Columns

Roseland was a community unto itself. There were clothing and shoe stores galore and Gately’s People’s Store for a major department store. There were restaurants up and down Michigan Avenue (The Ave), including Tony’s Snack Shop, Snack Time, Giovanni’s, Nino’s and Krapil’s, and Kresge’s and Woolworth’s each had a food counter. Over the past couple of years, a number of people have mentioned various theaters that were in the Roseland community. Those included the Normal, Verdi, State, Roseland Show, Parkway and Ridge. The State Theater (11016-20 S. Michigan Ave.) seated 2,000 and was much more stylish than any of the …

This year’s holiday celebration started early with the St. Anthony dinner dance. Fr. Mark Krylowicz, Louise Della Betta, LouAnn Sola Pretto, Armand Dequi and the Chateau Bu Sché staff came to the rescue when they got together and overcame the obstacle created by the closing of Villa di Bruno. Many of us remember the ‘Chateau’ from years gone by when we attended weekend dances there. Well, I’m here to tell you that just as we’ve grown up, so has the Chateau. A great deal of expense and effort has been put into remodeling and updating the décor and the entire …

This is the month for giving thanks and Roseland gave us many things to be thankful for. We can start by being thankful for the fact that we ended up with a deeper appreciation for all things Roseland. Whether it is due to the fact that succeeding generations move out of neighborhoods, or the fact that racial flux is an urban reality, neighborhoods do change. However, in the case of Roseland, the change was sudden and shocking and I believe it is this factor that made Roseland a more deeply woven part of the fabric of our lives. For those …

Growing up in Roseland, there were a number of places we frequented, first by virtue of our parents taking us there and then by us venturing out on our own. As we grew older, those places grew smaller. Not physically, of course, but comparatively, as we grew to fit spaces that seemed so large when we were children. One such place was Gately’s Peoples Store on 112th and Michigan Avenue. As children, the main aisles seemed so wide as we passed by the sale items on display. Later, when we went there on our own, or with our friends, the …

Roseland was a complete small town that fulfilled our every need. We had our “Main Street,” which was Michigan Avenue, affectionately called “The Ave,” from 103rd Street to 127th. This was where we spent our time away from our black-and-white or color television sets and radios. Stores on The Ave were sometimes the destination of a shopping trip, but more often simply a stopping point while taking a leisurely stroll. The Ave was the center of a social life that occasioned cruising in a souped-up ’57 Chevy or a super-clean ’56 Ford T-Bird or whatever other hot car a young …

I’ve begun attending St. Anthony’s on a regular basis ever since my older brother Chester in Highland, Ind., became ill. I often spend a weekend at his place to visit and keep him company while he recovers. He is doing very well and, as a bonus, we’ve become “Sunday parishioners” at St. Anthony’s. St. Anthony’s parish is a diverse group including the local Mexican neighbors who comprise the majority of the neighborhood residents; African-American residents from Roseland; parishioners from Pullman; and former parishioners who drive in from the city and suburbs. Being a member of many groups with former Roselandites …

“This and That” is an appropriate way to label this column, as it will cover a number of topics. Coming up with a single topic for each of the past 18 columns I’ve written is always my starting point. After all, there is only so much space for a monthly column. I’ve decided to make this middle of summer my “This and That” column, so be prepared and pay attention. I begin with the end: Mario Avignone says hello to everyone. I visited with him at the Manteno Veteran’s Home where he is very content. He enjoys telling jokes to …

Tanti amici! Tanto parlare! Tanto mangiare! And free ciopette! That is the perfect description of the Alumni Mass that took place at St. Anthony’s on April 25. It was more of a festive celebration than a mere gathering of former parishioners. Danny Bovino, I and my brother Chester went to Rockford to pick up the ciopette. It turned out that Steve McKeever, Piemonte’s master baker, had made ciopette for the alumni mass — literally — because he insisted on donating them. Steve also had a surprise: He’d found a promotional piece for the original Piemonte Bakery that his grandfather, Luigi …

“O Mary! We crown thee with blossoms today, Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May!” During the month of May, these were definitely familiar words for all of the St. Anthony Grade School children. However, they had special meaning for the girls of St. Anthony’s. Their major question: Who would be selected by the Sisters of St. Joseph to portray Mary in the procession and have the honor of crowning the statue of the Blessed Mother? I asked a few St. Anthony girls for their memories of the May Crowning and all these years later, the event still holds …

Buona Pasqua! Happy Easter! Years of family Easter celebrations come to mind upon hearing those words. Easter was the biggest family celebration of the year. Christmas was a family gathering, too, but it was centered around gift giving and receiving — generally geared toward the children. Being part of a large family meant more children at each holiday celebration. Any significant religious meaning for Christmas became obscured as the number of children increased to 28 nieces and nephews. The one true religious family celebration was always Easter. When my nieces and nephews were little children, my family would attend Mass …