Advertise on podcast: Windy City Historians Podcast

The Windy City Historians so enjoyed talking with John William Nelson Ph.D. Associate Professor of History at Texas State University about his book Muddy Ground; Native Peoples, Chicago’s Portage, and the Transformation of a Continent we revisit this discussion. With so much ground of the Chicago landscape traversed by both European and Native peoples to cover, muddy or not, we are returning for a second episode for more of this fascinating history.   In this episode, “Muddy Ground Revised”, the conversation continues, focusing on Chicago Portages, tying together historic threads, a brief tribute to Dennis McClendon, and more. We touch upon the grand department store, Hudson’s, with it’s origins in the 1600s and contributions great historians of the 19th century, such as Wisconsin’s own William Reuben Thwaites and Frederick Jackson Turner, and their continued legacies to American historiography, and contributions to Oscar-winning movies.  It’s a fun ride into the Chicago’s past we hope you will enjoy it as much as we did making it! Screenshot Links to Research and Historic Sources: Muddy Ground; Native Peoples, Chicago’s Portage, and the Transformation of a Continent by John William Nelson, Ph.D. WCH Episode 1909, with Dennis McClendon Dennis McClendon Obituary “The Map” by Elizabeth Bishop From The Conversation website “More than a department store: The long, complicated legacy behind Hudson’s Bay Company.” published April 7th, 2025. John Ford, Movie Director on Wikipedia The movie The Searchers in Wikipedia Historian Archer Butler Hulbert in Wikipedia Portage Paths: The Keys of the Continent by Archer Butler Hulbert

In the Twentieth Century, Chicago’s Midway Airport had a sign that read “Crossroads of the World,” and during its heyday Midway literally was the aviation center of the world.  From a historical perspective the same has been true for Chicago reaching back a century earlier as a critical hub of the railroads, during the Industrial Age as a center for trade and manufacturing, and for centuries before a meeting place for uncounted generations of Native Americans.   The geographic reality was that where the Chicago river and estuaries of the Chicago region meet the southwest corner of Lake Michigan attracted indigenous peoples, Potawatomi, Miami, Anishinaabeg, Ho-Chunk, or Sauk and assuredly others portaging the divide, arriving by canoe or on foot.  Sometimes they stayed for a while or moved with the migration of the game and seasonal changes. Hence this place called Chicago despite the low lying, swampy, muddy, and unattractive ground due to it’s elemental location and convenient waterways has continued for centuries to be a key to the continent. This juxtaposition has spawned innumerable books on Chicago. In this episode we talk with author and Associate Professor of History John William Nelson Ph.D. about his recently published book Muddy Ground; Native Peoples, Chicago’s Portage, and the Transformation of a Continent. This exhaustive history underpinned by impressive research re-enforces the basic fact that geography frequently dictates the destiny of an area and out of this meeting place and important key transportation link to the continent this muddy ground eventually gave rise to a mighty city.  Dr. Nelson’s book brings important new insights and a fresh perspective on the Canon of portage history for Chicago to offer the reader a fresh perspective of the region and its importance for Native Americans and foundational story of Chicago’s origin and settlement. Links to Research and Historic Sources: The book, The Middle Ground: Indians, Empires, and Republics in the Great Lakes Region, 1650–1815, (Studies in North American Indian History), by Richard White (2010) Explore the “Life of Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard” on the Chicago Portage website The book, The Autobiography of Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard, by Gurdon Hubbard (1912) The 1928 map of The location of the Chicago portage route of the seventeenth century by Robert Knight and Lucius H. Zeuch on the Chicago Portage website Wikipedia biography of Frederick Jackson Turner, (1861-1932) Historian — originator of the theory of the American frontier as a culture Archer Butler Hulbert (1873-1933) during his lifetime created and collected an amazing depth history and research most notably the 16 volume set entitled the Historic Highways of America University of Houston, Cullen College of Engineering website, “The Indian Canoe” by John Leinhart Wikipedia webpage on Pays d’en Haut – literally a French phrase translating to, “Upper Country” James H. Merrill, Ph.D. – a professor of history at Vasser College is the foremost expert on the interactions between colonialists and American Indians in early American history, and scholars agree Merrell’s work has helped shape the contemporary study of American Indian and early American history. “Pierre Margry Collection” translations at the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library of early accounts and research from the Paris Archives by French historian Pierre Margry (1818-1894) The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Edited by Reuben Gold Thwaites Past Windy City Historians Podcast referenced in this episode: Episode One: Who Was First? Episode 2: The Place Called Chicagoua Episode 3: Urbs in Horto?

