The best part of each issue are all the dated ads, which display prices that are hard to believe considering the costs of goods and services today! The ads also promote items that are no longer manufactured or hardly resemble their modern version. The ads serve as historical markers of days gone by with annual progress marked from 1964 to 1972.

The first edition is dated June 28, 1964. As the introductory issue, it covered many of the businesses in Roseland, all the churches, and a lot of Roseland and Pullman history. The numerous pages also cover many local politicians with both major political parties. The articles include photos of many of the businesses and people that are mentioned.

The first article for the second edition — dated June 27, 1965 — is headlined “Bonnie Brandsma Wins Miss Roseland Contest,” followed by a review of the year’s events. What could possibly be the prize for the winner? Was it a Savings Bond or an encyclopedia? No, it was a weekend stay at Dolton’s world-famous Dorchester Club! Much of this edition is dedicated to the history of West Pullman and many of the business in Roseland and the surrounding suburbs.

The third edition — dated June 26th, 1966, —contains ads from and notable facts about area business. Right off the bat is an ad for Liberty Bakery, located at 11932 S. Halsted. The article accompanying the ad contains delightful information about the origins of the “Atomic Cake” created by Mr. and Mrs. George Kremms, owners of Liberty Bakery. The biggest ad in this edition is two-page spread by Root Brothers which offered the opportunity to trade in your old lawn mower and save on a brand-new Toro, or you could buy a 21” power mower for just $59.95! Root Brothers is still in business, but on an international level, with offices off of 113th and Ellis Avenue, while still retaining their building at 103rd and Michigan Avenue.

I don’t have a 1967 edition, but I am satisfied with the Sunday, June 30, 1968, edition because the main topic is the active service men of Roseland and a number of those who gave their lives. As an active service member in the U.S. Army artillery serving in Pleiku in Vietnam’s central highlands, my photo is on display in this edition! The articles appear on pages that have headlines like “Saluting our boys in service” and “Our gallant men in service,” which make no mention of any Roseland women in service. I am certain that Roseland had more than one woman in active service, but remember this was in 1966.

There’s one business that caught my eye because it is still in the neighborhood, but it has expanded. Since 1966, Wentworth Tire and Auto has grown from its original location at 11024 Wentworth Ave. to six locations in Chicago and suburbs. Its Pullman location on Ellis Avenue is across the street from the neighborhood’s restaurant row, which includes Culver’s, Chick-fil-A, Dunkin’ Donut/Baskin Robbins, Jimmy John’s, and Chipotle.

The sixth edition recalls something any good Roseland-Pullman historian will be familiar with: “Down an Indian Trail” written by Marie K. Rowlands. The edition opens with an ad for a business that is still located in Roseland on Michigan Avenue, BASS Furniture & Rug Co. The first article is a serialization of Rowland’s book, which tells the story of Roseland’s beginnings from the first Dutch settlers in 1849 and beyond through 55 chapters, with the final words in Dutch: “Finis. De Beste, Hoor,” which translates to “End. The Best You’ll Hear.”

The seventh edition — dated June 28, 1972 — is the sports issue. There are bowling teams, baseball teams, grade school swim teams, and the Eiche Turner gym team. The issue opens with a photo of the 1921 football championship team, the Pullman AC Football Club, and the 1922 Pullman Car Works League team, the Green Sox. Other photos show the 1904 Thistle Football team and the 1907 Palace Council Baseball Team #39 from the Royal League. Interestingly, there is a photo of the 1922 Alec Lindsey Pullman Baseball Team that played at the field located at 115th and Halsted Streets. For those in the know, in the 1960s that was the sight of the Ziggy Troy Driving Range and Mini-Golf Game!

The 1971 Eighth edition is not in my possession, so we move right along to the Ninth Edition, dated June 15, 1972, and the final Calumet Index Annual. There is one thing that anyone growing up in Roseland can attest to and that’s the many service organizations and charitable volunteer opportunities in Roseland.

I recall joining Jaycees Junior Achievement, which had its meeting in a storefront just south of the State Theater. Besides learning how to make ash trays (remember smoking was promoted as a good thing by doctors in those days), our most fun project was the bottle cap man that could be used to hold one of those ashtrays. If that didn’t have a healthy appeal, the alternative use was to teach people how to bend when picking up items.

In looking through these seven Calumet Index Annuals, one thing that really caught my attention in every issue were the lines used to grab the reader’s attention in the ads. One from Buddig boldly states “We’ll never quit smoking!” Of course, once you read the ad, they make it plain that they’ll never stop smoking their meat. Then there was “As American as chop suey or pizza: Prosche.” That’s pushing the point put forth by Tom Chaney Porsche.

There are two ads that stood out to me for different reasons, and they both have to do with food and liquor. As everyone knows, I’m big on all things Italian and one business that comes up in many conversations about Roseland, Pullman, and Kensington shopping is Pullman Wine & Liquors also known as Italian Cheese Co. Their ads always feature the three Bernardi brothers — Vic, Bruno, and Mac — at the top. Bruno’s son John stops in a few times a year for mass at St. Anthony’s.

The other food-and-liquor business was Ma’s Liquors and Ted’s Finer Foods. Everyone I know called it Ma Zarantini’s. It was a popular shopping spot for Roseland’s young people. I often find myself on 115th Street on my travels and pass by the vacant building. It’s close enough to Wallace Avenue to recall Fenger and all the friends I had who attended there in the 1960s.

So many memories come flooding back while looking through these antique Calumet Index Annuals. If anyone would like to know if anyone is specifically mentioned in the 1968 veteran’s issue, please feel free to contact me and I will gladly look up the information. If you would like to make arrangements to stop by and look through these issues yourself, arrangements can be made. I have quite a bit of Roseland memorabilia available to look through if anyone would like to view the many antique items I have on hand.

