Tourism: History
Over the past century and a half the name Lake View, or Lake View as it is increasingly spelled, has referred in turn to the first of Chicago’s North Shore suburban developments, an independent township, a city in its own right, and a community area within Chicago. All of the Lake Views have occupied land between two and eight miles north of Chicago’s center. As one official incarnation of Lake View gave way to the next, it gradually transformed from a loose agglomeration of large parcels of land occupied by farms and estates into distinct neighborhoods housing many single young adults, gays and lesbians, and married couples without children.
Origins and Incorporation
In 1837, Conrad Sulzer built the first home in a wooded wilderness that we now call Lake View. Only two roads, now Lincoln and Clark Streets, gave access from Chicago. In the 1840s and 1850s, farmers and artisans slowly moved into the area. They were mostly from Luxembourg, Sweden, Scotland, Ireland and Germany.
Lake View was identified as a functional Village on the county map in 1854, although the town of Lake View was not officially incorporated as a part of the township of Ridgeville until 1857. For a brief period, this area was also known as North Chicago and in 1857, Lake View held its first election of officials. The parish names of cemeteries and churches gave identities to areas within the town.
In 1862, Lake View became the home of Camp Fry, a training ground for Civil War troops. These grounds later became a picnic grove and still later, a beer garden.
In 1865, Lake View was incorporated as a town and the area continued to see the expansion of farms, businesses, industry and residences. It was still quite a journey to Chicago, but in 1870, a streetcar system started service over an amazing three-mile stretch, making Lake View far more accessible.
Great Chicago Fire & Lake VIew’s Golden Years
The Chicago fire of 1871 spared Lake View, which actually spurred its growth. A Town Hall was built in 1872 at the site of the current Town Hall district police station followed by Lake View High School in 1874, at its current location but in its third phase. Travel through Lake View was still primitive and time-consuming even with the new horse cars. In 1874, the North Western Railway began service to the area. Public water works came to Lake View in 1876-1877. Five grade schools were built from 1878 through 1883 and in 1879, telephone service was introduced to the area.
The 1880s became known as the “Golden Years” for Chicago as well as Lake View due to economic growth. Lake View finally received fire protection from Chicago in 1889 and in the mid- 1880s, the first hospitals were built in the area.
Lake View was rapidly becoming an urban center as opposed to a rural community. It was granted a City Charter in 1887 and divided into seven wards with two Aldermen each. Modest home prices and the further expansion of businesses, recreational activities, roads, transportation and job opportunities attracted people from crowded Chicago. As a separate city, Lake View did not survive very long. In 1889, after a somewhat bitter fight, Lake View was annexed to the City of Chicago.
The New Century
By 1900 there was train service to Belmont, but even with this improved transportation to downtown Chicago both national retail chains and small business owners continued to set up shop in the area. Older buildings were replaced with larger brick or stone structures and empty lots continued to disappear. And even before the turn of the 20th century, Lake View acquired a reputation as an entertainment center.
In the World War I era, growth in Lake View continued at a steady pace. Weeghman Park hosted its first professional baseball game in 1914. The Wrigleys bought the team and the venue in 1920 and renamed it Cubs Park. It became Wrigley Field in 1926.
The prosperous 1920s brought a wave of new residents, some of whom built homes on lakefront landfill. Local hotels, theaters, taverns and restaurants expanded with this newly well-to-do population. Although the Depression slowed the pace of development in the entire nation, Lake View held its own in the 1930s.
World War II and the Richard J. Daley Era
The early 1940s brought political divisions to Lake View as residents faced the realities of war. The decade of the 1950s was a quiet period with little growth but no real decay. Many organizations started working to maintain the area and experienced both successes and failures.
By the 1960s, some deterioration became evident as housing stock became less desirable and businesses closed, moved or declined in quality. Mid- and high-rise residences rose east of Broadway and the infamous four-plus-ones replaced many older buildings, forever changing the character of the neighborhood.
The 1970s, an era of profound national change, ushered in another period of growth for Lake View. Activists worked to bring positive development and social change. There were calls for a moratorium on tavern licenses, the end of alleged police harassment and for slowing the loss of low-income housing. Many new faces appeared on the political horizon, bringing change to the status quo.
In 1976, the death of Mayor Richard J. Daley forever changed Chicago’s political landscape. A number of longtime activists passed away during this period, bringing change to the organizations in which they were involved.
A New Daley Emerges
There seemed to be little good news as the 1980s began. A stagnant economy and strikes by the CTA, teachers, and firemen brought tension to the city as a whole. As some business areas in Lake View deteriorated, many well-established businesses closed forever.
However, Lake View had its share of victories in the 80s. Nettelhorst and Agassiz schools, the Town Hall Police station and two fire stations were saved from closing through the hard work of local residents and leading activists. Older buildings were renovated, and new businesses came to the neighborhood. In the residential areas, renovated homes and apartments brought new residents and racial diversity. Civic and business organizations worked hard to revitalize Lake View and to prepare it for the next decade of growth.
Growth and development are the two key words for the 1990s. Both local and national businesses came to the area and property values rose at an accelerating rate. New structures were built on the sites of commercial and residential teardowns. School councils worked to improve education, business chambers developed programs to promote commercial development, and resident associations strove to maintain and improve the quality of life.
The delicate balance among residents, businesses, and the many organizations that serve them continues to be adjusted on an ongoing basis. This is the success that is Lake View.
—Generously provided by 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney and the Community Directed Development Council (CDDC)