In this special episode of the Windy City Historians we revisit our discussion of 17th Century French explorer Jean Nicolet with the late historian John Swenson, J.D.. This was his last interview in which, John presents a new take, context, and history of Samuel de Champlain and Jean Nicolet’s adventures to establish New France, after the colony was taken by English privateers in 1629. Join us to learn more about this amazing history of exploration to better understand the roots of the Western European conquest of the new world and Great Lakes region. Did Jean Nicolet really venture into Green Bay? Could he have surveyed the mid-continental divide and been feted by Illinois tribes? Listen in as we honor and give tribute to Chicago historian John Swenson, a great friend to the podcast, and some fascinating history. John Swenson, Patrick McBriarty & Chris Lynch Links to Research and Historic Sources: The book, Champlain’s Dream by David Hackett Fischer Chart of the history of Canada 1534 to 1894 Ursuline Convent on the HathiTrust website Nicollet estate inventory (original in French) at the Newberry Library Champlain’s 1633 book Les Voyages de la Nouvelle France (Paris, 1632) online via Internet Archive – open to pp. 50-51 to the incursion of the Kirkes in 1629 Biography of Brother Gabriel Sagard (barer of the red robe) in Dictionary of Canadian Biography Biography of Theodore (Charles) Du Plessis-Bochart in the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Theodore Du Plessis-Bochart in Wikipedia of France Paper about “Théodore Bochart; fondateur de Trois-Rivières et officier dans la marine du Roi” (biography a dozen pages) by Yannick Gendron (in French) Movie about Cardinal Richelieu (1935) on YouTube Jesuit Relations online by volume on HathiTrust website List relating Jesuit Relation years and volumes

In this Special Episode we take a view of Chicago History — Cicada style. For in the world of entomology, 2024 was a big year.  As two cicada broods The Great Southern Brood, which emerge every 13-years and is the largest of all periodical cicada broods and The Northern Illinois Brood which emerges every 17-years, coincided in 2024.  In places like Springfield, Illinois one could witness both broods in a cacophony of ear-shattering buzzing.   The last time these broods coincided was in 1803, the same year Fort Dearborn was built near the lakefront at a bend in the Chicago River — what is now the intersection of Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue.  For those paying attention walking through this intersection will see rectangular brass inserts marking the boundaries of Fort Dearborn. It turns out the arrival of the 17-year cicadas offers an interesting metronome for the study of Chicago history.  These emergences have come at momentous times throughout the city’s history, and coincide with at least two events memorialized as stars on the Chicago flag. Join the Windy City Historians as we buzz through 221 years of history to see how cicadas left their mark on Chicago’s history.  Links to Research and Historic Sources: The New York Times had a fabulous article called “Maps of Two Cicada Broods, Revealed after 221 years,” by Jonathan Forum Biography of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Botanist Harry A. Allard (1880-1962) “Where billions of cicadas will emerge this spring (and over the next decade), in one map” by Brian Resnick, Vox website, May 3, 2024 Biography of William B. Ogden, Wikipedia website The Peshtigo Fire, Wisconsin Historical Society website, historical essay Goose Island: From the Encyclopedia of Chicago website Benjamin Harrison, The biography for President Harrison and past presidents is courtesy of the White House Historical Association History of the Chicago Defender, Chicago Defender website Biography of Marian Anderson in Wikipedia website YouTube video on , John F. Kennedy nominates Adlai Stevenson in 1955 Album details of Louis Armstrong Chicago Concert – 1956 on Discogs website Biography of Mike Royko on Wikipedia website Exhibit Looks at Legendary Chicago Journalist Mike Royko and a Changing Media Industry, by Marc Vitali | August 23, 2024 4:07 pm on WTTW website The Sears Tower on Wikipedia website “Cicada Map of Chicago’s Suburbs” By NBC 5 Staff • Published May 23, 2024 • Updated on May 23, 2024 at 12:43 pm

