An ‘el’ of a train ride HAUSMAN

stone homes remain, and are now refurbished. It is here that sweet nostalgia comes rtress-like homes remind andmother’s apartment on Dougvard. “Bubby,” we called her, lived on the second floor of a 2-flat building that erhang covering the entrance. As crawl on our bellies out the living onto the creaky metal top of erhang. It was dangerous, but we loved being in our “castle” lookout. Some of the refurbished buildings now have actual patios where our precious lookout once stood.

Wednesd Ay

Journal

of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley

Senior Editor Bob Uphues

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Senior Repor ter Stacey Sheridan

Sta Reporters Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Big Week Editor James Porter

Columnists Marc Bleso , Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, Harriet Hausman, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger

In truth, this outing is a study in sociology and urban development, or lack thereof. It is also a visual depiction of segregation. Within a mere dozen miles, there’s a discernible picture of societal and physical changes of life outside the el window. Leaving Oak Park, we see a variety of apartments, old and new. We see stores, restaurants, and some elegant old homes with trees and flower gardens. Also, the streets and sidewalks are well-kept, and we can catch a glimpse of Unity Temple, a Frank Lloyd Wright gem. There is an interesting intermingling of handsome churches and new high-rises in our little old Oak Park.

As we travel through the Austin community, we see older residences, some stores, and a few scattered restaurants. The older buildings show the wear and tear from years of neglect. Many of the buildings are abandoned and have advertisements slapped on their sides. Others are covered with graffiti, most of which is ugly, but also interspersed with community-generated artwork that is quite beautiful. If these dilapidated structures could emote, they would be crying, remembering their once-lovely construction … someone’s architectural dream, now shattered. We are approaching Garfield Park and the Conservatory where the scene improves markedly.

Next, from our train window we see the rebuilt United Center where nearby once stood the old Chicago Stadium. New buildings have been constructed along with a multitude of parking lots. Some of the 100-year-old+

You could say that true community is our immunity — against polarized divisiveness. Community is Oak Park’s super power.

I wrote this book because I feel very lucky to have grown up here — and to be able to retur n, after spending 20 years elsewhere, to live and work in my hometown … which I did not really know … but came to know and love. Consider this book, then, a retur n on my community’s investment in me

The book is available at Book Table, the Historical Society of Oak Park & River Forest (which hosted my book launch last week), online through Amazon, Bar nes & Noble, and other sites, and if all else fails, I’ ll drive over and sell it to you out of my trunk.

Thanks to Kevin Theis and Paul Stroili of Ft. Raphael Publishing for designing the book and cover

Next we see the University of Illinois Chicago, along with the sprawling medical campus. Rush Hospital, located on this campus and voted one of the 10 best hospitals in the country, is also known for its architectural uniqueness

Soon we reach our destination in the entertainment and business area of downtown Chicago. After we leave the elevated platform and walk down the 29 steps to ground level at Macy’s entrance, the fun continues. Viewing each floor, we take the escalator to the 7th floor for lunch in the Walnut Room. Nostalgia hits me again as I devour the Marshall Field special sandwich and frango mint ice cream for dessert, fortunately still served by Macy’s.

The other destination of our outing is to visit the galleries at the Chicago Cultural Center and see the stunning Tiffany glass ceiling windows. We then stroll through the gardens and greenery of Millennium Park, having fully enjoyed our leisurely day. On the ride home, I feel pangs of guilt as I appreciate my good fortune to have such a pleasant afternoon. Our country claims to be the richest nation in the world. If this is true, then indeed there should be equal opportunity for all to have a day like we had today and helping me navigate self-publishing. Thanks also to Dan Haley at Growing Community Media for giving me the job that made me a better writer and, hopefully, eventually, a better person, and providing the platform that led to this book — also for introducing me to the notion of “g rowing community.”

Poverty and racism are not partisan issues and, hopefully, wise leadership will guide us in a better direction. Harriet Hausman, a longtime River Forest resident, is, at 99, likely the oldest weekly newspaper columnist in the U.S. if not the world.

The other reason I wrote this book is that I think Oak Parkers need a morale boost right now. There is much to celebrate and appreciate here, even as we strive to be better than we already are.

So if you see someone whose resolve is flagging, who is grousing too much or too often about parking and taxes, please tell them about this book.

Hopefully it will widen their lens on our town Oak Park

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designer Susan McKelvey

Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls, Kamil Brady

Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

Board Of Directors

Chair Judy Gre n Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

About Viewpoints

Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, re you to action

In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for ling.

Please understand our veri cation process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that veri cation, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot con rm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay.

If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com.

Letter To The Editor

■ 250-word limit

■ Must include rst and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for veri cation only)

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

■ 500-word limit

■ One-sentence footnote about yourself, your connection to the topic

■ Signature details as at left

Email Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com or mail to Wednesday Journal, Viewpoints, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

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