Petals from Roseland: Fond Memories of Chicago’s Roseland, Pullman and Kensing Neighborhoods” is available from me for anyone interested in sharing or revisiting their life Roseland at $20 + $5 s&h. Contact me at petalsfromroseland@gmail.com or 11403 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60628; 773-710-3559. My book is also available at D & D Foods, 1023 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, at Bookie’s New and Used Books, 10324 S. Western Ave, Chicago and at Miles Books,2819 Jewett Ave., Highland, Indiana.

The headline of this month’s column is a common term today. We all grasp its meaning: currently popular or widely discussed. It’s often used in our hi-tech world to show how relevant something is. It still applies to life in the Roseland of our youth, even if we didn’t use the term back then.

We were always asking “What are you doing?” … “Where are you going?” … “Did you hear about …?” That was our “trending.” Our friends were our contacts and the rotary dial telephone with extension cord was our hi-tech device that connected us. The longer the cord, the longer and more intense the conversation!

We might not have labeled it “trending,” but we always knew what was going on. We knew the most popular happenings of the day, the week, and the month because we kept our lines of communication open at all times. I thought I would look back at what was “trending” during our time in Roseland’s neighborhoods.

When we were kids, schools were an essential part of our daily lives, but when the weekends and summer days came, the world was wide open to us. Chicago’s park system never lacked for activities to take part in. At Palmer Park, there were classes offered in crafts, including one I took on a Saturday morning with a classmate of mine, Barbara Smith, that taught us how to make sock puppets.

Of course, the parks were especially important to the athletically minded, offering many opportunities. The horseshoe pits had wooden boxes with equipment stored in them for everyone’s use. For the Italian members of the community there were a couple of bocce courts — bring your own balls. Handball was popular and there were tall walls set up for that or for tennis enthusiasts to practice on their own.

The baseball diamonds were particularly popular after WWII ended and the troops came home. After spending years together fighting for their country, the men wanted to maintain the friendships they established. What better way to do that than by joining a baseball team! You could bring your girl or new wife to cheer you and your buddies on while you all spent a great evening outside before ending up at the VFW or American Legion or favorite watering hole.

I couldn’t possibly mention Palmer Park or West Pullman Park without talking about their swimming pools. Many a couple found their togetherness at a swimming pool. Every part of Chicago had a “natatorium” including the Rosemoor neighborhood, which had the Pumping Station on 103rd Street. I recall going to the adult swim at Palmer Park and watching my brother Chester’s friend Louie Baker put his pick-up skills to work. Unsuccessfully, I might add, as I learned the “how not to” of pick-up skills!

The Ave (Michigan Avenue) was the “be all and end all” of teenage living. “Cruising the Ave” was the weekend activity anyone with access to “wheels” would look forward to. That was where everyone went to see and be seen and ,for some, hopefully meet someone.

I saw my grade school buddy Andrew Galvan and his wife a couple of years ago. Of course, life in Roseland and The Ave came up in the conversation. His wife Donna excitedly told me that’s where they met while they were doing the male and female version of cruising the Ave. “He was cruising the Ave and he beeped at me.” She saw him two more times that evening and then came the first date that never stopped. A real Roseland “Cruising The Ave” story.

As young girls grew into young women, The Ave had a lot to offer in the world of fashion. Two stores that I recall helping the growing process were Gordon’s and Three Sisters. Many years ago, I recall a conversation with one former saleswoman from Three Sisters. She told me how they would talk to the young customers and insist they try on the top they were looking at. The dressing rooms were up the wide-open staircase in the center of the store.

As the young lady came out of the fitting room, the upstairs salesperson, while complimenting her, would insist she go down the stairs to the first floor. At that point, the downstairs saleswoman would loudly continue with the compliments. Of course, what could the young woman do but buy the top!

One of the more interesting Ave stories is that of the well-known South Side American Sale company. It began with a Christmas seasonal store on The Ave that did so well, its owner decided to open a year-around store. I know this because I worked with his brother-in-law, who worked in that first store on The Ave, but only for that first season. American Sale has become a well-known South Side staple for recreation and seasonal items.

As we grew up and music grew more important to us, dances became a central part of our weekend lives. Over the years, we could choose from a number of dances. I recall Mendel Sunday night dances along with YMCA dances and St. Willy’s dances. As music became all important due to the Beatles, the Battle of the Bands became a popular event to attend. Local bands also became a thing that gave birth to some of Chicago’s best like STYX, Chicago, M & R Rush, the Buckinghams, and TW4.

Some of the other popular memories include Raceway Park for stock car races. In the summertime, you could hear the roar of the engines for miles around.  Air-conditioning was still a rare amenity in our homes so everyone had their bedroom windows open, which allowed the sound of those roaring engines to come through loud and clear.

Right next to Raceway Park was the Halsted Drive-in Theater with two screens. I recall that the admission was charged by the number of people in the car. One thing we did to avoid the expense of admission required my brother and I to lay on the back floor under a blanket until we got to our parking spot. It was either the floor or the trunk depending on how many of us there were. We also made shopping bags full of popcorn to spare my sister Jean and her husband Bob the expense of taking us kids out with their three kids.

The intermission at the Drive-In Theater was always a fun time. You got to watch the cartoon clock on the screen as it ticked by the minutes until you had to return to your car after using the restroom or getting your refreshments. One of the challenges that I failed at least once was returning from the playground in time and having to run back to our car in the dark when the movie started.

The speakers for the movie extended from a free-standing post to the car window and was attached by a cord. The problem was that the cords weren’t visible in the dark! Once, as I ran back to the car, I didn’t see the cord and managed to choke myself and fall to the ground in sheepish embarrassment before getting back to our car.

I mentioned “Cruising The Ave” as an activity that required “wheels” but there was also another part to that activity: the drive-ins restaurants! As The Ave ended at 115th, the cruise would continue south to 127th Street. That’s where the drive-ins with the carhops, like my sister Rosie, were located. Once wheels became available, we were no longer restricted to Giovanni’s or Nino’s or Ken & Dick’s for pizza. We were officially licensed to head to the carhops and the real action.