Chicago is blessed to still have two daily newspapers, while many other U.S. cities are lucky to have one. And too many these days have none. In light of such loss, it is remarkable to learn that at one time, Chicago had at least nine newspapers and in that age reporters and editors would do just about anything to get a scoop. The era is epitomized by the stage play “The Front Page” authored by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, who mined their experiences as Chicago reporters into Broadway and Hollywood fame. One of the most infamous men who lived through this Front Page Era and beyond was Harry Romanoff. As the resourceful night editor of the Chicago American “Romy”, as he was best know, would regularly outwit his competition armed with little more than a telephone to purloin gritty details, suss out the story, and get the scoop.  Today my co-host Chris Lynch has scored a historic scoop! So the Windy City Historians can bring you a 54-year-old, previously unknown, and never before available audio of Harry “Romy” Romanoff spinning tales from his 50-year career. Do not miss hearing these incredible stories from the 1920s to the 1960s from the man himself. Stories about the rich and famous, murderers, high-society scandals, gangsters and more. Join us in this extended episode for the colorful antics and anecdotes of a key newsman who not only witnessed but helped create Chicago’s newspaper heyday. Also catch a rare recording of Romy’s friend William Sianis founder of the famed Billy Goat Tavern & Grill and the Cubs curse of the goat. Credits from the 1931 Movie Ben Hecht and Charles Macarthur Chicago American front page Chicago American front page Harry J. Romanoff Harold Fowler McCormick Ganna Walska Samuel “Samoots” Amatuna Robert Irwin – the Mad Sculptor Sun-Times News Room c.1950 William Sianis, former proprietor of the Billy Goat Tavern with Murphy his goat in 1945. Links to Research and Historic Sources: Ben Hecht biography in the Encyclopedia Britannica The play The Front Page in Wikipedia The 1931 film The Front Page (1 hr. 40 min.) produced by Howard Hughes on YouTube Chicago newsman and editor Harry J. Romanoff’s Obituary from the New York Times Charles Macarthur biography from Spartacus Education Harold Fowler McCormick in Wikipedia Ganna Walska in Wikipedia Serge Voronoff in Wikipedia Sculptor “Lorado Taft and Chicago Sculpture” from the Encyclopedia of Chicago Series Murderer, “Robert Irwin: The Mad Sculptor” on the Encyclopedia of Chicago website Ganster Samuzzo Amatuna in Wikipedia The death of Samuel “Samoots” Amatuna on Nov. 13, 1925 as reported in the Chicago Daily Tribune Chicago and Midway Airport Photographer Mike Rotunno and Chris’ book When Hollywood Landed at Chicago’s Midway Airport: The Photos & Stories of Mike Rotunno Chicago south side’s March 4th, 1961 Tornado in the Chicago Tribune’s “Ask Tom”, on March 3, 2015 “The Billy Goat Curse” the legend explained on The Billy Goat Tavern & Grill’s website and Bleacher Nation’s take on the Curse, “75 Years Ago Today, a Dude Got Mad About a Goat” with a video An interesting side gig for Harry Romanoff included the Burma Brand which was part of his company the “Empire Spice Mills MFG Co., est. 1936” on the Made in Chicago website

All too often history repeats itself — with tragic results. During the last 100-years, the killing of one person becomes symbolic and spawns a larger tragedy. Irregularly bubbling to the surface these crises rise from elemental rents and systemic failures in the fabric of society. We call to mind the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25th, 2020 and beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles on March 3rd, 1991 and so on cascading back to the stoning and subsequent drowning of Eugene Williams on July 27th, 1919 off Chicago’s 29th Street Beach. The violence inflicted on these three men (and countless others) focused outrage to rally outcries, spark civil unrest and riots lasting multiple days. The conditions fanning the flames did not occur in a vacuum nor isolation, but built over time, due to compounding slights, inequality, and oppression. Although intermittent riots sprang up in different eras and regions of the country, the basic facts were the same; Black men were killed or beaten by white policemen or in Eugene Williams’ case, stones thrown and the palpable anger of whites against Blacks caused the drowning of the 17 year-old. In the aftermath of these deaths and days of violence people asked, “Why did this happen?” In Windy City Historians podcast Episode 29 – “The Chicago Race Riots of 1919” we explore the conditions of that hot, “Red Summer”, where Chicago, (and other cities) wrestled with the chaos of civil unrest. Through interviews with Claire Hartfield, the author of “A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919”, as well as commentary from Professor Charles Branham, Ph.D. we walk through the riot’s lasting legacy on Chicago, it’s Black community, and the many questions raised by an oppressive summer a century ago. Questions that are still being raised today, more than a century later. Robert S. Abbott, Publisher of the Chicago Defender Crowd in front of a storefront during the race riots in 1919. Examples of 1919 Commemoration Project glass blocks Crowd of men and National Guard Soldiers at tail end of 1919 Riots Black Veteran encounters National Guard Soldier during Riots. Black Veterans defended their neighborhoods from whites, while Guardsmen’s job was to quell violence. Links to Research and Historic Sources: “Chicago Race Riots of 1919” by Julius L. Jones, Chicago History Museum Blog “Chicago Race Riots“, Chicago Encyclopedia “City on Fire: Chicago Race Riot 1919“, by Natalie Moore, WBEZChicago, Nov. 23, 2019 “Carl Sandburg and the Chicago Race Riots of 1919“, Carl Sandburg Home, National Park Service, website Carl Sandburg poem “I am the People, the Mob” by Poetry in Voice 2016 winner Marie Foolchand at the Griffin Poetry Prize awards – audio used in this episode (at 39:20) In Memoriam, August Meier, by David Levering Lewis, Perspectives on History, Sept. 1, 2003 The book, “A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919” by Claire Hartfield The book, ”City of Scoundrels: The 12 Days of Disaster that Gave Birth to Modern Chicago” by Gary Krist. “Black Soldiers in American Wars: Chicago’s ‘Fighting 8th’ and the 370th Regiment” from Black History Heros Blog “Flashback: Chicago’s first black alderman sat as the lone African-American voice on the city’s council – and then, Congress“, by Christen A. Johnson, Chicago Tribune, Feb. 14, 2023 The book, Big Bill of Chicago by Lloyd Wendt and Herman Kogan, Forward by Rick Kogan The Negro in Chicago; A Study of Race Relations and a Race Riot, by the Chicago Commission on Race Relations The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project (CCR19) by Peter Cole, Franklin N. Cosey-Gay, Myles X Francis Robert S. Abbott, Chicago Literary Hall of Fame website “1919 Race Riots Memorial Project will honor victims where the died — in streets all over city“, by Michael Loria, Chicago Sun Times, Feb. 20, 2023 “1914–Chicago Surface Lines“, Chicagology “Mapping Chicago’s 1919 race riots“, by Jack Wang, UChicago News, July 22, 2019

