Aerial photos capture history of Jefferson Park on Chicago’s NW Side 

by BRIAN NADIG

Aerial photos of Jefferson Park dating back almost 60 years ago shed light on the area’s history, as the CTA terminal had just opened.

The Northwest Chicago Historical Society recently released a series of photos from 1966 and 1970 which highlight the 4900 block of North Milwaukee Avenue and surrounding area.

The area underwent a transformation from 1966 to 1970, as the Jefferson Park CTA Terminal, 4917 N. Milwaukee Ave., was built in the late 1960s and officially opened to the public in early 1970, according to historical society researcher Frank Suerth.

The terminal included an extension of the Blue Line, which from 1970 to 1983 ended at Jefferson Park. It was then expanded in the 1980s, first to RIver Road and then finally to O’Hare Airport. A proposal to also include a Blue Line station at Nagle never materialized, although a station was constructed about eight blocks away at Harlem.

The opening of the terminal was initially hailed as an opportunity to revitalize Jefferson Park — whose business district was facing increased competition from suburban malls. Years later merchants would complain that commuters usually wanted to just get home quickly and did not take the time to shop or eat at nearby businesses.

It should be noted that other locations were considered for the Jefferson Park terminal, with one of those being at or near the Milwaukee-Foster intersection, according to local historian and author Dan Pogorzelski. The fact that the Metra train station already was near the current terminal site likely played a key role in the final decision, he added.

Much of Jefferson Park today looks similar to 1970, as the general layout and design of the terminal remains the same.

Another constant remains the war memorial, which has stood on a small traffic island at the Milwaukee-Higgins intersection since 1945. Some residents took their oath into the military at the intersection during WWII.

In addition, many of the larger multi-family buildings located across from Jefferson Memorial Park, 4822 N. Long Ave., were built prior to terminal’s construction.

However, perhaps the most noticeable differences are at the Milwaukee-Higgins intersection.
A gas station operated at 4858 N. Milwaukee Ave., where Parkway Bank and Trust now stands, and a Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, 4866 N. Milwaukee Ave., now stands in place of where a car transmission shop once stood.

Also, the 10-story Veterans Square, 4849 N. Milwaukee Ave., is located on several parcels, one of which was once home to the Holiday Ballroom, 4847 N. Milwaukee Ave., where popular bands such as the Buckinghams once played.

The ballroom previously was the Times movie theater, which featured an ornate art-deco facade.
One of the businesses displaced by the CTA terminal — the Gale Street Inn — moved across the street to 4914 N. Milwaukee Ave.

1966 photo above; 1970 photos below

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