Roseland, it was a wonderful life

On January 2 I wrote a post about my grammar school on the south side of Chicago's Roseland neighborhood.  Saturday night I received a comment on that post from a man who grew up not only in Roseland the same time I did, and not only lived on the same street as I did, but who grew up in the same house my father grew up in.  How is that for kismet?  The main discussion was about Brenan school, now known as Alex Haley Academy, but thanks to the comment and emails going back and forth, I now have some very old photos of Roseland itself. 

Here is what Gary wrote about Brenan and Roseland:  "Teachers at Brenan used to call the school the "country club," because it was such a middle class, grounded school with few behavior problems and plenty of good students. The neighborhood wasn't wealthy, just very solid and close. The Roseland community was a wonderful place in which to grow up."

Here is a view of old Roseland in pictures, scenes well before my time I have to add.  Thankfully something is still before my time.

Love this, home delivery, wonder if any old milk bottles survive?

Gately's People Store, an institution

State Theater, spent many a Saturday afternoon there, not when this photo was taken, of course.

Roseland, 1934

1927

Comments

[Stephanie]

hey. sorry if you already saw this or its the wrong thing. but, i glanced on the link you had and in fact, there are pictures of the current playground. I don't know if its what you were looking for, but they are there.

http://www.haley.cps.k12.il.us/history_of_alex_haley.htm

There is a link to them. They are on the bottom. Sorry again if this is incorrect.

[Diane]

Stephanie, I think what you are seeing is the equipment for the pre school and back in the day when I went there plastic gym sets hadn't been invented.

[Stephanie]

wow...that must have been a REALLY long time ago. Just kidding.

[Grant Mc Dougall]

I date back to 1933, raised in Roseland, attendedthe State theater, Parkway and roseland theaters. My Mother worked for the Gately People store in the purse section, she worked there during the 40's thru the 60's. I knew Mr. Gately very well, I used to pick my mother up every Momday and Thursday nights and on Saturdays and thats when Mr. Gately and I would shoot the breeze
until closing time.

I attended Van Vlissingen Grammar school and Fenger High school graduating in June 1950.

What a wonderful place it was.

Some Trivia: Did you know that Roseland was in Ripleys believe or not as the town with the most Church steeples from all ethnic religions and faiths???

[Patricia Williams(Sullivan)]

Any Bennett grade school graduates out there!. I graduated from Bennett in 1952, with a class of wonderful and fun classmates. So many kids went to Catholic schools from there, only some went to Fenger. I would love to be in touch with anyone from that class!