Calumet Park Neighborhoods

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Share your 'growing up in Calumet Park' memories.

[anthony soria jr.]

calumet park was the best! too bad nobody lives there anymore.just a fun place to grow up. i only wish my kids could have grown up there!

[Candice (Niemczyk) Zipse]

There are really way too many memories in CP to list just one, but I know I wouldn't have wanted to grow up any place else. I guess to list one memory would be spending the day at the "Bond Pool."

[Paul Wisniewski]

"One Calumet Park'ers Lament" Posted by Paul Wisniewski on July 29, 2008 at 9:00pm

My name is Paul Wisniewski and I grew up in Calumet Park, IL. I lived on 125th and Racine Ave. That's where there are no houses on the other side (east side) of the street. Cedar Park Cemetery was our other side of the street. I was there from 1956 when I was 5 years old and left sometime in 1973. Hadn't been back in many years until recently. Much to my shock and dismay I discovered that Calumet Park was gone. No I don't mean in a physical sense. It's still there physically. I mean it's soul is gone, and most of the people and places that made it such a special place to grow up in.

Raceway Park is gone. Many a night we would be lulled to sleep by the distant roar of the race car engines as they sped around that 1/4 mile oval. And many other nights we would approach adult strangers at the track and ask them if we could pretend to be their kids, because kids got in Raceway Park free with paying adults. Now there are strips malls where the track and parking lot used to be. Do we really need more strip malls ?? What a pity.

The CPRA bond pool is gone. After many years of neglect and abandonment it was finally bulldozed down to make way for retirement housing. Man do I remember how hard so many good people fought to make that pool a reality, including my parents. Steve Horvath was the spearhead of that movement and worked tirelessly to make it happen. All you had to do to become a member was to buy a $100.00 bond. And you know for many people in the village in those days, that was too much money and they couldn't afford it. Today that amount of money seems almost laughable. So many summers we kids would spend at that pool having nothing but good clean fun. It's a shame that the local political leaders couldn't have found a way to have kept that pool for future generations of kids to have good clean fun in. I loved that pool.

Gone also is Irene's food store at the corner of 124th and Racine. A little Mom & Pop store where they had penny candy and you could always get a little credit from them on a handshake. On Wednesdays Ray, Irene's husband, always made fresh Polish sausage. So every Wednesday night at the Wisniewski house we had a fabulous Polish sausage and sauerkraut dinner. All stores of that type are gone forever from Calumet Park.

The Tastee-Freez is gone. That was one of our most popular hangouts. I also received my first kiss in the alley behind it. The Bullard family owned it in the early years and sold it to the Stripens family. Mike Stripens and I were good friends back in the day and he used to give his friends a lot of free ice cream and hamburgers ! I wonder if his Mom ever really knew how much he gave away. How I long for a large chocolate Tastee-Freez milk shake.

Seven Holy Founders is gone. That's where I went to grade school. The buildings are still there but it's not a Catholic grade school anymore. On my recent tour I stopped there with the intent of trying to get in and walk around for a few minutes to conjure up some old memories. It's some sort of middle school now. In order to enter the building I had to pass through a metal detector to get to the administration office. Can you imagine that ! There were security guards and metal detectors in my old grade school. Times surely have changed. And I was told it would be impossible to let me roam around the halls for security reasons. Oh well.

The Miner-Dunn on 124th and Ashland is gone as well. The best hamburgers I've ever had, bar none ! Used to walk there to wait for the bus to Eisenhower and loved to have a cup of coffee and an almond crescent roll with butter. Man, I can smell the coffee as I'm sitting here writing this. My best friend in 7th and 8th grades, John Koch and I used to hang out there. We'd drink Green Rivers and smoke Lucky Strike cigarettes. They never seemed to care that we were only 14 years old.

Stineway's drug store on 127th and Throop has been long gone. Stineway's was a major meeting and congregating place for us kids. There used to be mobs of us hanging out there. I wasn't able to figure out what's there now.