Chicken Little, Vinci’s, Vinci’s Tap, and the BBQ Pit became the spot to make the U-turn to head back down The Ave to do more cruising. However, The Ave was for shopping and had closing hours and that was when the drive-ins became the place to be. Talk about the roar of the engines and seeing hot cars and hot women, the drive-ins were it. There were also arrangements to be made for the illegal drag racing that took place after midnight down on Doty Avenue before the Bishop Ford existed.

These are just some of the things that were “trending” back in the day. The accompanying collage of Roseland Memorabilia will definitely bring back memories of what was trending in our lives. We may not have used that word, but it certainly applied!

Petals from Roseland: Fond Memories of Chicago’s Roseland, Pullman and Kensing Neighborhoods” is available from me for anyone interested in sharing or revisiting their life Roseland at $20 + $5 s&h. Contact me at petalsfromroseland@gmail.com or 11403 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60628; 773-710-3559. My book is also available at D & D Foods, 1023 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, at Bookie’s New and Used Books, 10324 S. Western Ave, Chicago and at Miles Books,2819 Jewett Ave., Highland, Indiana.

Recently, as often happens among Roselandites from the Pullman/Kensington neighborhoods, the topic of Sherwin Williams came up. Everyone recognizes first that SW was a major employer of neighborhood residents and second that it had specific impact upon the community. One visual impact SW had was in the testing of exterior paints in the SW lot east of 115th and Cottage Grove.

There were rows and rows of slanted metal sheets on stands, all facing southeast to catch the sun’s rays at their highest point. These exposed paint samples provided data for SW and helped them determine the right chemical composure for durable exterior paints. Today, some of those paint sample boards still stand, though not as many as we were accustomed to seeing back in the day.

Another major impact SW had on the area was in the aromas that permeated the Pullman/Kensington neighborhoods. On some days, there were no smells at all in the air. On other days, when the wind was heading our way, the odors emanating from SW were a force to reckon with. The smells were so strong that they’ve become imbedded in our memories as a part of our experience growing.

Those Sherwin Williams smells were on the negative side of things. However, we’re about to take a nostalgic trip through the pleasant aroma’s that filled our noses during our youth.

Baking heads off the list since Kensington Avenue is where Gonnella-Torino-Piemonte Bakery was located. I listed all three names the bakery was known by at that location. Piemonte go the rolls baking on Kensington, with that location becaming the Chicago branch once the original baker moved to Rockford. When the Depression came and times got tough for many small businesses, the bakery was bought by Torino. Eventually though, it became a part of the Gonnella Baking Co.

It remained Gonnella for many years until the business was closed and all operations were relocated to their Near Northside headquarters on Erie Street. Many Roselandites worked at Gonnella, including Joe Marchioretto who started at the Kensington location and retired out of their Erie Street Factory; Tina (Valentina Bettina) & Joe Muratori; and Joe Galassini. Joe D. and Allen who were proud to show me the Gonnella-labeled basket their father used in the 1920s and ’30s to deliver Gonnella Bread with a horse-drawn wagon.

Beverly Angio Carli, whose husband Chuck owned Charlie’s Tavern at 115th and Cottage Grove, told me a story about summer evenings spent on their back porch visiting with friends. As they would be enjoying the warm weather, a breeze overflowing with the scent of freshly baked Gonnella Italian specialty bread wafted through the neighborhood. That magnificent aroma was a signal to Beverly and her friends that it was time to take a walk.

The group would follow the scent up the street to 115^th, take a right turn under the Illinois Central viaduct and then left turn at the Vendetti Furniture parking lot, which gave access to the alley. A right turn and the fresh scent of oven-baked bread grew stronger, leading them right to the bakery back door. A knock on the door brought one of the workers asking how many ciopettte the group needed to fulfill their “scentsible” desires. The friends each left with at least three ciopette!

I’ve researched ciopette extensively and the reason this Italian specialty was baked so late in the day was to ensure that the bread would be soft and edible throughout Sunday. Ciopette gets its unique flavor and taste because all the air was kneaded out of the dough, which was then shaped and placed in the baking oven.

The kneading process gave the ciopette its unique flavor but allowed it to remain tasty only for the next 24 hours. Come Monday, the ciopette would turn hard and it would be best eaten dunked in “café latte,” Italian for coffee and milk. That aroma has disappeared from the neighborhood and most of the United States but still can be experience in the Veneto region of Northern Italy.

There is one scent that will take us back in time and is still readily available: White Castle! It’s amazing to me that after more than half a century, the aroma coming from the White Castle at 10301 S. Michigan Ave. takes me right back to our White Castle at 111th and State right next to the YMCA.

I recall looking through the large window overlooking the griddle flooded with onions and mostly covered in the small square burger patties with the unique five holes for quicker grilling. I spent a lot of time watching the ladies speed the burgers through the grilling process. It turned out there was a reason for their speed. Until 2007, the White Castle company sponsored an annual national griddle competition for its workers. The competition’s goal was to assemble the most burgers in a set amount of time. It was looked forward to by all the hardworking ladies that worked the griddles. Watching them sharpen their skills was a unique and memorable Roseland experiences.

Many tourists to Chicago can’t wait to go shopping downtown and cross one item off their bucket list: Garrett Popcorn. What we had in Roseland was even better: Karmelkorn! They would open their window and the exhaust fan would send the fresh popcorn scent flooding Michigan Avenue. That aroma drove us shoppers to buy at least a small bag. We may not have a Karmelkorn in Roseland today, but when we pass by a Garrett Popcorn shop we’re right back in our Roseland, making scents.

“Petals from Roseland: Fond Memories of Chicago’s Roseland, Pullman and Kensing Neighborhoods” is available from me for anyone interested in sharing or revisiting their life Roseland at $20 + $5 s&h. Contact me at petalsfromroseland@gmail.com or 11403 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60628; 773-710-3559. My book is also available at D & D Foods, 1023 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, at Bookie’s New and Used Books, 10324 S. Western Ave, Chicago and at Miles Books,2819 Jewett Ave., Highland, Indiana.

