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222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza
Chicago, IL, 60654
312-380-9883
Chicago's honorary brown street signs, days, and commemorative honors; the who, what, where, when and why. Honorary Chicago guide book, maps, biographies, history, trivia, tours, and gifts.
Filtering by Tag: 2016
Ward: 28
Alderman: Ervin
Neighborhood: West Garfield Park
Near
Evangelistic Outreach Deliverance Ministry
4300 W. Madison Street
Ward: 30
Alderman: Reboyas
Neighborhood: Belmont Cragin
Walt Disney, and his brother Roy, were born in Chicago in a house built by their parents. Their father, Elias, was a carpenter. He built the family house, he also worked on the 1893 World Fair in Chicago and he told his children stories about the Fair.
Disney is best known for his animated films and theme parks. As an individual Walt won 22 Oscars and was nominated for an Academy award 59 times. He also won 2 Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy.
Born in Chicago: Walt, 1901; Roy, 1893
Alumni
McKinley High School. Chicago
predecessor to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
WWI Red Cross Ambulance Driver
Ward: 35
Alderman: Ramirez-Rosa
Neighborhood: Hermosa
Walt Disney’s Birthplace
2156 N. Tripp Avenue
Walter Elias Disney
b. December 5, 1901. Chicago
d. December 15, 1966. Age 65. Los Angeles, California
Photo credits: Kari Carbone karicarbone.com
Walt Disney Birthplace and Facebook page and Wikipedia and IMDB
A Cinderella story for Walt Disney's childhood home - Chicago Tribune
Terrence Collier Way - by request from a fan
"Would you be so kind as to tell me where Terrance Callier way is.
I'm a British expat, now living in Chicago, and Terry Callier' s music was very important to me growing up."
Yes, we take requests! - contact us
Terrence Collier was a musician and vocalist who used his voice as an instrument. His distinctive style and arrangement was an eclectic blend of Folk, Soul, Jazz, and African music.
For much of his life Terrence was more influential than he was famous. His career began early; in high school he recorded with Chess Records. He released albums between 1968 and 1978 on labels such as Electra and Cadet. He also wrote songs and arranged music.
In the years before his 1998 comeback with the album "TimePeace," he trained and worked as a computer programmer. In his late 50s he was able to quit his day job and return to his dream job - performing his music.
Terrence was born in Chicago and lived in the Cabrini-Green housing projects. He learned and practiced music in the local Chicago park field house. He was contemporaries with Curtis Mayfield and many other talented Cabrini alumni. Terrence said this of his early experience and musical influence:
On any summer night you could walk by [the field house] and hear fantastic music – these guys could blow, and there were girl groups that sounded like angels... I learned early on to listen to everything – classical music and ethnic music from Africa and Middle East, and it all comes out in your work.
Listen to Terry Collier on YouTube
Northwest corner of Sedgwick Street and Elm Street, cul-du-sac of Elm Street just west of pedestrian walkway at Seward Park near field house where Terrence played.
Approved: October 2016
Ward: 27
Alderman: Burnett
Neighborhood: Cabrini/Seward Park
Dedicated: June 16, 2017
May 24, 1945 - October 27, 2012
Crane High School
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Chicago Tribune, Terry Callier: Farewell to a distinctive Chicago voice, October 30, 2012
New York Times
Kartemquin is a documentary film production house started in Chicago in 1966 with their first production "Home for Life."
The honorary sign was dedicated to mark the 50th anniversary of the company and the remarkable body of work KTQ has produced.
The name KARTEMQUIN is a combination of the last names of the three founders: Stan Karter, Jerry Temaner and Gordon Quinn; and a play on the name of a 1925 film "The Battleship Potemkin."
"Democracy through Documentary"
Sign Approved: 2016
Ward: 32
Alderman: Waguespack
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Kartemquin Films IMDB
Sister Barbara Jean Ciszek was the Founder and Principal of the Montessori School at the Cardinal Bernadin Early Childhood Center, St. Boneventure Campus. She was a member of the American Montessori Society and an expert in language and aesthetic development.
The Montessori method of education was founded in 1906 by Maria Montessori, an Italian physican and specialist in early childhood development.
Bee Jay, was called clearly and early to both teaching and religious life. She declared her intention to teach at age 5. She took her vows as a Catholic nun at age 19. Toward the end of her career she was called to Africa and made several visits to Nigeria. At the time of her death a school was being built in Nigeria in her honor.
She was a member of the Congregation St. Joseph LaGrange.
