Monday, June 1, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
My final Project on Bridgeport!
One of Chicago's first Neighborhoods, where Irish and German immigrants moved to get away from political and economic reasons. Out of seventy seven community areas, Bridgeport is number Sixty, located on the cities south side. It is the home of one of two Chicago Baseball teams, the White Sox. If I were you, I would not be wearing a Cubs Jersey or t-shirt or else you could be ready to fight because we chicago people love and take pride in their team. the north side is "cubs" area, and the south side has the White Sox. When Bridgeport was first platted (without a name) by the canal commissioners in 1836, the three bridges indicated on the plat were as follows: First, a small unknown type of bridge over the South Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago river, which may have been for the crossing of a road that had come before Archer Road was built. Second was the Archer Road bridge over the South Fork, and third was a bridge were Archer crossed what came to be called Healy's Slough -- just west of present-day Green (formerly Lime) street. When the canal opened in 1848, the first of those three bridges was probably gone or washed out the next year.
A bridge over the canal (at the lock) was washed away by the Flood of 1849 but was rebuilt. The street leading to the lock site bridge was called Post street, eventually, which connected to Lisle (also known as Reuben) street -- later renamed Ashland avenue. There was a bridge over the West Fork at Lisle street, and there was the Bridge (now Fuller) street bridge. A railroad bridge was added in about 1856-7. And, of course, the Archer bridges remained in place. Bridgeport was the only crossing point for miles around at that time. The Halsted (then called Dyer) street bridge was the next one to be built, which was done in 1860. Archer Road, named after the canal commissioner, actually preceded the construction of the canal. Previous to it there were three principal trails leading in/out of Chicago -- the trail along the lake, the Vincennces trail to Danville, and the trail precursor to Archer Road. There was also the Portage Road, which is shown on the plat made from the survey of 1821, but it was a road to connect to waterways rather than a wagon route.
This area has a long history. Bridgeport got its current name because of a low bridge spanning one of the waterways which forced a transfer of cargo from larger to smaller vessels. It was considered one of the first Neighborhoods ever built in Chicago. It was where the Irish Immigrants migrated because of Potato Famine, and their economic, and political persecution. The Irish people were controlled by The English since the 12th Century, Ireland became intricately tied to its more powerful neighbor with the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.
Many German immigrants migrated here to America after the unsuccessful German Revolution of 1848, when the German people lost faith in their government’s capability to resolve economic and political reasons stimulated the immigration of Germans to America. After the Germans started to move here to America, About a million more came here after hearing about the economic freedoms, along with some political freedom.
In 1848, Bridgeport (going by that name by then) began to grow. Irish and German immigrants continued to come to Bridgeport -- attracted by the jobs at the canal facilities and the packinghouses that were located nearby. Packing houses operated during the winter (November to March) only, while the quarrying, canal work and related commerce were confined to the ice-free months of the year. Most workers probably labored in more than a single occupation meaning they worked several jobs at once. Since farms were part of the Bridgeport picture back then, some probably had put in time as farm hands. Those who had a difficult time making ends meet on low wages or bouts of unemployment, supplemented their incomes by raising cabbages and farm animals -- for themselves or for sale.
Some of the job possibilities included killing animals and raising the crops. Animal slaughtering was one of the earliest (and longest running) economic activities. A herd was driven up Archer Road from the southwest and from the south before most of that traffic fell to the railroads. While more important to "Back of the Yards" and "Canaryville," the opening of the Chicago Union Stock Yards in 1865 provided plenty of jobs that many Bridgeport natives gravitated to. The big meat factories made famous by the large packing companies like Swift, Armour, and others however, were not at the stockyards in the early years of operation. The Chicago Union Stock Yards was a great livestock exchange market. Packinghouses were located in the surrounding neighborhoods, who also were very big and popular to immigrants trying to find jobs.
The largest influence brought about by the canal in terms of local employment during the latter part of the 19Th century was in the development of the lumber industry, not only of itself, but also of the related businesses that sprouted up as a result. The first railroad to open was the Joliet & Chicago railroad in 1857, followed in 1858 by the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railway. The Joliet & Chicago railroad paralleled Archer Road, and the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, and Chicago ran the length of the eastern margin of Bridgeport along Stewart street. The canal was instrumental in developing the lumber trade of Chicago and the Great Lumber District -- most of which was located on the north side of the river opposite Bridgeport. Lumber firms were situated on the right bank in Bridgeport proper as well. The firm responsible for development of the lumber district, the South Branch Dock Company, was incorporated in 1859.
Meat-slaughtering jobs were not the only work available. The Union Rolling Mills, one of the biggest employers in Bridgeport for several decades, opened on Archer Road at the left bank (west side) of the South Fork of the river in 1865 -- the same year as the Chicago Union Stock Yards had opened.
This was the first large industrial concern to locate in Bridgeport. It was also a prominent fixture in the life and identity of Bridgeport, In 1868-1869, American Bridgework's established a plant at Egan avenue (Thirty-ninth street, now Pershing road) and Stewart street, which was on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railway. This is one of the early industries that had located away from the canal or river.
The first mayor from Bridgeport, Edward J. Kelly, took office in 1933. The political tradition of the community has deep roots. In fact, they are traceable all the way back to the time before Bridgeport became a part of Chicago. The threads of Bridgeport politics are woven around two general themes -- advocacy for the working poor and ethnicity. The two generalities can be broken down further into interests, issues, and so forth, with some overlap. Concern for the working poor, for example, consists of such issues as adequate wages, decent working conditions, job security, the fair provision of public services, and so on.
Ethnic considerations were a given; they were part of the playing field, so to speak. This was true for the city generally and more so for Bridgeport, as society was organized along ethnic lines for the most part. Even the churches tended to an ethnic formula. In Chicago politics ethnicity was a critical factor, for winning in Chicago meant that the concerns of dozens of ethnic groups (or at least some of them) would need to be addressed.
