Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
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.
