We are pleased to debut a new series on the website, We’re Your Neighbors! We’ll ask a different board member, staff, or volunteer questions about their life in the community and share their answers via the website and social media. We hope that this outreach effort will put a more personal face on the Historical Society and encourage our neighbors to say hello when they see us around in the community!
This month, meet Ken Walchak!
How long have you lived in Rogers Park or West Ridge? I have never actually lived in RPWR. I was raised and still live in Evanston. Almost my entire life has been spent working in the neighborhood, in a 90 plus year old family business [Clark-Devon Hardware].
How did you get involved with the historical society? I was talking to a past President (Paul Bluestone) and Paul convinced me to become involved.
What do you do for the historical society? I am on the Board of Directors, and currently serve as President.
What is your most notable Rogers Park or West Ridge memory? My favorite memories of growing up in the neighborhood are walking with my Grandfather on Saturdays from our store at Clark & Devon, to his apartment on Granville & Ravenswood for lunch. I felt like a nine year old bigshot. Another favorite memory, is smelt fishing on spring evenings on the pier on Pratt Blvd. with my Uncle, father and cousins. It was always packed, and we had a great time.
What are your favorite hidden gems in the neighborhoods? Quirky food joints. One on Devon Ave. in West Ridge, filled with Pakistani cabdrivers. The other is a tacqueria on Clark and Devon, with a different delicious home made soup everyday. It happens to occupy the space that used to be known as Deweys. A Rogers Park institution for decades.
What other activities or groups are you involved in outside of the historical society? I don’t have time for much else, but I am involved with the Rogers Park Builders Group, and the Chambers of Commerce. I’m in a book club, and take guitar lessons, in a futile effort to be invited to tour with the Rolling Stones.
Where do you see the historical society in the future? I hope that the Society will struggle less to be strong and sustainable member of the community. I also want more of our friends and neighbors to know of, and participate in society activities.
Describe Rogers Park and West Ridge in three words. Diverse, still undiscovered, lakeside. Sorry, that’s four.
Be sure to say hi to Ken if you see him in the neighborhood! Keep an eye out for more We’re Your Neighbors profiles of RPWRHS board members, staff, and volunteers!