St. Anthony’s is still my parish, and on Sunday mornings, you’ll find me at the 9 o’clock mass, just like when I was a good St. Anthony’s School student. One major difference is that the disciplinary Sisters of St. Joseph aren’t there to make sure I followed their laws. For the boys, that meant no hands in pockets and taking your hats off. For the girls, it meant making sure you had a head covering scarf or hat. Those were the good old days when, if you broke their laws, you could get a surprising smack on the head to alert you that your wrongdoing was noticed.

That risk disappeared after church, which was our time for whatever pleasure each family decided to make their ritual. For some, it was heading to Jolly Inn on 115th to get a bucket of chicken for a Sunday family dinner treat. For my large family, once a month my mother would put out a spread for the 10 of us plus all the kids my older sisters had.

The Sundays I really enjoyed were the ones where I got to roam free after church. I would get to hang out at the favorite gathering place for many of the adults and kids from St. Anthony’s. There were plenty of things to do for all ages because the place was a sociable mix of restaurant, bar, newsstand, Italian cigar and newspaper store, and best of all a candy store.

That neighborhood mecca was Pat & Matt’s! It was a cornerstone of St. Anthony’s social life. A big part of parish life was the Holy Name Society Bowling League and Pat & Matt’s always sponsored a winning team, which brought in a lot of Sunday customers.

The other notable connection to St. Anthony’s was the many young members of the parish who passed through the doors as employees. My sister Rosie was one of them, along with Frankie Calderone, Larry Avignone and many others.

My friends through Bonny Sandona’s Spaghetti-Os, Joe and Eleanor Calderone, were kind enough to give me a copy of their photobook of Pat & Matt’s to use as I would like and those are the photos in this column. There are a number of people in these photos whose names I don’t recall. I hope that some of the long-time readers of Petals from Roseland can help me out by letting me know the names of people they recognize.

When you walked in, you faced the cigar case and newspaper shelf that held the Sun-Times, Tribune, and the two or three Italian newspapers in print at the time. Subscribers to the Italian papers were able to pick up their papers every Sunday as they came in for their weekly coffee or beer.

On your right as you walked in stood the God’s gift to children otherwise known as the penny candy display case. I can’t recall the salesclerks that worked on the candy sales, but I do remember being a frequent customer. It made Sundays the best day of the week. That along with going to church (in case one of the nuns is reading).

The variety of penny candy to choose from was mind blowing. The fact that they have stopped making pennies shows you how far in the past that was!

I recall being especially fond of Bazooka Bubble Gum for a while because each piece had a comic. The comics were funny, but they were also a coupon to save for merchandise. I remember saving enough comics to get a pocketknife and a rabbit’s foot another time.

The second half of Pat & Matt’s was a restaurant with three or four booths along the wall and spinning stools along the counter. The seating at the counter was soda shop stools up front and bar stools in the back, making it an all-ages arrangement.

The green tiled soda counter had a black marble top and was where I sat when I would stop by in eighth grade to buy a slice of cherry pie and a cherry coke. I was living high because I had a South End Reporter paper route as a source of teenage income and meaningful tips.

The adult customers at Pat & Matt’s were a colorful bunch, from Gasparini to the brothers Lido and Lili. Gasparini had the shoemaker’s shop next to Pat & Matt’s. He also led the Italian Band during St. Anthony’s numerous annual processions and festivals. Lido and Lili were a little on the slow side and were under the protection and care of all St. Anthony parishioners, along with another favorite son, Big Christie, who worked at Illinois TV. The members of the Holy Name Bowling League were there, too, because many of them also served as ushers at that 9 o’clock mass.

Speaking of the ushers, I just had a memory of them when the new church opened in August of 1961. We were all surprised to see them appear in white dinner jackets. It turned out that it was one of Fr. Nalin’s special requests to make the ushers stand out.

Pat & Matt’s was always busy on Sundays and there was always plenty of loud conversation. As a matter of fact, I recall when it was so loud everyone missed an event on the TV that I couldn’t believe I saw.

It was November 24, 1963. I had just finished buying my weekly bag of penny candy and happened to look up at the TV. It was the exact moment when Lee Harvey Oswald was being brought out of the jail to be transferred, and Jack Ruby shot him on live television. I was too stunned to say anything, and it took a minute for everyone to realize what had happened.

As I mentioned earlier, if my readers recognize anyone in these photos or if you care to share any of your personal memories or stories from your Pat & Matt days, please do. From neighbors and parishioners to employees and customers anyone else who has a memory, please send me your comments after enjoying this look back at a very memorable time in our lives.

“Petals from Roseland: Fond Memories of Chicago’s Roseland, Pullman and Kensing Neighborhoods” is available from me for anyone interested in sharing or revisiting their life Roseland at $20 + $5 s&h. Contact me at petalsfromroseland@gmail.com or 11403 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60628; 773-710-3559. My book is also available at D & D Foods, 1023 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, at Bookie’s New and Used Books, 10324 S. Western Ave, Chicago and at Miles Books,2819 Jewett Ave., Highland, Indiana.

Here we are with a new year and a new opportunity to create an exciting life or a sedate life. The choice is ours! Looking back on our lives in the larger Roseland community, we can find plenty of examples of both lifestyles.

When I was a child back in the 1950s, my mom would have us kids tag along whenever she went shopping or visiting her friends. From that perspective, I got to know a lot of sedate people! Of course, you must keep in mind that I was my mother’s last child and was born when she was 42 in 1946. All of the friends my mother visited were already in their late 50s and had been stay-at-home moms as was the custom of those days.

The mothers may have been sedate during visits but they did all the labor-intensive homestyle things, like cooking meals from scratch with fresh ingredients, mending or making the family clothes, doing laundry and ironing, or canning produce from the garden. Pulling out the old Hoover vacuum cleaner was a natural part of the housekeeping chores.

