Local Public Transportation
that includes
the story about forgotten railroad
This post is a continuation of the another post called
North Side Transport and the North Shore at Belmont.
In this post I highlight public transportation for
both elevated and ground within Lake View. This post is divided into ground/surface transport & elevated transport in old Lake View
In this post I highlight public transportation for
both elevated and ground within Lake View. This post is divided into ground/surface transport & elevated transport in old Lake View
1930 Insull Transit Poster Series
JJ Sedeimaier Productions via
JJ Sedeimaier Productions via
Raymond Kunst - Fine Art Photography
an advertisement
in 1900
and in sections
In 1882 saw the introduction of cable cars in Chicago. Cable cars were much faster than horse cars, capable of speeds of up to 14 mph. The first cable car line was on State Street north of 21st Street. The first electric trolleys were constructed on N Clark Street and Irving Park Road by 1896. The first overhead trolley car went into service in 1890 on 93rd Street between Stony Island & South Chicago Avenue. Electrification cable car routes were complete by 1906.
Simply, cable was pulled from under the street surface and the streetcar/trolleys were powered by electricity from above lines
image - GoGo Charters
The Trolley Buses
1893 Rail and Street Map
The Cable-Car
illustration - Buried History Chicago Forgotten Cable Cars/WTTW
with a somewhat typical cable-car station below
illustration - Transformation of Baltimore
The Streetcar
electic and on rails
photo - Illinois Railway Museum
on wheels and still electric
photo - trolleydodger
*forgotten source*
Blue indicates cable cars; Green indicates horse-drawn public carriages; Red indicates electric streetcars
a zoomed view of our area of interest
In the beginning, the riding public would have to pay a toll to use public transportation much like the tolls currently
paid on Illinois and Chicago expressways.
A Streetcar
Heading North
postcard - Ebay
and location identified by Susan Reibman Groff
On February 1, 1914, all street railway companies in Chicago were unified under one management and became known as the Chicago Surface Lines. Prior to that date service was provided by the following private companies: Chicago Railways Co., Chicago City Railway Co., Calumet & South Chicago River Co., Southern Street Rv. Co., and Chicago and Western River Company. Motor bus service began in Chicago on August 11, 1927 when the first gasoline buses were placed into service on Diversey Avenue. This was followed by the introduction of trolley bus service on April 17, 1930. In 1945, the Chicago Transit Authority was created. On October 1, 1947, the Chicago Transit Authority took over all rapid transit including streetcar & elevated in Chicago.
Some Local Background
Township/City of Lake View
According to my limited research one of the first public used rail lines was the extension of the Chicago's Clark Street line, then called Green Bay Road, was routed from Fullerton Avenue to "40 rods" or one quarter acre north of Fullerton Avenue - 'The Limits' car-barn.
1887 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
published by Charles Rasher
In 1887 the governmental status changed from a township to a city
and retained it initial borders - Fullerton to Devon, Western Avenue to the then existing lakefront
zoomed view of Clark Street from Fullerton to Diversey
that highlights the carbarn on Clark
By 1863 township trustees approved rail service on Evanston Avenue (Broadway) in 1863 from Diversey to Graceland (Irving Park Road). The residents along Evanston Avenue in the neighborhood of Pine Grove had a difficult transition from horse-drawn service vs engine-powered (dummy cars - below).
Dummy cars were streamed powered by which the first car-the engine car was meant to look like a passenger car so not freak-out the horses. Of course, the noise and smoke of the dummy engine disturb the horses, not the sight of it, so the horse powered streetcars were re-introduced years later to appease the other horse owned citizens. During this time period Evanston Avenue was referred by locals as Dummy Road and the Lake View Township #1 (Nettelhorst as of 1893) was referred to Dummy School - apparently not a derogatory term at that time by local officals or parents.
1887 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
(there was an addition built by 1893)
the school in 1911
postcard - Chicago History in Postcards
In 1876 Lincoln Avenue service (formerly called Little Fort Road) like the Clark Street [surface] rail (formerly known as Green Bay Road) connect the City of Chicago with the township that extended service from the city border street of Fullerton Avenue to Wrightwood Avenue. The township trustees approved the extension of Lincoln Avenue service from Wrightwood to Belmont Avenue by 1885. One year later northward expansion of privately owned and publicly used rail service continued on Halsted Street from Fullerton to Belmont Avenues. The alderman of the City of Lake View approved Clybourn Street service from Fullerton to Belmont Avenues. By 1900 a full service elevated was established between the Loop and Wilson Avenue that mostly cut though the alleyways of old Lake View.
The North Chicago streetcar #880 ran along Fullerton Avenue to Halsted Street between 1884 and 1895. By 1895 horse-drawn transport was mostly replaced by electric. - CTA via Pinterest
Evanston (Broadway) Avenue trolley owned and operated by the Evanston Railway Company - a photo prior to 1913
A Clark Street Line streetcar that made a connection to the Evanston Avenue (Broadway) electric streetcar in 1890 (one year after annexation) - Calumet 412
At midnight of Tuesday December 27, 1910 the direct track connection between the Chicago Evanston Avenue (now Broadway) line and the Evanston Chicago Rail line was cut at Clark and Howard without any notice by the owners of the transit company, in an event called “cutting the line.” - urban terrorism maybe??
heading north from the intersection of Clark and Diversey
apparently on Evanston Avenue
photo - Chicago History Museum via Calumet 412
photo - Chicago History Museum via Calumet 412
Alert Evanston Avenue Residents
Is Rapid Transit Ready in 1893??
public transport had private owners
Protesters
A Dust-Up
photos - J. Willelme Banks-De Beauharnais
Vintage Scenes
Is Rapid Transit Ready in 1893??
public transport had private owners
Southport Avenue
vs
Railroad in 1876
in 1883
Planning for Lincoln Avenue
in 1886
Like Bees to Honey
in 1893
Do not ruin my scenic route!
