Prairie Beginnings
Chicago's unique and colorful character has apppropriately been portrayed throughout history by nicknames: The Windy City, The City of Big Shoulder, the “I will” City, and City of the Century. Today, it is primarily known as the City of Neighborhoods. Centuries of immigration have created a patchwork landscape of ethnic communities. These conclaves of diversity maintain many of their native customs and traditions. Each of the seventy-seven neighborhoods in Chicago has a distinctive history. Without controversy, Englewood has a story that speaks straight to the heart of Chicago, and perhaps, to the heart of what is best and worst about many great American cities.
Once, over one thousand trains would pass through Englewood in one day. It was the brass ring for immigrant families moving from the Stockyard shanties two miles north. Englewood's businesses and stores rivaled the finest shops in Chicago. But today it is conspicuously missing from most tourist maps.Today it is a object of notoriety for some and a statistic for others.
Englewood is just a five minute drive from the Chicago Loop with the magnificent Chicago skyline sitting in your rear view mirror. One twist of the Dan Ryan Expressway and the skyline turns into smokestacks; two twists and there is moss growing in the cracks of the embankment and boards on windows of the houses along the top. Herein lies Englewood, home to 3,000 people. Despite despair and decay, there remains an indomitable spirit.
Part I. Early Days
As the French explorer, LaSalle, traveled along the southern banks of Lake Michigan in 1681, he came to the place the Indians called Checaugua, or Chicago. From there he crossed a small portage to reach the Checaugau River, later renamed the Des plains. The Native American Indian tribes just west of this portage were the Mascoutins. They were the original inhabitants of Englewood. By the time the land was officially entered for settlement in the United States Government Land Office at Chicago in 1840, they had already left.
The Native American Indian tribes just west of this portage were the Mascoutins. They were the original inhabitants of Englewood. By the time the land was officially entered for settlement in the United States Government Land Office at Chicago in 1840, they had already left.
Page 1
| Page1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8 | Page 9 | Page 10 | Page 11 | Page 12 |
| Previous Page | Home | Next Page |