We rarely hear about doing chores these days. I recall kids back in the day talking about their weekend chores. Only a few of them said anything about an allowance being tied to finishing their chores.

In other words, those “sedate” people were very active and just took the time to relax when my mother came by with us for a visit. They also led exciting lives by being socially active in the many clubs that were available for people to join and maintain friendships.

In these high-tech days, with all the social media tools available to us, there are fewer in-person clubs to join. I recall al of the social clubs being represented in the parades that took place on The Ave or one of the many processions that various churches put on.

There were athletic clubs like Bombers AC, as well as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Palmer Park Baseball League, Holy Name Bowling League, and Roseland Little League. Those are just the groups I was familiar with, but I know every neighborhood had their own social clubs along those same lines.

Becoming a member of a local group led to exciting family times. The groups sponsored annual events, with the members taking part in organizing, participating and working on the events as fundraisers or just as an opportunity for their members and friends to socialize. I recall looking forward to the annual Holy Name picnic every year.

Those social opportunities are what created the memories we have. But the world has changed and “exciting” means different things to different people. Today’s Pullman residents find their excitement in the various community events that take place in the different seasons.

In the past year, we’ve celebrated the Taste of Chicago, Labr Day, the Pullman National Historical Park, the Fourth of July, Halloween Pullman Macabre House Tour and Pullman Drive Thru, the Annual Pet Blessing, the Pullman Garden Tour, the Pullman Holiday Candlelight House Tour, Classic Car Show, and the big daddy of all Pullman events: The Annual Pullman House Tour which just celebrated its 52nd tour event.

That’s the new excitement that Roseland residents get to take part in. All of them are broadcast on social media. In the past year, all the events have been well attended, making each event more exciting.

In addition to the National Park Service information and ranger display, there are always displays for various social organizations seeking support while sharing information. Pullman’s Labor Day celebration is of national importance due to the Pullman Strike of 1894.

The strike lasted from May to July and didn’t result in an immediate victory for the workers, but it did result in long-lasting wins. As a result of that Pullman strike, Labor Day was established as a national holiday and the groundwork was laid for an eight-hour workday. This is why national labor organizations can always be found at the Pullman Labor Day festivities.

The Annual Pet Blessing has become a tradition amongst Roseland and Pullman’s pet lovers.  There are displays from various wildlife organizations such Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation and the Chicago Herpetological Society. In addition, there are raffles and informational displays throughout the grounds. All of this precedes the blessing of the animals by Fr. Mark Krylwicz of St. Anthony’s and Rev. Luther Mason of the Greenstone United Methodist Congregation.

“Petals from Roseland: Fond Memories of Chicago’s Roseland, Pullman and Kensing Neighborhoods” is available from me for anyone interested in sharing or revisiting their life in Roseland at $20 + $5 s&h. Contact me at petalsfromroseland@gmail.com or 11403 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60628; 773-710-3559. My book is also available at D & D Foods, 1023 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, at Bookie’s New and Used Books, 10324 S. Western Ave, Chicago and at Miles Books,2819 Jewett Ave., Highland, Indiana.

When talking with other Roselandites, the topic of “The Ave” (Michigan Avenue) is never far away. If the conversation continues for a while, talk always turns seasonal.

Typically, we chat about cruising The Ave to check out who was hanging out; then about shopping at the different stores; then about dining at the pizza places and restaurants. July Sidewalk Sale would then come up, inevitably followed by Christmas on The Ave.

The Ninth Ward Aldermanic Office, run by either Alderman Lupo or Alderman Adducci, would send workers up and down The Ave hanging huge red-and-white candy canes with lines of red poinsettias cascading down their sides. The stores would all have holiday decorations and sales on items to complete our Christmas wish lists.

Anyone talking about shopping The Ave at Christmastime would never fail to mention the one thing that grabbed the attention of both young and old: the Christmas Merchant’s Parade sponsored by Gately’s People Store.  The festivities got kids looking forward to Christmas presents and the birth of Christ.

The parade drew crowds of families from Roseland and the neighboring communities and towns. The big draw was the float with Santa Claus and his elves, who tossed candy in every direction for the kids to pick up.

In keeping with the sense of joy those memories bring, I continue to embrace the Christmas story told by Mario Avignone, the founder of this column. Fr. Pierini asked him decades ago to start writing Petals as a way of keeping Roseland alive in our hearts as the St. Anthony Bulletin written for the men and women in service had done during the war years.

In my 17 years as the author of this column, my goal has been to maintain the traditional sense of belonging to the larger community of those who grew up in Roseland, Pullman and Kensington. I hope this link to our past brings joy and happiness to all.

Mario’s Christmas Tale

Years ago, when Fr. Joseph Chiminello was pastor of St. Anthony, he had a beautiful manger scene set up in front of the old church altar. It cost a lot of money to import from Italy, and it was his pride and joy.

On Christmas morning, Fr. Joe went into the church between masses to pray in front of the imported crib. He was shocked to see the Baby Jesus had disappeared! He looked everywhere in the church but couldn’t find the beautiful little statue.

He phoned the Kensington Police Station, then located at 115th Street and Indiana Avenue, and talked to Commander Tom O’Brien and reported the Baby Jesus was missing and someone had stolen it.

Commander O’Brien and his best detectives rushed to the church. Judge Alexander Napoli, who lived in the neighborhood, heard about the Baby Jesus being missing from the Nativity crib and rushed to help find it.

Someone phoned Alderman Dominic Lupo and reported that the Baby Jesus had been stolen from St. Anthony Church. He too, joined in the search but to no avail.

Fr. Chiminello, Commander O’Brien, Judge Napoli and Alderman Lupo stood at the front of the church in front of the Nativity discussing who might have stolen the beautiful statue and why. They had no clue and were at a loss as to why anyone would commit such a sacrilege.

