memories of living in the city for those over 50 (Chicago: for sale, apartments)

[baileyvpotter]

Started a thread on another forum about going back in time & many are responding about going back
to where they grew up. Thus this thread is for people who are over 50 and grew up in the
city of Chicago. Do tell about growing up in Chicago, you fondest memories, what you miss, where
you went to school & things you did for fun etc...

[baileyvpotter]

and the cheese stands alone. Anyway, here's some links maybe someone will enjoy.



Neonlicht | Forgotten Chicago | History, Architecture, and Infrastructure


60's Chicago Teen Scene Pt.2 - YouTube


60's Chicago Teen Scene Pt.1 - YouTube

Chicago Stone Greasers gangs - Chicago Gangs and Clubs

[jwaiter]

We played outside, all the time, 100 degrees we played baseball, -20 we built snow forts or skeeched on car bumbers, in between we played football, basketball, soccer, with the neighborhood kids. Played kick the can on summer nights while our parents sat in folding chairs on the stoop and drank alcohol.

[baileyvpotter]

I have to mention this PENNY CANDY. No wonder our dentist made a fortune but wait he gave us candy after he
cleaned or filled our cavities. They were all around Humboldt Park even across the street from schools. There
was a great one on Augusta just west of Homan called Sil's who always had a smile on his face and took our
bottles in exchange for cash to buy the candy.

[baileyvpotter]

Anyone over 50 with a computer left in Chicago?

[oddstray]

I miss catching fireflies on summer evenings over in the "prairie" (undeveloped parcels).
I miss the aroma of the Oreo cookies baking at the Nabisco factory.
I miss the two-hour thunderstorms that passed through on many summer afternoons.
I miss free Grant Park concerts.
I miss having decent public transportation.

I don't miss winter At.All.

[ChicagoMeO]

I miss **** Robin square ice cream, the corner Polish store, walking 2 blocks to school, going to the park to play on the swings and ride down the slide onto the concrete, riding a bike without a helmet (we never got hurt, i cant figure this current trend of bike helmets); riding to the park and going swimming in the big pool, going Trick or Treat, not staying out past the street lights coming on for the evening, going out to play with freinds by walking down the street & standing in front of their house and calling to them, we'd say "yo-oh Barbara". playing "school" on the steps of my front porch, recess in school where you can get a whole handful of candy for 5 cents! warm milk pint bottles of milk gently warming on the school radiator (yes it tasted good for some reason); going on family trips to California down Route 66, and staying in the mom and pop motels along the way.

[nightlysparrow]

Having arty bohemian parents, I accompanied them to coffee houses like It's Here on Sheridan Road, where beatniks read poetry and played chess. Went on school tours to Argonne National Laboratory to learn about the atomic bomb. Went to see Lawrence Ferlinghetti read his poems at the old Latin School on Dearborn. Saw The Beatles first tour at the International Amphitheatre and their second at Comisky Park. I went to the movies at the local Playboy Theatre (not the club) on Division and Dearborn, where Bunnies in full costume took tickets and worked the popcorn counter. Saw all the British Invasion bands at the Arie Crown Theater at the new modern McCormick Place. Became the archetypal Wells Street hippie, and lived over the old Piper's Alley. Saw Jefferson Airplane and Janis Joplin at Mother Blues. Bought my first lid on the street for 5 dollars. Went to the Human-Be-In in Lincoln Park with condoms blown up as balloons. Worked at the old Globe Theatre at North and Clark; the Art Institute; Follett Publishing on West Washington in the Loop; and World Book Encyclopedia at the Merchandise Mart. I remember when Marina City was being built, and how ultra-modern it looked, and when the Prudential Building was the tallest in Chicago.

[baileyvpotter]

There were apartments above piper alley?

[nightlysparrow]

Originally Posted by baileyvpotter

There were apartments above piper alley?

There was a Victorian-era building, 1606 N. Wells St., on the south side of the opening to Piper's Alley. It had a sky blue painted door. On the ground floor was a store, Caravan, that sold gifts and jewelry from Morocco, India, Africa. Above the store were 3 floors of apartments; I lived on the first floor above the store. The dining room bay window looked northward onto Piper's Alley, as did two bedrooms, one at the back of the building, looking westward (mine). The Alley curved, so my window actually looked toward the back of the Alley.

Couldn't find a pic with a cursory search, but here is a drawing:

Chicago. Pipers Alley On Wells Street Drawing by Robert Birkenes - Chicago. Pipers Alley On Wells Street Fine Art Prints and Posters for Sale