Chicago's Bohemian National Cemetery-- Part 1: Meet the 'Cemetery Lady'

 From the October 11, 2020, Chicago Tribune "Inside Bohemian National Cemetery with 'Cemetery Lady' Helen Sclair" by Kori Rumore.

Bohemian National Cemetery, at Pulaski Road and Foster Avenue on the Northwest Side, is a burial ground that welcomes all on its 124-acre site with beautiful scenery and memorials to people and events important in Chicago history.

Helen Sclair knows a whole lot about this cemetery as well as the more than 700 burial sites in the Chicagoland area.  She is a tour guide to these cemeteries and says she never "seen a cemetery she didn't like."

The Bohemian National Cemetery, where more than 120,000 people are buried, is the result of tensions between the Roman Catholic Church and local immigrants who came to Chicago from Bohemia and Moravia, now known as the Czech Republic.  These immigrants, called Bohemians, were expected by the Catholic Church to make confession before death.  If not, they were banned from burial within Chicago's Catholic cemeteries.

--Cooter

Sears Kit Homes in Chicagoland-- Part 1: The Legacy

From the December 2, 2019, Chicago Tribune "Cataloging History" by Darcel Rocket.

"Once upon a time, you could purchase a home for less than $5,000.  The Barrington. The Lexington.  The Sheridan.  The Hazleton.  The Malden."

Sears, Roebuck and Co., well, Sears, sold thousands of mail-order kit houses from the early 1900s to 1942.  All you had to do was pick the model you wanted from the catalog and as long as you had the money and rail connections, you were good to go.

Joe and Mary Beth Turek have a Barrington kit home in Downers Grove, which back then cost $2,606 and came with everything from trim, windows, millwork and flooring and some 30,000.  Some assembly required.  Actually, lots of assembly.  You could either build it yourself or hire someone to do it.

The Hoffman Estates-based company has filed for bankruptcy and its days, sadly, are numbered.  But many of their kit homes still stand.

Probably the Legacy of Sears.  --Cooter

How the Jungle Gym Was Born-- Part 1: OUCH!! Stay Off Those Monkey Bars

From the November 29, 2018, Chicago Tribune by Christopher Borrelli.

You can see what is regarded as the first jungle gym in the U.S. in the backyard of the Winnetka Historical Society in Illinois, (north of Chicago).   "A monolithic, caramel-color 7-foot-tall cube of deliberately spaced sharp angles...  It looks as punishing as contemporary playground equipment is welcoming...  It's only concession to safety is the sandbox of wood chips beneath it."

Children, however, are not allowed to play on it.  But they do.

Boy, I sure remember jungle gyms, especially the one in Herman Park in Goldsboro, N.C., across from my grandparents' house.  And, yes, there were the occasional painful fall.  And, hitting the ground, as bad as that was, was further worsened by hitting bars on the way down.  A double, triple battering if you will.

Only, we called 'em monkey bars.

And, it IS the First, the VERY FIRST jungle gym.

What was that Bill Cosby used to say about playground items that he never saw adults on?

But Fun, Real Big Fun.  --Cooter

World War I Impact On Germans in Chicagoland and McHenry County, Illinois

I used to belong to an organization that had roots dating back to the 1880s and was German.  Germans could join and with membership came support as well as funds to help them in case of major medical expenses and burial.

I can't remember the name, as part of it was still in German, but think it it had something to do with Understubing, but part of the name was changed from German words to "Welcome Park" because of anti-German sentiment during World War I.

We live in Spring Grove, Illinois, and the town to the south of us is Johnsburg.  Both towns were settled largely by Germans.  I know of no histories written for either town about World War I, but suspect they also encountered anti-German sentiment.

--Cooter

Spooky Chicago

From the October 3, 2011, Yahoo! Contributors Network "Spooky Chicago legends" by Janon Taylor.

There are hundreds of stories about ghosts in Chicago.  CNBC has named Chicago one of the most haunted cities in the United States.

Three Haunted Spots:

1.  RESURRECTION MARY-- Dating to the 1930s.  She was a teenager at a dance, got into an argument with her boyfriend and was hitchhiking home when she was struck by a car on Justice Avenue in Justice, Illinois.

2.  BACHELOR'S GROVE--  Cemetery in Midlothian which has hundreds of stories about balls of light, mysterious sounds and ghosts.

