Loyola University

From HistoryWiki

Loyola University Soundex Code U516

6525 N. Sheridan Road

Chicago, IL 60626

Loyola University established in 1909 with departments of law, medicine; College of Arts & Sciences, as an expansion of St. Ignatius College.

Mundelein College merged with Loyola University on June 14, 1991.

Included in the 1992-1993 Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Tour.

Listed in: Rogers Park 2016, pages 31, 43.

Officers

Presidents

Raymond C. Baumhart, S.J., 1990.

Trustees

Father Alexander J. Burrowes

Faculty

Department of Law

James Hartnett

Students

Lecturers

James Hartnett, lecturer on Constitutional Law for 5 years.

Hayes Point and Loyola University

Originally published in the 1997 House Tour Booklet

The small, almost indiscernible, point of land that juts into Lake Michigan on the southeast border of Rogers Park is not particularly remarkable from a topographical perspective. This area was once called Cape Hayes and its official boundaries were the lake on the east, Devon Avenue on the south, Sheridan Road on the West and Pratt Boulevard on the north. The Cape was a desolate area that contained little more than windswept sand dunes and scrub oaks until the early 1900s. Prospects for the area were good because the military route north to Fort Sheridan, originally called "Hundred Foot Road" and later "Evanston Avenue," (now Broadway ) became a scenic pleasure drive and major thoroughfare called Sheridan Road. This land was also part of the North Shore Park District created in 1900 and incorporated in Daniel H. Burnham's and Edward Herbert Bennett's grandiose 1906-1909 "Plan of Chicago" which predicted that a "Lakeshore Drive" linking the downtown to the northern suburbs would be built on landfill to the east of the existing shoreline.

When the Jesuits from Chicago's Holy Family Parish purchased 19.5 acres on Cape Hayes in 1906, there was only a lakeside riding school and stable there and the Winfield M. MacQueen home on Hayes Avenue where the Edward Crown Centre for the Humanities now stands. Hayes Avenue was later renamed Loyola Avenue. The Jesuits built a frame church in 1907 on the site later occupied by the Granada Theater (1926) and Granada Centre today.

Cape Hayes

The Jesuits had purchased this land from the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. When the commuter line was extended from Wilson Avenue to Howard Avenue in 1908, it was still at ground level, but by 1915, the area (now Loyola) had an elevated station that followed the old Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul route. Great transportation was key to the rapid development of Cape Hayes.

On the west side of Sheridan Road, in the area now known as "the Patch," was the original location of the Edgewater Golf Club, moving to Pratt Boulevard and Ridge Boulevard on the present site of Warren Park in West Ridge around 1912.

In 1909, the Jesuits built a Spanish Mission architectural style structure on the east side of Sheridan, known as Dumbach Hall (formerly "Loyola Academy "). This was the first building on the new campus of St. Ignatius College (later known as Loyola University ). The following year they established a high school for boys, named Loyola Academy, operating within Dumbach Hall.

Michael Cudahy Science Hall soon followed (1912) in an architectural style similar to Dumback Hall. This was the first Loyola College building. The copper-clad observatory was never actually used for astronomical purposes atop the Science Hall, but a seismological laboratory did function in the basement until the 1980s. Exterior and interior details in both of these buildings are well worth your curiosity.

The pre-World War I population explosion in Rogers Park was more rapid than the gradual development of the university as a seven-fold population increase in this area accompanied the building of residential housing on Cape Hayes. Grand mansions on huge lots were built along Sheridan Road and to the east on Albion Avenue, North Shore Avenue and Columbia Avenue. Due to escalating land values, many of the homes lasted less than 30 years before they were torn down to build multi-family housing and even a few commercial buildings.

Albion Avenue alone was spared from this ignominious fate due to a special covenant that dates from 1906 and states that "no apartment building shall be erected on said subdivision and that only one residence shall be erected on every 33-1/3 foot lot and no residence shall be erected of less cost than $5,000." This was a huge amount of money in 1906 and insured that only substantive single-family homes could line Albion Avenue. Consequently, the street has retained its original charm for almost a century without the intrusion of developers or a university desiring to expand to meet its growth.

The construction of the Mundelein Collegeskyscraper itself, begun in 1929, led to the razing of some homes on the southern boundary of Cape Hayes. For many years the "Green House" stood east of the skyscraper and several large apartment/dormitory buildings existed to the west: Spanish Manor, Northland Hall, and Chamberlain Hall--all demolished before 1992. The Albert G. Wheeler Mansion was saved because it served as the Mundelein library and later administrative offices.

Significant development by Loyola University occurred between 1930 and the present. Most of the architectural work was forgettable except for the two Art Deco masterpieces designed by Andrew Nicholas Rebori--the Elizabeth M. Cudahy Memorial Library and Madonna della Strada Chapel--and the more recent Simpson Living and Learning Center. In 1991, Mundelein merged with Loyola and its unique campus was assimilated.

Basketball

On March 23, 1963, the NCAA basketball title went to the Loyola Ramblers. There was a motorcade to the campus from O'Hare International Airport.