Approved: 2016
Neighbohood: Lakeview
Sister Barbara Jean Ciszek 1946-2015, age 68
Kasia's Deli is famous for Pierogis in Chicago's Polish Community and throughout the City. Kazimiera Bober opened the deli in 1982 and started making pieogis a few years after she emigrated from Poland to the United States. Pierogi machines were nowhere to be found so she adapted a ravioli maker to fill the dough; she finished individual pierogis by hand. The deli flourished and had a hearty following. After 20 years in business she expanded production and started to sell Kasia's Pierogis in grocery stores. Kasia's Pierogis won the coveted "Best Pierogi in Chicago" award at the "Taste of Chicago" summer food festival. Soon she was featured in Newsweek Magazine and her pierogis were served on United Airline flights.
She was very poor when she arrived in Chicago in 1975 and struggled to get by. She started the deli in an old sausage shop to make enough money to bring her children to the United States.
Kasia lived to 80 years of age and realized the dream of the deli and succeeded in bringing her family from Poland. Her children and grandchildren worked by her side up to her last days. Kasia was a grandmother to the entire Polish community of Chicago. The Bober family continues to run the deli and pierogi factory.
Sign Approved: 2016
Ward: 1
Alderman: Moreno
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village
Pierogis
An Eastern European dish often associated with Poland. Pierogis are dough dumplings and are typically filled with potato, sauerkraut, plum, or meat.
Photo: CC-BY-SA 2.5 User:Piotrus
Chicago has one of the largest Polish communities outside Poland
The Taste of Chicago is the world's largest food festival, it showcases Chicago food and restaurants.
How many honorary signs were dedicated in Chicago in 2016? This infographic shows you.
Read MoreArthur Bryan III was the long time owner of the Red Head Piano Bar. Surprise guest pianists included: Billy Joel, Seth MacFarlane, and Dennis Quaid.
Read MoreWhat a better way to celebrate veterans than to feature the honorary sign dedicated this year to Ukrainian American Veterans. The Chicago organization of the UAV Post 32 hosted the 69th UAV National Convention in Chicago this year.
RT @UkChicago Ukrainian American Veterans at the #MemorialDay Parade #Chicago
— Vasyl Pawlowsky (@uamuzik) May 25, 2015
video: pic.twitter.com/mYuQtfvTDy http://t.co/f5rr5LxnFV
The national Ukrainian American Veterans organization began in 1948 by veterans of WWI and WWII. It's membership includes honorably discharged American veterans of Ukrainian descent. In 1998 it launched the UAV Registration Project, which aims to collect the names of Ukrainian Americans who served in the US Armed Forces. Volume one contains more than 3,000 names and stories.
The many Ukrainian immigrants from the 1880s settled in the Chicago neighborhood which came to be known as Ukrainian Village.
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Honorary Chicago has made a similar goal. Since 2014 we have mapped the Chicago honorary street signs which are dedicated to veterans. This Veterans Day marks the 3rd anniversary of the Honorary Chicago Veterans Map, which is an ongoing effort.
Victor Cacciatore, Chicago-born businessman and local philanthropist. Honorary Victor J. Cacciatore, Sr. Way dedicated in 2016 in the South Loop neighborhood.
Read MoreSam was a football coach at Lane Tech Highschool.
Read More100th Anniversary St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish
Read MoreSokoni Karanja means “A person from across the sea with knowledge” in Swahili. He founded the Centers for New Horizons in Chicago, a social service in the Bronzeville neighborhood to restore it as self-sufficient community with pride in its African and Black American history. He was inspired by Malcolm X, Julius Nyere, and the Black Metropolis of the 1920s. In the early 1970s he lived in and traveled around Tanzania building communities and schools. He was the Assistant Dean of Students at Brandeis University. He has been recognized as an expert in childhood and community development.
MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant
University of Chicago, Adlai Stevenson Fellow
Goldin Institute, Chicago Peace Fellow, Washington Park
Alumni:
Brandeis University, Urban Policy, PhD
University of Cincinnati, Master of Community Planning
Atlanta University, Master of Social Work
University of Denver, Master of Psychology
Washburn University
Ft. Scott Junior College
Topeka High School
Approved: October 2016
Ward: 3
Alderman: Dowell
Neighborhood: Bronzeville
b. 1940 Lathan Johnson. Topeka, Kansas
Honorary street sign for Dr. Sokoni T. Karanja founder-Centers for New Horizons social service agency in Bronzeville pic.twitter.com/G5ZT5kV04A
— Alderman Pat Dowell (@AldPatDowell3rd) October 31, 2016
Bernie Wong, founder of the Chinese American Service League, CASL. Honorary Bernarda "Bernie" Wong Way was dedicated in the Chinatown neighborhood in 2016.
Read MoreDaniel Capuano was a fireman who died in the line of duty.
Read MoreRichard Cotovsky was the founder and Artistic Director of the Mary-Arrchie Theater Company, established 1986, a Chicago storefront theater in the Uptown neighborhood.
Read More