Memories of Jeffrey Manor?? (Chicago, Oak Lawn: homes, high school, tornado)

[Chitownjj]

I grew up at 100th and Crandon and attended OLGH. Actually the neighborhood is Jeffery Manor not Jeffrey

[EddieOlSkool]

Jeffery Manor reminds me of those neighborhoods in South or West Louisville, Kentucky that have houses that should be condemned but aren't because of legal loopholes

[Manigault]

Originally Posted by EddieOlSkool

Jeffery Manor reminds me of those neighborhoods in South or West Louisville, Kentucky that have houses that should be condemned but aren't because of legal loopholes

Well, it doesn't look like that to me. Some foreclosures (a few!) are not inhabited and are awaiting rehab. There is an active market for those houses and many of them are undergoing rehab right now. The place remains a vibrant community with low crime, good transportation, well-kept lawns and a 'suburban feel.'

There are 2 bedroom townhouses going for sale in the Manor for under $30k! That's a great deal for many folks.

[dcisive]

Geez a year doesn't go by in "The Manor" without several murders, rapes and gang warfare erupting in the news. What rock are YOU living under? What you're describing is what it was like when I was growing up there in the 50's till later in the 60's when it all began going downhill.

[Master Jay]

Hello all, sad to read your comments. I had to look up the area. I see it is close to East Side, which has been a recent topic here on city-data.com, and from what I see, East Side does not have the same negative reputation that I am reading about The Manor. I do appreciate your stories of growing up there, however. It is always nice to hear about great memories from one's youth. I hope all are well!- Master jay in Milwaukee

[Nearwest]

I knew some people who grew up in the neighborhood to the immediate north of Jeffery Manor: Pill Hill. This was the nickname given to that area of Calumet Heights. All of them were Jewish and had attended both Warren ES and Bowen HS.

We went to the original Markon's Deli, which was located on Jeffery and 91st St. Across the street from the deli was a synagogue, Temple Rodef Sholom.

Markon's moved to Lincoln Park and became known as Mel Markon's.

I believe that the synagogue closed in the early 1970s, and I remember that my friends' families had moved from Pill Hill by 1972-73, due to racial resegregation in that neighborhood.

[Manigault]

Originally Posted by dcisive

Geez a year doesn't go by in "The Manor" without several murders, rapes and gang warfare erupting in the news. What rock are YOU living under? What you're describing is what it was like when I was growing up there in the 50's till later in the 60's when it all began going downhill.

Well, since I reside there I guess I just ignored all that rapin' and stabbin' goin' on. It seems quiet to me but I guess its just my blinders.

It seems folks who do not live in the neighborhood are much more credible witnesses as to local conditions.

[dcisive]

Yo Manigault. All one has to do is read or listen to Chicago's news. Sadly the "Manor" is a far cry from days of old. it's reputation was gained for a credible reason. I'm sure you're a good and decent person indeed. In no way a member of the gangs that infested that neighborhood. They are by far the reason for it's demise. I'm glad you haven't been a victim of the area. Bensley Park and several others seem to be a gathering place of the trouble that has plagued your neighborhood. A quick visit over to Youtube will reveal your trouble makers and their sick videos of how they love to fight and cause trouble. Too bad law enforcement couldn't just go house to house and gather them up and take them to where they belong.

As for "Pill Hill" it's not only where many a doctor lived back in the 50's and 60's but my dad's friend from work that they commuted downtown with also lived there. My doctor had his office near the corner of 87th and Jeffrey. I attended South Shore Temple on Jeffrey as well. Indeed we lived a life with no real concern for our safety back in those days. Taking a bus downtown for the day visiting the radio stations and in my case music stores, having lunch at Wimpy's Hamburgers and more. I remember well taking the buss to 71st Street and going to the Jeffrey Theater to see the release of "Help" by the Beatles. Then dinner on the corner of 71st street and then home. Sadly the fun came to and end when I was in 8th grade at Luella School and having taken the bus downtown for a fun day at the music stores was coming home through Hyde Park and a couple of drunk African American's didn't like the fact I was white and grabbed me by the neck. Fortunately his buddy took his hand off my neck. When I got off the bus at 96th and Yates a block or so from my home at 97th and Crandon, I ran home traumatized. We moved later that summer before I began High School so never had to attend Bowen High which was already having issues. Our move was timed rather perfectly. My High School days on the North Shore were great and nothing but enjoying. Sorry if there are folks out there that don't have that option.