Now back to the Irish. The Irish of Chicago are renown for their political successes. In some ways this is surprising, since, as an ethnic group, the Irish were second in number to the Germans. Both the Irish and the Germans have been in Chicago for a long time. In the early 1850s both were strong Democratic voters. During the 1855 elections, when most of present-day Bridgeport was outside of the corporate limits of Chicago, accusations abounded that illegal voters had been rounded up from Bridgeport and other outlying settlements in order to vote in Chicago municipal elections. The year Levi Boone (of an anti-alcohol, anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic party) won the mayor's office. The Sunday saloon closing laws passed under the Boone administration infuriated some Irish and especially German citizens, which led to the infamous Beer Riots of 1855.
The first concrete action taken toward the canal becoming a reality came under President Monroe when the federal government concluded the Treaty of Saint Louis (1816) with several Indian tribes. In the treaty, Indian tribes ceded a twenty-mile wide swath of land paralleling the Chicago Portage route and lower Des Plaines river valley to the Illinois river. Major Stephan H. Long made a preliminary investigation of the envisioned canal route that year. Two years later, Illinois became a state. Because it had been deemed expedient to keep the canal within one state (and also due to the fact that the town of Galena was highly valued), the northern boundary of Illinois was moved approximately 62 miles north of the original line specified by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (an east-west line touching the southern bend of Lake Michigan for the eventual states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio).
Archer was first officially built in 1831 as a county road called 'The Road to Widow Brown's' map. He canal commissioners rebuilt it again in 1836 as part of the Canal Road, primarily for the purpose of aiding the canal's construction. The road became an important connection to the south during the 1850s when the Blue Island Plank Road (roughly Western avenue today) was established. The angle of the Archer Road adhered roughly to the planned route of the canal, which in turn was rooted in the 1816 Treaty of Saint Louis (Indian cession) between the Illinois River and Lake Michigan, which in turn roughly paralleled the river-portage route. The existence of Archer Road was the principal reason wherefore the streets in the old northwest part of Bridgeport have a tilted grid pattern.
The population of just of the area is more than fifty one thousand people, about 52% males in Bridgeport, the rest being forty eight percent are female people consider that their home. It is a neighborhood for the average Joe with an elegant edge meaning that an average person would look like a rich man in the area because of the architecture. It is so beautiful. Bridgeport's residential streets house condominiums, apartments, low-rise flats, and two- and three-story walk-ups. A variety of smaller houses and private homes are also available, all examples of the blend of contemporary to classic building styles represented in this south side Chicago neighborhood. Bridgeport residences are being rehabbed left and right, many with sturdy brick facades that have stood the test of time. Some of the prices for these include: Generally, the average sales price for a one-bedroom condo is around $215,000, for a two- or three-bedroom place the average goes up to around $330,000. Three-bedroom single-family detached homes start in the low $200,000s, but can reach into the $700,000s -- with a few five-bedroom houses passing that million-dollar mark.
There's a cuisine for every palate and every schedule in Bridgeport, from on-the-go-meals to fine dining and multi-course menus. The only problem you might encounter is making enough room in the agenda to sample all the restaurants found in this Chicago neighborhood. Every once in a while, everyone craves a good burger. When the urge hits we head to Park side Cafe for some of the best burgers on Chicago's south side. Park side is a short jaunt from U.S. Cellular field and is perfect for grabbing a quick bite after the game -- that is, if you can get there before the flood of other fans that are thinking the same thing! The sweet potato fries are worth fighting the crowds. Here's a tip: try a dash of sugar and a little pinch of salt on your fries -- it's a home run for the taste buds. To up the dining class a smudge, head over to Punky's Pizza and Pasta a place frequented by cops and city workers on their days off. Why? Maybe it's because when Punky's says a large pizza, they mean a pizza so big it'll take five grown men to finish. The grilled chicken sandwich with roasted peppers is our second favorite dish. We always have this comfortable feeling that we're in an episode of "Cheers" when we go to Punky's. Everybody is so darn nice all the time. After trying it, you, too, will become a Punky's junk.
Bridgeport also has a plethora of ethnic restaurants to enliven the taste buds. The Healthy Food Lithuanian Restaurant uses recipes that go back to the 1940s and earlier. Everything is made from scratch, from the blueberry pancakes to the kugelis (like a Lithuanian potato pancake). If you're in the mood for something new and different, go to Healthy Food for their shakes and try the unusual, yet awesome "Healthy Shake" concocted with wheat germ, honey and Lithuanian yogurt. If you want something a little more standard but still adventurous, Ed's Pot sticker House has some of the best Asian cuisine in Chicago. The shao long bao (soup dumplings) are divine. Each dumpling has a small amount of soup trapped inside its crust so when you bite into the dumpling you get a taste of the soup -- and believe us, the flavor is unbelievable! Our vegetarian friends can't get over Ed's eggplant wedges. Basically eggplant is fried to a crisp and then covered in a sweet hot sauce. And Ed's is BYOB so, as long as you brings it, you can always have exactly what you want to drink. Every Chicago neighborhood has signature special events and Bridgeport is no different.
Oftentimes, we wander down to U.S. Cellular field to find that, not only do we get to see the White Sox play some heavy-hitting baseball, but there's also a festival awaiting fans as we exit the stadium! A stone's throw from Cellular field, Bridgeport throws its most fabulous festival of the summer season. Held in late July, the South side Arts and Music Festival is fun for everyone from sports fan to crafty kid. We're always up for an outdoor street party, but it feels even cooler when the party is for a good cause. The South side benefits the Valentine Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, a youth center located in the heart of Bridgeport. Some visitors dance in the street to live bands while other folks peruse the lengthy line of art booths. The art for sale meets any taste, ranging from kitschy to impressionism. Hot dogs, funnel cakes, lemonade, or perhaps a beer, are the perfect summer bite along with all that impressive artwork and rocking' musical entertainment.