Over the years whenever the subject of where did you grow up came up, I always found it difficult to find the right words to try and describe Calumet Park. It was a universe all and unto itself. That one square mile village of 10,000 people, where you knew or at least knew something about almost everyone. That place where I felt safe, secure, and loved. Where you had such a strong sense of place and purpose. How do you adequately tell strangers about this wonderful place and do it justice ? I wonder if other Cal Park'ers have had the same problem.

So here I am 35 years after I left. 56 years old, divorced after a 30 year marriage with 2 grown children, wondering where all the years have gone. I don't remember my Dad much before he was 45 years old. I do remember him telling me many times the years go by faster as you get older. He sure was 100% correct on that. When I was 15 I didn't think he knew anything and that I had all the answers. Turns out that not only did I not have all the answers, I really didn't even understand most of the questions. It took raising 2 kids of my own and exposure to some of life's ups and hard downs to give me a small measure of perspective. I think that I'm becoming more and more like him every day. I think that's a good thing. The years seem to be just flying by now as I contemplate my own retirement. Ah, the circle of life. Unbelievable !! My Dad and Mom have been gone for many years now. I feel like an orphan sometimes, especially around the holidays. I'm sorry that my own 2 children didn't have a chance to grow up in as wondrous a place as Calumet Park. It truly was special. I wouldn't trade my time growing up in the 60's in Cal Park for any other place or thing. As is my nature, I continue to look forward with an almost childlike exuberance to what the future holds. In my mind I'm still 17 years old and invincible. Unfortunately sometimes my 17 year old mind writes checks my 56 year old body can't cash.

I know that you may have places that were important to you that are gone from there. These are just some of the ones that came immediately to mind as I sat down to write this. And as I've found out the hard way, you really can't go back. So I say to you Calumet Park, you may be gone, but you are certainly not forgotten.

Respectfully,

Paul Wisniewski
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[Candice (Niemczyk) Zipse]

Paul-

Even though I grew up in Calumet Park at very different time than you, you are very correct in your assessments. Unfortunately, my mom still lives there 123rd & Elizabeth and you are right, the soul has been sucked out. For me living there when I thought it was amazing to watching it change and become something different was, and still is, quite a shock. I guess I believe that Calumet Park will always be what I remember it to be, including Raceway Park, the Bond Pool, which we called the Bomb Pool for the longest, and many, many other establishments that are no longer around. I have siblings not much younger than you and they always tell me that Calumet Park was entirely different for them than when I was growing up, but nevertheless it will always hold a large place in my heart. I do believe there is no other place in the world as special as Calumet Park.

I want to thank you for taking me and many others down the road to reflect back on all of the good, okay great, things about Calumet Park.

[Valencia Casillas Alonzo]

Paul ,after reading you response,I could'nt have put it better. You captured the essence of what it was like to grow up in a safe and secure enviroment. The kind where parents did'nt have to worry about their kids playing all day outside. I spent my teen years on 127th and Loomis and went to Seven Holy Founders in the 70's(remember Fr. Mark,Fr.George(the disco priest cause he was such a great dancer),and Fr. Norbert? I have nor regrets growing up in such a nice town and always remember the silly times there with my 4 sisters and friends. I would have to say my fave memories were the fireworks on Fri. nights at Raceway Park,and the Founders Footlites (sometimes I would have to work at it.) I think the song that came to mind when I read your response was "I wanna go back" by Eddie Money. It describes the same feelings about wanting to revisit a past. I think sometime its just best to hold on to those great memories. Thanks for sharing yours, Valencia Casillas Alonzo

[Shelly Lundquist]

Hey Paul -

I just wanted to thank you for reminiscing about Calumet Park also. I lived on 124th Honore St. from 1957 (I was 3) until 1973 when I moved out (but my family was still there for some years). Our next door neighbors on each side of us, are STILL THERE! I know what you all are saying about there's like no life, or spirit, there any more ... it's almost like this 'depressing' feeling ... but I think it's awesome that we're reminiscing about it!