We are still living with many of the changes brought about by the Great War. The war to end all wars as World War I was called and the war’s impacts dramatically changed Chicago and the world. As we discuss, WWI tipped society to institute Prohibition, playing the national anthem at sporting events, spurred The Great Migration, suppressed of Chicago’s German culture, and made Jazz popular. All of these changes and more still affect and resonate in Chicago today. In this episode join us as we talk with historian Joe Gustaitis about these fascinating stories from his third book Chicago Transformed: World War I and the Windy City. Don’t miss this great discussion about the early 20th Century transformation by WWI of Chicago from a strongly German city into an even more diverse patchwork quilt of peoples and ethnicities of today. Parade of 370th Infantry in 1919 Author Joseph Gustaitis Armistice Day in Chicago ROTC Drills on Stagg Field in 1917 370th Infantry (Old Illinois 8th) 15th New York singing during return from WWI Dough boys marching in Chicago in 1917 ROTC Drills at Stagg Field on Univ. of Chicago Campus U.S. Government War Exposition at Grant Park – Sept. 2-15, 1918 Links to Research and Historic Sources: “History of American Music, as Recorded in Richmond, Indian”, by Avery Gregurich, Belt Magazine, Dec. 3, 2021 “Richmond: Birthplace of Recorded”, Originally submitted by: David M. McIntosh, Representative (2nd District) Library of Congress, Local Legacies website “The Paramount Records story: How Grafton left an unlikely legacy on American blues music”, by Maddie Burakoff, Spectrum News 1, Feb. 20, 2022 “The Chicagoans who served in World War I” by Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, March 18, 2018 “Germans” from the Encyclopedia of Chicago About Kennesaw Mountain Landis, “Baseball’s first commissioner faced impeachment for taking the job” by Frederic J. Frommer, The Washington Post, April 9, 2022 “About Jane Addams and Hull House”, Jane Addams-Hull House Museum website “History” About Contigny Park from their website “Samuel J. ‘Nails’ Morton: From War Hero to Ganster” by Jay Robert Nash from the Annals of Crime website “Why the Star Spangled Banner is Played At Sporting Events” by Becky Little, History Channel website, Aug. 31, 2018 “Forgotten Story of Illinois’ Black World War I Regiment”, by Daniel Haultzinger, WTTW, Nov. 10, 2017 Book Chicago Transformed: World War I and the Windy City by Joe Gustaitis

