Chicago is a great town, and I want to get to know it a bit better. I'm going to explore to find all the honorary street names signs, take some photos and then see what I can learn about the honoree. It will be some history, some architecture, but mostly a view of Chicago beyond the skyline.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Chico DiBenedetto
This sign is located just south of where Lincoln, Diversey and Racine meet. It appears to be just where Mr. DiBenedetto lives. I was able to find a city record referring his honorary street name to committee. Other than that, I can't find anything at all on this man.
I did get some photos from the corner, though.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Zodak Yonan
This honorary sign is located at a random corner between Wrigleyville and Lincoln Park just east of Zodak Yonan's home. It's near the train line, there's a bar and a dry cleaners on the corner. It really seems like any other corner in the city of Chicago. That's probably fitting as Zodak Yonan is just another cog in Chicago's political machine. He worked for the 44th ward for over 20 years until 2009 when he got caught avoiding parking meter fees. He was busted for parking on Seminary, just two blocks west of his honorary sign. It even caught the eye of Fark.com. When I first heard the story, I had no idea the aide was 84 years old. I wasn't the only one caught off guard by his age. You should really read this article about WGN and The Chicago Tribune trying to investigate his demise.
Sadly, I have been unable to find anything about him except for his demise and a death notice for his sister from 2007. I did get a couple of photos of the corner, though.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Bishop Edwin M. Conway Dr.
This honorary sign is just East of Graceland cemetery in Uptown. The placement is because of the 40 years that he spent living at St. Mary of the Lake Parish nearby. His entire career as a priest was dedicated to social work and charity. When he died in 2004, at the age of 70, he had an obituary in Catholic World News and The Chicago Tribune.
St. Mary of the Lake church, school and charity house fill the entire block between Sheridan and Kenmore on the north side of Buena. I spied a mural tucked between the buildings, so I had to go onto the grounds to snap a photo. The remaining three corners are residential. If you go west of Sheridan, on the way to the Red Line, you'll encounter Buena Circle Playlot Park and Challenger Bark dog friendly area.
Please check out all the pictures I took of the area.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)