by Colleen Taylor Sen George Peter Alexander Healy (1813-1884) was one of the most prominent and sought-after portrait painters of his day, Healy was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He lived in Chicago from 1855 through 1869 and again from 1892 until his death. Among his notable portraitures are “Webster’s Reply to Hayne,” done in 1851, […]
by Hank Morris James J. Egan (1839 or 1841-1914) was born in Cork, Ireland, Egan became one of Chicago’s leading architects in the years following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. His best known building is the Hotel St. Benedict Flats at 40-52 East Chicago Avenue and Wabash, a Chicago landmark that has been described […]
by Colleen Taylor Sen Martin Roche (1854-1927) was the last surviving founder of the architectural firm of Holabird and Roche, world famous as the originators of the skeleton skyscraper type of office building. Born in Ohio, he came to Chicago as a boy and as a young man entered the offices of the the […]
by Colleen Taylor Sen James Thomas Farrell (1904-1979) was considered by many as the greatest Irish American novelist, Farrell wrote more than 50 novels and short story collections. He grew up in a South Side Irish working class family and attended the University of Chicago for three years. His most famous work, the Studs Lonigan […]
by Hank Morris Leonard John O’Connor (1912-1991) will be remembered by many Chicagoans for his biting commentaries on Channel 5’s 10 p.m. local newscasts during the ‘60s and early ‘70s. He was later selected as the first newsman to do the morning local news cut-ins to NBC’s Today show. He began his career as a […]
by Colleen Taylor Sen Martin H. Kennelly (1887-1967), the 47th Mayor of Chicago, succeeded Edward Joseph Kelly as Mayor in 1947 and held the post until 1955. Born in Bridgeport, he moved to 5555 North Sheridan Road where he entered the moving and storage business. He was the founder of Allied Van Lines, a trade […]
by Hank Morris Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne (1853-1937) was the 38th Mayor of Chicago (Democrat) and 24th Governor of Illinois. Judge Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne was born in Watertown, Connecticut, son of an ardent Irish nationalist, and moved with his family to Peoria, IL as a child. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and Union College […]
by Colleen Taylor Sen Edward Paul Brennan (1867-1942). One of the glories of Chicago is its logical and consistent street numbering system. This was largely due to the efforts of one man, City Building Superintendent Edward Paul Brennan, who was also a Rogers Parker. Chicago grew by annexation, and each new part had its own […]