John Morris/Chicago Patterns

The auxiliary entrance to Damen – Pink Line entrance at Hoyne and Cullerton.

Gabriel X. Michael/Chicago Patterns

Before Edward Brennan developed the comprehensive 8 blocks-to-a-mile address system in 1909, Chicago street addresses were disorganized and confusing, being based on three distinct divisions of the city created by its surrounding waterways of the Chicago River, its branches, and Lake Michigan. Lake Street (the first street platted in the village of Chicago) was the city’s original dividing line between north and south but east and west designations depended on which side of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan you were located. Continue reading »

Man carrying a guitar on his back while riding his back in front of a Second Empire and Italianate styled commercial/residential building at Throop and 18th in Pilsen.

Colorful Italianate corner building at Cullerton, Laflin, and Blue Island in Pilsen.