Just then there was a sound in the back of the church of a door opening. As they watched in disbelief, a 6-year-old boy walked into the church and up the main aisle pulling a little red wagon with a blanket in it. As the wagon drew close to the group of men at the front of the Nativity, the boy stopped and opened the blanket to reveal the beautiful, imported statue of the Baby Jesus. The men were dumbstruck. Finally, Fr. Joe timidly asked: “Why did you steal the statue?”

The boy looked at the men with a smile on his face as his eyes lit up in innocent wonder and he said: “I didn’t steal Baby Jesus. I prayed to Jesus last night for a red wagon for my Christmas present. When I woke up this morning — it was there — my little red wagon was under the tree. I was so happy; I wanted to give Baby Jesus the first ride in my red wagon to say thank you for answering my prayers.”

Pullman’s Hilton Hotel

It is finally official: Pullman is getting a 101-room Hilton Hotel with construction set to begin in 2026. This hotel has been in the planning stages for at least the last four years. As with any major project, the wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly to make certain that all “t’s” are crossed and “i’s” are dotted. This is a good thing because it ensures that all financing is in place and all necessary land has been acquired and surveyed.

The long-awaited announcement will bring to Pullman the first hotel built south of Hyde Park in 40 years. The hotel will have about 25 employees and will offer banquet space for weddings, a business center for meetings, and an exercise room,

The facility is close to the Harborside International Golf Center, giving rise to the possibility of the golf club hosting a major tournament. Being situated near the Pullman Historical National Park will give travelers to Chicago an option of being near downtown without having to stay the Loop or the surrounding area.

The country’s National Park Service has many fans who travel around the country with an itinerary that is dictated by the location of the National Parks they wish to visit. When I served as a volunteer docent at Pullman’s Exhibit Hall, many travelers came through to get their National Park Passport Book stamped and mentioned the difference a local hotel would make in their travels. Chief among their comments were a desire to have time to stroll through Pullman to admire its architecture and unique status as a company town. (By the way, the name Pullman Historical National Park signifies that the park consists of original buildings.)

My book “Petals from Roseland: Fond Memories of Chicago’s Roseland, Pullman and Kensington Neighborhoods” is available from me at $20 + $5 s&hl. Contact me at petalsfromroseland@gmail.com or 11403 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60628; res: 773-710-3559. My book is also available at D & D Foods, 1023 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, at Bookie’s New and Used Books, 10324 S. Western Ave, Chicago and at Miles Books, 2819 Jewett Ave., Highland, Indiana.

Merry Christmas 2025 and happy New Year 2026!

Here we are once again, with thanks on our mind, and we have plenty to be thankful for. Having grown up or lived in the Roseland-Kensington-Pullman neighborhoods, many of us have certainly had occasion to pay our last respects at the Panozzo Brothers Funeral Home. The business began on 115th Street and moved further east to Calumet Avenue until they eventually left Roseland for Chicago Heights. Throughout the years, our ability to have a steadfast reliance on Panozzo’s in their time of need was always reassuring.

I recall as a child having to accompany my parents whenever a close friend of theirs or one of our relatives passed away. The only funeral home we ever went to was Panozzo Brothers. I was a teenager before I realized that there were other funeral homes available to us. Of course, being a parishioner of St. Anthony’s on Kensington guaranteed that my childhood had boundaries set by family traditions.

Kensington’s Italian Americans created many of their neighborhood traditions by patronizing the same local businesses and shopping on Michigan Avenue only when necessary. The comfort in dealing with merchants who spoke your native language, knew the same people you knew, and shared many of the same experiences you had was how personal borders and traditions were created.

I can trace my family’s tradition of dealing with the Panozzo Brothers Funeral Home to the death of 3-year-old and 9-year-old brothers who passed before I was born but who I’ve seen in photos. The next family funeral at Panozzo’s happened after the passing of my 86-year-old Nonna Pierina Chiodarelli. For the rest of my life, all other funeral homes were alien territory.

Those traditions explain why we have much to be thankful for when it comes to Larry and Dennis Panozzo. Larry passed away in April 2021 and Dennis passed away in August 2025. Their passing has left a void in the Roseland-Kensington- Pullman historical archives.

I can recall having been at the funeral home with them and overhearing their conversations with patrons. Both Larry and Dennis grew up in the business and from a young age learned and remembered the history of the family they were assisting. The brothers shared an ease and comfortability in talking with people that made everyone seek them out for family and neighborhood conversations that became history lessons.

With Dennis’ passing, the mantle of running the funeral home now rests in his Alan’s capable hands. I recall the many times I saw Dennis at Panozzo Brothers or at Tresche Conca Society Spaghetti-Os or Veneti nel Mondo gatherings. At the funeral home, he was usually running around making sure that protocol was being followed.

No matter where we were, his smile always greeted me before his words, “Ciao boccia!” and I always responded with “Ciao, fratello!” If you asked Dennis a question about anyone from the old neighborhood, you faced the possibility of a 20-minute monologue covering the person’s entire family. Of course, there were always tidbits of surprise with information about previous generations. Those gems were always followed by one of Dennis’ mischievous smiles.

Dennis took great pride in the annual Spaghetti-Os bocce tournament. He managed it like the pro he was and was a great help to Bonny Sandona. He was a natural due to his many years with St. Anthony’s Holy Name Bowling League.

Pullman News

The annual Pullman Labor Day Celebration was a major success. The event was held on the first Saturday in September and had a larger crowd than in previous years. There was a parade, speeches, displays, events for children, and representatives from local and national labor organizations.

The national representatives are part of the celebration every year. The national Labor Day holiday came about in large part due to the 1894 Pullman Strike. It is a very meaningful tribute to the many Pullman workers that took part in the strike.