The Croatian Fest at St. Jerome's Parish is one of Bridgeport's more unique community get-together. Every year on August 15Th, thousands of people of Croatian decent -- and every other ancestry -- gather together to commemorate Velika Gospa. Velika Gospa is a celebration of the Heavenly Assumption of the Virgin Mary and has been celebrated at St. Jerome's Parish for over 100 years. To put this celebration in perspective, just think about how important it is to the Irish folks -- and non-Irish folks -- to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Chicago, and you'll get an idea of the spirit and meaning behind this longstanding Croatian festivity. For nine days, thousands attend prayers leading up to the Assumption when a small parade marches through the neighborhood surrounding St. Jerome's Parish and a crowd of hungry Bridgeport residents dig into traditional lamb dishes and other festival food served up by the parish. Probably the most notable, and long-lasting, special events in Bridgeport are the major league baseball games. For literally half the year, the World Champion White Sox play at U.S. Cellular Field enticing hundreds of thousands of fans to come experience America's time-honored classic sport. There's not much better than being in the stadium on a sunny afternoon with a hot dog in one hand and an ice-cold beer in the other. Whether winning or losing, the White Sox take the field like true champions and give their fans a game to remember. And when the ninth comes to a close, fans know how to keep the good times rolling by hitting up the friendly pubs and grills just outside the stadium to rejoice, or lament, their team's performance.
If you're looking for a good assortment of educational options for the student in your life, Bridgeport is the perfect location. There is a wealth of private, parochial and public schools in this Chicago neighborhood that span from elementary education to high school level. Several parishes in the Bridgeport community of Chicago established Bridgeport Catholic Academy in 1985. Through a consolidation of educational resources the participating parishes were able to offer a significantly improved primary education program. All Saints/St Anthony, St Bridget, St David, St George, Immaculate Conception, St John Nepomecene, St. Mary of Perpetual Help, and Nativity of our Lord parishes all figure prominently in BCA's ancestry. As one of the many diverse Chicago neighborhoods, Bridgeport offers homeowners a wide range of residential properties. Bridgeport homes include lofts, condos and town homes, to name a few. In addition to Chicago real estate, you can get detailed neighborhood information from our comprehensive online Chicago neighborhoods guide. With features like dining, shopping, entertainment, and resources, we've done all the legwork already to make your home search that much easier. Now, when a listing in Bridgeport Chicago catches your eye, you can read all about the surrounding area and what it has to offer, all without setting foot in the neighborhood.
A bridge over the canal (at the lock) was washed away by the Flood of 1849 but was rebuilt. The street leading to the lock site bridge was called Post street, eventually, which connected to Lisle (also known as Reuben) street -- later renamed Ashland avenue. There was a bridge over the West Fork at Lisle street, and there was the Bridge (now Fuller) street bridge. A railroad bridge was added in about 1856-7. And, of course, the Archer bridges remained in place. Bridgeport was the only crossing point for miles around at that time. The Halsted (then called Dyer) street bridge was the next one to be built, which was done in 1860. Archer Road, named after the canal commissioner, actually preceded the construction of the canal. Previous to it there were three principal trails leading in/out of Chicago -- the trail along the lake, the Vincennces trail to Danville, and the trail precursor to Archer Road. There was also the Portage Road, which is shown on the plat made from the survey of 1821, but it was a road to connect to waterways rather than a wagon route.
This area has a long history. Bridgeport got its current name because of a low bridge spanning one of the waterways which forced a transfer of cargo from larger to smaller vessels. It was considered one of the first Neighborhoods ever built in Chicago. It was where the Irish Immigrants migrated because of Potato Famine, and their economic, and political persecution. The Irish people were controlled by The English since the 12th Century, Ireland became intricately tied to its more powerful neighbor with the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.
Many German immigrants migrated here to America after the unsuccessful German Revolution of 1848, when the German people lost faith in their government’s capability to resolve economic and political reasons stimulated the immigration of Germans to America. After the Germans started to move here to America, About a million more came here after hearing about the economic freedoms, along with some political freedom.
In 1848, Bridgeport (going by that name by then) began to grow. Irish and German immigrants continued to come to Bridgeport -- attracted by the jobs at the canal facilities and the packinghouses that were located nearby. Packing houses operated during the winter (November to March) only, while the quarrying, canal work and related commerce were confined to the ice-free months of the year. Most workers probably labored in more than a single occupation meaning they worked several jobs at once. Since farms were part of the Bridgeport picture back then, some probably had put in time as farm hands. Those who had a difficult time making ends meet on low wages or bouts of unemployment, supplemented their incomes by raising cabbages and farm animals -- for themselves or for sale.
Some of the job possibilities included killing animals and raising the crops. Animal slaughtering was one of the earliest (and longest running) economic activities. A herd was driven up Archer Road from the southwest and from the south before most of that traffic fell to the railroads. While more important to "Back of the Yards" and "Canaryville," the opening of the Chicago Union Stock Yards in 1865 provided plenty of jobs that many Bridgeport natives gravitated to. The big meat factories made famous by the large packing companies like Swift, Armour, and others however, were not at the stockyards in the early years of operation. The Chicago Union Stock Yards was a great livestock exchange market. Packinghouses were located in the surrounding neighborhoods, who also were very big and popular to immigrants trying to find jobs.
The largest influence brought about by the canal in terms of local employment during the latter part of the 19Th century was in the development of the lumber industry, not only of itself, but also of the related businesses that sprouted up as a result. The first railroad to open was the Joliet & Chicago railroad in 1857, followed in 1858 by the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railway. The Joliet & Chicago railroad paralleled Archer Road, and the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, and Chicago ran the length of the eastern margin of Bridgeport along Stewart street. The canal was instrumental in developing the lumber trade of Chicago and the Great Lumber District -- most of which was located on the north side of the river opposite Bridgeport. Lumber firms were situated on the right bank in Bridgeport proper as well. The firm responsible for development of the lumber district, the South Branch Dock Company, was incorporated in 1859.
Meat-slaughtering jobs were not the only work available. The Union Rolling Mills, one of the biggest employers in Bridgeport for several decades, opened on Archer Road at the left bank (west side) of the South Fork of the river in 1865 -- the same year as the Chicago Union Stock Yards had opened.
