Prairie Avenue

For history buffs like me who love old architecture and are fascinated by the people that once lived in these buildings there is a wonderful area in South Loop that has been reborn. Designated a Chicago Landmark on December 27, 1979 the Prairie Avenue District located about two miles from downtown Chicago, is truly a historical area. What makes it so unique after all these years is its rebirth. Once an area known for its opulence and considered Chicago’s most fashionable residential street, it also experienced years of steady decline and was home to vice, scandal, and crime. Now, less than 100 years later, its character has come full circle through the mansions that grace its street. On-going construction has revived this area and made it one of the most highly sought after neighborhoods in which to live. In doing so, Prairie Avenue has been re-designed to incorporate new with the old. The handful of existing restored mansions, built over 100 years ago, costing over $200,000, now stand along side grand new homes costing millions of dollars. Some of the famous people who helped make Prairie Avenue a historical venue worth remembering are Marshall Field, Philip Armour, George M. Pullman, Joseph Sears, William Wallace Kimble, and Fernando Jones, to name a few.

Chicago's newest landmarks

Gravity-fed rooftop water tanks are among Chicago's newest landmarks. When Chicago rebuilt after the 1871 fire, rooftop tanks were considered a practical addition to prevent widespread damage to the city if another devastating fire occurred. But by the 1990's thousands of tanks had been demolished severing the history of the way people were tied to these tanks. Currently there are only 178 tanks remaining, 91 of which are still operating. Ronald Carlson of Johnson & Carlson, 3312 W. 111th Street, has studied these tanks and knows how to service them as well. Many of us who grew up in Chicago remember these magical tanks that often advertised companies' wares. It's sad to see them slowly disappear.

In 1884 William Le Baron Jenney built the first completely iron-and-steel building in Chicago at the corner of LaSalle and Adams. It was called the Home Insurance building. This feat kicked off what would be transformational architecture catapulting Chicago as the leader in erecting skyscrapers. This building was demolished in 1931. The LaSalle Bank Building now stands on this corner.

Check out the articles about preservation efforts in Chicago at http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/theskyline/historic_preservation/index.html

I recently reviewed The Complete Public Enemy Almanac by William J. Helmer and Rick Mattix for ReaderViews. This beautifully bound 889 page hardcopy book is a must have for any person interested in true-crime. Chock full of gangster and outlaw events of the 1920’s to 1940’s era, the authors have succeeded in presenting in chronological order, many little know facts that occurred in what they call the golden age of crime. The book may be a little daunting with its dialogue and graphic pictures, but it gives the reader a true sense of how life in America really was in those days and is an example of good stories often ignored because of the negative connotation they portray.

Each of the seven chapters is filled with nuggets of factual information that has been researched and documented by the authors. Besides just telling about the events that took place during this era, the authors provide in-depth information about the evolution of official police departments, passage of amendments, inception of cooperative crime control, and the development of criminal identification in crime detection laboratories in Chicago. Throughout the book, events occur in chronological order giving the reader a sense of order enabling an easy transition from one event to the next.

An entire chapter is devoted to “quotable quotes.” You can read about Al Capone’s colorful remark about prohibition in which he says “When I sell liquor, they call it bootlegging. When my patrons serve it on silver trays on Lake Shore Drive, they call it hospitality” and “You can get much farther with a smile, a kind word, and a gun than you can with a smile and a kind word.” One chapter’s focus is on mobsters and outlaws and explains the difference between consensual crime and violent crime. Included in this chapter are short biographies of gangsters and outlaws who achieved notoriety.

Countless hours of research went in to gathering and documenting all of the information found in this book. It could never be read in one sitting, nor would you want to rush through the meticulously scribed information. To aid in taking your research even further, the authors provide nearly 60 pages of bibliographical resources. That in itself is an added treat.

I would recommend this book for any historical researcher who needs accurate facts and information on how crime has influenced politics and culture. In addition, the book is filled with newspaper headlines, cartoons, pictures, and biographies about the golden age of crime. This would make a great bedside book on a dark, stormy night.

Pick it up at your local library today and learn all about Chicago's infamous gangsters.

Saving Historic Chicago

We must all do our part in preserving the few historical buildings that remain in Chicago. One group that actively fights for the remaining historical landmarks and landmark neighborhoods is Preservation Chicago. Recently appointed Executive Director Jonathan Fine spends countless hours advocating for the prevention of the demolition of these buildings. Preservation Chicago consists of volunteers as well as elected members. Anyone can join this organization.