3.  RED LION PUB--  2446 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.  Spirits of a different sort and ghosts in the bathroom.  It dates back to the 1800s.

Like, BOO!!!  --CootScared

Chicagoland "Blues Brothers" Filming Locations-- Part 3

These are all in Chicago:

DRAWBRIDGE JUMP:  95th Street Bridge at Calumet River, US-12.

CIGARETTE LIGHTER TOSSED:  9500 block of South Houston.

TRIPLE ROCK CHURCH:  Pilgrim Baptist Church at 3235 E. 91st Street.

STEEL MILLS:  opening shots  U.S. Steel South Works, 87th Street at Michigan Ave..

CURL UP & DYE BEAUTY SALOON:  8500 S. Burley Avenue.

PALACE HOTEL:  South Shore Country Club at 7059 S. South Shore Drive.

--What About Wrigley Field?  --DaCoot

Chicagoland "Blues Brother" Filming Locations-- Part 2

SCHILLER PARK:  Holiday Inn at 3801 Mannheim Road

PARK RIDGE--  State police traffic stop and chase.  The area reportedly the six-corners intersection of Talcott Rd., Devon Ave., and Courtland Ave.

CHICAGO:  Where Winnebago runs off the road.  Kennedy Expressway at Canfield Avenue.

CICERO:  Mrs. Taranfino's house.  1623 S. 51st Court

HARVEY:  Shopping Mall.  Dixie Square Mall at 15201 S. Dixie Highway.  Since torn down.

And a Whole Lot More Chicago Locales.  --Cooter

Chicagoland "Blues Brothers" Filming Locations-- Part 1

By Kevin Forsyth.

One of my favorite movies of all times was the 1979 "Blues Brothers" with John Belushi, Dan Achroyd and all that great music.

Some of the sites where scenes were filmed have changed drastically since 1979 and others are now gone forever.

WAUCONDA:The state police pileup was at US-12 and Il-176.  The beachfront concert announcement was at Phil's Beach on Bang's Lake at 336 Main Street (old US-12)

BUFFALO GROVE:  This is where the cop car flew into the truck on the northbound on-ramp to Illinois Highway 53 at Dundee Road.

DES PLAINES:  TheDes Paines Oasis Howard Johnson's on the Northwest Tollway, I-90, west of Mt. Prospect Road.

--Cooter

Lost Chicago: Gone, But Not Forgotten Services-- Part 2

Sinclair Gas (Where's Dino?  Loved that dinosaur statue.)

Kodak Photomarts

Hollywood Video

Illinois Bell

Gulf Gas  (No Knocks here)

Spectrum TV subscriptions

ONTV subscriptions

Standard Oil  (Always the most expensive)

Rusty Jones Rust Proofing  (Always felt so secure with him sitting on the hood of my car.)

Try Not to Hot That Little Ol' Store in the Parking Lot.  --Cooter

Lost Chicago: Gone, But Not Forgotten Services-- Part 1

From Craig's List.  These business are no longer in existence.

Magikist
Chicago Daily News
Chicago American (newspaper)

Skrudland Photo Service (I spent a lot of money developing pictures at the one on US-12 in Palatine, Illinois.
Chicago & Northwestern Railway.  This served our Northwest Suburbs and Dad rode it every workday to his job with Quaker Oats in the Merchandise Mart.

Jubilee Gas for Less
Fort Dearborn in Chicago at the corner of Van Buren and LaSalle streets  (OK, not a business)
Continental Airlines

--Cooter

Lost Chicago: Gone But Not Forgotten-- Part 4

B-GINNINGS--  Schaumburg (1974-1981)

NORTH AVENUE OUTDOOR THEATRE--  River Grove (1949-1973)

RIVERVIEW PARK--  (1904-1967)  The Bobs Roller Coaster scared me really badly.

RANDHURST TWIN ICE ARENA-- Mt. Prospect  (1973-1978)

RANDHURST--  Mt. Prospect  This mall was THE PLACE to hand out for high schoolers back in the 1960s, including us.  (1960s to around 2009)

THE THIRSTY WHALE--  River Grove  (1971-1996)

SHOW BIZ PIZZA PLACE--  Multiple Chicagoland locations (1980-1998)

HAWTHORN MELLODY FARMS--  Libertyville (1937-1970)

OLD CHICAGO SHOPPING MALL & AMUSEMENT PARK--  Bolingbrook  (1975-1980)  The first Mall of America.