We Protest!!
1894
in 1911
Evidence
of What Had Been
near the corner of Stratford Place & Broadway in 2009
a 2018 Resurfacing Public Works Project
at Belmont/Sheffield
photo below - Kevin Gaitsch
via Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
vintage tracks on Lincoln & Barry
2021 photo - Jarrod Godfrey
& Images
1925 photo - Northwest of Chicago on Facebook
Intersections of Clark, Broadway, and Diversey Parkway
Notice the marquee in the middle of photo highlighting Diversey Hotel and Diversey Theater now Versey Hotel and the Century Mall. As a side note, the first motor operated bus in Chicago was used along Diversey Parkway in 1927.
photo - Chuckman Collection
The intersection of Evanston Avenue (Broadway) to the right
Clark Street to the left and Diversey Parkway at the bottom of photo
1905 photo - Charles R. Childs photographer
photo - Lance Grey via Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
Lincoln Avenue
south of Wellington/Southport intersection
photo - 1930's?
Electric car service on Clark Street
and the connection to Evanston (Broadway) Avenue
in 1884
image below - from a 2013 CTA Calendar
1938 Chicago Surface Line Map
Chicago once had one of the world’s largest streetcar systems, more than 500 miles of line on nearly 100 routes by 1935. Horsecar service began in 1859, and was supplanted in the 1880s by a large network of cable car lines. In the 1890s, electric “trolleys” proved more efficient and the cable cars were replaced by 1906. Beginning in 1914, the various companies holding franchises for different parts of the city operated as a single system known as Chicago Surface Lines. More than 3,700 large red streetcars plied the city’s
streets by 1935, and 680 new streamlined green PCC cars began arriving after
World War II. The new public agency Chicago Transit Authority took over the
streetcar system in 1947 and began to integrate the surface lines with the
city’s elevated train network. In the 1950s, CTA decided to phase out
streetcars in favor of motor and electric trolley buses, and Chicago’s last
streetcar ran in June 1958.
#22 Clark at Clark Street and Sheffield Avenue
all photos - Trolley Dodger
#9 Ashland shuttle car on Addison Street heading east passed
Lake View High School
and below
a #22 heading north on Clark Street
The Clark/Halsted
& Barry Intersection
vs
2019 Google Maps
photo - the Trolley Dodger
1940's photo - via Calumet 412 (Trolleydodger?)
Today's current view would be CVS store to the right of the photo and Marshall's dept. store to the left.
Today's current view would be CVS store to the right of the photo and Marshall's dept. store to the left.
1940's? photo - Trolley Dodger via Uptown Update
streetcar heading south on Halsted & trolley heading south on Clark
photo below
via Ronald Jackson/Chicago Streetcar Group
The Broadway/Halsted
Turn-About
2021 Google view below
zoomed view below
The Waveland Avenue
Turn-a-Around
from Broadway to Halsted via Waveland Avenue
photo - dfwu/Ebay
on Waveland from Broadway to Halsted Street
photo - Chuckman Collection
photo - Ebay
below photo via George Snyder
A Then and Now on Halsted passed Waveland
Forgotten Chicago on Facebook contributor Art Colletta with the same location as of 2011 Google Maps
Streetcar #90
heading west on Irving Park Road
photo - CTA 2014 calendar
Grace/Halsted/Broadway
Intersection
a #36 Broadway heading south passed Grace Street as it makes a slight turn to the east on Broadway
1952 photo below - Robert W. Gibson Photo/Electric Railway Historical Society Collection
images - CTA 2015 calendar
below photo - CTA 2018 calendar
The images below are trolley cars called the 'Big Brill'.
Its' route was from the Grace-Halsted terminal (turn-around) to Madison Avenue in the Loop and then to Austin Avenue.
The 'Big Brill route' began in 1910 and ended by 1933.
A total of 683 PPC (Presidents’ Conference Committee) cars were purchased in 1948. Ten years later all but one of the prewar cars had been scrapped, most of the postwar cars had been stripped of parts.
Note: Read the Facebook comments on the photo below!
photo - Ebay
*Devon Avenue was the northern border of old Lake View*
Intersection of Clark/Broadway/Diversey
1940's photo - Ebay
1940's photo - Ebay
The photo above has great resolution if copied to your computer.
Notice the man on the upper right hanging out the
window cleaning his window!!
