Summer memories

At this time of year, my thoughts begin to focus on what I have done this summer and what I’ve yet to do. I also look back at the summers of years gone and some of the more memorable events from those happy days. There were Roseland’s July Sidewalk Sale, St. Anthony’s Carnival and St. Willibrord’s Carnival and Talent Show, and more recently the joining of Roseland’s Catholic parishes, culminating with the merging of Holy Rosary with St. Anthony’s. Hopefully, my memories will kickstart yours to help you recall highlights of your Roseland summers.

Being a teenager in Roseland provided many opportunities to get involved in new adventures, and I have a Gately’s photo-book picture of me at 13 years old to prove it! That was a souvenir from one of many trips down “The Ave,” which also included the July Sidewalk Sale. I loved looking through all the merchandise the stores couldn’t get rid of to find that day’s “bargain of a lifetime.”

My favorite memory was the last time I checked out the sidewalk sale back in the ’70s. My girlfriend and I were in a committed relationship, and I had a mind to buy something for “us.: As I checked out Gately’s offerings, I could not find anything that was suitable in doubles. I continued to check out the other stores’ sidewalk tables and then walked across the street. JC Penney saved the day when I spotted the last two pairs of yellow paisley bell-bottom unisex pants. Such a deal for only $3 a pair! We may have only worn them once, as a couple, but they were very hip, cool and trendy.

Carnivals, thanks to St. Anthony’s, have always held a special place in my memories. I spent one summer going down to the carnival every day for its entire run. I was about 12 years old, unsupervised and with pockets filled with change that I had saved just for the carnival. As I strolled through the crowds and checked out the games, the one that caught my attention was the cane ring toss.

I thought that if I played it enough, I would end up with a great collection of canes that no one else would have. I made it a point to win a few canes each night. There was one cane that had a pair of dice on top and another with a dog, but my favorite was the one that had an 8-ball. By the end of the carnival, I had a dozen canes that slowly disappeared, as my brother thought they made great spears.

I made back some of the money I spent on those canes by hanging around for the teardown by the carnies. Those were the itinerant carnival workers that traveled with the carnival, putting it up, working it and taking it down. While they were busy taking down the Ferris wheel, I roamed around and ended up at the Tilt-a-Whirl. I climbed up into one of the cars and spotted a coin shining in the sunlight.

I pocketed the coin and then lifted the cushion to reveal more change. Since the carnie workers were busy, I had time to check all the Tilt-a-Whirl car seats. I ended up with $6 and some change, which was a good amount of money for the early ’60s.

One of the highlights of the carnival was the beer and oyster tent. I will never forget seeing the members of the Holy Name Society standing at the tent, taking a break from their various volunteer jobs. It was impressive, yet disgusting, to see them swallowing those whole oysters, one after another, followed by a swig of Old Style or Schlitz.

Then there was the pizza that was always available along with bingo games run by the lady’s groups. The pizza was rectangular and only made on bingo nights, but it was available every night of the carnival.

I recall being at the last night of the carnival one year. It was a Sunday night so the crowds were thinning out. I heard a bit of a commotion by one of the trailers where they had prizes for the pull tickets they sold. There were a number of prizes left on the shelves and one couple had thought they couldn’t miss by buying up the tickets left in the jar.

They spent quite a bit of money and ticket after ticket turned out to be a loser. Once they had bought all the tickets and still no winner, they started a ruckus. Fr. Nalin, the pastor, was on the grounds and he came over to the booth. The couple continued arguing their point and, as reluctant as he was with his eye always on the dollar, Fr. Nalin gave in to the couple and gave them their choice of any two of the prizes. That satisfied the couple and they left with their prizes.

The last St. Willibrord’s carnival took place on the site of what became Roseland Plaza. It was in 1956 or so, there was a wooden fence around the property at the time and it was next to the Riverdale Lumber Company. Fr. Exler was the pastor and he was the gentlest and kindest person I had ever met.

The final event of the carnival was the talent show. It gave young people the opportunity to show off their talents and hopefully win the prize. That was when Elvis Presley and rock ’n’ roll had taken over the radio and the music scene. The winner of the talent that year was an Elvis impersonator in a gold lamé sport coat. The young man performed to the raving response of the girls in the audience and walked away with a wristwatch and $50.

St. Anthony’s has become the official home of all the Catholic parishes that called Roseland home throughout the years. In 2008, Holy Rosary (Irish), where Fr. Mark Krylowicz had been pastor, closed its doors and officially became a part of St. Anthony’s. Fr. Mark organized a ceremonial closing mass and a procession to St. Anthony’s.

Holy Rosary Church suffered a fire in 1937 but the stained-glass window of St. Dominic kneeling before the Queen of the Holy Rosary was undamaged. At the ceremonial closing of the church, a commemorative souvenir booklet was available to attendees. With the funds raised through those sales, Fr. Mark was able to have the rescued window placed in a light box frame and installed as a side altar on the right as you enter St. Anthony’s. It serves as a great memorial and remembrance to the parishioners of Holy Rosary along with a statue of a guardian angel that was also brought over from Holy Rosary.

If any readers have any individual experiences, information or memories to add these Roseland topics, feel free to share them with me and everyone else. Do not worry about grammar or how you tell your story, I am ready and willing to help make you look your literary best.

My Book

“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.