DISCOVERY ZONE--  Multiple Chicagoland locations.  (1990-1999)

NORTH AVENUE ROLLERWAY--  Melrose Park  (1945-1998)

Sure Miss Randhurst.  --DaCoot

Lost Chicago: Gone But Not Forgotten-- Part 3

THE AXLE ROLLER RINK--  3 Chicago locations  (1974-1985)

SPORTSMAN'S PARK--  Cicero 1929-2002)

THE MONTCLARE THEATRE-- Chicago (1929-1985)

AMLING'S HAUNTED HOUSE--  (1950-19??)  The original and still best.

FISHERMAN'S DUDE RANCH--  Des Plaines (1956-1997)

CRAGIN ROLLER SKATES--  Chicago

COMISKEY PARK--  (1910-1990)

--Cooter

Lost Chicago: Gone But Not Forgotten-- Part 2

HARLEM OUTDOOR THEATRE--  Norridge (1946-1976)

POPLAR CREEK MUSIC THEATER--  Hoffman Estates (1980-1994)

MOTHER'S PINBALL--  Mt. Prospect

JENSEN TOBOGGAN SLIDES--   Norwood Park (19??-2008)

DISPENSA'S KIDDIE KINGDOM & CASTLE OF TOYS--  Oakbrook Terrace (1967-1984)

THE INTERNATIONAL AMPHITHEATER--  Chicago (1934-1999)

ADVENTURE LAND--  Addison (1961-1977)

Going Way Back.  --Cooter

Lost Chicago: Gone But Not Forgotten-- Part 1

From Craig's Lost Chicago site.

KIDDIELAND--  Melrose Park (1929-2009)
BELL'S APPLE ORCHARD--  Lake Zurich  (1939-1998)  (No fall complete without a trip there for apples.)  Now, there is a photo-enforced light located by its former location, one of many for Lake Zurich.)
MILL RUN PLAYHOUSE--  Niles (near Golf Mill mall) (1965-1984)

THE SPINDLE--  Berwyn (1989-2008)  (All those full-size cars on a huge spindle.)
OLSON MEMORIAL PARK--  Chicago (1935-1971)
53 DRIVE-IN--  Palatine  (1960-1986)  (Twin-screens, now the UPS site.)

HAYMAKERS--  Chicago Heights (19??-1984)
THE HUB ROLLER RINK--  3 Chicago locations (1950-1974)
SANTA'S VILLAGE--  Dundee  (1959-2006)  Has since reopened in reconfigured form.

--Memories--  Cooter

Chicago Lost Eateries-- Part 3

Buffalo's Ice Cream Parlor // Burger Chef // Cal's Roast Beef // Tad's Steakhouse ($1.19 steak meal located in Chicago, New York, Cincinnati and Philadelphia where even a poor boy on a date like me could take Liz and afford a steak meal.) //// Hans' Bavarian Lodge in Wheeling // Ignatz and Mary's Grove Inn in Northbrook // Sky-Hi Drive-In in Chicago (I don't remember it, but it had a full-size plane on its roof.) //// Roy Rogers' Roast Beef // Rustic Manor in Gurnee // I'm adding Mers in Wauconda for fresh-flown-in cod for Friday Fish Fry.) // The Magic Pan (crepes anyone?) //// Ponderosa Steak House //// Bonanza Sirloin Pit //// These last two had Hoss involved with them. There are some of both places still around elsewhere in the country. Recommending the Bonanza in Lincoln, Illinois, on Route 66, Home of the Rolls That Are So Good They Don't Need to Be Throwed and those hot, straight-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookies. //// Mr. Donut (which became part of Dunkin' Donuts) and, Cock Robin with those great Million Dollar Burgers and milk shakes!! //// Sure Brought Back Some Memories. --Cooter