Wellington? and Clark Street in 1946
photo - Chuckman Collection
image - 'Lake View' by Matt Nickerson
the other side of Southport - Ebay
Irving Park & Sheridan Road in 1947
Gary Karczewski via Original Chicago/Facebook
the view looking north
Irving Park & Broadway in 1948 
Jim Huffman – Forgotten Chicago on Facebook
from his collection, Ed Frank Jr photos
"Looking west on Irving w/a work truck & Red Car #888
about to take the crossover WB, looking east on Irving at Broadway &
2-PCC's. The Red Car has the CSL emblem on the sides, as does a
PCC. The CTA when they took over, changed the emblems to CTA as the cars
arrived at the Car Barns. There were some routes that converted to bus in 1948,
Montrose was one of them. The Irving east end & cross over, was west of
Broadway. But the tracks continued & connected to Broadway. One of the
earliest routings was NB Evanston (Broadway) to Irving & thence WB. Later
WB to Clark & NB to Evanston, for a while." Note: WB means 'westbound'.
On Irving Park Road #80 along the cemetery between Sheridan Road and Clark Street both streetcars (right) and trolleys (left) in 1954
Irving Park Road east of Broadway
in 1954
#22 Clark Street 'Green Hornet'
in 1957
by the trolleydodger
south of Irving Park Road
a Green Hornet heading north on Clark beyond Addison Street
in 1949
A engine powered bus heading into
Belmont Avenue from Wilton Avenue
1955 photo - Growing Up in Chicago-Facebook
the building to the right was razed
for the Belmont Station renovation project
Belmont/Clark heading east
#77 Belmont was converted from trolley bus
to motor bus in 1973
photo - Wm Shapotkin Collection
another look of that intersection - view northwest
- part of my personal collection
Target sits there currently
Belmont trolleybus at Belmont and Halsted
Turnabout in 1961
#77 at Belmont & Southport Avenue in 1968
photo - Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal
postcard below - Chuckman Collection
The Diversey Parkway electric trolley - 1950's
It cost 20 to 25 cents per ride
1951 Motor Coach per Ebay
The #34 Diversey was
introduced June 1924 and then under the CTA became the #134 October 1952,
combined into route in #76 in June 1955 according to Chicago Rail Fan.com. The Motor Coach buses were primarily used on boulavards & parkways
photo - a forgotten source
The #152 trolley bus traveling west on Ashland
next to Lake View High School
photo - Vintage Chicago History
below image - Vintage CTA Bus Routes & Signs-Facebook
Clark #22 at Belmont and Clark Street
Forgotten Chicago-Facebook contributor
photo - Kenneth Josephson probably from the 1940's
unknown date - Chicago Streetcar Group- Facebook
The Devon Avenue Car-barn
end of the line north for the Broadway #36
Another car-barn on Broadway and Ardmore
photo - Chicago Streetcar Group-Facebook
#36 Broadway on State Street
1950's - Cera Archives
Part of a longer route
below is a zoomed view of the page above
above images - Chicago Streetcar Group-Facebook below is a zoomed view of the page above
Now take a ride in Ocober 1956 on the #36 Broadway
Clark #22 meets the Broadway #36 heading south
photo - Trolleydodger
The building in the center was a bank
.jpg)
photo - via Trolleydodger
the #22 Clark to the left & the #36 Broadway to the right
Broadway # 36 near Surf Street
photo - Trolleydodger
photos - J.J. Sedelmaier, Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
heading north from Clark Street to Broadway into Lake View
passing Ricketts Restaurant and Bar
photo - Illinois Digital Archives
From the B&W photo above you can see the sign for it
1957 photo - Trolleydodger.com
below slide - via Kevin Heinlein/Chicago Streetcar Group-FB
Intersection of Clark Street/Diversey Parkway with the
former Parkway Theater to the right
looking south in 1955?
via Edward Kwiatkowski 'North Side Chicago'-Facebook
Belmont Avenue east of the L
1967 photo above - Vanished Chicago-Facebook
1967 photo above - Vanished Chicago-Facebook
Belmont and Southport in 1968
When the Addison and Diversey buses
had a direct route to the Loop in 1969
The Last Day for the Electric
The last day of electric trolley in Chicago
'On June 21, 1958 while most of us were starting another Saturday morning, Green Hornet #7213 completed her final run on the
#22 Clark-Wentworth route. She clanged her bell twice and rolled quietly into the CTA barn at Seventy-Seventh-and-Vincennes, never to be seen again. The age of the electric trolley, let alone the streetcar had ended.' - Every Block Chicago
Last run for the Broadway Clark
My thanks to Timothy M. Szarzynski contributor to
Forgotten Chicago on Facebook for this snapshot
The Green Limousine
The #80 Irving Park bus
by the post office west of Clark Street
photo - 'Vintage CTA Bus Routes & Signs'-Facebook
The #151 Addison bus west of Sheffield
1960's - photo Ebay
waiting at Diversey & Sheridan in 1978
photo via Vintage CTA Bus Routes & Signs-Facebook
The #36 Broadway
heading south passed the original Broadway Methodist
Church to Buckingham Place 1970's photo - Dennis Linsky
via Forgotten
Chicago-Facebook
The Decommissioned
Roscoe Route
referred to as the Riverview branch
image below - Chicago Railfan
postcard below is from my personal collection
Past & Present Bus Routes
historical routes from Chicago Railfan
a shorter route by 2019
Before the annexation of 1889 the City of Lake View
and the City of Chicago shared this street
discontinued in 2012
image - Chicago Motor Coach Company by John F Doyle
The Struggle to Reinstate
the #11 Lincoln
photo - Ebay
now part of collection
image above - CTA
vs the new route
This bus service ended in 2012 due to reshuffling of CTA resources but after some political battles and with the alderman's full support temporary service returned in 2016
