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Abraham Lincoln, "Judge."
While most people know Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer before becoming President, few may realize he also had experience as a judge. As an attorney, Lincoln worked in the Eighth Judicial Circuit in...
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Lillian B. Williams was Riverview Amusement Park's most popular freak show...
Unusual human beings have been exhibited in public since antiquity. The first traveling "freak show" appeared in 1738 in Europe. Curiosity is the motivating factor of the audience.For over 150 years,...
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The Legacy of Chicagoan David Kennison, Debunked.
RECORDED HISTORYMost Chicagoans have likely never heard of David Kennison (aka Kinnison). And yet, when he died here in 1852, his funeral was the largest affair of its sort in the history of Chicago....
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History of Shoppers Corner, at the northwest corner of State and Randolph...
Shoppers Corner, 150 North State Street, was located at the northwest corner of State and Randolph Streets in Chicago. It was a '5 & Dime' store that operated from 1938 to 1991. It was a popular...
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The Great Kiss-Off at Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, Illinois. 1974
June 8, 1974, the rock group KISS made an appearance at the Woodfield Shopping Center in Schaumburg, Illinois, to promote the “Great KISS Off” kissing competition.The contest began June 8 at noon, with...
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The Newberry Library and Walter Loomis Newberry's History.
Walter Loomis Newberry died on November 6, 1868, during a return trip from France for medical treatment. His bequest of $2.1 million ($46 million today) would eventually result in the foundation of the...
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Jesse W. Fell was a successful businessman, advocate for education, and close...
Jesse W. Fell played a significant role in the development of Illinois in the early 1800s. He was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on November 10, 1808, and moved to Illinois in 1831. He initially...
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Grant Park Stadium was renamed Soldier Field at the urging of Chicago’s Gold...
Opened on October 9, 1924, Grant Park Stadium was designed by the architecture firm of Holabird & Roche. Neo-classical in style, the design pays homage to the ancient Roman Colosseum, creating a...
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Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen, the first woman to head a medical division at a...
Born on March 26, 1863, Bertha Van Hoosen spent her early years on her parents' farm in Stony Creek Village, Michigan. Free to roam about and observe the life cycle of the animals on the farm, she...
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The History of Chicago's Treasure Island Grocery Store Chain.
Treasure Island Foods was founded in 1963 by Christ Kamberos and his brothers. Christ Kamberos was born in Chicago to Greek immigrants. His father sold produce from a push cart, and this early exposure...
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The Chicago Home Insurance Building: The Pioneer of Skyscraper Architecture...
Standing tall and proud amidst the bustling streets of Chicago, the Home Insurance Building etched its name in the annals of architectural history as the world's first true skyscraper.Designed by the...
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The City of Chicago's First Foot Steps.
James Thompson surveyed Chicago, filing the plat on August 4, 1830, the official recognition of Chicago's location. Chicago was incorporated as a town on August 12, 1833, with a population of about...
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A Summary of French Influence in Illinois.
While Cahokia was undoubtedly a significant center of French colonial life in early Illinois, several other villages and settlements thrived beyond its shadow, each with unique stories and...
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SCHUETZEN PARK TO RIVERVIEW PARK; FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE.
Schützen Park, Chicago. (1879-1903)Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.Schützen Park, also known as Sharpshooters' Park, was located on the banks of the Chicago River between Belmont Avenue and Roscoe...
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Hope Shines in Chicago Amidst the Great Depression's Shadow.
Christmas in 1930s Chicago during the Great Depression starkly contrasted with today's festive holiday. The Windy City, once a bustling industry hub, was gripped by the harsh realities of economic...
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President Abraham Lincoln's New Year's Events.
Abraham Lincoln's New Year's events varied depending on the year and the circumstances surrounding the country. From quiet family dinners during the Civil War's early years to more formal receptions...
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Ford's Theatre vs. Ford’s Opera House, Washington, DC
Ford's Athenaeum was a theatre located at 511 10th Street NW, Washington, D.C., which opened in 1861. After a fire destroyed it in 1862, he rebuilt a new building on the same site and named it Ford's...
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The "Beep Line" from WLS (890 AM) radio, Chicago, explained.
The "Beep Line" on Chicago's WLS AM radio wasn't explicitly started by any one disc jockey. It was a phenomenon that emerged organically from the technological limitations of the telephone system at...
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Al Capone's Police Photo from New York City, December 26, 1925. The real story.
Twenty-six-year-old Al Capone's primary reason for being in New York was to bring his son, Albert "Sonny" Capone, to a specialist for a critical medical procedure. Sonny was suffering from a mastoid...
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Solomon Miller's Kosher Mulligan Stew Recipe, the first Jewish Scoutmaster in...
I first tasted Miller's Kosher Mulligan Stew at Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, in the mid-1970s, during one of many weekend trips with my Sunday school. You'll love it too!The...
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