I went to Burr Oak School for grade school, so my memories are, walking to school every day down the tracks (behind the car shop) because they were on an angle and were a lot faster! An AWESOME thing I remember is, when they were building/constructing I-57!!! That was the craziest/most unique thing to watch, every day, walking home from school! Because it use to be this BIG prairie we would cut across to go to school! Sometimes when I picture I-57 now, I just can't believe I lived there BEFORE IT EXISTED!

Yea, we couldn't afford the bond pool, but I played 16' softball through Cal Park Park Dist. for 3 or 4 years that I have the greatest memories of. My coaches were Mr. Zakhar and Mr. Outlette. Both awesome.

I went to Calumet for Jr. High. Those were good times also. Mr. Thomas was the most awesome, funniest teacher ever! (Because teachers were just NOT funny, they were just strict! lol) I'll never forget sock hops ... and Ringo hats (I had a brown corduroy one) .... and granny glasses!!

I remember Founders Footlites, as someone mentioned ... it was so cool how they had a 'show' in each classroom. I'm pretty sure I have some pictures from Founders Footlites somewhere.

I didn't go to S.H. Founders, but I went to the church across the parking lot- Community Covenant Church of Calumet Park! I don't think our church is there any more either.

I remember taking the bus to Roseland to go shopping ... that was BIG time!

Ummm, Dog-in-Suds was the BEST, on 127th and the expressway! (It was a good distance to walk from our neighborhood).

St. Isadore's Carnivals! (you can tell I'm from the east side!) ... my girlfriend and I always did the cha-cha on the band stand!

....and walking over the VIADUCT to go to the Lyric!!

I also remember in 8th grade or so, the guys always use to ride those stingray bikes around like crazy (even around in circles hitting all the sewers at the interesections in our neighborhood). Most of the time there was someone on the handlebars also.


What was the drug store on 127th and Laflin .... maybe Cal Park Drugs? Anyway, my girlfriends family use to live in one of the apartments over the drug store and we use to sun bath on the roof!

... and I just remember hot, hot summer days ... no one had air conditioning ... and we walked EVERYWHERE!! Mainly to just get out of the house! lol

Yea, and good old Friday and Saturday nights with no air conditioning, the windows wide open, trying to catch a breeze, and Raceway Park's old familiar VROOOOM, VROOOOM, VROOOOOM .... I'm sorry, but my memories of that aren't as happy as yours ... it always annoyed me!! lol (It was probably more the heat that aggravated me ... I'm still a cooler weather person to this day!) But I did enjoy going to the races occassionally (then I just couldn't 'hear' for a day or so!) Ah! Good times!

Then when you got your license, you drove up and down Western Ave., turning around (going through) Mcdonald's parking lot to see 'who', if any one, was there! Then we'd keeping going back and forth (south on Western and then back to McDonalds) in case you just missed someone. But now we're talking about Blue Island, so I won't go there! -ha!

Well, that was fun ... but I do have to go! Take care! Bye now!

Shelly Lundquist (now Swanson)

[Shelly Lundquist]

I just wanted to correct myself ... I lived on the WEST side of Calumet Park! lol Wow, it's crazy getting old! ;0)

I also wanted to add on the fact that I LOVED going to the Cal Park library! I'm not sure why, but I just loved that place!!! I was so excited when it opened! I would just go there as long as I could and do homework ... and read Nancy Drew books ... and just hang out! I think I was kind of a nerd! lol Again, it was a nice walking distance from our house. I wonder if it's still there ... probably not.

Halloween was always the best, also, because the houses were so close together, that you could cover a LOT of ground in a short period of time! We would have to drop our candy off back at home, and go out again, when it got too heavy! ... and we didn't have to 'check' anything ... we actually ate it while we were running around- for more energy- you know! ;) That's all for now!

