valeriebgonzalez
Joined: 26 Apr 2012
Replies: 11
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 12:16 pm
Post subject:
This is all amazing stuff! Thanks Ute for finally finding Fay St!
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Arlene Vic
Joined: 19 Apr 2011
Replies: 40
Location: IllinoisBack to top |
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:20 pm
Post subject:
| Ute wrote: | | valeriebgonzalez wrote: | | I didnt think about Freeways taking out houses, that's so sad. Ute.. That is amazing! I See my family at Fay St in the 1920 census and in 1930 They were on Laddon or Faddon St (hard to read if its a F or L) and they now Owned their house (amazing for the American Dream to come true for them!) In 1920 my Great Great Grandfather was a Trucker at a Freight House (could be Trasher not sure) and in 1930 he was a Laborer at a Coal Yard too bad he didnt work with him |
Valerie,
I think Fay Street was near St. John Cantius Church, Carpenter Street. St. John Cantius Church still exists, but I vaguely remember reading somewhere (just don't remember where ...) that many houses where torn down west of the church when John F. Kennedy Expressway was built around 1960.
Ute |
Hi, I thought I posting in here. This is my old neighborhoods where I was raised. St. John Cantius Church is on Carpenter Street, Chicago, IL.. It is located on Chicago Ave. and Milwaukee Ave. And I think you are confusing about Fay St. It is Fry St and Ogden Ave. too. I was used to lived on May St. and moved to Willard Court.
Yes, I did saw President Kennedy visiting Chicago years back. My mother and my sister and brother were on sides of Kennedy Expressway. We were waving at President Kennedy as he passed. That was very good old days.
Few block away there St. Boniface Church on Chestnut and Noble St. There is Holy Trinity Church too on Noble St. and Division St. There was lot of Polish Church which I can't even remember.
We were very close to Chicago Downtown.
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UtePO Top Contributor
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Replies: 599
Location: GermanyBack to top |
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 2:04 pm
Post subject:
| Quote: | Hi, I thought I posting in here. This is my old neighborhoods where I was raised. St. John Cantius Church is on Carpenter Street, Chicago, IL.. It is located on Chicago Ave. and Milwaukee Ave. And I think you are confusing about Fay St. It is Fry St and Ogden Ave. too. I was used to lived on May St. and moved to Willard Court.
Yes, I did saw President Kennedy visiting Chicago years back. My mother and my sister and brother were on sides of Kennedy Expressway. We were waving at President Kennedy as he passed. That was very good old days.
Few block away there St. Boniface Church on Chestnut and Noble St. There is Holy Trinity Church too on Noble St. and Division St. There was lot of Polish Church which I can't even remember.
We were very close to Chicago Downtown. |
Hi Arlene,
Thank you for telling us about the old neighbourhood where you were raised. I've seen FRY street, I think it's still on the map today, while FAY street isn't, at least I couldn't find it. I'm attaching a copy of my grandparents' daughter's death certificate of 1914 that says their residence was at 686, Fay Street. Wasn't that close to St. John Cantius church?
From about 1921 on my grandfather ran his own roofing business. I found the following addresses for him:
- In the 1917 Chicago City Directory: 518, N. May, Chicago.
- In the June 1921 Chicago Telephone Directory: Roll, Frank, Roofing, 536 N. Wood, Chicago.
- In the 1923 Chicago City Directory: Roll, Frank (Frank Roll & Co.), roofers, 1368, West Austin av., Chicago.
- In the 1929 Chicago Classified Telephone Directory (business only, under ‘roofers’): Roll, Frank, 2736, W. Chicago av., Chicago.
- The 1930 United States Federal Census indicates that my grandparents lived at 1368, Austin Ave.
When my grandfather died in 1940, my grandparents' residence was at 1368 Hubbard St., according to the death certifivate. My grandfather had an accident while working on the corner of a building at 655, N May street. He fell of the scaffold and died.
Are you familiar with all these streets?
Ute
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Arlene Vic
Joined: 19 Apr 2011
Replies: 40
Location: IllinoisBack to top |
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 2:32 pm
Post subject:
| Ute wrote: | | Quote: | Hi, I thought I posting in here. This is my old neighborhoods where I was raised. St. John Cantius Church is on Carpenter Street, Chicago, IL.. It is located on Chicago Ave. and Milwaukee Ave. And I think you are confusing about Fay St. It is Fry St and Ogden Ave. too. I was used to lived on May St. and moved to Willard Court.
