south side chicago 1950s

From the 1920s through the 1950s, Chicago's South Side was the center for African-American culture and business. 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. Maps of Chicagos early ethnic composition show that immigrants and their descendants lived in clusters. . During the 1950s, Puerto Ricans began to arrive in the city of Chicago. Required fields are marked *. 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. These have been digitized, and we are now offering over three hours of 1950s traction audio recordings that have not been heard in 60 years. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4375 is at 69th and Hamilton on November 5, 1954. 02. This segment focuses on the Chicago Outfit during the period after Prohibition. Clock (in Explore 9/20/09). Some southbound (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7160, viewed from the Douglas Park L (todays Pink Line), is operating on Western at 21st on June 15, 1955. In the early years of the twentieth century, Chicago was the fastest-growing city in the U.S. The South Side is the area of Chicago lying south of the citys large Downtown area. From the 1920s through the 1950s, Chicago's South Side was the center for African-American culture and business. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7123 on Western at 66th on July 9, 1950. 3:45 Box motor #5 Chicago Southside 1950's 95 square miles of the 228 square miles were considered the "south side". 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). You can see the shadow of the now-gone Ogden Avenue viaduct at the bottom of the photo. 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. While Chicago Housing Authority was right on target for claiming the programs of urban redevelopment, urban renewal and public housing which . 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. The River Tunnels 14. Why not mention that the Panama Ltd and the City of Miami operated there on the tracks nearest to Cottage Grove; not to mention IC freight activity and such trackage rights New York Central trains as the James Whitcomb Riley and the Twilight Ltd? Tom. Greg Nye. The only way to get there (still with usable tracks and live trolley wires) was along 69th St. to Wentworth (200 W.), south to 73rd St. at Vincennes, then southwest on Vincennes to the barn at 77th. 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 (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7039 is at Western and 71st on August 12, 1955. Re: pic508, car 4008 on Wabash Avenue. Cheryl Johnson and Peggy Salazar, lifelong residents of Chicago's South Side, grew up in some of the city's most polluted neighborhoods, in the shadow of dirty industries, including steel. 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. Store which was acquired by the Sears interests who replaced the original Becker-Ryan building. Another 537 were injured, more than half of whom were Black. 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. . To the left, is an embankment where Illinois Central commuter trains (now Metra Electric) ran. 5:37 Cars #606, 605, and 601, December 31, 1954 St. Louis Public Service: After its peak in the 1950s, a variety of changes influenced the direction the Outfit took. The Union Stock Yard finally closed its doors on August 1, 1971, after nearly 106 years of operation. 01. On the South Side Existence in Chicago's South Side in the 1950's was harsh. Extending trolly lines is much easier and economical than L tracks. ISBN 1467129380, 9781467129381 It was converted to apartments in 1985. 04. Note the difference in fonts used for the numbers. Not quite CSL sold it in 1920s, but amazingly close! Rockwell is 2600 West. During the 1950s many residents called the northeast . I lived in Portland, OR for 6 years and they still have street cars. Seen in March of 1985 prior to demolition. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7239 is on Western at the Douglas Park L on November 11, 1955. 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. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA PCCs 4103 and 4076 pass each other while crossing the Chicago River on Madison Street. All Rights Reserved. st jerome croatian catholic church - celebtates 104th year. 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. Look at the bottom of the photo. The discriminatory practice known as redlining was a color-coded classification system implemented by the Federal Housing Administration that determined the value of housing based on the racial demographics of a neighborhood. The renovation plans of the 40s failed and building quality decreased. Most resided in Humboldt Park with Division Street being the heart of the neighborhood. This northeast corner was originally occupied by the long defunct Becker-Ryan Dept. (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. Visit the website (wttw.com/firsthand) to explore all of the elements of the project. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA PCC 4101 is westbound on Madison, but where did it cross the Chicago & North Western? (Wien-Criss Archive), The Streetcar Waiting Room at Archer and Western on November 15, 1954. Your email address will not be published. Another clue that helps pinpoint the date is the light lettering on dark background seen on license plates in this image. The PCC is going to go northbound on Route 22 Clark-Wentworth. Edition illustrated Building new lives in the 'Black Belt' by Alex Q. Arbuckle (opens in a new tab) 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. 