This was the first large industrial concern to locate in Bridgeport. It was also a prominent fixture in the life and identity of Bridgeport, In 1868-1869, American Bridgework's established a plant at Egan avenue (Thirty-ninth street, now Pershing road) and Stewart street, which was on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railway. This is one of the early industries that had located away from the canal or river.
The first mayor from Bridgeport, Edward J. Kelly, took office in 1933. The political tradition of the community has deep roots. In fact, they are traceable all the way back to the time before Bridgeport became a part of Chicago. The threads of Bridgeport politics are woven around two general themes -- advocacy for the working poor and ethnicity. The two generalities can be broken down further into interests, issues, and so forth, with some overlap. Concern for the working poor, for example, consists of such issues as adequate wages, decent working conditions, job security, the fair provision of public services, and so on.
Ethnic considerations were a given; they were part of the playing field, so to speak. This was true for the city generally and more so for Bridgeport, as society was organized along ethnic lines for the most part. Even the churches tended to an ethnic formula. In Chicago politics ethnicity was a critical factor, for winning in Chicago meant that the concerns of dozens of ethnic groups (or at least some of them) would need to be addressed.
Now back to the Irish. The Irish of Chicago are renown for their political successes. In some ways this is surprising, since, as an ethnic group, the Irish were second in number to the Germans. Both the Irish and the Germans have been in Chicago for a long time. In the early 1850s both were strong Democratic voters. During the 1855 elections, when most of present-day Bridgeport was outside of the corporate limits of Chicago, accusations abounded that illegal voters had been rounded up from Bridgeport and other outlying settlements in order to vote in Chicago municipal elections. The year Levi Boone (of an anti-alcohol, anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic party) won the mayor's office. The Sunday saloon closing laws passed under the Boone administration infuriated some Irish and especially German citizens, which led to the infamous Beer Riots of 1855.
The first concrete action taken toward the canal becoming a reality came under President Monroe when the federal government concluded the Treaty of Saint Louis (1816) with several Indian tribes. In the treaty, Indian tribes ceded a twenty-mile wide swath of land paralleling the Chicago Portage route and lower Des Plaines river valley to the Illinois river. Major Stephan H. Long made a preliminary investigation of the envisioned canal route that year. Two years later, Illinois became a state. Because it had been deemed expedient to keep the canal within one state (and also due to the fact that the town of Galena was highly valued), the northern boundary of Illinois was moved approximately 62 miles north of the original line specified by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (an east-west line touching the southern bend of Lake Michigan for the eventual states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio).
Archer was first officially built in 1831 as a county road called 'The Road to Widow Brown's' map. He canal commissioners rebuilt it again in 1836 as part of the Canal Road, primarily for the purpose of aiding the canal's construction. The road became an important connection to the south during the 1850s when the Blue Island Plank Road (roughly Western avenue today) was established. The angle of the Archer Road adhered roughly to the planned route of the canal, which in turn was rooted in the 1816 Treaty of Saint Louis (Indian cession) between the Illinois River and Lake Michigan, which in turn roughly paralleled the river-portage route. The existence of Archer Road was the principal reason wherefore the streets in the old northwest part of Bridgeport have a tilted grid pattern.
The population of just of the area is more than fifty one thousand people, about 52% males in Bridgeport, the rest being forty eight percent are female people consider that their home. It is a neighborhood for the average Joe with an elegant edge meaning that an average person would look like a rich man in the area because of the architecture. It is so beautiful. Bridgeport's residential streets house condominiums, apartments, low-rise flats, and two- and three-story walk-ups. A variety of smaller houses and private homes are also available, all examples of the blend of contemporary to classic building styles represented in this south side Chicago neighborhood. Bridgeport residences are being rehabbed left and right, many with sturdy brick facades that have stood the test of time. Some of the prices for these include: Generally, the average sales price for a one-bedroom condo is around $215,000, for a two- or three-bedroom place the average goes up to around $330,000. Three-bedroom single-family detached homes start in the low $200,000s, but can reach into the $700,000s -- with a few five-bedroom houses passing that million-dollar mark.
There's a cuisine for every palate and every schedule in Bridgeport, from on-the-go-meals to fine dining and multi-course menus. The only problem you might encounter is making enough room in the agenda to sample all the restaurants found in this Chicago neighborhood. Every once in a while, everyone craves a good burger. When the urge hits we head to Park side Cafe for some of the best burgers on Chicago's south side. Park side is a short jaunt from U.S. Cellular field and is perfect for grabbing a quick bite after the game -- that is, if you can get there before the flood of other fans that are thinking the same thing! The sweet potato fries are worth fighting the crowds. Here's a tip: try a dash of sugar and a little pinch of salt on your fries -- it's a home run for the taste buds. To up the dining class a smudge, head over to Punky's Pizza and Pasta a place frequented by cops and city workers on their days off. Why? Maybe it's because when Punky's says a large pizza, they mean a pizza so big it'll take five grown men to finish. The grilled chicken sandwich with roasted peppers is our second favorite dish. We always have this comfortable feeling that we're in an episode of "Cheers" when we go to Punky's. Everybody is so darn nice all the time. After trying it, you, too, will become a Punky's junk.
Bridgeport also has a plethora of ethnic restaurants to enliven the taste buds. The Healthy Food Lithuanian Restaurant uses recipes that go back to the 1940s and earlier. Everything is made from scratch, from the blueberry pancakes to the kugelis (like a Lithuanian potato pancake). If you're in the mood for something new and different, go to Healthy Food for their shakes and try the unusual, yet awesome "Healthy Shake" concocted with wheat germ, honey and Lithuanian yogurt. If you want something a little more standard but still adventurous, Ed's Pot sticker House has some of the best Asian cuisine in Chicago. The shao long bao (soup dumplings) are divine. Each dumpling has a small amount of soup trapped inside its crust so when you bite into the dumpling you get a taste of the soup -- and believe us, the flavor is unbelievable! Our vegetarian friends can't get over Ed's eggplant wedges. Basically eggplant is fried to a crisp and then covered in a sweet hot sauce. And Ed's is BYOB so, as long as you brings it, you can always have exactly what you want to drink. Every Chicago neighborhood has signature special events and Bridgeport is no different.
