Rogers Park / West Ridge Historical Society

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Home Community Transportation & Commerce
Transportation & Business

The Broadmoor Hotel

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broadmoor
T
he Broadmoor Hotel, 7600 North Bosworth was built in 1922-23 by developers Louis Rubin and Abraham Marks, this six-story building was one of the most luxurious buildings of its day. It had 90 apartments and 7 stores, which were accessible from the lobby and the street. From 1924 to 1927, WBBM radio station (there are many explanations for these call letters, including ‘‘We Broadcast From the Broadmoor”) broadcast live jazz and big band programs from its ballroom as well as such popular shows as Amos and Andy and Fibber McGee and Molly. The ballroom included an elegant restaurant and a dancing area. The lobby floor was laid with terrazzo tiles and the ceiling was decorated with Roman and French style ornamentation. A 1982 Tribune article is quoted as saying “The Broadmoor’s charm kept her 90 apartments occupied most of the time, and on Saturday nights, women in silks and furs and men in top hats and tails flocked to her ballroom to dance.” The outside of the building was clad with terra cotta.
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Cutting the Line

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A
t midnight of Tuesday December 27, 1910 the direct track connection between the Chicago Evanston Avenue (now Broadway) line and the Evanston Chicago Avenue (in Chicago known as Clark Street) line was cut at Clark and Howard without any notice, in an event called “cutting the line.” 
 
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Ye Olde Medicine Chest

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 RPHS Newsletter, Summer 1991, p. 2

A
s its often enameled door, generally with a flawed mirror, would be opened to divulge its contents, many items would be displayed for accessibility and frequency of use. For example, a vial of tincture of iodine, or a bottle of carbolic acid, each with its ominous skull and crossbones depictions, would be associated with prior stinging experiences on cuts and bruises, for sure. The bottle of Pluto Water its depiction of the long-tailed Red Devil, on the second shelf, added little to Junior's peace of mind; nor did the vial of Sweet Oil, associated with painful earaches, do much in the way of reassurance.

To go back in time, the old medicine chest had four or five times the capacity of its modern counterpart. This accommodated the practices then indulged in by most people.

Last Updated on Thursday, 20 August 2009 15:06 Read more...
 

The Old Drug Store Bicycle

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RPHS Newsletter, Summer 1991, p. 7

C
ars driving northward along Ridge Boulevard, enroute to Evanston and the North Shore were accustomed to seeing the old delivery bike with the large basket and the small front wheel. It had "always" been chained to the lamp post, next to the mailbox, in front of the corner drug store at Howard Street.

Last Updated on Thursday, 20 August 2009 15:06 Read more...
 

The Milk Business in Rogers Park-Before the Supermarkets

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Fall 1986, RPHS Newsletter p.2
 
 
T
o many younger people who have known nothing of buying milk and related products except for the spacious and attractively arranged display cases in the large food stores' dairy sections, it would be quite surprising to be told how your grandparents and parents obtained their supplies.

The oldest dairy that serviced Rogers Park and some close by suburbs to the north, was founded by John T. Ure in 1887 at 5138 (now 7527) N. Clark Street and continued in business as such until it was bought out by Bowman Dairy in the early twenties. (Mr. Ure was a large developer of the Howard Street area and Howard Street, itself, was named for Ure's son Howard.) Mr. Ure obtained his milk supply in what is now known as the Village of Wilmette.

Last Updated on Friday, 21 August 2009 16:25 Read more...
 



How to Contact Us

By Mail:7344 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645
By Phone:773-764-4078
By FAX:773-764-2824
By E-mail:rpwrhs@aol.com

Our hours:
Wednesday and Friday afternoons, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Other times by special appointment


Board of Directors meetings are held the fourth Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Society's offices.