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. . During the 1940s Mercury Records was founded from a Chicago base and emerged as a viable rival to the established major companies. This picture was taken on June 17, 1955 at Western and 71st. Altoona & Logan Valley/Johnstown Traction: 5:07 December 31. What was South Side Chicago like in the 1950s? And we thank you for sharing this helpful bit of history! 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. From the Original Master Tapes Also, its wonderful to see all the old advertising signs on the street cars and the buildings. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 640 is running under the L on Halsted at 63rd Place on May 25, 1954. Make No Little Plans (Wien-Criss Archive). They were in various neighborhood, suburbs. #535 looks north on Halsted from the L station, this was the main crossroads of the Englewood shopping district. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7157 is northbound on Western at 67th on June 15, 1955. 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. I can remember the screeching noises and sparks from when the connectors hit the wires. Photos 534, 535 & 536 Englewood, at 63rd & Halsted was one of Chicagos largest and most important commercial shopping districts outside of the loop. The price of $23.99 includes shipping within the United States. (Source: A. Copyright 2009-2018, New York Public Radio. What is the South Side of Chicago called? According to 2009 American Community Survey data, of Chicago's 77 community areas, 68 are home to a population of which at least 50 percent identify with a single racial group. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7243 is on Western at the Chicago River on June 10, 1956. 4:47 Cars #1797, 1759, and 1784 at 59th Street, December 31, 1954 The date is June 16, 1954. 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. 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. 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. Beautiful Vintage Postcards of Chicago's Restaurants from the 1950s and 1960s. Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1s: CHA high-rises were stigmatized by the city and the media, which portrayed them as vertical drug-ridden ganglands. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7118 is southbound on Western at Van Buren on November 3, 1954, with a train of wooden L cars about to cross Western on the temporary right of way for the Garfield Park L during expressway construction. Close to a third of Chicago neighborhoods were given a D grade and marked red on a mapthus, redlined. These areas, all of which were predominantly Black communities, were deemed undesirable, and residents from these neighborhoods were usually denied bank loans and insurance, severely limiting their housing prospects and mobility. Our friend Kenneth Gear recently acquired the original Railroad Record Club master tapes. 1950. The growing Black population eventually formed settlements farther south and up north in isolated and undeveloped areas along the Kinzie rail lines, Roosevelt, and the North Branch of the Chicago River. The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.Read the press release here. Black communities bore the brunt of the closings of fifty-plus Chicago Public Schools that were shuttered during former Mayor Rahm Emanuels administration. Pullman post-war PCCs did not disappear in one fell swoop. Chicago Skyline Downtown Chicago Chicago Restaurants Chicago Illinois Chicago Area Chicago City White Castle Restaurant White Castle Hamburgers South Side Chicago 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. History. Known as "Bronzeville," the neighborhood was surprisingly small, but at its peak more than 300,000 lived in the narrow, seven-mile strip. The YMCA Hotel was on the west side of the street; the car is northbound, as evidenced by the Downtown head sign. by Eddie from Chicago, via Flickr, Gage Park High School undermined by budget cuts, constant attacks. The City of Chicago broke ground on what would become the Initial System of Subways during the Great Depression and finished 20 years later. (Wein-Criss Archive), Northbound CTA PCC 7206 is on Western Avenue, passing a two-car train of PCC rapid transit cars on the Garfield Park temporary trackage in Van Buren Street. 8:40 Queens Plaza station, December 31, 1954 Capital Transit: 1:39 During street car years, the Illinois Central RR owned the entire embankment. From north to south, they were Hull House, the Stockyards, Blue Island, South Chicago, East Chicago, and as far as Gary, Indiana. 5:20 #80, October 1954 (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 4227 is on the turnback loop at Clark and Howard, the north end of Route 22. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7038 is on Western at Van Buren on June 11, 1956. (Really! CTA PCC 4144 is southbound on Halsted. 07. View of artists and attendees discussing one of the exhibited pieces during a show at the Southside Community Arts Center, in Chicago, Illinois, 1967. While in the South Side Chicago hoods along 83rd, 87th, and 95th streets the Black P. Stones have had a dominant presence since the 1970s. I trust that the Trolley Dodger blog will continue as it is regardless of the future of ChicagoTransit. