Kudos to the Uptown Chicago History blog for finding this amazing photo that is for sale now on EBay (the high-def version). This view has change drastically. You can see the corner of the Hotel Lafayette on the left that was demolished to make way for the current day Fire Department. The building further up on the left was demolished and the condominium with Jimmy John's now stands in its place. On the right you can see all of the buildings that were demolished to make way for Truman College. In the distance on the right, you can see a marquee that belonged to the DeLuxe Theatre. Amazing. Compare that with today's view below via Google.
I remember those days. The "DELUXE THEATER" was up on the right, where Truman Collage stands today, up from that, was the "YANKEE GRILL" where my mom and I had breakfast every Saturday morning before going grocery shopping at "HELLMAN" on Broadway. There was also an "A&P" on Wilson and Magnolia.
ReplyDeleteThe photo on ebay is titled "Uptown Chicago in decline." Hate to say it but the street in 1963 looks way more inviting to walk down than it does now in 2010.
ReplyDeleteIf you look closely at the picture from 1963, you will see a storefront with a sign that says "Liquortown." There are some things that haven't changed in 53 years....
ReplyDeleteWell, Lincoln Park wasn't so hot back then either. Friends of mine that went to and lived near Lakeview High said it was very bad over there too in the 60s and 70s.
ReplyDeleteIt was safer than miss kitty.
ReplyDeleteGreat Shot. I do remember the Hillmans grocery store on Broadway as well as the Tom McCahn shoe store there. With all the "Stuff" going on in your hood today per your blog, it was wayyyy safer back then. Even the kids I knew who lived in that area said they could walk up and down the area without fear. Although,it did change rapidly from 1963 to 1973 as did Wrigleyville. The common denominator were the Gangs. Back then their were the Latin Eagles around Lakeview High and the Gaylords around Sunnyside and Magnolia and now you have those others. Coincidence?
ReplyDeleteMiss Kitty's dangerous?
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm declawed ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think Molbop mean "then."
The good old days of the 60`s where the best. Uptown had their share of gangs back then too. I also rememeber my old neighborhood. Gangs settled their disputes with a good old fashioned fist fight. The streets in Uptown as most of Chicago where alot safer. Gangs still where around but you hardly ever seen or read about anyone getting hit by stray bullets as you do today and almost everyday in Chicago streets.
ReplyDeleteNothing is more dangerous than Ms. Kitty!!!
ReplyDeleteMy godfather used to owned the daily pay service called ALHELP which sad kitty corner from the Yankee Grill. My dad used to drive people out to their jobs. We would sit in Yankee Grill until the office open and my dad would drink a pot of coffee easily. When it was a dime a cup and refills were free
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