Wednesday, July 11, 2018

COLFAX AVE SOUTH SHORE CHICAGO LOOKING NORTH FROM OUR OLD BUILDING AT 78TH AND COLFAX - IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL WITH THE TREES AND WELL-CARED-FOR APARTMENTS - I USED TO JUST ENJOY WALKING AROUND (WHICH WAS GOOD SINCE WE NEVER HAD A CAR) AND I THINK MY TERM "URBAN VILLAGE" FITS PERFECTLY - IT CERTAINLY HELD ITS PLACE IN MY HEART AS THE URBAN IDEAL FOR MANY YEARS BUT THIS PLACE TOO WAS JUST BEGINNING TO CHANGE WHEN I TOOK THIS PICTURE - BY THE EARLY 1970s, THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER WAVE OF REFUGEES LEAVING (AFTER THE EARLIER ONE I EXPERIENCED IN HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD - SEE BELOW) FEAR AND INCREASED VIOLENCE AND BADLY DECLINING SCHOOLS - I RECALL SEEING A NEWSPAPER PHOTO OF "FOR SALE" SIGNS ON A BLOCK LINED UP LIKE KIDS GOING TO RECESS - NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE IT - PEOPLE WENT TO MANY DIFFERENT PLACES SUCH AS HOMEWOOD (MOM) OR EAST HAZEL CREST (PRESTON UNEY'S FAMILY) OR TO THE NORTH SIDE (AUNT WILMA) - OTHERS WENT AS FAR AS SKOKIE - OCT 11 1968 - A JOHN CHUCKMAN IMAGE

SCAN OLD 78th & Colfax Looking North Oct. 11, 1968