In American history, we were taught that pioneers and homesteaders moved from east to west settling the continent in the greater pursuit of “Manifest Destiny” — killing and obfuscating the First Nations peoples’ way of life.  However, another American pattern often overlooked is the migration from south to the north.  Starting less than a century after a Black man of Haitian decent named Jean Baptiste Point DeSable became Chicago’s first non-indigenous settler; African Americans in large numbers began leaving southern States and moving to the north, which historians now call “The Great Migration”.  Their motives were that of people everywhere seeking jobs, opportunity, and a better life. Northern States offered jobs and a relief from the weight of Jim Crow. For many Chicago had became a beacon of hope as Black-owned newspapers and in particular the “Chicago Defender”, distributed by Pullman Porters, gave hope to generations of former slaves, farmers, and sharecroppers.  Beginning as early as the 1880s and then from approximately 1910 to the 1970, rural southern Blacks by the thousands made their way north throughout these decades. And, just as the journey changed them, their music, culture, and customs changed Chicago.  Northern cities, and Chicago in particular, were not always welcoming, as decent  housing was scarce as restrictive covenants and red-lining forced African Americans to live in “The Black Belt”. This tightly constrained strip of blocks on the city’s south side, initially between 22nd and 31st Streets, later extending south to 39th and eventually to 95th Street and roughly sandwiched between the railroad tracks of the Rock Island on the west and Illinois Central to the east.  But even with forced segregation, many black businesses thrived, and a sense of place was established creating Bronzeville and its famous “Stroll”. Join the Windy City Historians as we delve into the Great Migration with Dr. Charles Brahnam, author and professor, and the perfect guide to take us on a journey into the Great Migration. A trip populated by famous brave and fearless black Chicagoans such as Ida B. Wells, Oscar DePriest, and Robert S. Abbott and into a better understand of this massive cultural shift for the nation and Chicago in particular. King Oliver Jazz Band Links to Research and Historic Sources: “The Long-Lasting Legacy of the Great Migration”, by Isabel Wilkerson for Smithsonian Magazine, Sept. 2016 Great Migration from Encyclopedia of Chicago website Dr. Charles Russell Branham interview on C-Span Steve Green story from the Arkansas Encyclopedia website Illinois Gov. Len Small from Wikipedia (Please note in our interview we say he was governor, but at the time of the Steve Green story he was involved in Illinois politics but not yet governor.) Ida B Wells: WTTW Chicago Stories Ida B. Wells biography from the Black Past website Ida B. Wells-Burnett biography from the Women’s History website Ferdinand Lee Barnett’s biography from the Black Past website Robert S Abbott biography on Wikipedia Oscar Stanton De Priest biography on Wikipedia Edward Herbert Wright biography on Wikipedia Jesse Binga biography on Wikipedia Carter G. Woodson biography on Wikipedia Chicago Race Riot of 1919 on Wikipedia Jim Crow laws from Wikipedia “History of Lynching in America” from the NAACP website A recommended book, THE DEFENDER: How the Legendary Black Newspaper Changed America From the Age of the Pullman Porters to the Age of Obama By Ethan Michaeli Boll weevil devastation from Wikipedia Pullman Porters from Wikipedia The Jones Boys, “From Riots to Renaissance: Policy Kings” from WTTW’s website The Incredible History and Cultural Legacy of the Bronzeville Neighborhood from Chicago Detours website Explore Bronzeville from the Blueprint for Bronzeville website Booker T. Washington biography from Wikipedia The South Side’s Last Remaining Jazz Landmarks article from Chicago Magazine Thomas A. Dorsey from the Gospel Music Hall of Fame website Mahalia Jackson Mahalia Jackson performs at the March on Washington, August 28th, 1963 on YouTube Muddy Waters biography on Wikipedia King Oliver biography on Wikipedia Louis Armstrong biography on Wikipedia Music Samples in this Episode: Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra – Let’s Sow A Wild Oat King Oliver’s Jazz Band (w/ Louis Armstrong) 1923 – Sweet Lovin’ Man Louis Armstrong 1928 – West End Blues Cab Calloway 1958 – Minnie the Moocher Olivet Baptist Church in Chicago from the Black Past website Olivet Baptist Church from it’s own website

In 1909 Chicago changed dramatically both physically and intellectually. Having grown through fits and starts via annexation and experiencing the most rapid population growth of any city in history, to that point, the Chicago City Council approved a new street and address system in 1908. The new address system took effect in 1909 and employed the Philadelphia and furlong systems to renumber, rename, and rationalize street names and addresses across the city. 1909 also ushered in a momentous intellectual shift in perceptions of what Chicago was and could be. Authored by architects Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett The Plan of Chicago offered an idyllic and revolutionary vision for Windy City that still resonate. Join us in this episode as we interview cartographer, historian, and geographer Dennis McClendon to delve into these concrete and esoteric plans that forever changed the physicality and vision of Chicago. Plans and improvements that are still relevant and reverberate acros Chicago’s streets, city planning, development and architecture to this day. Edward Brennan in 1926 Excerpt from the Street Renaming Directory of 1909 Bird’s eye view rendering from The Plan of Chicago Map of the central business district from The Plan of Chicago Daniel Burnham & Edward Bennett Links to Research and Historic Sources: More about cartographer, historian, & geographer Dennis McClendon History of 3-principal mapping companies in the U. S.: Rand McNally, H.N. Gousha, and General Drafting Edward Brennan, author of Chicago’s street renaming and renumbering system Philadelphia Street Numbering system explained Furlong system explained Overview of the “Roads and expressways in Chicago” in Wikipedia “Old Addresses” article on the pre-1909 addresses from the Forgotten Chicago website Chicagoland Books & Files including the Chicago Street Renaming & Renumbering Directories of 1909 from the Living History of Illinois website Milwaukee’s Street Renaming & Renumbering from the Encyclopedia of Milwaukee website Overview of The Plan of Chicago from the Chicago Architecture Center website Biography of Daniel Burnham from the Chicago Public Library website “Who was Edward Bennett? And why has he been overshadowed for a century by Daniel Burnham?” by Patrick Reardon on the Burnham Plan Centennial website Wacker’s Manual as described by the Chicago Architecture Center website “‘Big Bill’ Thompson: Chicago’s unfiltered mayor,” by Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune article Feb. 5, 2016 Chicago’s Midway (formerly Municipal) Airport history from the Encyclopedia of Chicago “Chicago’s Municipal Pier,” (#2, now Navy Pier) from Chicagology website Northerly Island from the Chicago Architecture Center website “Displaced: When the Eisenhower Expressway Moved in Who Was Moved Out?” by Robert Loerzel from the WBEZ website McMillan Plan for the Washington D.C. “mall” from Wikipedia Chicago’s Millennium Park from Wikipedia