Yes, I did saw President Kennedy visiting Chicago years back. My mother and my sister and brother were on sides of Kennedy Expressway. We were waving at President Kennedy as he passed. That was very good old days.
Few block away there St. Boniface Church on Chestnut and Noble St. There is Holy Trinity Church too on Noble St. and Division St. There was lot of Polish Church which I can't even remember.
We were very close to Chicago Downtown. |
Hi Arlene,
Thank you for telling us about the old neighbourhood where you were raised. I've seen FRY street, I think it's still on the map today, while FAY street isn't, at least I couldn't find it. I'm attaching a copy of my grandparents' daughter's death certificate of 1914 that says their residence was at 686, Fay Street. Wasn't that close to St. John Cantius church?
From about 1921 on my grandfather ran his own roofing business. I found the following addresses for him:
- In the 1917 Chicago City Directory: 518, N. May, Chicago.
- In the June 1921 Chicago Telephone Directory: Roll, Frank, Roofing, 536 N. Wood, Chicago.
- In the 1923 Chicago City Directory: Roll, Frank (Frank Roll & Co.), roofers, 1368, West Austin av., Chicago.
- In the 1929 Chicago Classified Telephone Directory (business only, under ‘roofers’): Roll, Frank, 2736, W. Chicago av., Chicago.
- The 1930 United States Federal Census indicates that my grandparents lived at 1368, Austin Ave.
When my grandfather died in 1940, my grandparents' residence was at 1368 Hubbard St., according to the death certifivate. My grandfather had an accident while working on the corner of a building at 655, N May street. He fell of the scaffold and died.
Are you fam
iliar with all t
hese streets?
Ute |
Hi Ute,
Thank for replying back to me. I think whoever wrote Fay or Fry St. was pretty slopping writing. It is hard to read their writing anyway.
I am familiar with these streets very well. My father had relatives living all over near your relatives long ago.
Look I did live on 854 N. May St. Chicago, IL. ( when I was born at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (back then it was different name) I think your relatives were living right on Grand Ave. & May St. I was living right on Milwaukee Ave. & Chicago, IL.
I believen Roll, Frank, Roofing, 536 N. Wood, Chicago. is right by Grand Ave. & Wood St.
I believe Roll, Frank (Frank Roll &Co.), roofers, 1368, West Austin av., Chicago. is right by Division St. & Austin Ave. Or North Ave. That is about 6000 West. I know this area well. I think it isn't too far from Oak Park, IL. Nice area to live.
I think Roll, Frank, 2736, W. Chicago av., Chicago. is near Western Ave. or California Ave. I have pass by few time.
I believe your relatives did live in Italian neighborhoods & Polish neighborhod. 1368 Hubbard St. Anybody who lives between Chicago Ave. to Taylor St. were Italians.
655, N May street. is between Chicago Ave. & Grand Ave. It might be Superior St & May St. I have walking around this areas too.
Now this areas isn't safe to visiting. You need to have car to get around.
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UtePO Top Contributor
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Replies: 599
Location: GermanyBack to top |
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:02 pm
Post subject:
| Quote: | Hi Ute,
Thank for replying back to me. I think whoever wrote Fay or Fry St. was pretty slopping writing. It is hard to read their writing anyway.
I am familiar with these streets very well. My father had relatives living all over near your relatives long ago.
Look I did live on 854 N. May St. Chicago, IL. ( when I was born at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (back then it was different name) I think your relatives were living right on Grand Ave. & May St. I was living right on Milwaukee Ave. & Chicago, IL.
I believen Roll, Frank, Roofing, 536 N. Wood, Chicago. is right by Grand Ave. & Wood St.
I believe Roll, Frank (Frank Roll &Co.), roofers, 1368, West Austin av., Chicago. is right by Division St. & Austin Ave. Or North Ave. That is about 6000 West. I know this area well. I think it isn't too far from Oak Park, IL. Nice area to live.
I think Roll, Frank, 2736, W. Chicago av., Chicago. is near Western Ave. or California Ave. I have pass by few time.
I believe your relatives did live in Italian neighborhoods & Polish neighborhod. 1368 Hubbard St. Anybody who lives between Chicago Ave. to Taylor St. were Italians.
