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!

[jeanne hohmann]

My Mom worked at Gately's as the cashier on the center aisle. She kept many of your mothers informed about our goings on. I sure do remember the cruising down the AVE on Thursday nights. Giovanni's Pizza and the "Y" on Tuesday nights. White Castles, Palmer Park and Fannie Mae Candies. My first cashmere sweater from Gordons.I guess we could reminisce for a long time. I graduated from ST. CATHERINE OF GENOA on 118th and Wallace. I attended ST. SALOMEA 118th and Indiana first through third grade. Anyone out there attend at the same time I did,1944 through 1952. Then onto Fenger 1956.

[Virginia Zanello]

Dear old Roseland--forever in our hearts. I was a Down-the-Hiller, living on the 109th block of Edbrooke before we moved to 108th & Prairie. Went to All Saints School, class of '60. I wish we had taken more pictures of the neighborhood before we left.

[Bill Schwartz]

Anybody out there from Roseland of the 50's please get in touch w/me. I'd love to talk about old friends that I've never seen since then.

[Carol wieck Schelinski]

Bill Schwartz
Where did you reside in Roseland ?

[Sue Peterson]

Hi Grant - My sister is a Bennett grad, and I attended through the seventh grade. We lived on 101st and King Drive from around 1951 until we moved to the burbs in 1967. I'd be interested in hearing your memories of Rosemoor from a slightly earlier time. I also put a url up for a site where a lot of Roseland people have been posting memories - thought you might enjoy it!

[Debra (Cantele) Jashinsky]

Oh, the memories! Thanks for the interesting photos and comments alike. I grew up in Pullman (115th & Cottage Grove) but we always shopped on the "Ave." Gatley's People Store was a kid's dream come true! I remember the donut machine in the basement near the lunch counter. They had the best burgers around! There was a bakery and a grocery store down there, too. I remember the sitting booths where people sat waiting for their shoes to be repaired. I can close my eyes and I'm right back there in the 60's!

[Ron De Roos]

I attended VV and Fenger(1956). Grew up at 110th $ State. I also worked at People store for a short time. Would love to chat about the good old days.

[C.A. Skinner]

Kohn Grammar school 1955-59 Brenan grammar school 1959-64 and Fenger HS 1964-68..Gatley's and the State theater - fixtures..in Roseland..now our old home is a drug invested, crime ridden HUD approved garbage dump. Fenger is the worst HS school in Chicago today.. How very sad...

[Joe Galvan]

Lived at 204 E.116th street(1945-1959),attended St Anthony School, graduated Mendel 1963. Lived at 218 W. 106th St.(1959-1968. Many fond memories growing up in Roseland. Wish that I had kept up with my many friends over the years.

[Virginia Zanello Di Zenzo]

Is there anyone out there from All Saints Parish?

[Gary Ahnquist, MD]

I lived at 10434 Calumet and went to Bennett School (1964 class) and Fenger (1968). My sister Carolyn Ahnquist (now Johnson - Ron) graduated from Fenger in 1966 - she now lives in New Lenox. Ron lived in Pullman. My parents Elwyn and Mildred (Kohnke) graduated from Fenger in 1940 - they got married at Elim Lutheran Church (113th and Forest) in 1943. They live in Prestwick (Frankfort, IL)-moved there in 1969. My mom co-wrote the Fenger High school Alma Mater!. My mom's parents lived at 105th and Edbrooke - their back yard backed up to a vacant lot on Michigan Avenue so we could sled there and then get warm at their house. I remember ice skating at Palmer Park and at the playground at Bennett School. I have many fond memories of Roseland. Where I live now (Danville, Ky) reminds me alot of the way Roseland used to be. Like Roseland, Danville is a great place to live and bring up a family. My youngest son Smith Ahnquist now goes to Valparaiso University (like I did) so we get up that way a little more often.

[Judy Ritchey Marolda]

Hi to all the kids from Bennett,Fenger and Roseland!
I still love my memories of growing up at 10232 Prairie in the 40's and 50's ...what a great place to grow up!!!

[Rich Siktberg]

I lived at 116th and Wallace from 1933 to 1955. I graduated from Brenan in 1947 and Fenger in 1951. Our January and June '51 classes are having our 55th reunion this September. We plan to drive through the old neighborhood while we are in Chicago. My grandparents lived in Pullman and my grandfather worked at Pullman. I agree with others that Roseland was a good place to grow up. I have fond memories of my life there.

[Penny Krejca]

I went to VV and Fenger. I lived on 107th and Edbrook and 107th and Prairie. I went to VV for 8 years. I remember going to the Sugar Bowl for ice cream when I was little. Anns Bakery, Saint Stevens and Mendle Dances.
I miss home quite often and wish I could go back. This page helps alot. Thank You !

[Carol Ajamian]

I lived at 106th and Normal. Graduated from Mt. Vernon School and attended Fenger until I moved (UGH) to Pennsylvania in 1953. Would have graduated in 55. I've lived here longer than in Chicago but I'll never forget those wonderful memories. Roseland was the best place to grow up. I'm trying to locate a picture from a CVS yearbook 1955. I want a picture of my old (now deceased) boyfriend.
Would love to talk to anyone from Roseland.

[kim kruizenga]

I am also from the roseland area. At a young age I lived on 103rd street and attended Kohn school on 104th and state.
Then I moved to 108th in morgan when I was around 7 and attended Mt. Vernon school. I am a graduate of the class of 1969 Fenger High School.

My grandfather worked at the homestore on Michigan ave. I remember in the summer that the cleaners located on about 108th and Michigan use to give out matinee passes to go to the State Theater.

I also remeber Nino's pizza, Giovanni's pizza and the YMCA across the street from Giovanni's.
The Y is where we went to dances on Saturday nights and listened to the battle of the bands.

[John Stitnizky]

I lived at 7 east 110th Place around corner from State Theater from 1940 until 1950 and attended Van Vlissingen. M

[John]

Check out these photo albums of Roseland
http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2761464170015215513wCWBBC

[Mary Pesavento]

Thank you for the memories.I grew up in Roseland and graduated in 1969 from Fenger. Took the Pullman house tour in October and went to see my old apartment at 11353. Sad, it's an empty lot :( Interesting side note: In the movie Polar Express the address 11344 Edbrooke is mentioned. Did you know Robert Zemeckis lived at that address?The North Pole in the movie is fashioned after the Pullman area. Have fun!

[Donadl Munro]

Does anyone remember Pinetti's Beef. I believe it was on 115th and Michigan near the bowling alley. That was the best beef I've ever had.