The path to riches is not often associated with journalism, but in the case of George Ade, writing for Chicago newspapers was his road to wealth and fame. Ade, (1866-1944) who was born and raised in Kentland, Indiana, attended Purdue University and then came to Chicago to work as a reporter in the heydays of newspapers. Today George Ade is rarely remembered, with his books out of print, and decades since his musical comedies were performed. But from the 1890s to the early 20th century, he was compared to Mark Twain, a friend of his, and had not just one, but two hit plays on Broadway at the same time. Ade earned so much money from his successful books, plays and syndicated newspaper columns, he built an English Tutor on a 400-acre estate in Indiana, named Hazelden. There Ade threw big parties and was visited there by U.S. Presidents such as Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Calvin Coolidge. In fact, Taft began his Presidential campaign of 1908 from Hazelden. Ade’s name lives on through his philanthropy, like the donation of 65 acres, with fellow alum David E. Ross, to Purdue University, for a football stadium in 1924, which is now known as Ross-Ade Stadium. What was true then about Ade’s writing is also true now, and that is Ade’s stories are hilarious. His final book “The Old Time Saloon” (1931) is laugh-out-loud funny and a recent edition from the University of Chicago Press is annotated by Bill Savage. Bill Savage, Ph.D. is a professor of English at Northwestern University and our guide through not only the work “The Old-Time Saloon: Not Wet – Not Dry, Just History” and this podcast. Dr. Savage paints a picture of the Chicago Ade knew from the high-class Saloons downtown to the more seedy establishments frequented by his friend, Finely Peter Dunne, whose literary bartender, Martin T. Dooley, delighted a nation with his quips. Writers like Ade and Dunne started out as journalists, and along the way captured the rhythms of speech and the vernacular of the working man, and in doing so gave birth to a new type of literature. A style practiced later by authors such as James Farrell, Nelson Algren, Mike Royko and Stuart Dybek. We hope you will enjoy this dive into Chicago’s literary and drinking past. Links to Research and Historic Sources: The book, The Old-Time Saloon by George Ade Chicago writer and author George Ade (1866-1944) Ross-Ade Stadium at Purdue University Northwestern Professor of English Bill Savage, Ph.D. Hazelden (George Ade House) in Brook, Indiana Chicago writer and author Peter Finley Dunne (1867-1937) Mr.Dooley on the Immigration Problem (1898) adapted from the writings of Finley Peter Dunne, performed by Alexander Kulcsar. “Who’s Your Chinaman?”: The Origins Of An Offensive Piece Of Chicago Political Slang By Monica Eng Era of “Hinky Dink” Kenna and “Bathhouse John” Coughlin from the Encyclopedia of Chicago “Mickey Finn: The Chicago Bartender Who Infamously Drugged And Robbed Patrons With Laced Drinks,” By Natasha Ishak Published September 24, 2019 The Everleigh Club from Wikipedia Chicago Daley News Building (Riverside Plaza) from Wikipedia Douglas Copeland’s novel “Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture” Straw Hat Ettiquette from the Vintage Dancer website Liz Garibay’s website: History on Tap “The Dry Season” by Steve Rhodes, published June 22, 2007 in Chicago Magazine The book, The World Is Always Coming to an End: Pulling Together and Apart in a Chicago Neighborhood (Chicago Visions and Revisions) by Carlo Rotella (2019) Jimmy’s Woodlawn Tap from the Chicago Bar Project website American novelist and journalist, Theodore Dreiser (1871-1945) in Wikipedia Writer, poet, and author, Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) The book Native Son by Richard Wright (1908-1960) Studs Lonigan: A Trilogy by James T. Farrell (1904-1979) American novelist and short story writer Sherwood Anderson (1876-1941) in Wikipedia American writer Nelson Algren (1909-1981) in Wikipedia Chicago: City on the Make by Nelson Algren (1951) The book, Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago by Mike Royko (1988) The book, The Coast of Chicago by Stuart Dybek (2004) German-American business man and philanthropist Charles Wacker (1856-1929) in Wikipedia “Back to School with Bill Savage: Class of ’80” by Bill Savage in the Chicago Reader, Aug. 25, 2011 The restaurant Al’s Beef

October is Railroad history month in Chicago. Although we already released Episode 24 – The Railroads on the history of railroads in Chicago there was too much good stuff to stop there. So we are sharing this Bonus episode from our interview with retired railroad engineer and historian David Daruszka about his experiences as a locomotive engineer. We hope you will enjoy this additional segment in honor of Railroad History Month we are calling “Working on the Railroad.” Poster by Mitch Markovitz First Female African-American UP Engineer Eric Smith Railroad Art Engineer on eastbound Pennsylvania RR Engineer running a Steam Locomotive WWII Railroad Poster Alaska Train Engineer