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA PCC 4154 is at Waveland and Halsted, the north end of Route 8. The University of Illinois at Chicago's digital photo collections . In the 1940s and 1950s, and even into the 1960s, tiki bars popped up all over the United States, including in Chicago, as people . 4. White flight caused redlining as the community was now at almost 90% black by 1960. There are pictures on my blog, and also in my book Chicagos Lost Ls. Publisher Arcadia Publishing (SC), 2018 Median income and employment plummeted, and L ridership fell. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA prewar PCC 4039 is at Cottage Grove and 115th, south end of Route 4. Women approach a news stand in Chicago in 1940. He would later say, I have been in the Civil Rights Movement for many years all through the South, but I have never seen not even in Alabama or Louisianamobs as hostile and hateful as this crowd. The Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968. Located in what used to a Buick showroom, it features a large taproom with a BYOF policy that encourages delivery. Chicago, though arguably racially diverse overall, is considered by researchers to be the nation's most racially segregated city. All those seem to date between 1952 and 1954. For a few months, Madison-Fifth continued as a shuttle operation between Madison and Pulaski, using older red streetcars. Second, they were all shared with our readers by Jeffrey L. Wien of the Wien-Criss Archive. 04. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7113 is in an area where tracks are being worked on, and is crossing over from one track to another using a temporary switch. https://thetrolleydodger.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/pic556.jpg Subways and Superhighways ), Now Available On Compact Disc The station was closed in 1952, probably just a few months before this picture was taken. 5:17 Much of the promised housing failed to materialize, and its uncertain whether the CHA will ever build new housing for the 40,000 families currently on their waiting lists. The South Side experienced a population shift during the move to suburbs following World War II. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7253 is on Western at Leland (by the Ravenswood L, now the Brown Line) on June 10, 1956. chicago Go To Homepage Before You Go Original Rainbow Cone on Western Ave in Beverly, Chicago: Grandma would take us on the bus to visit the cemetery and after we would stop at the Rainbow Cone! 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. Foursquare. He is still stuck on the poverty line, working a food delivery job to support his girlfriend Tami and their son Freddie. Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto: Striking B&W Photos Capture the Black Experience in 1940s South Side Chicago. First, they were all taken in Chicago during the 1950s. Can The New Affordable Requirements Ordinance Help Solve Chicagos Housing Inequality? (1) The red-and-white bus in the background belonged to the South Suburban Safeway Lines. (Wien-Criss Archive), CTA 7284 is on Western at the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal on October 8, 1953. Yusay beer stands out on a lot of the photos. There were three subway anniversaries in 2018 in Chicago: Photo 516 is not at Halsted and Waveland, it is a half a block north at the streetcar layover area wedged between Halsted and Broadway (Hence the Route 8 destination sign!). In the twenty years from 1890 to 1910, Chicago's African-American population increased . Two things in this picture: 13. Between 1950 and 1960, most white residents in Chicago's south side Woodlawn neighborhood fled as poor blacks moved in. 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 . (Wien-Criss Archive). There are 223,867 residents in South Side Chicago, with a median age of 36. A more detailed 1950s map showcases crowded clusters of Irish, Italian, and smaller ethnic groups establishing new communities across the city. A 2017 study by the Metropolitan Planning Council and the Urban Institute looked at Latinx/white segregation, finding considerable disparities in educational attainment, upward mobility, and generational wealth between these groups. And this photo is at 69th and Western, showing a northbound Western car turning east on 69th to head to the 77th St. barn. The Freight Tunnels US-born citizens make up 85.22% of the resident pool in South Side Chicago, while non-US-born citizens account for 7.1%. Disc Two Seen as one of the most massive internal movements in United States history, it was an era that sparked the Harlem Renaissance . Additionally, 7.68% of the population is represented by non-citizens. I always knew about racism growing up in the 70s, recall seeing the hippies in Old town. Seems to have been a good choice since the same building is still a Ford dealer today. (The Census Bureau didn't begin to identify "non-Hispanic whites" as a separate category until 1980, when that group accounted for . First time I came across it and Im barely 23! (Wien-Criss Archive), The date at which this photo of CTA PCC 4421 could have been taken, southbound on Clark at Van Buren, is a bit of a mystery. 07. That would be the old Paulina L that ran to Logan Square and Humboldt Park from 1895 to 1951. 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. 18. It costs money to maintain this website, and to do the sort of historic research that is our specialty.

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