Photos

RPWRHS photo C043-32311 shows an aerial view of the campus of Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Sunday, July 12, 1936.

RPWRHS photo L009-0225 shows students return to their dorms at Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road. Photo Sunday, August 17, 1986.

RPWRHS photo L009-0264 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Ice crystals, Sunday, January 5, 1986, location not identified.

RPWRHS photo L009-0268 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Madonna della Strada Chapel reflected in a pool of water.

RPWRHS photo L009-0320 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Students Go Wild, Thursday, March 20, 1980.

RPWRHS photo L009-0336 shows crowd cheering at a basketball game at Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Wednesday, March 13, 1985.

RPWRHS photo L009-0411 called "Genevieve." Photo shows unidentified Ph.D. handing folder to an unidentified woman. An unidentified man holding a similar folder stands next to her. A young unidentifed girl stands in front of the man and woman. Date: January 29, 19xx. Address given is 6525 N. Sheridan Road. Since that is the address of Loyola University it appears that this is a graduation.

RPWRHS photo L009-0516 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road. Dance marathon at Loyola University to benefit American Cancer Society in 1983.

RPWRHS photo L027-A50 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road. Aerial photo of campus, no date given.

RPWRHS photo L027-A51 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road. Drawing of first building, Dumbach Hall. Same photo as L027-100.

RPWRHS photo L027-002 shows an artist's drawing of Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, as seen from the air. Artist unknown. November 1910.

RPWRHS photo L027-005A shows Marshall Foch receiving degree at Dumbach Hall - Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, 1921. Same photo as L027-0309.

RPWRHS photo L027-007 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, commencement, 1932.

RPWRHS photo L027-0101 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, commencement, 1932.

RPWRHS photo L027-0102 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road. Photo shows women in a classroom. But, the description on the file says: "Loyola University - aerial view." The date given is February 1987, but the dress styles of the women say this is in the 1920-1940 era. More research is needed.

RPWRHS photo L027-0103 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road. Loyola University - aerial view. Photo: circa 1970.

RPWRHS photo L027-0301 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road. Pushball Contest. Thursday, October 31, 1946.

RPWRHS photo L027-0302 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road. Wheelbarrow pushing contest. No date given.

RPWRHS photo L027-0303 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road. Basketball game, Loyola vs. Iowa. 1962. Players not identified.

RPWRHS photo L027-0304 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road. NCAA Championship Basketball team. 1963. Same photo as L027-0501.

RPWRHS photo L027-0308 shows Loyola Academy, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, first building photo, Dumbach Hall, 1910.

RPWRHS photo L027-0309 shows Marshall Foch receiving honorary degree at Dumbach Hall - Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, 1921. Same photo as L027-005A.

RPWRHS photo L027-0310 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, class photo. Unidentified class. Date: 1926-27.

RPWRHS photo L027-0311 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, aerial view, 1940.

RPWRHS photo L027-0315 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, sign in fence, no date given.

RPWRHS photo L009-375 shows several unidentified people sitting on the barricades of Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Saturday, April 18, 1987.

RPWRHS photo L027-0501 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road. NCAA Championship Basketball team. 1963. Same photo as L027-0301.

RPWRHS photo R044-0226 shows an aerial view of Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Madonna della Strada Chapel. Date not given.

RPWRHS photo R044-0233 shows architects' rendering of Grenada Center, 6435 N. Sheridan Road. Date unknown. This was first concept drawing to show what was contemplated to replace Grenada Theater by Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road.

RPWRHS photo S013-0157 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, in the background is the Loyola University Humanities Center. In the foreground is an unidentified person sunning near beach, August 1989.

RPWRHS photo S013-0657 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Piper Hall (Former Albert Gallatin Wheeler Mansion, 6355 N. Sheridan Road), September 1975.

RPWRHS photo S013-0681 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, unidentified building, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0682 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, unidentified building, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0683 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, unidentified building, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0684 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, unidentified building, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0685 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, unidentified building, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0686 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, unidentified building, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0687 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, unidentified building, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0688 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Madonna della Strada Chapel, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0689 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, unknown building, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0690 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Madonna della Strada Chapel, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0691 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Madonna della Strada Chapel, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0692 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Madonna della Strada Chapel sign, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0693 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, campus directory/map/sign, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0694 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, corner stone reads: "A.D. 1908", April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0695 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, staircase at unidentifed location on campus, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0696 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, George Halas Sports Center, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0697 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, unidentified building with satellite dish, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0698 shows Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, statue of Jesus Christ, April 1987.

RPWRHS photo S013-0705 shows the wikipedia:Breakwater (structure)breakwater at the lake in front of Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, unidentified student reading.

RPWRHS photo S013-0706 shows the wikipedia:Breakwater (structure)breakwater at the lake in front of Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, unidentified student reading.

RPWRHS photo S013-0707 shows the sunrise over the lake in front of Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road.

RPWRHS photo S013-0708 shows the sunrise over the lake in front of Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road.

RPWRHS photo S013-0709 shows the sunrise over the lake in front of Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan Road.