For 150 years, Chicago has remained the country’s busiest rail hub at the center of the nation’s rail network. In all, 40 railroads provide services from Illinois to every part of the United States and all seven of the major North American freight railways converge in Chicago to make it the largest US rail gateway. Moving anything coast-to-coast by rail is almost guaranteed to pass through Chicago. In 2011, Illinois ranked first in the US for rail freight volume accounting for 490.4 million tons. Today, the state is the world’s third most active rail intermodal hub with 25% of U.S. freight rail traffic and 46% of all intermodal traffic beginning, ending or traveling through Chicago. Each day, nearly 500 freight trains and 760 passenger trains pass through the Chicago region, moving the goods and people that are the life blood of the national economy. In this episode we talk with retired train engineer and rail historian David Daruszka to discuss Chicago’s rail history from its founding in 1848 to its peak in the 1940s and on into today’s operations. Though the waterways established Chicago the railroads soon became a key connector and transfer link to the continent from east to west and north to south. The development of Chicago from a frontier town into a world-class city could not have happened as it did without the railroads. Chicago became and arguably still is the greatest railroad center in the world. We hope you enjoy this journey into Chicago’s railroad history. Map of Railroads in and out of Chicago Locomotive “The Pioneer” Stock Certificate Grand Crossing in 1902 Map of the Illinois Central Railway Plaque commemorating the railroad establishing Standard Time Union Stockyard Columbian Expostion Train Station in 1893 Roundhouse at the Calumet Yard Pullman Porter Museum in Chicago Pullman Car Interior Pullman Car at the Illinois Railway Museum Early Refrigerated Car Links to Research and Historic Sources: “Transportation that Built Chicago: the importance of the railroads” from the Curbed Chicago website Chicago’s Grand Crossing neighborhood and railroad crossing in Wikipedia Pullman Porters from the History Channel website C-Span Book Talk with Larry Tye author of the book Pullman Porters and the Making of the Black Middle Class (2004) “Why Was Casey Jones an American Folk Hero?” from the History Channel website Samuel Insull history and bio on Wikipedia Relocating the tracks at Midway Airport from the Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal Chicago Railroad Fair narrated 1948 home video on YouTube Chicago Railroad Fair Color Home Movies 1948 Film of “Wheels A Rolling” musical history of trains from the Chicago Railroad Fair of 1948/49 on YouTube Operation Lifesaver offers school and community group presentations on RR crossing safety “Stand by Me” (1986) movie clip of the Train bridge scene Article on Chicago’s last roundhouse “NKP’s Calument Yard, Coaling Tower, Roundhouse, Turntable” on the Industrial History website Chicago Railroad Stations from Chicagology.com Link to railroad historian Fred Ash’s book Chicago Union Station Freight Rail Overview from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration website

Native Americans held great respect for natural systems while also managing the landscape to support their people and way of life. As “civilization” came to this area Chicago became a military outpost, village, city and metropolis and its residents were confronted with the elemental and reoccurring issue of controlling water — both fresh and waste water. Managing this cycle of use and renewal the city has over the decades repeatedly invested millions into various projects to drain the land, process waste, and modify the waterways for both sanitation and navigation. These major projects have included altering waterways, building canals, tunnels, and water works and treatment facilities to make the greater Chicago area livable and comfortable on a day-to-day basis for the millions of residents and annual visitors each year. In this episode we will discuss how Chicago came to not only reverse the Y-shaped river running through its downtown, but also the precedents and solutions to regulate fresh water, sewage, flooding, and growing needs of the population. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) formerly known as The Sanitary District was created in 1889 to manage the area’s water resources and was tasked with building the Sanitary & Ship Canal to protect Lake Michigan and our source for drinking water. Toward this end we speak with Dick Lanyon who is an author, historian and retired MWRD engineer to explain this amazing story of political power and engineering genius that created the evolving regional system of water management for Chicagoland. Ellis S. Chesbrough (1813-1886) Drawing of building the water intake cribs in Chicago Digging of the Sanitary & Ship Canal Temporary dam on the South Fork of the Chicago River Work on the embankment Work on shore pilings Removal of the center-pier of a swing bridge in the river A dredge at work Work on a rock section of the Sanitary & Ship Canal Canal work Preparing to fill in the canal near the stockyards Towing barges on the canal Links to Research and Historic Sources: Books by retired MWRD engineer and historian Richard Lanyon History of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District from their website Biography of engineer Elis S. Chesbrough from the ASCE website History of the Chicago Water Cribs from the Industrial History website posted Feb. 3, 2016