Shelly =D

[Steve Coon]

Hey gang,
This is great to talk about Cal Pk. I couldn't agree with you all more on what a special place this was to grow up. We lived on 126th & Throop, basically across the street from Stineway's. Don't forget Chicken Unlimited, and the slot race track, the pool hall, and personally I remember the archery range, Dog & Suds, and Page's Motor Sales...where I worked for some 8 or more years all the way through High School. Before that Jr. Bramlett had the motor cycle rental place there as well. That's the first "job" I ever had aside from a paper route at age 9! At first I got to wash them(motorcycles), then gradually I was able to work on the 80cc Suzuki's, and finally at the age of 10-11, I was teaching people how to ride. I'll never forget on early Saturday mornings when JR would take us out riding along the Cal-Sag canal...what a blast that was! My mom work for Dr. Fritus(sp) for years which was right across the street from Page's. We went to Community Cov. Church, where my family and I all sang in the choir. The director, Ray Fairbanks, took four of us out of he 100 kid youth choir back then, and made a quartet out of us called the Candy Shop Four. We sang together for some 5 years, doing shows and raising money for the church. We sang on the "Lee Philips Show", remember that one, and also the Steve Allen Show...now that was big time. Here's the names of the members. Steve Fairbanks, me Steve Coon, Keith Hillegonds, and Gary Spade. Since then, I am a nearly a 40 year member of the Barbershop Harmony Society, and have been in the top 20 in the world twice, and still singing today, finishing 3rd in January in "seniors" quartet competition in Pasadena California. Do you think that planted some core values?

Calumet Park, what a great place to grow up! I lost my dad shortly after they moved from CP to Mokena. But as luck and life would have it and because of the close community CP was, my mom married Ron Metros. All of us kids went to school together, and we all remain very close to this day. Cal Pk. did that. My best friend through those growing up years was Mike Hagstrom. While we don't get to talk much these days, we had a special bond. My brother, Jon, who lives near me here in Texas, is my best friend. I married a CP girl Donna Zint, who has unfortunately left this crazy world, but I talk with her sister Jan a couple times a year, and more impressively Donna's two daughters from her second marriage. They are quite special. I re-married a short time ago (6 going on 7 years now), to a CP gal after we attend our _ _ th reunion in Blue Island (she'd kill me for saying), and we're very very happy, Donna Godbout is her name. Her dad owned and ran the Gulf gas station in CP, and her mom work at the dry cleaners across from Page's on Bishop.

Raceway was a huge part of our lives. My brother Jon and I raced some...Jon was serious and good, while I think I ran more of the demolition derby's, but when I think about the track, there was that "smell" in the air the whole time we were growing up. How great was that! I ran one of the tow trucks for both Page and Jr. Bramlett during those days. Dang that was a fun time!

The pool, who could forget. We were fortunate enough to belong. Great memories there for sure.

Not to long ago...the year we got married, I went to CP to reconnect for some personal reasons. APPs(sp) Tap on Racine was one of the places I landed, much by chance. If you're ever in the area during football season, go there on Sunday afternoon. Many of the locals from the past still go there to watch "Da Bears"! Drafts were either $.25 or $.50 each...meaning you could effectively drink beer during the game, buy rounds, and your tab was under $10 when you walked out the door! Can you say wow?

A few years ago, I remember talking about a Calumet Park Reunion. Just a blowout for those of us who grew up there, our families, etc. during the 1950's through the 1980's especially. How much fun would that be! Everyone getting together to share these unforgetable stories together, for our legacy and family of today. I think it's a brilliant idea. Any takers out there? The current CP just doesn't know what it's missing. We call it dead, and that's too bad. Nobody but nobody can take our memories away from those days gone by, it lives within each of us. Let's get together and re-live some of those days, share these stories with our family and friends once again...even if it's for only a short time, maybe a weekend. Can we do it while the weathers warm...please? Ha. that's pretty funny.

Thanks for remembering our classic one of a kind home town. Who could ever forget such a special place.