655, N May street. is between Chicago Ave. & Grand Ave. It might be Superior St & May St. I have walking around this areas too.
Now this areas isn't safe to visiting. You need to have car to get around. |
Hi Arlene,
Thank you! Have you seen the map Bill Rushin made for me some time ago? Since you are so familiar with these streets, I think it will be interesting to you to have a look at it:
See http://polishorigins.com/forum/files/uteschicagomap_120.jpg
Ute
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Arlene Vic
Joined: 19 Apr 2011
Replies: 40
Location: IllinoisBack to top |
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:16 pm
Post subject:
| Ute wrote: | | Quote: | Hi Ute,
Thank for replying back to me. I think whoever wrote Fay or Fry St. was pretty slopping writing. It is hard to read their writing anyway.
I am familiar with these streets very well. My father had relatives living all over near your relatives long ago.
Look I did live on 854 N. May St. Chicago, IL. ( when I was born at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (back then it was different name) I think your relatives were living right on Grand Ave. & May St. I was living right on Milwaukee Ave. & Chicago, IL.
I believen Roll, Frank, Roofing, 536 N. Wood, Chicago. is right by Grand Ave. & Wood St.
I believe Roll, Frank (Frank Roll &Co.), roofers, 1368, West Austin av., Chicago. is right by Division St. & Austin Ave. Or North Ave. That is about 6000 West. I know this area well. I think it isn't too far from Oak Park, IL. Nice area to live.
I think Roll, Frank, 2736, W. Chicago av., Chicago. is near Western Ave. or California Ave. I have pass by few time.
I believe your relatives did live in Italian neighborhoods & Polish neighborhod. 1368 Hubbard St. Anybody who lives between Chicago Ave. to Taylor St. were Italians.
655, N May street. is between Chicago Ave. & Grand Ave. It might be Superior St & May St. I have walking around this areas too.
Now this areas isn't safe to visiting. You need to have car to get around. |
Hi Arlene,
Thank you! Have you seen the map Bill Rushin made for me some time ago? Since you are so familiar with these streets, I think it will be interesting to you to have a look at it:
See http://polishorigins.com/forum/files/uteschicagomap_120.jpg
Ute |
Hi Ute,
Yes I just did. It is better views than above. I couldn't read maps. This is good one and we can read.
I do know Chicago Ave., Milwaukee Ave., Grand Ave., North Ave., Division Ave., Ashland Ave. and it is all Polish people used to live there. Some still there.
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Cheri Vanden BergPO Top Contributor & Patron
Joined: 16 Oct 2011
Replies: 504
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 10:53 pm
Post subject:
| Magroski49 wrote: | Cheri,
I have tried searching by address, but after filling the fields out it still asked me for the PIN number.
Gilberto |
Gilberto,
It worked for me. I first posted that link to the Cook County assessor's site on the first page of this forum on January 10th. That day it worked great. Today I typed in this address 3416 Ann St. Lansing. It went to the page that says Click here to view image. When I did, the photo of the house came up, and then disappeared, and I couldn't get it back up. That page had the PIN, so I jotted it down, but I still couldn't get the photo of the house to come up again. When I shut down the computer, there it was:
http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/Property_Search/Property_Large_Image.aspx?transfer_string1=http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/Property_Search/Property_Large_images_Output/30323140210000_AA.JPG
It did work without the PIN, but maybe it's fussy sometimes. Good luck with it!
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Bill RushinPO Top Contributor

Joined: 14 Dec 2009
Replies: 311
Location: Virginia Beach, Va.Back to top |
Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:14 pm
Post subject:
| Quote: | | Valerie and Bill,I should have been doing other work today, but the question kept bothering me where Fay Street was! I think I found it in an old Chicago map of 1880 that was online....I'm attaching a screenshot. FAY is written vertically right above the M of the line that says Milwaukee (looks like railroad tracks or so). Found several other familiar street names that I came across while doing my research. |
Ute, I positively found FAY St. I took your old map and a new map scratched my head for an hour or so and found the exact location. I sent email to you with 4 maps so you can see exactly where it was located. Where Milwaukee and Erie St crosses, just east on Erie was Fay st. running north. (click map to enlarge)
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UtePO Top Contributor
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Replies: 599
Location: GermanyBack to top |
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:48 am
Post subject:
| Bill Rushin wrote: | | Quote: | | Valerie and Bill,I should have been doing other work today, but the question kept bothering me where Fay Street was! I think I found it in an old Chicago map of 1880 that was online....I'm attaching a screenshot. FAY is written vertically right above the M of the line that says Milwaukee (looks like railroad tracks or so). Found several other familiar street names that I came across while doing my research. |
Ute, I positively found FAY St. I took your old map and a new map scratched my head for an hour or so and found the exact location. I sent email to you with 4 maps so you can see exactly where it was located. Where Milwaukee and Erie St crosses, just east on Erie was Fay st. running north. (click map to enlarge) |
THANK YOU, Bill, for taking the time and for sending me the maps! Now we finally know where exactly FAY Street was! I made another small map that shows FRY Street that Arlene mentioned. It runs north of St. John Cantius Church, while FAY street was located south of St. John Cantius.
