Magnolia Avenue

From HistoryWiki

Magnolia Avenue Soundex Code M254

1232 W., from 6474 N. to 1400 N. This street is in Rogers Park from Arthur south to Devon - ONLY

The Chicago City Council passed a lengthy ordinance January 14, 1895, rationalizing the street naming system. Magnolia did not extend into Rogers Park at this time. So, no Magnolia addresses will require conversion.

In the 1895 Chicago Blue Book, page 13, Magnolia Avenue. (North Division) from 1134 N. 59th Street to Bryn Mawr Avenue, 278. None of the addresses reach far enough north to enter Rogers Park.

In the 1897 Chicago Blue Book, page 37, Magnolia Avenue, (North Division), from Sunnyside Avenue north to Devon Avenue. page 281, None of the addresses reach far enough north to enter Rogers Park.

In the 1898 Chicago Blue Book, page 43, Magnolia Avenue, (North Division), from Sunnyside Avenue north to Devon Avenue, page 273. None of the addresses reach far enough north to enter Rogers Park.

In the 1901 Chicago Blue Book, page 43, Magnolia Avenue, (North Division), from Sunnyside Avenue north to Devon Avenue, page 263. None of the addresses reach far enough north to enter Rogers Park.

In the 1902 Chicago Blue Book, page 41, Magnolia Avenue, (North Division), from Sunnyside Avenue north to Devon Avenue, page 254. None of the addresses reach far enough north to enter Rogers Park.

In the 1903 Chicago Blue Book, page 41, Magnolia Avenue, (North Division), from Sunnyside Avenue north to Devon Avenue, page 255. None of the addresses reach far enough north to enter Rogers Park.

In the 1904 Chicago Blue Book, page 41, Magnolia Avenue, (North Division), from Sunnyside Avenue north to Devon Avenue, page 256. None of the addresses reach far enough north to enter Rogers Park.

Unlike other local streets, which are named after flowers and trees, Magnolia Avenue memorializes a Chicago tugboat captain, Joseph Gilson. Gilson’s bravery stood out among the tugboat captains in Chicago. He and his tugboat, Magnolia, were immortalized in the booklet, The Hero of the Chicago Fire.

Captain Gilson, of the tug boat Magnolia, was in bed when the Great Chicago Fire of Monday, October 9, 1871, broke out, and, when he saw the reflection in the sky he went to his boat, which was lying in the Illinois Central Slip, to see if his men were there. He found them, and started up the stream, with the intention of going to the foot of Illinois Street, and saving his household goods, his dwelling being No. 150 on that thoroughfare.

When he reached the Rush Street Bridge he saw no other tugs around and realizing that the fire was approaching rapidly, and that it would soon be on the docks, he concluded to remain in the vicinity of the bridge, and save as much property as possible.

The fire soon made its appearance on the Wharves west of the Rush Street Bridge, and observing that it was eating its way east with alacrity, he passed out his hawser to several vessels and towed them into the lake. Upon returning he found that the propellers Ira Chaffee, Skylark, and side-wheel steamer Manitowoc were crowded with men, women and children who had been driven on board by the fire, there being no other place for them to seek shelter. The commanders of these vessels had steam up, and were ready to leave their moorings, but their engines were powerless to move them an inch, the wind being so strong that it locked them, as it were, to the wharf. When told of this, Capt. Gilson towed the vessels one by one into the lake, and thereby saved the lives of all on board. Had not this tug been there, every one on board would have perished, as there was no available avenue of escape.

After the vessels were gone, many persons assembled on the docks, and they would have been burned to death or drowned had not they been taken on board the Magnolia and carried to the propeller Ira Chaffee, which was kept at the North Pier to receive any who should make their appearance on the wharf.

One man, who was nearly frightened to death, jumped into the river, and was picked up by the Magnolia. After leaving the propellers in the lake, the tug ran into the river again, and the brave Captain, seeing that the wharf lines of several schooners were already on fire, and feeling confident that, if the vessels ignited, the warehouses facing the river, then untouched, would surely be destroyed, picking out those nearest the warehouse and towed them away, he continued the good work all night, and saved an immense amount of property. When daylight appeared he learned that there were eight or ten thousand people on the lake shore, north of the lighthouse, who could not move on account of the fire. He stopped his tug at the North Pier, took aboard as many as the deck would accommodate, and landed them on the West Side. There were too many people for one boat to take to a place of safety, and he reported the fact to Captain Crawford, President of the Towing Association, who sent other tugs to assist in the work, and they were engaged all day Monday and until Tuesday afternoon in moving the crowd from the lake shore.

Edgewater Addresses

5500 Block

5525 N. Magnolia Avenue, Northside Catholic Academy, Middle School Campus (6th grade - 8th grade)

Rogers Park Addresses

6400 Block

6412 N. Magnolia Avenue, William Hutcrings, 1919.

6417 N. Magnolia Avenue, Edward S. Egan, 1919.

6419 N. Magnolia Avenue, William R. Andersen, 1919.

6419 N. Magnolia Avenue, R.H. Carnahan, 1919.

6423 N. Magnolia Avenue, M.R. Arnold, 1919.

6423 N. Magnolia Avenue, William H. Durkin, 1919.

6425 N. Magnolia Avenue, M.D. Malkus, 1919.

6431 N. Magnolia Avenue, Miss Mae Dillon, 1919.

6431 N. Magnolia Avenue, H.H. Fritch, 1919.

6432 N. Magnolia Avenue, M. George Drant, 1919.

6434 N. Magnolia Avenue, Frederick J. Kehm, 1919.

6435 N. Magnolia Avenue, Cyrus R. Chapmann, 1919.

6438 N. Magnolia Avenue, H.R. Greene, 1919.

6438 N. Magnolia Avenue, G.T. Guthrie, 1919.

6442 N. Magnolia Avenue, Anna C. Byrne, 1919.

6442 N. Magnolia Avenue, Denis Heffeman, 1919.

6444 N. Magnolia Avenue, William Bellinghausen, 1919.

6445 N. Magnolia Avenue, Arthur A. Franke, 1919.

6445 N. Magnolia Avenue, F.L. Graham, 1919.

6445 N. Magnolia Avenue, Ernest A. Mercadel, 1919.

6446 N. Magnolia Avenue, Fred M. Gamber, 1919.

6450 N. Magnolia Avenue, W.N. Guerin, 1919.

6453 N. Magnolia Avenue, George L. Lane, 1919.

6454 N. Magnolia Avenue, M.J. Fernon, 1919.

6454 N. Magnolia Avenue, William N. Lutsch, 1919.

6456 N. Magnolia Avenue, Mrs. Ann Kelly, 1919.

6456 N. Magnolia Avenue, William P. Kinsella, 1919.

6457 N. Magnolia Avenue, M.G. Jacobs, 1919.

6457 N. Magnolia Avenue, Mrs. Z. Jacobs, 1919.

6458 N. Magnolia Avenue, J. Konrath, 1919.

6458 N. Magnolia Avenue, Anthony Matre, 1919.

6459 N. Magnolia Avenue, F.E. Hanson, 1919.

6459 N. Magnolia Avenue, Carl H. Ladner, 1919.