Oftentimes, we wander down to U.S. Cellular field to find that, not only do we get to see the White Sox play some heavy-hitting baseball, but there's also a festival awaiting fans as we exit the stadium! A stone's throw from Cellular field, Bridgeport throws its most fabulous festival of the summer season. Held in late July, the South side Arts and Music Festival is fun for everyone from sports fan to crafty kid. We're always up for an outdoor street party, but it feels even cooler when the party is for a good cause. The South side benefits the Valentine Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, a youth center located in the heart of Bridgeport. Some visitors dance in the street to live bands while other folks peruse the lengthy line of art booths. The art for sale meets any taste, ranging from kitschy to impressionism. Hot dogs, funnel cakes, lemonade, or perhaps a beer, are the perfect summer bite along with all that impressive artwork and rocking' musical entertainment.
The Croatian Fest at St. Jerome's Parish is one of Bridgeport's more unique community get-together. Every year on August 15Th, thousands of people of Croatian decent -- and every other ancestry -- gather together to commemorate Velika Gospa. Velika Gospa is a celebration of the Heavenly Assumption of the Virgin Mary and has been celebrated at St. Jerome's Parish for over 100 years. To put this celebration in perspective, just think about how important it is to the Irish folks -- and non-Irish folks -- to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Chicago, and you'll get an idea of the spirit and meaning behind this longstanding Croatian festivity. For nine days, thousands attend prayers leading up to the Assumption when a small parade marches through the neighborhood surrounding St. Jerome's Parish and a crowd of hungry Bridgeport residents dig into traditional lamb dishes and other festival food served up by the parish. Probably the most notable, and long-lasting, special events in Bridgeport are the major league baseball games. For literally half the year, the World Champion White Sox play at U.S. Cellular Field enticing hundreds of thousands of fans to come experience America's time-honored classic sport. There's not much better than being in the stadium on a sunny afternoon with a hot dog in one hand and an ice-cold beer in the other. Whether winning or losing, the White Sox take the field like true champions and give their fans a game to remember. And when the ninth comes to a close, fans know how to keep the good times rolling by hitting up the friendly pubs and grills just outside the stadium to rejoice, or lament, their team's performance.
If you're looking for a good assortment of educational options for the student in your life, Bridgeport is the perfect location. There is a wealth of private, parochial and public schools in this Chicago neighborhood that span from elementary education to high school level. Several parishes in the Bridgeport community of Chicago established Bridgeport Catholic Academy in 1985. Through a consolidation of educational resources the participating parishes were able to offer a significantly improved primary education program. All Saints/St Anthony, St Bridget, St David, St George, Immaculate Conception, St John Nepomecene, St. Mary of Perpetual Help, and Nativity of our Lord parishes all figure prominently in BCA's ancestry. As one of the many diverse Chicago neighborhoods, Bridgeport offers homeowners a wide range of residential properties. Bridgeport homes include lofts, condos and town homes, to name a few. In addition to Chicago real estate, you can get detailed neighborhood information from our comprehensive online Chicago neighborhoods guide. With features like dining, shopping, entertainment, and resources, we've done all the legwork already to make your home search that much easier. Now, when a listing in Bridgeport Chicago catches your eye, you can read all about the surrounding area and what it has to offer, all without setting foot in the neighborhood.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
My Trip out to the south side of Chicago
It was not just any old trip for fun. it was a trip for a class i am in called Chicago History. it was educational and i learned a lot of cool and interesting information on the trip. I even met the teachers wife, who was one of our many presenters of the day. we went to a place that has been around for a long time. it was painted and includes pictures of some of the famous immigrants who did alot for the community.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Progressive Movement
The Progressive Movement and U.S. Foreign Policy, 1890-1920s
The Progressive movement was a turn-of-the-century political movement interested in furthering social and political reform, curbing political corruption caused by political machines, and limiting the political influence of large corporations. Although many Progressives saw U.S. power in a foreign arena as an opportunity to enact the Progressive domestic agenda overseas, and to improve foreign societies, others were concerned about the adverse effects of U.S. interventions and colonialism. The Progressive movement began with a domestic agenda. Progressives were interested in establishing a more transparent and accountable government which would work to improve U.S. society. These reformers favored such policies as civil service reform, food safety laws, and increased political rights for women and U.S. workers. In the 1890s, the Progressive movement also began to question the power of large businesses and monopolies after a series of journalistic exposés that revealed questionable business practices. Throughout the 1890s, the U.S. Government became increasingly likely to rely on its military and economic power to pursue foreign policy goals. The most prominent action during this period, the Spanish-American War, resulted in U.S. rule of the former Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico and the Philippines, as well as increased influence over Cuba. These territories captured in the Spanish-American war had a varied response toward U.S. occupation. In the Philippines, American forces faced armed insurgency, while in Puerto Rico, working-class and Progressive Puerto Ricans saw the United States as a successful counterweight to local sugar industry elites. Many Progressives, including U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, saw no conflict between imperialism and reform at home -to them, both were forms of uplift, reform and improvement, and so they saw in these new colonies an opportunity to further the Progressive agenda around the world. However, especially after the violence of the Philippine-American War, other Progressives became increasingly vocal about their opposition to U.S. foreign intervention and imperialism. Still others argued that foreign ventures would detract from much-needed domestic political and social reforms. Under the leadership of U.S. Senator Robert La Follette, Progressive opposition to foreign intervention further increased under the Dollar Diplomacy policies of Republican President William Howard Taft and Secretary of State Philander Knox. However, Progressives remained mostly interested in domestic issues, and Republican Progressives sometimes hesitated to break party lines on foreign policy, hoping to ensure greater influence on domestic matters within the Republican Party. Similarly, after the election of Democratic President Woodrow Wilson, Democratic Progressives also tended to follow Wilson's lead on foreign policy issues, while the partisan reaction against them was led by Republican Progressives. Wilson also faced opposition from John Barrett, Director-General of the Pan-American Union, whom Wilson eventually forced out of office in 1919. President Wilson may have had greater reservations about U.S. foreign intervention in the Americas than President Theodore Roosevelt, but he was willing to intervene in the Mexican Revolution. Concerns about possible German submarine warfare also caused him to order U.S. military interventions in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and also led to the purchase of the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark. The military occupations incorporated elements of the Progressive program, attempting to establish effective local police forces, reform land laws, build public infrastructure, and increase public access to education. However, these programs were hampered by local opposition to U.S. occupation and U.S. policies that inadvertently proved counterproductive. Where Progressive policies threatened to destabilize U.S. authority, U.S. officials in charge of occupying forces opted for stability rather than authentic Progressive changes. In foreign policy, the Progressive movement also split over the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles. Progressive U.S. Senator William Borah led the campaign against ratification, and he would increasingly become the champion of the isolationist movement until his death in 1940. Other Progressives viewed the treaty more favorably. In the 1920s, the Progressive movement began to be supplanted by several different movements. In some cases, such as women's suffrage, Progressive victory caused activists to lose momentum to push for further change. The Progressive wing of the Republican Party was weakened by the party splits of 1912 and 1924, which were attempts to form a third, Progressive party. The Progressive wing of the Democratic Party would eventually be subsumed under the broader New Deal coalition of Franklin Roosevelt. Foreign policy matters would increasingly be focused on the buildup to the Second World War, and Progressive issues took a back seat to the interventionist/isolationist split.
