Annual treasure trove

With spring and summer upon us, I thought I’d write about Roseland’s Little League. However, once I got into researching my collection of Calumet Index Annuals, I realized that I’ve never written about these outstanding pieces of Roseland history. There were annual issues from 1964 to 1972 that covered specific topics. As a journalist I am always keeping track of sources for information. Of the nine issues that I believe existed, I’m only missing the 1967 and 1971 issues.

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.