Sunday, June 12, 2016

Chicago, IL: Expressway was moved to save St. Stanislaus Kostka

Glen Miller posted from Hemmings
Looking at the Northwest Expressway in Chicago, circa 1961.
The building abutting the expressway on far right is St Stanislaus, a Church that was spared from demolition, moving the highway a 1/4 mile or so, hence the curve. The church was slated to be demolished to construct the now- named Kennedy Expressway, but thanks to intense efforts by Chicago Polonia in the late 1950s, the planned right-of-way was shifted east making demolition unnecessary.
St. Stanislaus Kostka is Chicago's oldest Polish Roman Catholic Parish. It was founded in 1867. (spuscizna)

The first of many photos on Google, including interior shots. (Note the arrows near the lower-right corner.)

The above picture shows the water tower has been removed from the background building on the right, but it appears that two gasometers still exist in 1961.

1992 Photo by Robert Cameron
[The building south of the church is their school.]

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