Looking back on historical events, whether it is the Civil War or the Chicago Fire, they are usually presented in isolation, a individual events separated by subject, pinned to a specific date or period of time.  Yet, history is not nearly so neat and tidy, and to someone who lived through those times, it becomes part of the greater tapestry of life.  With this in mind our latest and 22nd episode of the Windy City Historians podcast “Eyewitness to History” approaches this historical journey following the experiences of Chicago policeman, John E. Fitzpatrick (1852-1902). As a Patrol Sergeant Fitzpatrick was present at the Haymarket Bombing of 1886, rose rapidly through the ranks to soon attain the position of Inspector and lead the honor guard for President Cleveland for the opening ceremonies of the Columbian Exposition of 1893.  A year later, Inspector Fitzpatrick would be embroiled in a chaotic summer due to the Pullman Railroad Strike, and the following year is assigned as lead detective on the H.H. Holmes serial murder cases that shocked a nation.  A century later, these remarkable stories and adventures were unearthed by his great-great-granddaughter and our guest, Kim Fitzpatrick. Based on Kim’s diligent research we uncover the life and times of John E. Fitzpatrick and present this fascinating and personal history of his decorated Chicago Police career. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed learning the Fitzpatricks’ story. Note: This episode was updated on May 4, 2021 to correct a missing “great” to Kim Fitzpatrick’s relation and great-great grandfather John E. Fitzpatrick. John E. Fitzpatrick Kim Fitzpatrick Newspaper sketch of Inspector Fitzpatrick The Raising of Chicago buildings George Pullman Chief Francis O’Neill Union Leader Eugene V. Debs Debs Cartoon Illinois Gov. John Peter Altgeld Pullman Car Interior Replica of the Lincoln Funeral Pullman Car Wreckage from the Johnstown Flood Pullman Strike Scene Links to Research and Historic Sources: John E. Fitzpatrick obituary, Chicago Tribune, Mar. 27, 1902 Opening Day of the Columbian Exposition: May 1st, 1893, a series of articles on The World’s Fair website posted in April 2018 The Time They Lifted Chicago Fourteen Feet, on the enjoy Illinois website posted Dec. 3, 2018 The Lincoln Funeral Train, on the Illinois History & Lincoln Collections blog posted Aug. 30, 2019 The Johnstown Flood, by David McCullough published Jan. 15, 1987 Johnstown Flood Memorial, National Park Service website H.H. Holmes (1861 – 1896), on Wikipedia on this serial killer also chronicled in the book below Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson “How a Deadly Railroad Strike Led to the Labor Day Holiday,” by Sarah Pruitt posted Aug. 27, 2019 on the History Channel website The Pullman Strike 1894 history on the Kansas Heritage website Historic Pullman Foundation website Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant website A Harvest Saved: Francis O’Neill and Irish Music in Chicago, by Nicholas Carolan published April 1997 Francis O’Neill: The Police Chief Who Saved Irish Music, on WTTW’s Chicago Stories website Pullman Strike, by Melvin I. Urofsky on Encyclopedia Britannica website Pullman National Monument on the Nation Parks Service website Adam Selzer astonishing Chicago website by this historian, author and tour guide President Obama dedicates the Pullman Site a national monument on YouTube posted on July 21, 2016 “The Rise and Fall of the Sleeping Car King,” by Jack Kelly, Jan. 11, 2019 on Smithsonian Magazine website

As we conclude this three-part mini-series on the Columbian Exposition of 1893, we talk about a few favorite exhibits and stories about the Fair, connections that exist still, and relevancy of the World’s Fair today. A major event for Chicago and honored by a star on the Chicago Flag the Fair brought Chicago and the United States to the world stage to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Christopher Columbus coming to America. Join us as we speak with Paul Durica the Director of Exhibitions at the Newberry Library and historian and writer Jeff Nichols. And to complete this show, co-host Chris Lynch shares additional stories and connections with this World’s Fair culled from his research on the topic. Join us for a fascinating ride through Windy City history on this episode about the Chicago Columbian Exposition and World’s Fair of 1893. Map of the Fair Fair visitors on the Midway Plaisance A belly dancer from the Streets of Cairo Exhibit The dancer Little Egypt, stellar attraction at the World’s Columbian Exposition The first electric moving-sidewalk The Japanese pavilion 1894 ruins of the Fair A image of the destroyed Fair grounds after the 1894 fire Links to Research and Historic Sources: A history of the World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893, link to this four volume set in Hathi Trust Panic of 1893 in Wikipedia The Columbian Museum and history of the Field Museum from their website Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect of the Columbian Exposition in Encyclopedia Britannica “The Man Behind the Man Behind Oz: W. W. Denslow at 150,” by Michael Patrick Hern, July 5, 2006 on the AIGA website. Harriet Monroe (1860 – 1936) a biography on the Poetry Foundation website Lumpen Radio – community radio station located in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago at 105.5 FM Aunt Jemima and the Pearl Milling Company John Phillips Sousa a biography on the Library of Congress website Thomas Edison film in 1896 of Little Egypt on YouTube Music Lesson: The Streets of Cairo from Larsen Halleck on YouTube