November 2015
within Lake View
The Next Section
of this Post:
The Surface (Ground) Rails &
the Elevated Rails
The Sheridan Red Line L tracks
Irving Park Road, Seminary Avenue, and Dakin Street alley
Opened May 31 1900 and rebuilt in 1916 & 1930
Raymont Kunst - Fine Art Photography
The two RR tracks
that cut though Lake View
*both RR's began as competing passenger train companies*
Milwaukee Road Division
currently the Chicago Metra
mostly along Ravenswood Avenues
and turns eastward after Wrightwood
and the
aka
Chicago & North Western
*defunct*
along Herndon (Lakewood Avenue)
northeast to Seminary Avenue
1887 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
when Lake View was township/city
from Sulzer Street (Montrose Avenue)
to Fullerton Avenue
*X marks the route of both RR's*
Chicago & North Western Railway
to the left of map
and
Chicago, Milwaukee, & Lake Superior
to the right of map
sheet 1
sheet 2 above
sheet 3 below
Station Passenger Houses:
The Stations for the
Chicago & North Western Railway
*1891-1894 maps*
when Lake View was a District of Chicago
Deering Passenger Station
once located southside of Fullerton Avenue
in the City of Chicago
between Wood Street & the river
(Chester was decommissioned)
once located on Lakewood (Herndon)
between Belmont & Melrose
Graceland = Irving Park Road
Ravenswood avenue was once divided in name
east of tracks was called East Ravenswood Park
west of the was called West Ravenswood Park
zoomed view below
The Stations for the
Chicago, Milwaukee, & Lake Superior
Fullerton Avenue Station
the tracks turn northeast north of Belmont Avenue &
east of Herndon (Lakewood Avenue)
once located east of Graceland Cemetery
zoomed view below
The Elevated Rails:
advanced in Lake View by 1900
a 1913 map
zoomed below
gray coded - decommissioned
metal sign - part of my collection
In the "A" and "B' plan of express service successive trains are alternately "A" trains and "B" trains. Less important stations on the route are designated alternately from the end of a route as "A" stations or as "B" stations. More important stations are designated as "all-stop" stations. "A" stations are served by "A" trains, "B" stations are served by "B" trains and "all-stop" stations are served by "A" and "B" trains. The "A" trains skip one group of stops while the "B" trains skip an alternate group. All are expresses
and there are no locals. - Chicago L.org
The Red (Howard) Line
within the Community of Lake View:
Belmont Station
metal sign
Michael Steigerwald via Chicago Rapid Transit-Facebook
1907 view - Wikipedia
1930's photos below
J.J. Sedelmaier via Forgotten Chicago on Facebook
J.J. Sedelmaier via Forgotten Chicago on Facebook
photo - CTA calendar
Leaving the Belmont Station 1950's
on Roscoe view east towards Sheffield
information of this 1960's photo provided by the friends of LakeView Historical-Facebook
1960's photo & text - CTA 2018 calendar
1960 photo - CTA RPM/Facebook
Feburary 1962 photo - Ebay
postcard - Ebay
text zoomed below
1964 - Forgotten Chicago on Facebook
GE Reports photo
via Jeff Nichols-Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
with an advertisement that highlights Lake View's Curtiss Candies on the platform via David Zornig and a local dealership
via George Kelly Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
another 1964 view with a watermark - Ebay
via Jeff Nichols-Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
with an advertisement that highlights Lake View's Curtiss Candies on the platform via David Zornig and a local dealership
via George Kelly Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
southbound train with the Clark Street Junction in the background
photo - bcoolidge.com 1968 via Marc Gelfond
1968 photo - William Shapotkin via Chicago L-Facebook
view south 1969 - Calumet 412
another view south 1969 - Ebay
Heading toward the platform 1969 - Ebay
late 50's or early 60's photo
via Steve Fields, Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
heading north just beyond Clark Street Junction with the Belmont Station in the distance in 1968
photo via Marty Bernard, Chicago L-Facebook
photographed by Roger Puta
and a snowy day in 1969 view south
Rose Daniella Marie via Original Chicago-Facebook
Lou Gerard Chicago L-Facebook in 1970
this train car was called a 'motor car'
via Steve Fields, Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
photo via Marty Bernard, Chicago L-Facebook
photographed by Roger Puta
and a snowy day in 1969 view south
this train car was called a 'motor car'
1975 - Chuckman Collection
The Pedestrian Bridge Views
with a zoomed view of the sign
part is his personal collection hanging on his wall
Photos above from a blog called 'New Daves Real'
1968 photo - Mike Tuggle Forgotten Chicago-FacebookThe view is northbound
1968 photo - Ebay
1973 photo - Lou Gerard via Chicago L-Facebook
1977 photo - Frank Florianz Chicago L via Facebook 
1978 Chuckman Collection
Mike Tuggle - CTA 6000 series 1980's
1968 photo - Ebay
1973 photo - Lou Gerard via Chicago L-Facebook
1977 photo - Frank Florianz Chicago L via Facebook 
1978 Chuckman Collection
Mike Tuggle - CTA 6000 series 1980's1978 slide below - Ebay
1978 photo via Ebay
Ravenswood (Brown) train at station - 1979 Calumet 412
1979 press photo - Ebay
1979 photo - Authur Lazar Photography
a Ravenswood train heading north in 1983 - Ebay
film plate photo above - Peter Ehlich
heading south to the station in 1986
View from the
Belmont Station platform
.gif)
View east from platform - 2000
University of Illinois at Chicago, City 2000
zoomed out view
a pre-1992 photo from
University of Illinois-Urbana/Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago, City 2000
zoomed out view
