via "Chicago's North Side Switching" and Tom Burke"This photo shows the old C&E station at roughly Montrose Avenue, with Graceland Cemetery in the background.
This is the Buena Yard where the Milwaukee Road and the Chicago Rapid Transit interchanged freight cars.
Today the Buena Yard and the interchange tracks are replaced by Challenger Park, a linear park starting at Grace and going up towards almost Irving Park Road. The park is named after the former Challenger space shuttle."
Interesting tidbit from the comments:
"Those of us who lived through the Challenger Park debacle recall - and have the newspaper articles that prove -- that Challenger Park got its name from all the "challengers" who objected to the formation of Challenger Park. The community challengers objected to incoming alderman Shiller's deal to hand over the existing Park District playlot in the 4300 N Kenmore block to a developer and then replacing it with a the Buena Circle playlot located under the noisy and filthy El tracks. The Challengers also objected to the closing of Clifton St that used to run north/south from Irving Park and Montrose between the west side of the El tracks and the Graceland Cemetary wall in exchange for the one-way alley under the El tracks that still has no track shields to prevent debris from falling on cars parked below. The Challengers also objected to the give away of the use of the new "community park" for exclusive Cubs parking use. The losing alderman in that campaign pushed through the paper work to formally name the park "Challenger Park" before Shiller took office.
The Park District and Shiller have tried to re-write history and spin the tale that says that the park was named for the Challenger disaster to hide the historical truth."
One of my favorite photos! Thanks for reposting.
ReplyDeleteCorrection: The line that says that Challenger Park was named for the Challenger disaster is not true. It is the urban tale that the Park District and Shiller invented to hide the history of dissent and objection to the give-away of good park property in exchange for this lousy piece of land.
ReplyDeleteThose of us who lived through the Challenger Park debacle recall - and have the newspaper articles that prove -- that Challenger Park got its name from all the "challengers" who objected to the formation of Challenger Park. The community challengers objected to incoming alderman Shiller's deal to hand over the existing Park District playlot in the 4300 N Kenmore block to a developer and then replacing it with a the Buena Circle playlot located under the noisy and filthy El tracks. The Challengers also objected to the closing of Clifton St that used to run north/south from Irving Park and Montrose between the west side of the El tracks and the Graceland Cemetary wall in exchange for the one-way alley under the El tracks that still has no track shields to prevent debris from falling on cars parked below. The Challengers also objected to the give away of the use of the new "community park" for exclusive Cubs parking use. The losing alderman in that campaign pushed through the paper work to formally name the park "Challenger Park" before Shiller took office.
The Park District and Shiller have tried to re-write history and spin the tale that says that the park was named for the Challenger disaster to hide the historical truth.
BTW, along this area is where access to the El could and should have been re-located so that people who live between Irving Park and Montrose could have reasonable access to El services. Instead, most lakefront highrise dwellers in this area have to cram onto buses because it is such a long hike (up to 12 blocks) to the Irving Park or Montrose stations.
ReplyDeleteThe early proposals to reopen El access along this area were killed before before being openly discussed with the community by the Wilson TIF developer and Wilson Transit Associate team, who operated in a vacuum behind closed doors with the alderman. That is how we end up with two EL station located within 2 blocks at Montrose and Lawrence and none in the six blocks between Wilson and Irving Park.
Truthbearer - actually we have close-by stations at Lawrence and WILSON, then nothing until Irving Park. Thanks for the historical background; I always wondered why there was no Red Line L stop at Montrose.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of history - here's a bit of history regarding Buena Circle Park that many do not know. Years ago this was the site of a pond that was the "Lake" of St. Mary of the Lake Church! (Source: a long-ago church bulletin.)
No there is no reason to move the current L structure there. However, a station at Montrose would be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteFor those poor, sorry folks who have to walk a few blocks to their overcrowded buses, you should be pushing for a Sheridan Avenue subway or light rail line. Moving existing services from a densely populated area is not the solution.
Too bad there's no Metra station between Lawrence and Clybourn. An Addison stop, right by the Brown Line, would make a lot of sense esp. during Cubs season since of course a lot of the traffic that clogs the lakefront wards in summer is due to Cubs fans coming from the North Shore.
ReplyDelete