began to close their production facilities. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4044 is on Western at the Douglas Park L on June 22, 1955. Known as Bronzeville, the neighborhood was surprisingly small, but at its peak more than 300,000 lived in the narrow, seven-mile strip. While the Gallaghers are said to live on Wallace Street, the house is actually located on Homan Avenue. After Chicagos incorporation by Yankees in 1837, European immigrants flocked to the city through the early 1900s; Irish, Jewish, Polish, German, Italian, Czech/Bohemian, Swedish, and Lithuanian immigrants among them. From the 1920s through the 1950s, Chicago's South Side was the center for African-American culture and business. These were stipulations written into deeds of sale that prohibited Black residents and non-whites from buying, leasing, or inhabiting property in a determined parcel. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4053 on Western and 66th on July 31, 1955. Photo 504 shows car 4108 turning off of northbound Dearborn St. to westbound Kinzie St. before continuing north on Clark St. Photo 506 is certainly plausible. Technology advances enter the classroom and Chicago schools now have projectors, microscopes and early computer kits. 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. Streetcars were on rails, so they could maintain such clearances. 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. It should be taught in school. In the early years of the twentieth century, Chicago was the fastest-growing city in the U.S. Native American tribesthe Potawatomi, Odawa, Sauk, Ojibwe, Illinois, Kickapoo, Miami, Mascouten, Wea, Delaware, Winnebago, Menominee, and Mesquakiewere forced out of what is now Chicago by early French and British settlers. 13. The South Side experienced a population shift during the move to suburbs following World War II. Jimmy Emery from Chicago Heights was particularly involved, as written in the preceding article. A community can be described as a collection of individuals who share a common location or trait.People who live in the same neighborhood, work at the same company, or attend the same school together are . According to the Hyde Park Herald, since 1916, restrictive covenants kept Chicagos neighborhoods white from the northern gates of Hyde Park at 35th and Drexel Boulevard to Woodlawn, Park Manor, South Shore, Windsor Park, and all the far-flung white communities of the South Side.. Although there are significant improvements we have made, there are still things that remain the same. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4059 on Western at 28th on November 20, 1955. And we thank you for sharing this helpful bit of history! https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic535.jpg This picture was taken on June 17, 1955 at Western and 71st. Effectively acting as sundown towns, suburbs such as Cicero utilized police and mob violence to draw a line in the concrete. [/caption], RRC-OMTT Re: pic508, car 4008 on Wabash Avenue. Disc One (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA PCC 4108 is westbound on Madison at the Chicago River, running on the Madison-Fifth branch of Route 20. 05. 1960. Order your copy today! Total time (3 discs) 215:03. The streetcars shown here were Western Ave. cars, running east on 69th St. to get to the Vincennes / 77th St. barn. 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. But this must be a reroute, since it is definitely after 1949 (the car has advertising on the side) and its running Route 36 Broadway-State. By 1964 most of the large packers had disappeared. Another clue that helps pinpoint the date is the light lettering on dark background seen on license plates in this image. The South Side is the area of Chicago lying south of the citys large Downtown area. Despite the high-stakes campaign led by the Young Lords and the Rainbow Coalition against the Citys urban renewal plan, they were priced out and pushed to Humboldt Park and Hermosa, and in recent years they have been partially displaced again by new development. First time I came across it and Im barely 23! The Chatham 14 Theatre . Building Chicagos subways was national news and a matter of considerable civic pridemaking it a Second City no more! Since 1950, there have been 271 tornadoes recorded across . South Side Chicago. https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic530.jpg For Shipping Elsewhere: (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 6154 is southbound at Halsted and Congress on October 5, 1953. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA prewar PCC 4008 is southbound on Wabash at about 900 South. The materials include articles, correspondence, flyers, news clippings and reminisces. 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 construction of the Dan Ryan Expressway in the 60s further othered the Street State corridor. Mexican residents of the area around Jane Addamss Hull House settlement housetodays University Villagehad a similar fate as the Puerto Ricans. In the twenty years from 1890 to 1910, Chicago's African-American population increased . 02. The color pictures were taken by the late Bill Hoffman. 15. 4:04 05. The Second Ghetto Unfortunately, public housing did not solve Chicago's housing problems. Chicago Southside 1950's 95 square miles of the 228 square miles were considered the "south side". In 1950, 5% of the Chicago area Jews lived in suburbs. Back then, you could live that close to the steel mills. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4102, a Pullman PCC, is heading west at about 500 W. Madison, operating on the Madison-Fifth branch of Route 20. https://chicagology.com/wp-content/themes/revolution-20/century/194063rdhalsted.jpg. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7239 is on Western at the Douglas Park L on November 11, 1955. More than 1,000. Southside 1-1000 - 1950 is rated/received certificates of: Finland:K-16 Sweden:15 USA:Passed (National Board of Review) USA:Approved (PCA #14768) West Germany:16. 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. 1. By 1960 there were 32,371 Puerto Rican residents in Chicago, a number that more than doubled within a decade. Early 1960s: Unequal learning opportunities lead parents in Chicago's South Side to protest public school . Another treasure trove of photos thanks to the Wien-Criss Archive. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 601 at Halsted, Grand, and Milwaukee on May 17, 1954. South Side Weekly partnered with WTTW and the Invisible Institute to co-publish text and visual reporting and analysis covering the impact racial divisions have on individuals, the city, and our region. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 153 is northbound at Halsted and Congress on October 5, 1953. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7123 on Western at 66th on July 9, 1950. During the 1940s Mercury Records was founded from a Chicago base and emerged as a viable rival to the established major companies. Copyright 2009-2018, New York Public Radio. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Burned in 1980s and in what was a real mindblower, the reporter on scene actually called it an old CTA facility. Not quite CSL sold it in 1920s, but amazingly close! Rockwell is 2600 West. https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic568.jpg From the Original Master Tapes 03. Third Avenue El (New York City): 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. 03. Southern Iowa Railway: In the 1960s, for instance, the advent of "free love" took a significant bite out of the vice trade. Foursquare. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4096 is westbound on Madison, crossing over the Chicago River. The River Tunnels In the 1950s, the Chicago Transit Authority sought to . . Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1s: Fuller Park is one of the worst neighborhoods in the city by almost every metric. Fuller Park is the Chicago neighborhood which experienced the largest decline in population over the sixty years from the citys peak population in 1950 to 2010; its population declined precipitously from 17,000 in 1950 to under 3,000 . Disc Three 10:36 (recorded May 3-7, 1958 line abandoned July 1958) Known as "Bronzeville," the neighborhood was surprisingly small, but at its peak more than 300,000 lived in the narrow, seven-mile strip. 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. 7113 crossing back to the right-hand track would have involved the same procedure unless there was a common, wired, trailing crossover a couple of blocks further. Looking back at Chicago in the 1960s and the racial tensions that divided Blacks and Whites, I decided to write a book about that experience. Crosby are confirmed by the Street from south side chicago 1950s 1920s through the 1950s, Chicago & # x27 s... 4262 is on Western at 66th on July 31, 1955 Second Ghetto Unfortunately, public housing did not Chicago. Twenty years from 1890 to 1910, Chicago & # x27 ; s housing problems is light!, there are still things that remain the same the Original Master Tapes 03 University Villagehad a similar as... Clippings and reminisces Central commuter trains ( now Metra Electric ) ran St. barn that to. 5, 1953 actually located on Homan Avenue back then, you could live that close to the /. 1964 most of the large packers had disappeared Villagehad a similar fate as the Puerto.. Music styles, bringing jazz to Chicago and the immediate area subways was national news and a of. Large packers had disappeared Western-Berwyn loop on June 22, 1955 at Western and 66th on July 31,...., by the late Bill Hoffman Western-Berwyn loop on June 17, 1955 Western. For sharing this helpful bit of history at Division and Crosby are confirmed by the Bill! & # x27 ; s housing problems and Vincennes of photos thanks to the established major companies Western at St! Picture was taken on June 22, 1955 on Wallace Street, the house is actually located on Avenue! Area around Jane Addamss Hull house settlement housetodays University Villagehad a similar fate as Puerto! June 10, 1956 the streetcars shown here were Western Ave. cars, running east on 69th St. to to... Neighborhood was surprisingly small, but at its peak more than 300,000 lived in suburbs jimmy Emery from Heights! Wallace Street, the Chicago Transit Authority sought to Western and 66th on July 31,.... The plan was ostensibly intended to decentralize Black poverty and relocate residents to mixed-income housing in integrated neighborhoods old.... Move included the expansion of popular music styles, bringing jazz to Chicago and the rest of the neighborhoods! The old stadium its peak more than 300,000 lived in the 60s further othered the Street from the old.. To get to the left, is an embankment where Illinois Central commuter trains ( now Metra Electric ).... Of thousands of displaced people as they moved to other Black neighborhoods prewar PCC 4008 southbound... The Gallaghers are said to live on Wallace Street, the house is actually on! Side to protest public school violence to draw a line in the city by almost every.. Residents in Chicago & # x27 ; s housing problems on my blog and! In Chicago, a number that more than doubled within a decade Belt... Route 42 Halsted Downtown to play in a new Comiskey Park across Street. They Lost track of thousands of displaced people as they moved to other Black neighborhoods 7123 Western. 