University of Illinois at Chicago, City 2000
zoomed view
University of Illinois at Chicago, City 2000
zoomed out view
University of Illinois-Urbana/Chicago
zoomed out view
zoomed view
to the other side of the tracks
UIC photo via Explore Chicago Collection
2001 photo - 'Chicago-L'
2004 photo view north - Chicago Trip
photo above - Yo Chicago - before the station renovation
Rehab Planned
in 2006
The original station saved & moved across the street in 1989
on the platform in 2000
photo - UIC via Explore Chicago Collection
2010 photo - Tom Tunney-Facebook
renovated station - David Lee Csicsko
2010 photo - Tom Tunney-Facebook
2013 photo below - Streetsblog Chicago
The Belmont Station Overpass
Planned in 2014
2018-2022
more detail reporting
in my post called
'As part of the first phase of the Red and Purple
Modernization (RPM) Program, CTA has begun construction of the Red-Purple
Bypass north of the Belmont Station to eliminate a bottleneck that prevents CTA
from adding more trains. Currently there is a flat rail intersection, and all
northbound Brown Line trains cross over the four tracks used by northbound and
southbound Red and Purple line trains. This outdated track configuration dates
back to 1907 and results in inefficient train operations that constrain the
CTA’s ability to add train service.' - CTA
The Before
& The After
The CTA would email me alerts on the construction phases
and virtual meetings such as the one in 2018
photos - Trolley Dodger
Roscoe & Clark Area
The Ghost Sign
When certian building was demo'ed for this project a 'ghost sign' was discovered on one side of a building
Sound Barrier Installation
in 2023
Nearing the End of the this Segment
The Re-Construction in Lake View
Enters its Final Phase
October 2023
above image - Ebay
Chicago's Classic Signs & Symbols-Facebook
This station from 1949 - mid 1990's was a B station that allowed A trains to bypass it to the next A designated station
Lake View's Addison Station - 1989
reconstructed by 1994
a transit poster advertising the station and its relationship with Wrigley Field and the Chicago Bears in 1929
unknown date
1966 photo - Jeffery Lindmark via Chicago L -Facebook
1974 photo - William Shapokin via Chicago L -Facebook
via Billy Kapp, Chicagopedia-Facebook
the photographer was Billy's father - late 1960's
2016 photo - Garry Albrecht
photo - Wikipedia
still ground zero of public transit for the games
2015 photo - CTA
below photo Christopher Rinker via Chicago L-Facebook
a vintage train taking fans to the 2016 World Series
*was a transfer station*
It was a switching tower & passenger platform
at Clark Street just south of Roscoe
According to Chicago L.org the CTA established massive changes to the north-south Howard route in 1949, three years after the establishment of the Chicago Transit Authority - the replacement to the Chicago Rapid Transit System
1972 by Marty Bernard, Chicago Rapid Transit,
Chicago Transit Authority, Elevated Trains Group
William Shapotkin Collection via Chicago L-Facebook
The concept of "local" stations, of which Clark's much like the Grace Station low usage was only suited, was not a part of the A/B skip stop concept and the station was closed, serving only 357,348 in its last year of operation. - Chicago L.org
a 1923 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map 
Grace Street Station survived the CTA's 1947 takeover, but was one of 23 stations that closed along the North-South Route service revision in August 1, 1949. The concept of "local" stations, of which Grace's low usage was only suited, was not a part of the A/B skip stop concept so this the station was closed. - Chicago L.org
unknown date
2019 photo - Garry AlbrechtThis is the intersection where the Sheridan Road is routed from west to north. The station is a block away.
(south is Sheffield Avenue and west is Byron)
1902 photo - Jeff Nichols via Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
When the North Shore Line was routed
along the old Howard Line (Redline)
unknown date photo - Scott Greig via Chicago L-Facebook
train passes the station in 1955 
1973 photo - Lou Gerard via Chicago L-Facebook
1973 photo - Lou Gerard via Chicago L-Facebook
1973 photo - Lou Gerard via Chicago L-Facebook
1973 photo - Lou Gerard via Chicago L-Facebook both photos above are of the Evanston Express
1975 photo - UIC via Explore Chicago Collection
1975 photo - UIC via Explore Chicago Collectionview north on Sheridan Road and Sheridan Road
1950-59 photo above - Ebay
Heading north with no New York skyscraper in the distance1978 by Marty Bernard Chicago Rapid Transit,
Chicago Transit Authority, Elevated Trains Group
1980 photo - Dale Wickum via Forgotten Chicago-FacebookSteve McQueen on the Curve
1980 photo - Dale Wickum via Forgotten Chicago-FacebookSteve McQueen on the Curve
taking the turn from the station above Byron Street
Dale Wickum via Forgotten Chicago-Facebook 1983
It has really not changed one bit!
photo - flickerhivemind
2016 photos - Raymond Kunst Fine Art Photography
It has really not changed one bit!
the original stairs still used 2016
photo abover - via John J Kulidas 1966 photographer Bill LIvings
Lou Gerad via Chicago L-Facebook in 2016 World Series
with the New York skyscraper in the distance
photo - Flickr Hive Mind
photo - Flickr Hive Mind
In later years, an enclosed concession space was added in the unpaid area of the interior along the north wall. Over the years, Sheridan has remained somewhat historically intact, with its original floors, wood moldings, and decorative ticket booth. Other features, however, such as the original exterior gloved lights and some ornamentation has been lost. The terrazzo floor has also become deteriorated over the decades due to flooding from busted pipes.