The Progressive movement was a turn-of-the-century political movement interested in furthering social and political reform, curbing political corruption caused by political machines, and limiting the political influence of large corporations. Although many Progressives saw U.S. power in a foreign arena as an opportunity to enact the Progressive domestic agenda overseas, and to improve foreign societies, others were concerned about the adverse effects of U.S. interventions and colonialism. The Progressive movement began with a domestic agenda. Progressives were interested in establishing a more transparent and accountable government which would work to improve U.S. society. These reformers favored such policies as civil service reform, food safety laws, and increased political rights for women and U.S. workers. In the 1890s, the Progressive movement also began to question the power of large businesses and monopolies after a series of journalistic exposés that revealed questionable business practices. Throughout the 1890s, the U.S. Government became increasingly likely to rely on its military and economic power to pursue foreign policy goals. The most prominent action during this period, the Spanish-American War, resulted in U.S. rule of the former Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico and the Philippines, as well as increased influence over Cuba. These territories captured in the Spanish-American war had a varied response toward U.S. occupation. In the Philippines, American forces faced armed insurgency, while in Puerto Rico, working-class and Progressive Puerto Ricans saw the United States as a successful counterweight to local sugar industry elites. Many Progressives, including U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, saw no conflict between imperialism and reform at home -to them, both were forms of uplift, reform and improvement, and so they saw in these new colonies an opportunity to further the Progressive agenda around the world. However, especially after the violence of the Philippine-American War, other Progressives became increasingly vocal about their opposition to U.S. foreign intervention and imperialism. Still others argued that foreign ventures would detract from much-needed domestic political and social reforms. Under the leadership of U.S. Senator Robert La Follette, Progressive opposition to foreign intervention further increased under the Dollar Diplomacy policies of Republican President William Howard Taft and Secretary of State Philander Knox. However, Progressives remained mostly interested in domestic issues, and Republican Progressives sometimes hesitated to break party lines on foreign policy, hoping to ensure greater influence on domestic matters within the Republican Party. Similarly, after the election of Democratic President Woodrow Wilson, Democratic Progressives also tended to follow Wilson's lead on foreign policy issues, while the partisan reaction against them was led by Republican Progressives. Wilson also faced opposition from John Barrett, Director-General of the Pan-American Union, whom Wilson eventually forced out of office in 1919. President Wilson may have had greater reservations about U.S. foreign intervention in the Americas than President Theodore Roosevelt, but he was willing to intervene in the Mexican Revolution. Concerns about possible German submarine warfare also caused him to order U.S. military interventions in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and also led to the purchase of the U.S. Virgin Islands from Denmark. The military occupations incorporated elements of the Progressive program, attempting to establish effective local police forces, reform land laws, build public infrastructure, and increase public access to education. However, these programs were hampered by local opposition to U.S. occupation and U.S. policies that inadvertently proved counterproductive. Where Progressive policies threatened to destabilize U.S. authority, U.S. officials in charge of occupying forces opted for stability rather than authentic Progressive changes. In foreign policy, the Progressive movement also split over the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles. Progressive U.S. Senator William Borah led the campaign against ratification, and he would increasingly become the champion of the isolationist movement until his death in 1940. Other Progressives viewed the treaty more favorably. In the 1920s, the Progressive movement began to be supplanted by several different movements. In some cases, such as women's suffrage, Progressive victory caused activists to lose momentum to push for further change. The Progressive wing of the Republican Party was weakened by the party splits of 1912 and 1924, which were attempts to form a third, Progressive party. The Progressive wing of the Democratic Party would eventually be subsumed under the broader New Deal coalition of Franklin Roosevelt. Foreign policy matters would increasingly be focused on the buildup to the Second World War, and Progressive issues took a back seat to the interventionist/isolationist split.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Famouse People/Events
Some People who were a big part of the making Chicago were as follows.
