Welcome to the Front Porch. Glad you could join me as we continue to discuss growing up in the 40’s. I grew up in Wicker Park on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Wicker Park was originally a well to-do Jewish neighborhood. When I was growing up it was primarily Polish with a mix of Jewish, Italian and Irish families. There were also a few Black families in the neighborhood.
Most of the buildings were two or three story; some were split with a house in the front and one in the back. There were a number of six flats were you had 3 apartments in the front and 3 in the rear, Most of the Jewish families lived in large apartment buildings normally with 9-12 apartments. It was not unusual to find families living together in the same building. We had several related families living across from us and they also worked together in the same factory.
I lived on the 2100 block of Evergreen Avenue. The area was bounded by Damen Avenue on the East, Western Ave. on the West, North Ave. on the North and Division Street on th
e South. This was my corner of the world. Mostly everything that I would need could be found within this area.: school, stores, friends, shopping, and playgrounds. Wicker Park Grammar School was down the block and Tuley High School was within walking distance on Claremont Avenue. There was no need to bus, buy or take a lunch when schools were so close In the area you could find candy stores, where you could buy candy for a penny. Grocery stores were on both ends of Evergreen Avenue. I remember Blackstone because of their Bud Bowman and Oscar Mayer promotions. The companies would send out their mascots to sell their products. Drug stores could easily be found, and they had soda fountains. Of course there where taverns which sold beer by the pitcher. We had a number of fruit stores, a couple of shoemakers, and bakeries. In those days the milkman would deliver the milk to your doorstep. During the day junkmen traveled and sang out “Rag Ze Ly” along the streets by horse and wagon. I always waited for the peddler who would come with his horse and wagon selling fresh fruits and vegetables. A number of barns remained in the area to house the horses. The iceman delivered ice in the summer and the coal or oil men delivered coal or oil for the winter. For your special needs the knife sharpener would periodically come by to sharpen knifes. You knew everyone and had personalized service. This was entreunship at its best.
It’s getting late and time to say so-long for now. I hope you can come back next week and join me on The Front Porch as we continue to discuss growing up in the 40”s.
Sasiad
Most of the buildings were two or three story; some were split with a house in the front and one in the back. There were a number of six flats were you had 3 apartments in the front and 3 in the rear, Most of the Jewish families lived in large apartment buildings normally with 9-12 apartments. It was not unusual to find families living together in the same building. We had several related families living across from us and they also worked together in the same factory.
I lived on the 2100 block of Evergreen Avenue. The area was bounded by Damen Avenue on the East, Western Ave. on the West, North Ave. on the North and Division Street on th
e South. This was my corner of the world. Mostly everything that I would need could be found within this area.: school, stores, friends, shopping, and playgrounds. Wicker Park Grammar School was down the block and Tuley High School was within walking distance on Claremont Avenue. There was no need to bus, buy or take a lunch when schools were so close In the area you could find candy stores, where you could buy candy for a penny. Grocery stores were on both ends of Evergreen Avenue. I remember Blackstone because of their Bud Bowman and Oscar Mayer promotions. The companies would send out their mascots to sell their products. Drug stores could easily be found, and they had soda fountains. Of course there where taverns which sold beer by the pitcher. We had a number of fruit stores, a couple of shoemakers, and bakeries. In those days the milkman would deliver the milk to your doorstep. During the day junkmen traveled and sang out “Rag Ze Ly” along the streets by horse and wagon. I always waited for the peddler who would come with his horse and wagon selling fresh fruits and vegetables. A number of barns remained in the area to house the horses. The iceman delivered ice in the summer and the coal or oil men delivered coal or oil for the winter. For your special needs the knife sharpener would periodically come by to sharpen knifes. You knew everyone and had personalized service. This was entreunship at its best.It’s getting late and time to say so-long for now. I hope you can come back next week and join me on The Front Porch as we continue to discuss growing up in the 40”s.
Sasiad
