This time in Streets and Squares let us travel to the Windy City - Chicago - in the U.S. state of Illinois. By going through the streets and squares and other places of the city, we get to know more about its history - as with all the previous cities we have visited in this article series.
The river that starts from Lake Michigan and divides the city is called - well, what do you know - Chicago River (with its South and North Branches), and later with the South Branch turning into Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
But why is it called the Windy City? It is quite usual that the winds are stronger for any place situated by water, whether an ocean or a big lake like in this case. That term has been used metaphorically to make out that Chicagoans were braggarts, but certainly also for Chicago being a naturally breezy area, situated on the shores of Lake Michigan.
Madison Street seems to be the divider to North and South Streets in Chcago.
ADDISON AVENUE - Thomas Addison (1793-1860) a renowned physician and scientist after whom the Addison’s Disease is named. Born in Longbenton, Northumberland, England.
Armitage AVe - named either for Thomas Armitage (1824-1890) a physician and founder of the American Bible Union, born in Tilgate, Sussex, England, or for a A. Armitage, listed as a mason in Chicago in 1849.
Cermak Rd (North Riverside) - Anton Cermak (1873-1933) politician and the 44th mayor of Chicago. Born in Kladno, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary.
CLARK STREET BRIDGE - George Rogers Clark (1752-1818) was a surveyor, soldier and militia officer. He is best known for his celebrated captures of Kaskaskia (1778) and Vincennes (1779) during the Illinois Campaign, which greatly weakened British influence in the Northwest Territory. Born in Albemarle County, Virginia.
CLINTON STREET (N&S, West Loop Gate) - DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828) was a mayor of New York (twice), and also presided over the construction of the Erie Canal - a project that greatly helped the commercial growth of Chicago.
DAMEN AVE (N&S) - Arnold Damen (1815-1890) was a Dutch Jesuit priest who was active in Chicago. He founded Holy Family Church and St. Ignatius High School. Born in De Leur, Holland.
DEARBORN STREET BRIDGE (across Chicago River) - Henry Dearborn (1751-1829) was a general, revolutionary war hero and statesman.
NORTH ELSTON AVENUE - Daniel Elston was an English merchant who came to Chicago in 1833. He manufactured soap and candles, and later erected a brewery. He also served as a school inspector and alderman.
Fullerton Ave - Alexander N. Fullerton was one of the first three lawyers in Chicago, having moved there from Vermont in the 1830s. W
HALSTED STREET (N&S) - William H. and Caleb O. Halsted, Philadelphia bankers who made large investments in Chicago real estate in the 1830s. The street ran through their property, and they ceded valuable rights to the city. W
IRVING PARK ROAD - Washington Irving (1783-1859) was a writer, historian and diplomat. Born in New York City, New York
KEDZIE AVENUE (N&S) - John H. Kedzie (1815-1903) was an American lawyer, real-estate developer, and politician. W
LA SALLE STREET (N&S) - Robert de la Salle (1643-1687) was a French explorer who explored the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico. W
NORTH CLYBOURN AVENUE - Archibald Clybourn (1802-1872) was an early Chicago settler who built the first slaughterhouse there. He also served as Chicago’s first constable.
NORTH LARRABEE STREET - William M. Larrabee was a railroad executive who managed multiple rail companies in the Chicago area from the 1840s to the 1860s.
NORTH SEDGWICK STREET - Robert Segdwick (1611-1656) colonist and real estator in British America. Born in Woburn, Bedfordshire, England.
PULASKI ROAD (S) - Casimir Pulaski (1745-1779) Polish nobleman and American Revolutionary War hero. Military commander both in Europe & America (under General George Washington). Born in Warsaw, Poland. W
RUSH STREET (N) - Benjamin Rush (1746-1813) physician, social reformer and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Born in Byberry, Province of Pennsylvania, British America.
WACKER DRIVE (S/W/E) - Charles Wacker (1856-1929) businessman, Chairman of the Chicago Plan Commission and philanthropist. From Chicago.
WELLS STREET (N&S) - William Wells (c.1770-1812) was a United States Army officer who had lived among native Americans, and knew their ways. He served in the War of 1812 where he was killed as a kind of traitor by Potawatomi warriors.
WEST KINZIE STREET - John Kinzie (1763-1828) fur traderer who when he moved to Chicago was among the first permanent European settlers there. Born in Quebec City, Province of Canada
A to Z FROM CHICAGO
i.e. a list of people born in Chicago. Just another fun way to know something more about the city. We pick a couple of people for each alphabet, if possible. The numbers you see at the end of each line indicate the year of birth. This list is updated from time to time. And last but not least: the flag, logo or coat of arms of the city – if there is one!
A - Alfred S. Alschuler* architect (1876)
B - William J. Bell* screenwriter/ television producer (1927)
C - Michael Crichton* author/screenwriter (1942)
D - Walt Disney* animator/writer/film producer (1901)
F - Harrison Ford* actor (1942)
G - Benny Goodman* musician (1909)
H - Hugh Hefner* magazine publisher (1926)
J - Quincy Jones* musician/ composer/ producer (1933)
K - Gene Krupa* drummer (1909)
L - John Landis* film director/producer (1950)
M - Michael Mann* film director/writer/producer (1943)
N - Eliot Ness* Prohibition agent (1903)
O - Michelle Obama* lawyer/former First Lady (1964)
P - Mandy Patinkin* actor (1952)
R - Edgar Rice Burroughs* author (1875)
S - Pat Sajak* television host (Wheel of Fortune) (1946)
W - Harold Washington* lawyer/first black mayor of Chicago (1922)
Y - Robert Young* actor (1907)
Z - Robert Zemeckis* filmmaker/screenwriter (1952)
Sources:
Mental Floss - Streets in Chicago (Wikipedia) -
Updated 29.8.2022