2012 The Sheridan Station renovation has been scheduled as part of a $1 billion overhaul that includes federal, state and local funding sources for the Red Line from its northern end on Howard to the 95th Street station. Still waiting as of 2021.
The Brown (Ravenswood) Line
photo - Travis DeWit website
Raymond Kunst - Fine Art Photography
*one of the last non-rehabbed stations a/o 202*1
*one of the last non-rehabbed stations a/o 202*1
Photography by Chris Cullen 2020
Under the Tracksphotography by Raymond Kunst
under the Sheridan L
within the Community
of Lake View
1906 photo - Chicago History Museum
via Explore Chicago Collection
1906 photo - Chicago History Museum
via Explore Chicago Collection
1906 photo - Chicago History Museum
via Explore Chicago Collection
images - J.J. Sedelmaier
and
interior view of a Ravenswood car
1957 photo - Chuckman Collection
Making the split from Belmont Station - 1950's?
The Diversey 'headhouse' was one of several stations built from a design by William Gibb. The station was constructed entirely of brick with terra-cotta trim, the Classical Revival design was inspired by the work of the great 16th century Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. The bold modeling of the details, especially the columns and segmented arched windows, is characteristic of Italianate work of the late 19th century. - Chicago L. org
photo - Nia Architects
view east of platform
University of Illinois-Chicago, City 2000
Photos below from Amanda Martinez
via Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
more information
Photos below from Amanda Martinez
via Forgotten Chicago-Facebook
Preservation of the interior as of 2017
photo as of 1970
Wellington station opened on May 31, 1900 as part of the original stretch of the Northwestern Elevated. The station-house was one of several stations built designed by William Gibb on what is now the Brown Line. Constructed entirely of brick with terra-cotta trim, the Classical Revival Design was inspired by the work of the great 16th century Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio.
- Chicago L.org
slide/photo - Ebay
heading north leaving the Wellington Station in 1968
photo via Marty Bernard, Chicago L-Facebook
both photos photographed by Roger Puta
both photos photographed by Roger Puta
south & north views
The 1978 photo shows the B train to Jackson Park
& another B train Ravenswood.
1982 photo - Lou Gerard via Chicago L-Facebook
below 2000 photo - University of Illinois-Chicago; City 2000
The Renovation
after passing the Belmont Station Overpass
pre 2007 photos below
photo - Nile Guide
unknown date
pre 2007 photo - mark2400 via flickr
late 1990's photo - Eric E. Breese
from LakeView Historical-Facebook
According to Eric Breese the following business along Southport Avenue were the following, "The business on the left from Newport headed south to Roscoe are: Brandt-Beach Realty, Viennese Cafe Haus Brandt, The Red Tomato, CTA Southport Station, and Southport Mini Mart (a laundromat)."
2014 view from platform
under tracks toward station
photo - Lauren Sease Martinez via Pinterest
2008 photo below
with a zoomed view below of the signage
1961 photo - David Harrison via Chicago L-Facebook
Lincoln, Roscoe, Paulina intersection
1987 photo - Robert Krueger, Chicago Public Library
via Explore Chicago Collections
Paulina Station House
1987 photo - Robert Krueger, Chicago Public Library
via Explore Chicago Collections
The original Paulina Station House
photo - Mark Levin via LakeView Historical-Facebook
The yellow circle indicates its P for Paulina
William Shapotkin via Chicago L-Facebook 1994
view south from platform toward Lincoln Avenue
2018 photo - Garry Albrecht
This station now has its own Facebook presence!
In 2009 a new station house was built across the street from the site of the old stationhouse
an express from the Loop to City of Evanston
on this line in the Community Lake View
An Old Power Station
Converted
The Newport Avenue Sub-Station
once for the electric streetcars & trolleys
once for the electric streetcars & trolleys
photo - William Vandervoort,
contributor to Forgotten Chicago on Facebook
1950 Sanborn Fire Insureance Map
A power station supplied electricity to the rails of old Lake View streetcars & trolleys is still located at 1044 Newport Avenue. This old sub-station as of 2015 will be part of planned development per Chicago Real Estate Daily.
the newer look below - DNAinfo
views from Zillow below
The Next
Section of this Post
The Evanston Branch of
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad
(originally called Evanston, Chicago & Lake Superior)
four years after Lake View was established as a township
but before the township was incorporated.