The 52nd annual Pullman House Tour took place in October and was a resounding success. Pullman’s charm and history once again proved to be a draw for history buffs and architecture lovers. Special thanks go to the volunteers and to the homeowners who put all the work into the planning and preparation for the event. The Pullman House Tour is the major community event that takes place and is a mainstay for all of Chicago to look forward to. I had my house on the tour twelve years ago and have never forgotten the experience of sharing Pullman with the hundreds of interested visitors.

“Petals from Roseland: Fond Memories of Chicago’s Roseland, Pullman and Kensing Neighborhoods” is available from me for anyone interested in sharing or revisiting their life in Roseland at $20 + $5 s&h. Contact me at petalsfromroseland@gmail.com or 11403 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60628; 773-710-3559. My book is also available at D & D Foods, 1023 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, at Bookie’s New and Used Books, 10324 S. Western Ave, Chicago and at Miles Books,2819 Jewett Ave., Highland, Indiana.

It’s taken a long time to get here, but you are now reading the 205th Petals from Roseland column that I’ve written! I took over writing this column from Mario Avignone when Fra Noi was still a tabloid-sized newspaper. That was when you were able to read all the publication’s content in print. But when the switch was made to a more manageable magazine format, the community columns appeared in whole on Fra Noi’s website, with teaser articles and e-blast links driving traffic to the online version.

The transition ended up being a blessing in disguise. With the full-length version of the columns online, writers were no longer limited the number of words or photos they could use.

To entice my readers into reading the online version, I took a proactive approach. Each month, I print copies to hand out to anyone who desires their own. I also have a list of readers who aren’t on computers and receive their copies via the U.S. mail.

Of course, in this day and age, spreading the news is so easy thanks to social media. I distribute Petals via more than a dozen Facebook pages, which allows me to reach more than a thousand additional readers along with the 6,000 readers of 7,000-plus recipients of the Fra Noi’s e-blast.

I have received comments from former Roseland residents living in Italy and all around the USA. The memories of Roseland are getting stronger as we are getting older. Fra Noi has always been a mainstay of keeping Roseland memories alive throughout the decades. I’ve been doing my part for 17 years and am happy to celebrate this anniversary.

This October will mark the 52nd Historic Pullman House Tour! The tour will take place on Chicago’s annual Christopher Columbus weekend, the 2nd weekend in October: October 11, 12, and 13. From 1880 to 1894 the town of Pullman was built by George Pullman for his factory and to house his workers. Today, nearly 1,000 of the town’s original rowhouses and several major buildings are still intact. Tickets can be purchased online with a discount and there is always a discount for seniors and students.

For those who haven’t found a reason to visit Pullman since it became Pullman National Historical Park, this is the perfect weekend to come and see how much of “your” Pullman you remember. There will be resident homes for touring along with National Park and Illinois Department of Natural Resources buildings. It is up to you to come and see who oversees which properties.

If you come down to Pullman, you can also see why Pullman has become the fast-food capital of the southside. With the recent opening of Jimmy John’s and the Baskin Robins / Dunkin Donuts restaurants, there are more dining choices in Pullman than there have ever been.

All this and the Pullman Coffee Club which is located in the former Sessions Restaurant building at 111th & St. Lawrence Avenue. As the sponsor of the Pullman House Project, the coffee shop has historical displays, artifacts, and a film. The café is a good place to catch your breath, relax, and share your Roseland memories.

Since this is the October column, you can be sure there will be a Halloween event taking place. Pullman always has a “Trunk & Treat” event held in the parking lot of Exhibit Hall. The event is always well attended with many grandparents guaranteeing that their grandchildren are in attendance. Every year the kids dress up and have a great time with games, tricks and treats.

The Pullman Companion Animal Blessing will take place on October 5th. The event is co-sponsored by the Pullman Civic Organization, the Greenstone Church, and St. Anthony of Padua Church. The event begins at 1pm with vendors and participants arrival and the blessing takes place at about 3pm. There will be live music, reptiles on display, and a representative from Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation.

Petals from Roseland: Fond Memories of Chicago’s Roseland, Pullman and Kensington Neighborhoods” is available from me for anyone interested in sharing or revisiting their life in Roseland at $20 + $5 s&h. Contact me at petalsfromroseland@gmail.com or 11403 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60628; 773-710-3559. My book is also available at D & D Foods, 1023 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, at Bookie’s New and Used Books, 10324 S. Western Ave, Chicago and at Miles Books,2819 Jewett Ave., Highland, Indiana.

As summer draws to a close, we can look back and see just what has been happening in Pullman. This has been a very busy summer for Pullman, and there will be no letting up as we head for the highlight of the events season.  Of course, I’m talking about 52nd annual Pullman House Tour, slated as always for the second weekend in October. As always there will be several houses on the tour and four or five Pullman public buildings for visitors to admire. The Pullman Historical National Park will also be open for visitors.

Pullman has long been defined by Labor Day since Labor Day as a holiday was created to honor the Pullman strike of 1894. After the strike, labor unrest was fomenting across the United States. To stem the tide, President Grover Cleveland was advised to create a national holiday honoring laborers.

Labor Day in Pullman will be celebrated this year Sept. 6 This year’s festivities include a parade and games and events for the children in Arcade Park and at the Pullman National Historical Park. Eddie Fest will be held in the park that day immediately following Chicago Labor Day Parade. The event is named after prominent union labor leader Edward Sadlowski and is organized by the Chicago Federation of Labor. Chicago Labor Day Parade on Sept. 6, 2025, in Arcade and Pullman Parks.

Pullman hosted another Taste of Chicago popup on July 19 in Pullman’s Arcade Park. There were inflatables for families with kids to enjoy and more than a dozen food vendors throughout the area surrounding the Hotel Florence. There was also a variety of entertainment throughout the day, including live bands and a local DJ. The event also featured displays by the National Park Service, city departments, and local preservation groups and other organizations. This annual event has turned into a charming way for Pullman and its neighbors to enjoy a great celebration in the middle of summer. We can now look forward to this event every year!

