Aug 18, 2013

Mt Greenwood Housing

Took a walk around Mt Greenwood School today. The neighborhood is looking good. Lots of investment, with additions to existing homes.

Watched some guys playing 16 inch softball at the little park on 107th west of Kedzie. They invited me to play. Nice guys.

The school above is the Mt. Greenwood Elementary School in the far southwest side of Chicago. I graduated from Mt. Greenwood in 1962.

The following shots are housing on the perimeter of the school.


An older home north of the school.



Many of the homes were and are modest bungalows and cape cod.  Homes.  A typical 50's family would have raised four children in these homes. These homes would range from 2 to 3 bedrooms and perhaps 800 feet on the first floor. Some of them had a second floor for an additional 400 feet.


A nicer cape cod home included dormer windows to open up the second floor.



There has been significant investment in homes in Mt Greenwood.  A typical improvement would add a full second level to the original cape cod, often cantilevering over the first floor to pick up additional space.







Another nice improvement is the addition of large front porches to replace the original "stoop".






The home above adds a full second story and the front porch.



The home above illustrates an original brick bungalow on the right and a bungalow with a full second story added on the left.


The school has recently been substantially improved with a large addition and improved playground equipment. When we were there in the 1950's the playground was a large gravel lot with no equipment. Of course we also had to walk 3 miles uphill each way to school in blizzard conditions.



The front porch and flower baskets are a nice touch.




Mt Greenwood is somewhat unique in the south side of Chicago. Many City of Chicago employees are required to live in the City.  A large number of Police and Firemen have chosen Mt. Greenwood, which helps stabilize the community and maintain high property values.


Housing price on Zillow for the brick cape cod home below at 10900 and Trumbull near the Mt Greenwood School:


Aug 13, 2013

Chicago - City of Broad Shoulders

Chicago - City of Big Shoulders


I will be teaching a class about Chicago to people in Florida. Should be fun.

I have been collecting information that I think belongs in the course and putting the info on the blog below:



If you are interested I would appreciate your thoughts about information that I should include in the course.

If you have an idea please send it to morganparkhigh@gmail.com and I will include it on the course.

Thank you.



Aug 10, 2013

London Bridge









Here is a great sunset from our recent trip to Europe



Tom Schildhouse MPHS Jan 66


Aug 9, 2013

Sandy Weiss (DeNucci)



I am so sad to report that Sandy Weiss (DeNucci) from theClass of 1966 passed away on July 26th after suffering a heart attack 18 hours earlier. Sandy was a wonderful, well respected nurse whose daughter Amy lives in Australia. Sandy and her husband Dave lived in Texas. I know many of you enjoyed seeing them at the reunion one year ago this week...who could have imagined that was the last time we would have that pleasure? 

Judy Halligan Willingham '66


Photos on Sandy's Facebook page


https://www.facebook.com/michael.coupland/posts/10200349223793286



We are very sorry to hear of the passing of Sandy. She was a great and loyal member of the class of Jan 66.



Sandy second from left at the Jan 66 mini reunion in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2011.






Sandy Schuessler, Sandy Weiss


Sandy Weiss, Sandy Schuessler, Sue Wiggins, Craig Hullinger

From Left to Right  Don Martensen, Pete Terry, Sandy Weiss, Bonnie Hammar, Randy Lam, Barb Schultz, Peter or Paul of Peter, Paul, and Mary, Renee Toppin, Craig Hullinger, Sandy Schuessler  
at a Peter, Paul, and Mary concert at Ravinia.  


 
I was deeply saddened to hear of Sandy's sudden passing.  We have lost a sweet member of our Empehi family.  Over the years it has been a blessing to have seen her at the reunions and catch up with the joys in her life. Please email me the family address so I can send one of those old fashioned things called cards.!

Hope you are doing well and let's not wait too long before the next gathering. Time is passing fast.
 

Cheers,
 

Barbara and Jim Rees

__

I was so shocked to see Dave's message on Facebook saying that Sandy had passed away. Ron and I attended the memorial service for Sandy yesterday, Thursday, August 8th. How sad for everyone, but especially Dave, her children and other family members. A sweet and caring person left us much too soon.

April Lais Wolf
__

Very sad indeed. Not only one of our January '66 classmates but one of our mini-reunion pals. 65 is too young.

John Meeks 
__

Sandy was a great person and attended most of our reunions. She was planning our next mini reunion in Texas.  She left us far too soon.

Craig Hullinger
__

What a shock! Sandy was always such a vibrant person, outgoing, upbeat. It's hard to believe she's gone. We used to walk to school together. She spent at least one weekend at my parents cottage in Michigan. Every time I saw her at the reunions, it was like no time had passed. It's sad to know she won't be attending any more. 

Sue Wiggins 
__

I had spoken to Sandy about her condition in 2011 at Santa Fe. She had the stroke but was taking medication and I guess it just did not work this time.

She appeared to me the last person you would suspect of having a stroke and did seem to have recovered just about 100 %. And she was nurse too so obviously she knew how to take care of herself.

Al Linsenmeyer
  

 

Aug 8, 2013

Bonnie Hammar

Bonnie Hammar


Bonnie is fourth from the Left at the Peter Paul and Mary Concert in 1992


Rest in Peace, Bonnie


The delightful picture above is a reminder of a great time at Ravinia and sharing a personal moment with Peter, Paul and Mary. May Mary also rest in peace, as she and Bonnie are now sharing sweet songs together in heaven.


Barbara Schultz Reese




Bonnie and I were locker partners all through high school. During the Peter Paul and Mary phase she bought a guitar and became quite good at playing it. When we drove to my cottage in Michigan she’d entertain my mom and me with her songs.  


Sandy Schuessler, Bonnie and I formed a club and our “code names” were taken from cartoon characters on tv. - no I won’t tell you what they were but Sandy and I still use them.  I remember Bonnie’s wit and sense of humor. We lost touch somewhere after college until one day shortly before our Ravinia reunion she called me. She was just as funny then as she was in high school. She had me howling with her stories of what she and her husband went through getting their new property move in ready for them and their two horses.  She was an avid horse back rider and competed in dressage and jumping competitions.  


Bonnie was also head of the special education department of her school. She held that post many years until cancer caught up to her. I went to visit her shortly before she died. She still had the same sense of humor and she still had me laughing.    


Sue Wiggins

Aug 3, 2013

Interesting Historical Photos


A fun trip through history

Marilyn Monroe meets Queen Elizabeth II, London, 1956 Both women are 30 years old.





Helen Keller Meeting Charlie Chaplin


Phoebe Mozee (aka: Annie Oakley). Famed for her marksmanship by 12 years old, she once shot the ashes off of Kaiser Wihelm II's cigarette at his invitation. When she outshot famed exhibition marksman Frank Butler, he fell in love with her and they married. They remained married the rest of their lives.

Very Young Lucy Lucille Ball around 1930

Click on the Link Below for more interesting photos.




Aug 1, 2013

Janson's Drive-In


"Last week Ald. Matt O'Shea said that he heard from the owners of the much-missed neighborhood landmark that they are aiming to reopen in about two months."
 
"Janson's Drive-In served its first hot dog back in 1960. The drive-in on 99th and Western harkens back to another time with its retro architecture and menu teeming with classic Americana offerings."

Click below to read the story.

http://beverly-mtgreenwood.patch.com/groups/5-things/p/when-will-jansons-drivein-reopen?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001&evar4=picks-2-post&newsRef=true

Thanks to Nan Brennan for sharing.