Chicagoland Lost Eateries-- Part 2

Ground Round // Chi-Chis // Pickle Barrel (Dill pickles and peanuts at your table!! Who needs more?) //// Howard Johnson's // Henry's (hamburgers) //// Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips // JoJos // (I'm adding Sambo's, a hopelessly pi place, especially their mascots, 24-hour place. We had one in DeKalb where Pizza Pros is located now.) //// Chicken Unlimited // Millionaire's Club (Liz's dad belonged to the one in Des Plaines by Golf Mill for awhile. Loved to go there where you got treated like royalty and, even better, free alcoholic drinks. Bring on those Lime Rickeys.) //// Jack in the Box (I really miss these in the Chicagoland area. Believe me, when on the road, it is a definite stop for some of those delicious greasy tacos. Nearest one now is at Litchfield, Illinois, half way betweem St. Louis and Springfield, Illinois. We always stop there, even if full from our stop at Cozy Dog. We often see folks heading northward on US-66/I-55 ordering large numbers of tacos for friends. Lots of Jacks, as they're now called, around St. Louis and as far west as Sullivan, Mo. on 66.) //// More to Come. --DaCoot

Chicagoland Lost Eateries-- Part 1

From Craigs List "Chicago's Lost Eateries." I'm just listing the ones I remember, the list had considerably more places plus pictures. Check it out. Some are no longer in the Chicago area. Many of the names are national, so even if you didn't grow up in Chicagoland, you will remember them. //// Bessler's 33 Flavors // Wag's // Chateau Louise in Dundee // Shakey's Pizza Parlor // Boston Sea Party // Mr. Steak (Liz is sure Fatty's in DeKalb, Illinois, was an old Mr. Steak restaurant.) //// Winchell's (donuts) // Yankee Doodle Dandy // Carlos Murphys // Ron Santo Pizzeria (Yep, Ron Santo of the Cubs) // Steak and Ale. //// More to Come. --RoadDog

And, We've Had Bad Winters Before-- Part 1

From the January 5, 2014, Chicago Tribune "Chicago Flashback: '79 blizzard was debacle" by Stephan Benzkofer. //// It definitely hasn't been a great winter here in the Midwest Chicagoland area. We're approaching the annual average of snow already and, man has it been c-o-l-d!!! But, we've had them before. //// We had that Blizzard of '67 and then there were three straight winters in the late 1970s that just about did it for me as far as living here. //// January 13, 1979, we had this Blizzard of 1979. It was supposed to be a minor 2-4 inches, but over that weekend, 20.3 inches of snow was dumped on the Chicagoland area, at the time the second largest snowfall ever. It brought Chicago to a standstill and the City Hall's poor handling of it, broke the Machine's hold and caused Jane Bryne to beat Mayor Michael Bilandic in the Democratic primary and become Chicago's next mayor. (In Chicago, the Republicans don't stand a chance, so whoever wins the Democratic primary will be the next mayor.) //// Where "Let It Snow" Is Not a Liked Expression. --Cooter

The Mysterious 29: Did Frank Lloyd Wright Build Them?

From the July 6, 2008, Chicago Tribune by Blair Kamin, Tribune Critic.

There are 29 houses in the Chicago suburbs whose architect may or may not have been Frank Lloyd Wright. There are one each in Glen Ellyn and Wilmette, two in Berwyn (as Svenghoolie would say, "BERWY!!") and 25 in River Forest (including 24 of the 26 houses in the 700 block of William Street). Imagine a F.L. Wright subdision.

The problem is that there is little documentation. As such, the team exploring it looks for Wright's "artistic signature," like a meandering route to a front door.

Of course, these homes could have been designed by Wright-influenced architects or even ones working for him.

To Wright or Not To Wright. That Sure Would Be Neat to Find Out You Were Living In a Frank Lloyd Wright House. --Cooter

As We Lose Chicago's Dominick's Stores: A History

From the October 13, 2013, Chicago Tribune.

By the end of next month, the very last Dominick's grocery store will close in the Chicagoland area. Always sad to lose something that has been around that long, even if I rarely went to one.

HISTORY

Dominick's started in 1925 as a small corner market on Chicago's West Side by Italian immigrant Dominick DiMatteo, and his store eventually grew into Chicago's second-largest grocery chain behind Jewel. Between these two chains, they eventually chased other national chains, like Kroger, out by the 1970s and 1980s.

After a succession of owners, California-based Safeway bought Dominick's for $1.2 billion in 1998 and Dominick's became part of the nation's second-largest grocery chain.

In the first nine months of this year, Dominick's lost $13.7 million and has been losing market share for years to Wal-Mart, Costco and specialty markets until the store accounted for just 9% of local grocery dollars.

Sorry to See It Go. --Cooter