Roseland wasn’t just Italian

Welcome to the July Petals from Roseland. After reading through my book, “Petals from Roseland. Fond memories of Chicago’s Roseland, Pullman, and Kensington neighborhoods,” I’ve decided to revisit one of my columns because it got so much attention from my readers. Published in July 2011, “Roseland wasn’t just Italian” was written in response to the many non-Italian residents of Kensington, Pullman and Roseland who weren’t happy about being left out of my columns. They had so much to do with growing up in Roseland. I decided to go ahead and include them in the column, which I present to you today.

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Growing up in Roseland’s Kensington neighborhood, it took years before it occurred to me that Italians weren’t the only ethnic group that claimed Roseland as their beloved community. When I was growing up, there were “us Italians” and then there were “those Americans.” In a nutshell, that is what this column is about: The Italians of Roseland have joined all the other descendants of ethnic groups in becoming “those Americans” that we grew up talking about.

I was reminded of that fact recently when I received a letter from Marion Irvine Phillips of Hudson, Florida. Marion had previously written me that one of her relatives had given her a copy of FRA Noi when she visited them in Oak Lawn. It excited her because she hadn’t seen or heard anything about Roseland since the 70’s when she left Roseland. To get her up to date, I sent her a copy of every column I’d written until that time.

Marion recently wrote to tell me that she was so overjoyed after having read those columns that she re-read them each a number of times. She also mentioned that she is moving back to Oak Lawn to be close to family and can’t wait to get back up here. She also had a simple request: please don’t forget all those Roselandites that weren’t Italian.

Over the past several months, I have likewise talked with a number of readers, whom I’ve met at Spaghetti-Os meetings, whose ethnic background isn’t Italian. Regardless of our heritage, one of the characteristics of Roseland that we all take pride in is that we grew up in one of the friendliest communities in Chicago. All of These non-Italians had plenty of good Italian friends. And the Italians? They swear by their good friends from the good old days–be they Dutch, German, Swedish, Polish, Greek, or what have you!

Ed Anderson is of Swedish descent and grew up in Roseland around 107th and Wentworth and his wife, Eleanor (nee Peonie) grew up at 109th and Eggleston. One common draw for many Roselandites is any discussion revolving around the schools they attended. Ed and Eleanor went to Van Vlissingen grade school, which was replaced with a new school in 1998. (Mildred I. Lavizzo Elementary school). Ed mentioned that they had taken a bus tour of Roseland at that time (1998). Followed by a reunion luncheon at the Hotel Florence, which is probably one of the last meals ever served at the hotel. It turned out that they were also the last group to go through Van Bussen before it was torn down.

Ed and his buddies hung out at Blondie’s, a bar on 108th and Indiana, when they had nothing better to do and before they would go to the local dances at a dance hall, Pochron’s, or one of the school dances like those at St. Willibrord’s (St. Willy’s). One of the highlights that still makes Ed laugh is the fact that a lot of the guys used to hang around the soda fountain and Kresge’s, which is where he met Eleanor. Eleanor Peonie worked the counter with her friend Marilyn Bruning who ended up marrying another one of the guys, Jim Newton.

Jim is of Dutch descent and attended St. Willy’s since his family lived 4 doors down from the church and school. It was a fact that Jim’s family kept quiet about. Most of his cousins went to the Dutch Reformed churches in the neighborhood,

Jim and Marilyn got married, and Jim started his own plastering business when he thought he could do better for himself rather than continuing to work for his dad’s plastering business. His biggest inspiration was the thought of having a house for him and his wife so they could start a family. It proved to be a wise decision, as Jim related that he earned $5000 his last year with his dad and $17,000 his first year out on his own. That was part of the picture of Roseland: a self-sustaining community that allowed many residents to begin their own successful businesses.

Jim was involved in community baseball for over 50 years and one of his proudest moments was being named a playoff game MVP and receiving a beautiful gold jacket, which he still has with “MVP 1968” on the back. Jim didn’t say so, but I know he’s also proud of the fact that the jacket still fits him.

One of Jim’s other passions gained him a number of lifelong acquaintances, and that was bowling at the Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl was where the high bowlers could be found in the days when bowling was a serious pastime. I recall St Anthony’s Holy Name Society having one of the largest leagues sponsored by the parish. Jim came to know many St Anthony parishioners through his athletic involvements, and as a result knows many of the people who are now members of the Spaghetti-Os.

Jim was an all-around athlete, and besides baseball and bowling, he played football for St. Willy’s against such teams as St. Louis Academy and Fenger. Speaking of Fenger High School, that is where Jim met his wife. Marilyn was a cheerleader who caught Jimmy’s eye. Although Marilyn was only 16-1/2, 18-year-old Jim fell for her big time. Unfortunately, Jim got drafted. After just two weeks of basic training, he called Marilyn and told her he missed her and wanted to marry her. They ended up being engaged for two years and now have been married for 56 years.

Jim recalled they had their wedding reception at Pochron’s Hall, which he rented for $75. He got his liquor wholesale from Toigo’s Tap on 119th St. and his buddies served as bartenders. The entire wedding cost less than $125, including the cost of rental taxes.

There are many more stories from Roselandites that cover everything from Roseland’s July 4th sidewalk sale to being able to see their names still carved into their school’s walls. Roseland may have represented different ethnicities, but these are the type of common stories in which all Roselandites can recognize themselves. That commonality is what keeps us attending Roseland reunion events, dinners, and dances. None of us are getting younger and these are perfect opportunities to relive our youth and reminisce about the good old days we all shared in Roseland.

“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.