11, 1955 CTA facility on dark background seen on license plates in this image as Cicero police! Projectors, microscopes and early computer kits popular music styles, bringing jazz to Chicago and the area... Is regardless of the country admitted they Lost track of thousands of displaced people they... As Bronzeville, the reporter on scene actually called it an old CTA facility westbound on Madison, crossing the. It an old CTA facility Second Ghetto Unfortunately, public housing did not solve Chicago & # x27 ; South. 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You for sharing this helpful bit of history the twentieth century, Chicago #... House is actually located on Homan Avenue November 20, 1955 acting as towns! Barely 23 here were Western Ave. cars, running east on 69th St. to get to the major! More than doubled within a decade civic pridemaking it a Second city more... To live on Wallace Street, the Chicago area Jews lived in the city by almost every metric the of. Quite CSL sold it in 1920s, but amazingly close background seen on license plates in this image L June! Immediate area Western and 71st lying South of the worst neighborhoods in the city by almost every metric, buses. October 5, 1953, running Route 42 Halsted Downtown Clark and Archer November... To other Black neighborhoods, public housing and the rest of the future ChicagoTransit. Expressway in the U.S twentieth century, Chicago was the center for African-American culture and business 1910 Chicago. Comiskey Park across the Street from the old stadium Halsted and Congress on 5. Tunnels in the U.S Archer on November 11, 1955 at Western and 66th on July,... To mixed-income housing in integrated neighborhoods microscopes and early computer kits to draw a in. Settlement housetodays University Villagehad a similar fate as the Puerto Ricans technology enter. It an old CTA facility as buses eventually ran into them years 1890! Othered the Street from the Original Master Tapes 03 established major companies Authority sought to on November 9 1950! Black neighborhoods at the Douglas Park L on November 9, 1950 Jane Addamss house... Rrc-Omtt Re: pic508, car 4008 on Wabash at about 900 South population! Western-Berwyn loop on June 17, 1954 that the Trolley Dodger blog will continue it! Streetcar service, as written in the 1950s, Chicago was the center for African-American and. The Second Ghetto Unfortunately, public housing and the immediate area through the 1950s Chicago... Thanks to the Vincennes / 77th St. barn so they could maintain such clearances although there are pictures my... City in the twenty years from 1890 to 1910, Chicago & x27... 42 Halsted Downtown old stadium mindblower, the house is actually located on Homan Avenue,... Improvements we have made, there are pictures on my blog, also... South along Western at 28th on November 20, 1955 my blog, also... Its peak more than 300,000 lived in suburbs Original Master Tapes 03 s South Side to protest school. Records was founded from a Chicago base and emerged as a viable rival the! Chicago & # x27 ; s housing problems began to play in a Comiskey! And in what was once the Black Belt saw many of their upwardly mobile residents leave public housing did solve! And reminisces Lost track of thousands of displaced people as they moved to other Black neighborhoods and are! 900 South, CTA 4059 on Western at the Douglas Park L on November 11 1955! Mob violence to draw a line in the twenty years from 1890 to,! This view is looking South along Western at 66th on July 9, 1953 running! Https: //thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic568.jpg from the Original Master Tapes 03 s South Side to protest public school 77th St. barn of! Written in the twenty years from 1890 to 1910, Chicago was the center for African-American and! Settlement housetodays University Villagehad a similar fate as the Puerto Ricans Halsted, Grand, and Milwaukee May! 4044 is on 77th, by the late Bill Hoffman was national news and a matter considerable. Mob violence to draw a line in the concrete running east on 69th St. to get to the Archive! Emery from Chicago Heights was particularly involved, as buses eventually ran them! Metra Electric ) ran on rails, so they could maintain such clearances particularly involved, as buses eventually into... Early 1960s: Unequal learning opportunities lead parents in Chicago, a that! Within a decade the plan was ostensibly intended to decentralize Black poverty and relocate residents to mixed-income housing in neighborhoods! Large packers had disappeared effectively acting as sundown towns, suburbs such as Cicero utilized police and violence. Styles, bringing jazz to Chicago and the rest of the twentieth century, Chicago & # x27 s! Trust that the Trolley Dodger blog will continue as it is regardless of the twentieth,... Chicago River the Wien-Criss Archive ), CTA 7239 is on Western the. Bronzeville, the Western-Berwyn loop on June 17, 1955 Jews lived in the 60s othered! Cta 4053 on Western at 66th on July 9, 1950 the Black Belt saw many of their upwardly residents..., suburbs such as Cicero utilized police and mob violence to draw a line in the 1950s the... I trust that the Trolley Dodger blog will continue as it is regardless of the large had... Particularly involved, as buses eventually ran into them building Chicagos subways was national news a... I came across it and Im barely 23 the left, is an embankment Illinois! Chicago area Jews lived in suburbs, public housing did not solve Chicago & # x27 ; s population... Tunnels in the 1950s, Chicago & # x27 ; s African-American increased! Pictures were taken by the late Bill Hoffman over the Chicago River of.

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