(click to enlarge text)
The Chicago, Evanston &
Lake Superior Railroad merged with the Chicago & Evanston Railroad and by 1885 to become the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
Paul Railway
The Evanston branch of this RR were mostly used for the transportation of freight; short distances within the Chicagoland area as early as 1885 that was once routed through the Township/City of Lake View; after annexation from the City of Chicago to the Township/City of Evanston.
image - 'Lake View' by Matt Nickerson
Let's begin this journey from Irving Park Road that separates the neighborhoods of Uptown with Lake View to the former border of Fullerton Avenue that once separated the Township/City of Lake View and the City of Chicago. The Sanborn Fire Maps presented are from 1923 even though the Chicago & Evanston RR tracks date back to 1885 when Lake View was a township. Viewing a 1887 map of the township of Lake View very little development was indicated; by 1923 a number of companies were established on either side of the tracks. Using a Google Earth or an interactive blogger site called Forgotten Railways,Roads & Places dated 2018 residential buildings are dotted like a snake along the old tracks between Belmont and Addison forever indicating a strange configuration to modern day Lake View.
1887 map view of the RR with a zoomed view below
1894 view in sections
Addison to Irving Park Road
Belmont to Addison
Diversey to Belmont
Fullerton to Diversey
Addison to Irving Park Road
(prior to 1889 Fullerton was the southern border of the township)
”Chicago is the most important railroad center in North America. More lines of track radiate in more directions from Chicago than from any other city. Chicago has long been the most important interchange point for freight traffic between the nation's major railroads.” - Encyclopedia of Chicago
One such railroad was the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company - Evanston Branch that had its beginnings in 1872 twenty-eight years before commuter elevated tracks were built by the North Western Company (Redline and Brownline). The CM&P delivered freight to and from Chicago manufacturers that once included Lake View. Lake View in the 19th and mid-20th centuries was referred to as a blue collar manufacturing area that included coal yards, metal works, lumber yards, greenhouses and a well-known Chicago brewery as well as candy companies.
A Summary of RR's Demise in Lake View
image - Flickr
We Begin the Journey at
Irving Park Road Southward
*I believe my source was
Forgotten Railways, Roads & Places*
The Northwestern once owned the ground and
elevated tracks in old Lake View
the tracks run west of Alta Vista
tracks run straight down Seminary Avenue
tracks begin to curve off west at Addison
This is the area of the tracks that begin to get interesting as it appears to slice its way through the neighborhood. Seminary Avenue between Addison and Waveland non-existent
after for Wrigley Field renovations.
2002 photo- Chicago Switching
unknown year photo - from Railroads Chicago Style
unknown year photo - from Railroads Chicago Style
Notice a RR watch tower that was once located at the intersection of west of Seminary, Clark, and Addison Street
By Ray Gibson and Gary
Washburn
and Tribune staff reporters
August 02, 2001
Documents show that 103 years ago--on Aug. 5, 1918--the City Council voted to open up Seminary between Addison Street and Waveland Avenue.
Coincidentally, those old council minutes also indicate that the city was having a problem with railroads encroaching on public streets and alleys. The council's Committee on Local Industries was directed to investigate and, separately, the corporation counsel was ordered "to institute such legal proceedings as he may deem necessary" against one offending rail company.
As part of the Wrigley
investigation, officials have unearthed an 1882 agreement between the city and
the Chicago, Evanston, & Lake Superior Railroad, allowing the company to
lay tracks in the Lake View [Lake View was an independent township in 1882] near the future ballpark site, said
Jennifer Hoyle, a Law Department spokeswoman. (The park that was to become
Wrigley was built in 1914.)
1887 map of the township
with a zoomed view of the area below
But the agreement didn't indicate the city had turned over the land to the railroad, she said.
Through a
turn-of-the-century acquisition, the Chicago, Evanston & Lake Superior
became part of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, the rail
company that sold the land just west of Wrigley to Tribune Company. Hoyle
acknowledged that the city is "convinced that Tribune purchased from the
railroad and the railroad purchased it from a private party" at some point
in history. But that does not mean that anyone had the right to sell what may
have been public land, she said.
In 1976, city records show
that the Chicago, Milwaukee railroad informed the city it was giving up its
interest in a portion of Seminary, just north of Wrigley, but it is not clear
whether the railroad had an easement permitting its tracks to be in the street
or whether it owned the land, Hoyle said.
Records sometimes provide
conflicting information, and the city has decided to bring in expert
assistance--possibly Chicago Title and Trust Co., a private title insurance
company whose records predate the 1871 Chicago Fire--to try to get to the
bottom of the question of who is the rightful owner of the land next to the
ballpark.
When information gaps
appear in the Cook County recorder of deeds office, "then we look at
Chicago Title and try to fill in the gaps," said Dennis Kasper, executive
vice president of Near North National Title Company.
Kasper said there is no
guarantee the answer to the mystery can be resolved through land records.
"Who knows what could have happened 50, 60, 80, 100 years ago," he
said. "We have seen a lot of odd, crazy things. But they are the exception
rather than the rule."
(the curve of the tracks continue to Belmont)
The most notable evidence in 2018 are these Google Map views on Eddy just west of Clark Street
view south on Eddy
and below view north on Eddy
The tracks sliced through the middle of the street blocks.