Steve Coon

[Sheri M. Carbone (Tediski)]

This has been great to hear what everyone has to say about Cal. Pk. I graduated Eisenhower in 1974. I had a brother Al who graduated in 1969 and a sister Joy who graduated in 1972, and 3 other sisters (Alonna, Dee and Gail) who went to Eisenhower but never graduated.
I lived next door to Donna Godbout. Our parents were best of friends, so much so that after my father passed away in 1969 (just before my 8th grade graduation), her father went with my mom. Tell her Sheri Tediski say's HI!
I remember walking to the pool everymorning and swimming until they would close for
the dinner break and comming back and swimming until the closed in the evening.
I remember walking to the corner candy store with the penny candy at 123rd and Racine.
I remember listening to Raceway out my bedroom window at night, and Harvester just a few blocks away at night (this is probably why I can sleep so good, growing up around all that noise).
My father use to take some of the kids on the block to the park to play, and on our way home he would stop at Stineway's and get us half a popsicle (back when you could get half a popsicle). My mom Shirley, my sisters Dee and Gail all worked at Stineway's at one time or another. I worked at the Schmidt's pharmacy across the street in 1974 or 1975.

[Ruthann (Todhunter) Graczyk]

Hi, Steve,

Don't know if you will remember me, but I remember you. My grandparents owned the corner grocery store at 124th and Carpenter and my parents bought the store and moved us from Roseland to Cal Park in September, 1968. My grandmother introduced me to Dorie Hufnagal, who was friends with Donna Zint, and they took me under their wings to help acquaint me with Eisenhower and the kids at the school. You were dating Donna at that time and I remember you would stop and pick her up for school before the bus arrived in the morning on occasion.

I also worked at the Dog N'Suds at 127th and the expressway when I was 16. My aunt was a manger and my cousin, Mary Ellen Pelz (now Beecher) also worked there too. I believe my cousin Jeffrey Pelz graduated the same year as you. They lived on 126th and Paulina.

When I was 20 (1973), I dated a guy named Russell Olson who drove a tow truck for Jr. Bramlett and J&R Towing. He also worked at Raceway Park on race nights doing the towing for Jr. In fact, Jr. and his wife bought the house next to mine on Carpenter. It was a tiny little house that sat on a small parcel of land that had been owned by Mr. and Mrs. Kogut. Jr.'s wife used to sunbathe in her bikini in their backyard and it drove my father crazy because he felt like he couldn't let our dog out or tend his garden because he didn't want her to think he was looking at her.

Although I didn't officially grow up in Calumet Park, I felt very much at home there. I graduated from Eisenhower in 1971 and I still communicate with my friends from that neighborhood. My father passed away in our house in Cal Park in 1982 and not long after my mom sold the house. I've never missed an Eisenhower reunion for the Class of 1971 yet.

Just so everyone knows, there was a Calumet Park Reunion in 2006 and you can see the pictures at www.calumettownship.org and then click on Calumet Park Reunion Photos. My cousin, Mary Ellen Pelz (Beecher), her daughter, her friend, Marsha Wicherek (Murtaugh), my daughter and I were in attendance. It was a great get-together and many, many people were there, but I guess it was a lot of work for Mr. Martino and there hasn't been another reunion like that since.

When I read all the information everyone wrote on this forum, I called my cousin to tell her to read what everyone had written. She remembers the bar on Racine as Meek's not Abt's and said that some of the Legion members still meet there. She said that she thought Abt's Tap was on 127th between Justine and Ashland. Anyone else have any information about where Abt's Tap is located?

You said that you are married to Donna Godbout and that name really sounds familiar to me. I don't know if I knew her from the neighborhood, school, or working at Dog N'Suds, or what, but it's really got me thinking. Maybe she will remember where she knew me from and we can solve the mystery.

Thanks so much for the trip down memory lane, it made my day!

Ruthann (Todhunter) Graczyk