Wabash Avenue
Wabash Avenue Soundex Code W120
44 E. from 908 N. to 12484 S.
Originally called Cass Street
Although the name for this street was probably taken from the Native Americans word meaning "gleaming white" it may be a corruption of Wabasha, a chief of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. He was so impressive that many people thought he was much taller than he actually was.
Wabasha or Wapasha is believed to have been born in 1773 near present day Winona, Minnesota. He was the second of two chiefs named Wabasha. His father was closely allied with the British. The son, however, sided with the Americans in disputes with the Winnebagos, Menominees, and Sauks. Although the younger Wabasha, also known as La Feuille or The Leaf, never openly broke with the British during the War of 1812, he leaned toward the Americans. The British even tried his son-in-law Rolette for collusion with the Americans.
In 1832, he supported the Americans in the Black Hawk War against the Sauk tribe--a war started when Illinois volunteers killed two Sauk warriors sent under a flag of truce by Sauk War Chief Black Hawk to arrange a truce parley.
North Addresses
100 Block
South Addresses
426 S. Wabash Avenue, Jimmy Wong's Restaurant
1100 Block
2900 Block