William Butler Ogden-
In 1835, Ogden traveled to Chicago to look over land bought by his brother-in-law, Charles Butler, for $100,000. Ogden informed Butler that he had "been guilty of the grossest folly. There is no such value in the land and won't be for a generation."[2] Despite that, Ogden recovered the $100,000 by selling off one-third of the property that Butler had purchased. This experience helped change his impression of the city. During his term as Chicago's first mayor, 1837–1838, the land rush that had brought him to the Midwest collapsed, but Ogden managed to help the city weather the storm by pledging personal funds and arranging for the city council to issue unsecured scrip.Ogden designed the first swing bridge over the Chicago River[3] and donated the land for Rush Medical Center. Ogden was a leading promoter and investor in the Illinois and Michigan Canal, then switched his loyalty to railroads. Throughout his later life, Ogden was heavily involved in the building several railroads. "In 1847, Ogden announced a plan to build a railway out of Chicago, but no capital was forthcoming. Eastern investors were wary of Chicago's reputation for irrational boosterism, and Chicagoans did not want to divert traffic from their profitable canal works. So Ogden and his partner J. Young Scammon solicited subscriptions from the farmers and small businessmen whose land lay adjacent to the proposed rail. Farmer's wives used the money they earned from selling eggs to buy shares of stock on a monthly payment plan. By 1848, Ogden and Scammon had raised $350,000—enough to begin laying track. The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad was profitable from the start and eventually extended out to Wisconsin, bringing grain from the Great Plains into the city. As president of Union Pacific, Ogden extended the reach of Chicago's rail lines to the West coast." In 1853, the Chicago Land Company, of which Ogden was a trustee, purchased land at a bend in the Chicago River and began to cut a channel, formally known as North Branch Canal, but also referred to as Ogden's Canal.[5] The resulting island is now known as Goose Island.
George Pullman-
Between 1859 and 1863, he spent time as a gold broker near Golden, Colorado where he raised money and met a future business associate, Hannibal Kimball. He then developed a railroad sleeping car, the Pullman sleeper, or "palace car." These were designed after the packet boats that traveled the Erie Canal of his youth in Albion. The first one was finished in 1864. By arranging to have the body of President Abraham Lincoln carried from Washington, D.C. to Springfield on a sleeper, he received national attention and the orders began to pour in. The sleeping cars proved successful despite the fact that the sleeper cost more than five times the price of a regular railway car. Pullman's Palace Cars, marketed as "luxury for the middle class." In 1867 introduced his first hotel on wheels, the President, a sleeper with an attached kitchen and dining car. The food rivaled the best restaurants of the day and the service was impeccable. A year later in 1868, he launched the Delmonico, the world's first sleeping car devoted to fine cuisine. The Delmonico menu was prepared by chefs from New York's famed Delmonico's Restaurant. Both the President and the Delmonico and subsequent Pullman sleeping cars offered first-rate service which was provided by recently-freed former house slaves who served as porters, waiters, chambermaids, entertainers, and valets all rolled into one person. Pullman believed that if his sleeper cars were to be successful, he needed to provide a wide variety of services to travelers: collecting tickets, selling berths, dispatching wires, fetching sandwiches, mending torn trousers, converting day coaches into sleepers, etc. Pullman believed that the former house slaves of the plantation south had the right combination of training and acquiescence to serve the businessmen that would patronize his "Palace Cars." Pullman became the biggest single employer of African Americans in post-Civil War America. In 1869 Pullman bought out the Detroit Car and Manufacturing Company. He bought the patents and business of his eastern competitor, the Central Transportation Company in 1870. In the spring of 1871, George Pullman, Andrew Carnegie, and others bailed out the financially troubled Union Pacific and were placed onto its board of directors. By 1875 the Pullman firm owned $100,000 worth of patents, had 700 cars in operation, and had several hundred thousand dollars in the bank.
International Workers' Day-
Approximately 700,000 people at a May Day concert in Rome. May Day can refer to various labour celebrations conducted on May 1 that commemorate the fight for the eight hour day. May Day in this regard is called International Workers' Day, or Labour Day. The idea for a "workers holiday" began in Australia in 1856. With the idea having spread around the world, the choice of May 1st became a commemoration by the Second International for the people involved in the 1886 Hay market affair.
The Hay market affair occurred during the course of a three-day general strike in Chicago, Illinois that involved common laborers, artisans, merchants, and immigrants.[9] Following an incident in which police opened fire and killed four strikers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. plant, a rally was called for the following day at Hay market Square. The event remained peaceful, yet towards the end of the rally, as police moved in to disperse the event, an unknown assailant threw a bomb into the crowd of police. The bomb and resulting police riot left at least a dozen people dead, including seven policemen.A sensational show trial ensued in which eight defendants were openly tried for their political beliefs, and not necessarily for any involvement in the bombing.[11] The trial lead to the eventual public hanging of four anarchists.[12] The Hay market incident was a source of outrage from people around the globe. In the following years, memory of the "Hay market martyrs" was remembered with various May Day job actions and demonstrations. As such, May Day has become an international celebration of the social and economic achievements of the labour movement. Although May Day received its inspiration from the United States, the U.S. Congress designated May 1 as Loyalty Day in 1958 due to the day's appropriation by the Soviet Union. Alternatively, Labor Day traditionally occurs on the first Monday in September in the United States. People often use May Day as a day for political protest, such as the million people who demonstrated against far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen in France, or as a day for protest against government actions, such as pro-immigrant rallies across the United States.
William Butler Ogden-
In 1835, Ogden traveled to Chicago to look over land bought by his brother-in-law, Charles Butler, for $100,000. Ogden informed Butler that he had "been guilty of the grossest folly. There is no such value in the land and won't be for a generation."[2] Despite that, Ogden recovered the $100,000 by selling off one-third of the property that Butler had purchased. This experience helped change his impression of the city. During his term as Chicago's first mayor, 1837–1838, the land rush that had brought him to the Midwest collapsed, but Ogden managed to help the city weather the storm by pledging personal funds and arranging for the city council to issue unsecured scrip.Ogden designed the first swing bridge over the Chicago River[3] and donated the land for Rush Medical Center. Ogden was a leading promoter and investor in the Illinois and Michigan Canal, then switched his loyalty to railroads. Throughout his later life, Ogden was heavily involved in the building several railroads. "In 1847, Ogden announced a plan to build a railway out of Chicago, but no capital was forthcoming. Eastern investors were wary of Chicago's reputation for irrational boosterism, and Chicagoans did not want to divert traffic from their profitable canal works. So Ogden and his partner J. Young Scammon solicited subscriptions from the farmers and small businessmen whose land lay adjacent to the proposed rail. Farmer's wives used the money they earned from selling eggs to buy shares of stock on a monthly payment plan. By 1848, Ogden and Scammon had raised $350,000—enough to begin laying track. The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad was profitable from the start and eventually extended out to Wisconsin, bringing grain from the Great Plains into the city. As president of Union Pacific, Ogden extended the reach of Chicago's rail lines to the West coast." In 1853, the Chicago Land Company, of which Ogden was a trustee, purchased land at a bend in the Chicago River and began to cut a channel, formally known as North Branch Canal, but also referred to as Ogden's Canal.[5] The resulting island is now known as Goose Island.
