NRHP #84000347
1802 N. Lincoln Park West
Chicago, IL
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chicagogeek
Member since 2005
- Taken on April 3, 2010
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ihynz7 17 months ago | reply
how cool
p.t.writer 9 months ago | reply
Corner of Menomnee Street
I was born in this house in 1938.
It was considered a poor mostly German
& Italian neighbourhood then. My dad who was a lawyer, worked for
Alderman Paddy Bauler, of the 43rd Ward. Paddy (whose real name
was Mathias Bauler). He was the last of the Saloon Keeper Politicians
made famous in the book, Lords of The Levee .
Paddy reigned along
with Bathouse John, and Hinky Dink as the political bosses of Chicago.
Paddy owned the Vine Garden Saloon, corner of Sedgwick street and
North Avenue, next to Kuhn's German Delicatessen where they
had a big pickle barrel. A nickel a schickel...
My parents,
told me they bought 1802 N.Lincoln Park West (Corner of
Menominee Street) for a total of $300 around 1937 or 1938.
It was the era of the (Mayor) Kelly-Nash political machine...
Jake Arvey & Richard J Dalely came along much later
Al Capone gave free tickets for Boy Scout free Baseball
Days at the Cubs Park .
They eventually sold the house to a chap named James L.Angle,
who at the time was the director of the Chicago Historical Society,
located at North Avenue and Clark Street. He remodelled it.
Price aroud $2,000.
We moved nearby. I heard the house sold around 2002
for nearly $2 Million. Is that true?
Growing up in that neighborhood, I attended a nearby Catholic School,
St Michael's on North Avenue & later a private school at 330 Webster Avenue
( Francis W. Parker). As a kid, went to a German Lutheran Church
around the corner run by Reverend Frederich Berghoffer.
I was told the house was a farm house that pre-dated the
Chicago fire Address was originally called #1 North Park.
But it was Lincoln Park West in my time.
There was an authentic Swiss Chalet next store.
I wonder if that is still there.
In my time the house was painted entirely battleship gray.
It is much prettier now than it was. Same tar-paper roof though.
Shingles would be appropriate.
The prestige building in the area at that time was called "Crilly Court."
That's where the rich kids lived. Or on Astor Street.
The local cheap restaurant was Thomson's Cafeteria on North Avenue and
Clark street, which was across from the Gold Coast Movie Theater.
The favorite local hangout where kids could go with parents in those
days was the German brewery on Larabee street - forgot the name.
Maybe it was "Berghoff's" who also had a great restaurant downtown.
Another great German restaurant was The Golden Ox.
That was near the big public housing project (???-Green) on Division
street that was already a slum then.
On nearby Sedgwick street, there was a trolly line and the local
kids enjoyed putting copper pennies on the tracks
over and over till they became as big a pancakes.
It was a simpler time.
Well, hope you enjoyed my reminisces. Sept. 2012