The Historic Pullman Garden Club sponsored its Garden Walk on June 28. Pullman has always been a welcoming public space meant for all to enjoy. Residents have always appreciated visitors and invited them to view our preservation community. Pullman has many public gardens including those in Arcade Park and surrounding   the Hotel Florence. The weather was beautiful and enjoyed by all, including Jacob and Julia who happened to be visiting Chicago from New York and thought the garden walk would be a perfect way to end their Chicago visit.

The Historic Pullman Foundation sponsors numerous events throughout the year to provide all visitors with interesting facts and films about Pullman’s history. The HPF has created and curated displays that entice viewers to ask questions about the town of Pullman and the company’s history.

The Pullman House Project has restored the Lasciotto family home, furnishing it with period-appropriate furniture, and is offering tours. A visit to the Pullman Coffee Club in the former Sessions Executive Restaurant is an enlightening experience.Patrons may sip their coffee or tea while enjoying one of Roseland’s Old Fashion Donuts. If the weather is agreeable, there is a deck with umbrella tables and a beautiful view of the Pullman Historical National Park. You can also envision the long-planned creation of the Veteran’s Roasters Café and Brewery across 111th Street.

“Petals from Roseland: Fond Memories of Chicago’s Roseland, Pullman and Kensington Neigh-borhoods” is available from me for anyone interested in sharing or revisiting their life in Roseland at $20 + $5 s&h. Contact me at petalsfromroseland@gmail.com or 11403 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60628; 773-710-3559. My book is also available at D & D Foods, 1023 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, at Bookie’s New and Used Books, 10324 S. Western Ave, Chicago and at Miles Books, 2819 Jewett Ave., Highland, Indiana.

Recently I was driving through the Beverly community when I saw this sign “CAUTION STAIRS AHEAD” on a light post over a sidewalk heading to Longwood Drive. The sidewalk heading downhill turned into steps to ease the downhill walk.

My mind immediately wandered back to when I was 7 years old. I recall walking down the sidewalk steps from Michigan Avenue to Edbrooke Avenue holding hands with my mother and grandmother. We were heading to the auditorium at St. Willibrord School for my kindergarten graduation because our St. Anthony School never had an auditorium or gymnasium.

As we were walking down the hill the thought occurred to me “We will never be in this place in time ever again.”

I must admit, it was quite the deep thought for a 7-year-old and the memory has stuck with me my entire life. Thoughts of that episode bring to mind that Roseland had many streets that had sidewalk steps.

Our Michigan Avenue shopping area was second only to downtown Chicago. It was the place to be seen and the place to shop. However, “The Ave,” as we called it, ran along the ridge of a hill. If you were heading east of Michigan Avenue, it meant that you were going downhill.

As a high school student at St. Willibrord, I often walked those same cement steps when I went to classes. There were a couple of times when I was possessed by the spirit of Evil Knievel and rode my bike down those steps. Thank God each one of those adventures was successful.

Through the years, I’ve received nostalgic stories of life in Roseland and a couple of those stories were about those sidewalk steps. In one story I recall, the author spoke about how their mother would take her and her brother in their Red Ryder Wagon to do grocery shopping at Gately’s People’s Store. They would really enjoy the ride, she recalled, until they got to the sidewalk steps where they had to dismount from the wagon and walk the rest of the way to the store.

Their mother would pull the wagon into the enclosed doorway on the 112th street side entrance and park it out of the way. They would then enter Gately’s and do their shopping in the grocery section before strolling for bargains throughout the store. The author also mentioned the donut machine and the Green River hot dog stand across from it.

The donut machine was a fascination for all of Roseland’s children. It was a train of grates that held two donuts each. The donut train cycle went like this: it dipped them in oil, flipped them over to do the opposite side, and continued on until the bakers removed donuts to decorate them and put them into the case for display and purchase.

One of the best parts of the bakery was that children were able to buy a bag of broken donuts for 15 cents. I recall my personal experience of buying a bag of broken donuts. When I asked for a bag of broken donuts, the baker informed me that they had none. However, when she saw the look of disappointment on my face, she told me to wait a moment while she checked in the back room. Soon she returned from with a bag of “broken donuts” to sell to me. I have never forgotten her kindness in breaking up donuts to create a bag just for me.

The author of the Red Ryder Wagon story told me that the best part of shopping was that they would get to stop by the Green River hot dog stand before heading home. She said they needed nourishment because she and her brother had to walk home as the wagon was full of groceries.

Pullman news . . .

If you haven’t been to visit Pullman and the Pullman National Historical Park during the summer months you have been missing out on some additions to Pullman.

Pullman is becoming the fast-food capital of Chicago’s South Side. Pullman is now home to a Chick-fil-A, a Baskin-Robbins Dunkin Donuts combination, and a Jimmy John’s. These are in addition to the Culver’s, Potbelly, Wingstop, and Lexington Betty’s Smokehouse establishments already in Pullman. Now, if we could only convince Portillo’s!

If you are familiar with the US Bank building, the tallest structure visible from the Bishop Ford I-94 at 111th Street, on your next drive by you will take note of construction going on across the street from it. That construction is the 100 room Marriott Hotel that will be an addition to Pullman National Historical Park / Pullman community.

The hotel will not only serve the national park visitors but will also serve those who want to visit Chicago without having to stay downtown. Pullman’s location is ideal for visitors who want the Chicago experience but do not want to deal with city congestion. They also have the convenience of shopping at our local businesses.

“Petals from Roseland: Fond Memories of Chicago’s Roseland, Pullman and Kensington Neighborhoods” is available from me for anyone interested in sharing or revisiting their life in Roseland at $20 + $5 s&h. Contact me at petalsfromroseland@gmail.com or 11403 S. St. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60628; 773-710-3559. My book is also available at D & D Foods, 1023 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights, at Bookie’s New and Used Books, 10324 S. Western Ave, Chicago and at Miles Books,2819 Jewett Ave., Highland, Indiana.