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The Beginning of Six Corners
Why ‘Portage’ Park? Through much of its early history Portage Park was not called by its current name but known as Jefferson Township. When it was officially named in 1912, the name was drawn from practices of its earliest settlers – the Potawatomi tribe. Most of our homes sit on what was once a flat marshy prairie bordered by two parallel ridges that are now Cicero and Narragansett Avenues. These ridges served as trails for the natives, along with another trail crossing between them now called Irving Park Road. In our residential area, a Potawatomi Camp was setup as a resting place for tribesmen “portaging” their canoes between the Chicago and Des Plaines rivers along this Irving Park trail. Whatever Happened to North Plank Road? Cicero and Irving Park were originally Native American trails but the third road that makes up the six-corner intersection was built in the early 1800’s. Called North Plank Road (later named Milwaukee Avenue), this route was a 2-1/2 cent-a-mile toll road frequented by farmers transporting their produce to markets in Chicago. Along this new road, near what is now the intersection of Belle Plaine and Milwaukee, a red brick inn/tavern with a broad veranda was constructed by E. B. Sutherland in 1841. Chester Dickinson bought the Inn in 1846 and during his ownership this place became a landmark and principle gathering place. Jefferson Township was organized at this site in 1850 and Dickinson became the new town’s first supervisor. Some Very Important Inn Guests Dickinson Inn was the overnight resting place for many travelers, some of them prominent. Washington Irving was a frequent guest. Both Irving Park and Irving Park Road were named after this popular author. Verbal history claims an even more notable name – Abraham Lincoln. Although there is no written documentation, it is alleged that he also stayed at Dickinson Inn. As the area became more populated, Jefferson built its first Town Hall in 1862 at the southeast corner of Irving Park Road and Cicero Avenue (now LaSalle Bank). The Town launched its first high school classes in the upstairs rooms of the Hall ten years later. Early European residents were primarily English, German, Swedish, and Polish. They patronized other Six Corners establishments, socializing at the Charles Hill Saloon and shopping at the popular D. D. Mee general store for dry goods and groceries. Rail Transportation Spurs Growth Both the Chicago and Northwestern and the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul railroads built tracks along the eastern border of the Township encouraging new settlers. Although the trains provided access to downtown employment and shopping, the area remained primarily farms and prairie until 1900. Chicago annexed Jefferson Township to the city in 1889, including most of what is now the Portage Park district. About the same time the city expanded into this area, a large portion of Six Corners was sold to developers Koester and Zander. The Schorsh brothers soon joined these developers and this group began turning Six Corners into a major shopping area at the turn of the century. |
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In the teens Portage Park was at the periphery of the city. West of Central Avenue were hardly any buildings. A lot of bungalows were built during that time in Portage Park. An East-West train line was running on Sunnyside-Cullom and then towards the Indian Boundry line. A school map of 1914 shows more details. |
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More Portage Park historical information to come in the months ahead. |
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More Portage Park historical information to come in the months ahead. updated 12/12/2007 | comments |