1971–Loyola Avenue @ Lakewood Avenue, view east 2025–the same location We are looking east toward the Loyola University campus, on the appropriately-named Loyola Avenue. Beyond the ‘L’ station we see the university’s Mertz Hall, only two years old when the 1971 photo was snapped. Did they really name that building after Fred Mertz on the … …

1922–Lake Street South (Corcoran Place) @ Central Avenue, view west 2025–the same location In 1922 ‘L’ trains ran on the ground here, parallel to the Chicago & North Western Railway embankment. The roadway on either side of the CNW was named Lake Street. This is the south version. Today ‘L’ trains have moved onto the […]

Because of Chicago’s rapid growth, by 1900 the city’s address numbers were a mess. There was no single system in use. Different parts of the city numbered addresses from the lakeshore, from the Chicago River, or from a major street like Western Avenue. Edward P. Brennan came up with a unified system, in which State […]

1934–Jeffery Boulevard @ 77th Street, view south 2025–the same location In 1934, a choice location on a boulevard in the South Shore community. Apartment buildings and brick bungalows. Down the block near 79th Street, the tower of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. In 2025, the same apartments and bungalows along Jeffery. Our Lady of […]

1948–Rush Street @ Pearson Street, view southeast 2025–the same location In 1948 the buildings here along Rush Street were still mostly walk-ups of two or three stories. That opened a view to Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile. The Continental Hotel (ne the Medinah Athletic Club) and the Tribune Tower tower over the scene. Today Rush Steet […]