George Pullman-
Between 1859 and 1863, he spent time as a gold broker near Golden, Colorado where he raised money and met a future business associate, Hannibal Kimball. He then developed a railroad sleeping car, the Pullman sleeper, or "palace car." These were designed after the packet boats that traveled the Erie Canal of his youth in Albion. The first one was finished in 1864. By arranging to have the body of President Abraham Lincoln carried from Washington, D.C. to Springfield on a sleeper, he received national attention and the orders began to pour in. The sleeping cars proved successful despite the fact that the sleeper cost more than five times the price of a regular railway car. Pullman's Palace Cars, marketed as "luxury for the middle class." In 1867 introduced his first hotel on wheels, the President, a sleeper with an attached kitchen and dining car. The food rivaled the best restaurants of the day and the service was impeccable. A year later in 1868, he launched the Delmonico, the world's first sleeping car devoted to fine cuisine. The Delmonico menu was prepared by chefs from New York's famed Delmonico's Restaurant. Both the President and the Delmonico and subsequent Pullman sleeping cars offered first-rate service which was provided by recently-freed former house slaves who served as porters, waiters, chambermaids, entertainers, and valets all rolled into one person. Pullman believed that if his sleeper cars were to be successful, he needed to provide a wide variety of services to travelers: collecting tickets, selling berths, dispatching wires, fetching sandwiches, mending torn trousers, converting day coaches into sleepers, etc. Pullman believed that the former house slaves of the plantation south had the right combination of training and acquiescence to serve the businessmen that would patronize his "Palace Cars." Pullman became the biggest single employer of African Americans in post-Civil War America. In 1869 Pullman bought out the Detroit Car and Manufacturing Company. He bought the patents and business of his eastern competitor, the Central Transportation Company in 1870. In the spring of 1871, George Pullman, Andrew Carnegie, and others bailed out the financially troubled Union Pacific and were placed onto its board of directors. By 1875 the Pullman firm owned $100,000 worth of patents, had 700 cars in operation, and had several hundred thousand dollars in the bank.
International Workers' Day-
Approximately 700,000 people at a May Day concert in Rome. May Day can refer to various labour celebrations conducted on May 1 that commemorate the fight for the eight hour day. May Day in this regard is called International Workers' Day, or Labour Day. The idea for a "workers holiday" began in Australia in 1856. With the idea having spread around the world, the choice of May 1st became a commemoration by the Second International for the people involved in the 1886 Hay market affair.
The Hay market affair occurred during the course of a three-day general strike in Chicago, Illinois that involved common laborers, artisans, merchants, and immigrants.[9] Following an incident in which police opened fire and killed four strikers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. plant, a rally was called for the following day at Hay market Square. The event remained peaceful, yet towards the end of the rally, as police moved in to disperse the event, an unknown assailant threw a bomb into the crowd of police. The bomb and resulting police riot left at least a dozen people dead, including seven policemen.A sensational show trial ensued in which eight defendants were openly tried for their political beliefs, and not necessarily for any involvement in the bombing.[11] The trial lead to the eventual public hanging of four anarchists.[12] The Hay market incident was a source of outrage from people around the globe. In the following years, memory of the "Hay market martyrs" was remembered with various May Day job actions and demonstrations. As such, May Day has become an international celebration of the social and economic achievements of the labour movement. Although May Day received its inspiration from the United States, the U.S. Congress designated May 1 as Loyalty Day in 1958 due to the day's appropriation by the Soviet Union. Alternatively, Labor Day traditionally occurs on the first Monday in September in the United States. People often use May Day as a day for political protest, such as the million people who demonstrated against far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen in France, or as a day for protest against government actions, such as pro-immigrant rallies across the United States.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Worlds Fair
The Worlds Fair was held in honor of Christopher Columbus's Trip to the United States, 400 years ago. The fair had a profound effect on architecture, the arts, Chicago's self-image, and American industrial optimism. The Chicago Columbian Exposition was, in large part, designed by Daniel Burnham and Frederick Law Olmsted. It was the prototype of what Burnham and his colleagues thought a city should be. It was designed to follow Beaux Arts principles of design, namely, European Classical Architecture principles based on symmetry and balance. The exposition covered more than 600 acres (2.4 km2), featuring nearly 200 new buildings of classical architecture, canals and lagoons, and people and cultures from around the world. Over 27 million people (equivalent to about half the U.S. population) attended the exposition during its six-month run. Its scale and grandeur far exceeded the other world fairs, and it became a symbol of the emerging American Exceptionalism, much in the same way that the Great Exhibition became a symbol of the Victorian era United Kingdom. The exposition covered more than 600 acres (2.4 km2), featuring nearly 200 new buildings of classical architecture, canals and lagoons, and people and cultures from around the world. Over 27 million people (equivalent to about half the U.S. population) attended the exposition during its six-month run. Its scale and grandeur far exceeded the other world fairs, and it became a symbol of the emerging American Exceptionalism, much in the same way that the Great Exhibition became a symbol of the Victorian era United Kingdom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
About Me, Zak Attack
- Zak Attack
- 18 years old. I have 3 dogs and 1 cat. I am Irish and Proud of It.