The green A on the attached map shows the location of St. John Cantius Church on 825, North Carpenter Street, and exactly where the green letter B is, there was FAY Street, just a few minutes walk from St. John Cantius Church. Apparently Fay street was torn down sometime.
(Click map to enlarge)
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Arlene Vic
Joined: 19 Apr 2011
Replies: 40
Location: IllinoisBack to top |
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:05 am
Post subject:
Here is what I posted previous new threads above.
This is where our ancestors used to lives. You can check this one out and see how neighborhoods used to be. I do visited there once in while. Be careful when visiting this neighborhoods.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_American
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Arlene Vic
Joined: 19 Apr 2011
Replies: 40
Location: IllinoisBack to top |
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 6:06 pm
Post subject:
| Arlene Vic wrote: | Here is what I posted previous new threads above.
This is where our ancestors used to lives. You can check this one out and see how neighborhoods used to be. I do visited there once in while. Be careful when visiting this neighborhoods.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_American |
I make error and copy wrong website.
I think it will help you to see my old Chicago (West Town)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Town,_Chicago
It will explains you better.
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UtePO Top Contributor
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Replies: 599
Location: GermanyBack to top |
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:48 pm
Post subject:
| Arlene Vic wrote: | | Arlene Vic wrote: | Here is what I posted previous new threads above.
This is where our ancestors used to lives. You can check this one out and see how neighborhoods used to be. I do visited there once in while. Be careful when visiting this neighborhoods.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_American |
I make error and copy wrong website.
I think it will help you to see my old Chicago (West Town)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Town,_Chicago
It will explains you better. |
Arlene,
Thank you for the link to the interesting article, I enjoyed reading it, and I like the map that shows the exact location within the city of Chicago where our ancestors used to live!
Ute
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UtePO Top Contributor
Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Replies: 599
Location: GermanyBack to top |
Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 8:26 am
Post subject: Growing up in the Back of the Yards in the 1950s
Our new member, Georgia, who grew up in the Chicago "Back of the Yards", has written a very interesting article "Growing up in the Back of the Yards in the 1950s" that just appered in "PolishRoots", Volume XIII, No. 4.
While the article actually belongs in the thread "Chicago Gorals in the Back of the Yards" because that's the neighborhood Gloria grew up in, her childhood memories are such an interesting contribution to our new thread on where our ancestors lived and what their life and that of their children was like, that I would like to share the link to her article here also:
http://www.polishroots.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=l4WwSZwnRnE%3d&tabid=60&mid=377
Georgia sent me the following message to introduce herself to the members of PolishOrigins:
I am a new member of PolishOrigins, and a goralka from the Back of the Yards. Both of my grandfathers were butchers in the stockyards, and I lived near St. Joseph Church for many years. I still return to the neighborhood to visit my uncles. Dr. Paul Valasek's article about the Union Stockyards brought back many memories and prompted me to write this article. My Polish heritage includes the towns of Rogoznik, Nowy Targ, Gronkow, Lakta Gorna and Bledowa. I hope you enjoy my memories of growing up in the Back of the Yards.
Georgia Piech-Pander
Last edited by Ute on Sat May 05, 2012 12:09 am; edited 2 times in total
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Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 4:54 pm
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10 of my mothers 14 brothers and sisters (Sayko, Sojka, Szojka) settled on Chicago's southside and lived on South Marshfield. My Aunt Mary took the Ashland Avenue bus five days a week for 35 years to the Back of the Yards to work at Swift & Company.
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Arlene Vic
Joined: 19 Apr 2011
Replies: 40
Location: IllinoisBack to top |
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