Other Chicago observations...
LAZ and Everyone: I want to mention other things I recall about the SE side area mentioned-the racial "Dividing Line"
of East 61st Street between the Hyde Park/U of C and Woodlawn neighborhoods:
The Woodlawn neighborhood was the home turf of one of Chicago's most notorious street gangs: The Black P. Stones
(also known as the Blackstone Rangers and El Rukn over time) and this area was known as one of Chicago's toughest
neighborhoods and also one that was hostile to Whites particularly in the 70s era...My Uncle knew of their presence working for the CTA and I remember him telling me "That's Blackstone Rangers territory"...
Wikipedia has some information about this gang here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_P_Stones
and some about the influence they had in the Woodlawn neighborhood...
Again it always amazed me how stark the contrast that "Boundary Line" was and I remember well being shown around the Hyde Park neighborhood and some of my best memories include being shown the Midway Plaisance (a neat drive in the HP area)
and arguably my favorite Chicago attraction nearby: The Museum of Science and Industry. (Info:
www.MSIChicago.org )
I made it a point to try to visit the M of S&I yearly and in the 80s on back it was free admission with charges for certain attractions like the U-505 German Submarine and the Coal Mine...
Another link to mention-METRA Commuter Rail information -
www.metrarail.com/
Look under METRA Electric for schedule information...also the South Shore (CSS&SBRR) trains serving NW Indiana stop at the
55/56/57th Street Station serving the M of S&I and Hyde Park...For SS Rail info:
www.nictd.com - the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.
LAZ: You are right about South Side L lines like the Kenwood and Stock Yards routes-Both these South Side lines were
abandoned in 1957 by the CTA...
Memories and observations by Long Island Mike