[Master Jay]

dcisive, are you comfortable to share which neighborhood you moved to for high school?... Hopefully it has maintained a happy area, as you remember it, still in 2019! I do appreciate your stories of these good ol' days! I'm only 46, but when I hear stories of people even from the 1950s up until the mid 1960's it just sounds like so many great and somewhat care-free times! Sincerely- Master Jay in Milwaukee

[dcisive]

It would be beyond easy to write a book regarding the typical lifestyle and experiences growing up in the 50's and 60's in Chicago. Nearly nobody would argue it was indeed a completely different world we lived in. I'd have to say sadly, one of the most influential things regarding the downfall of this country was after the murder of President Kennedy in 1963 we all felt stunned and hurt. The furthering of the Vietnam war was a huge component as well. Then the whole Hippie/drug and AntiWar movements and disturbances were a downturn in life in Chicago. The Democratic Convention where Mayor Daley had his hands full coupled with the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King all signaled the discourse that was to be a thorn in Chicago's side to come.

I wasn't trying to get off channel but rather just setting the stage for which things were quite different PRIOR to all of that stuff happening. The Manor was truly an idyllic place that those of us who lived our childhood there in the 50's and 60's would say it was amazingly like living "Leave It To Beaver". Don't laugh it truly was. You could ride your bike in your neighborhood day or night without a care in the world. Within the entire Manor most people would know who you were, whether they knew your parents or had met or become acquainted via a Parents and Teachers meeting at the school. Mom's typically stayed home, gave their kids lunch when they'd walk home for lunch from school. Kids respected and honored their teachers and their parents. Not like today to be sure.

Taking a CTA bus anywhere in the city was safe and a wonderful adventure. It was affordable and you could go nearly anywhere you needed if you had to. During the summers in the Manor there was a guy named "Archie" who drove a converted school bus full of nick knacks, a barrel of fresh dill pickles, candies and all kinds of houseware stuff for sale. The Good Humor Ice Cream guy made the rounds as well. So did a old man on a converted bike with a popcorn maker. Saturday's one typically heard the sound of lawn mowers going and us kids playing wiffle ball in the streets. There were so many wonderfu shops designed to be and located on the 95th Street shopping Center at the end of the Manor's north side. There was a major grocery store, a shoe store, a bakery, 5 & Dime Sore, Pharmacy, Bowling, Restaurant (Topps), Hardware Store, Hillmans Groceries, Henry's burgers and more, right there a block from our home. What a treat. Then across from what was then Luella Elementary on 100th street was Moise Pipic's hot dogs (the BEST) and good ole' Bennies Candies and Butcher shop. I remember during summers our parents took my brother and I down Hwy 41 towards Hammond, IN. to the drive in for a movie. Mom made salami sandwiches and we had chips and Coke with them watching the movies. Man those were the days.

I remember one winter around the mid 60's the street were frozen over completely and I literally ice skated across several street unabated. What seemed like a nice long bike ride to the steel mill areas was fascinating too. I even remember one Friday late afternoon there was a tornado just west of the Manor that took out trees big time with tons of branches everywhere and some folks had tiles blown off their roofs. That was both scary and exciting.

As I'd mentioned we planned to move after my graduation from 8th grade in June of 1967. Our best friend which were neighbors behind us (we were on the Crandon side they on the Brennan side with a gate our parents put in so we could visit easily) had decided to move that spring and were trying to convince my folks to join them in Highland Park. My parents drove up there to look at houses and found one that would work a little over a block from our friends having a home built. I'll never forget we took the Chicago Northwestern train up to Highland Park from downtown having parked there to register for High School that July as it would be starting in September. It felt like such an adventure and indeed it was like another world (as in a good thing). I had played guitar since I was 10 (1963) and signed up for Music Theory. My freshman year met up with some others in my Highland Park High School class and created a band. We ended up good enough to get jobs making money at it. What a treat. Had many friend in High School where on the South Side had very few altogether. It was a great experience. Needless to say there was NO crime up there to speak of. So that part of one's life was over as compared to Chicago. Sorry for the ramble but that's what happens when I get started. Who knows.......maybe a book will come out of all this. But I'll end with this. Some who left the Manor via their parents felt ripped apart or taken before their time and didn't wish to leave. For me it was NOT that way. It was a good move......I'll just leave it at that.