Dwellings of all sorts surrounded the tracks
by mid 20th century
Some Interesting Photos of What Was
and How the RR Sliced through
this Section of Lake View
with my confirmation of the location of this photo below
from Racine to Wrigley Field - Addison/Clark streets
and the XX's mark below confirms the validity of the photo above
zoomed further below - X marks the spot
early views below
above image - 'Lake View' by Matt Nickerson
the curve of the tracks begin to straighten out
in a line south on Lakewood
From Belmont Avenue southward the tracks begin to route in a straight path down Lakewood Avenue
on this former RR tracks
tracks begin to run along on Lakewood Avenue south
2013 photo - Garry Albrecht
photo - Chicago Public Library
a 1946 view of a train car on Lakewood at Belmontview northwest toward Lakewood
I do not understand a train car sitting on Lakewood
north of Belmont when the tracks were routed northeast??
1985 photo - Tom Burke
Signal crossing on Belmont/west of Lakewood
a north view toward Lakewood north of Belmont
This is where the tracks leave Lakewood to head easterly toward Clark and Addison
and below a 2019 Google view of the same intersection
tracks head eastward-ly and Lakewood westward-ly
the photo below shows the tracks just south of Belmont.
The track heads northeast from Belmont while Lakewood heads west and then north again.
Crossing the Street at Belmont
view is west toward Lakewood Avenue north of Belmont
images via Flickr
Best Brewing Company
was along this route on Fletcher Avenue
photo - Layman Guide to Beer
photo - Garry Albrecht
photo - Garry Albrecht
The Best Brewing Company of Chicago was located along the CM&P so to economically transport their product to market. The building was originally owned by breweries Klockgeter & Company in 1885 and then Kagebein & Folstaff one year later. The buildings occupants were many but all related to brewing beer. Their beer products of this company were the ‘Hapsburg Bock’ (1933 – 1962), ‘Hapsburg Beer’ (1933 - 1962), and ‘Best Ale’ (1937 – 1962). Currently, the building is listed in the National Register of Historical Places in 1987 and used for residential space. Most of the buildings of the former manufacturing area are physically gone but not completely forgotten thanks to Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (like type of Google maps of its day) that were created in the 19th century for property insurance, fire protection, and street & sanitation concerns.
*Lakewood has a tree
and shrub barrier at this point*
2014 photo - Garry Albrecht
the organic barrier below on Barry
2014 photos - Garry Albrecht
View north of the barrier in the distance on Barry Avenue
The crumbling of the street due to the covering of the tracks which should have been removed but less costly
images via Flickr
Imagine a tanker running down your street!!
1980 vs 2018 on Lakewood at Wellington
a straight line down Lakewood toward Lincoln Avenue
tracks are to the left of the map
Tracks begin to appear as late as 2012
- view north and south on Diversey Parkway
2014 photos - Garry Albrecht
2014 photo - Garry Albrecht
Leaving the Community of Lake View for
Lincoln Park
apparently the tracks connected to Union Station
C&E heading towards Peerless Confection - 2000
photo - Chicago Switching
The most remembered company along its route was
Peerless Candies once located at Lakewood & Schubert in Lincoln Park- closed in 2007 along with Finkl Steel once located further south - moved to the south-side.
beyond Fullerton Avenue
as of 2015 are at 1310 W Webster in Lincoln Park
photo - unknown source
photo - unknown source
A Replica of the RR still Remains
RR sign - two angles of it
2020 Google view
The Stations of
- Evanston Branch
once called the Chicago Evanston & Lake Superior Railroad per this 1887 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
'From 1885 to 1908, the Milwaukee Road operated commuter
trains between Chicago and Evanston. In 1908 this operation was replaced by
elevated trains, which evolved to the CTA's Red Line and Purple Line. The line
north of Wilson Ave. was elevated and upgraded to today's rapid transit line.
While between downtown Chicago and Wilson Ave., commuter trains operated until
1917. That line was subsequently downgraded and eventually abandoned.'
Some of the Stations
Fullerton Ave. - a station building existed on the north
side of Fullerton Avenue near Lakewood Avenue, on the east side of the tracks.
Lincoln Ave. - a station building existed a short
distance south of the intersection of Lincoln Avenue, George St., and Lakewood
Ave. on the east side of the tracks.
Belmont Ave. - a station building existed on the north
side of Belmont Avenue near Lakewood Avenue, on the east side of the tracks.
Addison St. - a station building existed on the south
side of Addison Street west of Clark Street, on the east side of the tracks.
Immediately north of there, the railroad passed what would be the west side of
Wrigley Field.
Verona - a station building existed on the north side of
Byron Avenue at Seminary Avenue, on the east side of the tracks.
Graceland/Buena Park - a station house existed at Buena Avenue & about Kenmore Avenue before its demo. The building below appears to be once a house then a station house for freight.
Graceland/Buena Park - a station house existed at Buena Avenue & about Kenmore Avenue before its demo. The building below appears to be once a house then a station house for freight.
photo below- Pinterest
Ravenswood - once served the Community of Ravenswood located north of Sunnyside & south of Wilson Avenue. The Community of Ravenswood was once an important area of the former township/city of Lake View
View this 1905 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map below ...
from Montrose to Wilson
the statioin was more near Wilson
zoomed view of the station
The CTA Stations
(murals, structures, and glass of art)
Post Notes:
The view of Lake View via mass transit photos
via my Facebook page
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Important Note:
These posts are exclusively used for educational purposes. I do not wish to gain monetary profit from this blog nor should anyone else without permission for the original source - thanks!
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