Chicago Beaches Development

INTRODUCTION

In 1894 Chicago’s first public beach opened in Hyde Park at Windsor Park. It was called Manhattan Beach (later Rainbow Beach). This beach was a resort owned by hotels, clubs and other private enterprises, and typically frequented by wealthy, upper-class residents. Chicago’s first municipal beaches opened beginning in 1909.

Chicago Tribune, August 4, 1895

If you would view fair Melrose aright you must visit it by the pale moonlight,” and it was a Hyde Park High School girl that said, “Just like Chicago’s Manhattan Beach.” Her brother, who was younger but knew more and was moreover of the world worldly, gave voice to the samo general sentiment but from a different point of view, when he followed up his sister’s poetical effusion by quaintly remarking, “Say, If you want to see Manhattan when she’s ripe, dead ripe, go out Sunday afternoon when the gang’s there.”

A visit to the beach any Sunday afternoon during summer would prove that the small boy was right. While a great many visit Manhattan Beach through the week it is Sunday that the opportunity is given to the toilers in the city to get away from the heat and hurry and for a few brief, happy hours revel in the many delights at the beach. The different means of getting out to Manhattan are all equally patronized, people going by rail, street cars, boat, carriage and bicycle, and some few of the Weary Wraggles order wander in through the day on foot. The beach presents an enlivening appearance all day Sunday, a fair sprinkling of pleasure seekers coming out in the morning, but it is in the afternoon about 3 o’clock that the biggest crowd is there and the narrow walks and piers are jammed with people.

It is Chicago’s only open-air bathing resort where large numbers can be accommodated, and the thousands who do not leave town for the season appreciate that fact, While there are amusements and games without number it is the swimmers bobbing up and down in the water that form the center of attraction. The lake at times is fairly alive with the bathers in every variety of bathing suits dyed in every shade of gorgeousness. The bathers splash water on each other with childish glee and boys of ten and men of forty vie with each other in feats of swimming, diving, and riding rafts. At one place on the beach is a toboggan slide where the more daring can “shoot the chutes” without fear of getting wet, for that is the grand object of all these sports and the more complete the ducking the more popular the sport. Two or three sit on a toboggan, and pushing off whirl down the incline, and striking up a cloud of spray skim along the surface of the water for a few feet and then sink like a stone. Then there’s a trolley wire stretching from a high platform to a post driven out in the lake. The bather grasps the trolley with both hands and after attracting enough of an audience to insure plenty of oh’s and ah’s launches off, whizzes down the wire, and concludes the “wild flight through space” by dropping into the water just before the end of the wire is reached.

But Lake Michigan is never too warm even on the hottest days, and after fifteen or twenty minutes in the water the beach becomes more popular than the water and the bathers roll and tumble in the dry, hot sand almost as much as they do in the water. They obligingly take turns in burying each other in the sand. and sometimes with such a hearty good will that the person under the sand must stay there until articles of capitulation in the shape of cigars or ice cream must be agreed to before the buried one is exhumed. It is rather a startling sight to the stranger to look down the beach and see nothing but a row of human heads, but the sandy mounds betray the fact that a body is connected very closely with each one and the alarm vanishes.

Seldom is there an accident. The beach slopes gently under the water and life lines and rafts are abundant. Two sunburned add rugged sailors in a life. boat skim back and forth, too, over the water, and the first cry for help would bring them to the rescue.

There’s never any lack of melody at the beach. At 3 o’clock a military band made up entirely, according to the uniforms, of Major-Generals and Rear-Admirals, begins the proud but somewhat familiar strains of the “Gladiator’s March.” This seeing to breed musical contagion. An orchestra on a steam-boat begins repairs on “The Sidewalks of New York.” A piano sends forth the most difficult Wagnerian airs, produced by an Italian master who plays with main strength and by means of a crank.

But over it all can be distinctly heard the voices of two colored singers as they sternly command somebody at Mackinac Islands or the Sault Ste. Marie to “stick to the boats, lads. You save your lives,” and going on to relate how it was that they had no one to love them while the Sault Ste. Marie parties “had children and wives.” and winding up with the piteous declaration that they would go down in the sounding sea with the ship they loved. And then they end their troubles by silently going down to the bottom of large bumpers of beer while a small man, who is not liable to die of consumption for many years, continues to keep the Sault Ste. Marie parties from getting lonesome by calling their attention to the superior brand of clam chowder, which is the only real chowder made from real clame to be found on the beach, as everybody who is not himself a clam can discover.

Every day is washday at Manhattan. From the top of every bath-house floats a long string of bathing suits, which are jealously guarded by a lynx-eyed attendant, who discourages with a club any sinister designs that depraved individuals may have upon the treasures of the clothesline.

The sand is a very noticeable characteristic of Manhattan. it sifts and blows everywhere. Men with big shovels work like the janitor of a flat in January. But that does not prevent the wind from blowing where it listeth and the sand from getting in its fine work. It covers a walk to a bath-house and a “dark-complexioned” individual with two shovels and a broom comes to the rescue. He looks reproachfully at the sand. It only gets deeper. He shakes the shovel at it ominously. In vain. Then the man gets angry. He shakes both shovels and throws the broom at the deepening sandy tide and then, satisfied that at least he has done his duty, he retreats to the more pleasing duty of washing pop bottles and drinking all the pop in the cracked ones. And there are many cracked ones.

A man can get much hungrier and drier at Manhattan Beach than at any fifteen places in half of Kansas, and the seductive clam chowder is deservedly popular but has a dangerous rival in the toothsome but more plebeian wiener wurst which dangles in weird and impressive festoons around lunch counters as numberless as the empty pop bottles that grace the back doors. For the drinks of Manhattan are strietly soft and only the gentle, confiding gurgle of ginger beer and the soft “tup” of the red, white, and brown pop as the bottles are deftly opened disturb the serenity of the occasion.

The crowd throngs back and forth, up and down Manhattan’s one principal street. All jostle and are jostled. They laugh and giggle and flirt and talk politics. The sand gets in their shoes, which is considered excessively amusing. It gets in the hair and on their clothing. It gets in the hair and on the clothes, but nobody cares at Manhattan. They get muggy photographs by dropping a penny in the slot and consider them perfect. They listen to various fortune tellers descanting of their checkered pasts, their brilliant futures, and the dark woman with a vast fortune who will cross their paths and make them trouble. They go down to the beach and marvel at the different brands of water Lake Michigan is capable of producing in the limited space of a quarter of a mile. That there isa big difference is only too plainly shown by the signs of bath-houses standing side by side, one of which says in big letters, “This is not sewer water,” and the others which reply to the low flung insinuation by declaring. “No bilge water here,” and “This is pure lake water,” and so on, when everybody with half an eye can see that there is not as much difference between Lake Michigan at Seventy-first street and Lake Michigan at Seventy-third street as there was said to be formerly existing twixt tweedledum and tweedledee.

And as the daylight fades and the first pale rays of the moon are reflected in the deep bosom of the lake the crowd dwindles away. The pale, sad-faced little woman with five children, the man who works in a down-town store and the girl who sells calico in a department store, the man from the office and the boy who runs the elevator, the cashier from the bank and the laborer who works for $1.50 a day, tired, sunburned, and happy, have all turned their faces back again to where the eity lights are beginning to twinkle in the gloom, and a Sunday at Manhattan Beach is ended.

Inter Ocean, August 18, 1895

The average business man in Chieago has very little time for recreation. The drive of the business world keeps him at his store, office, of factory from morning till night, year in and year out, and evenings and Sundays are bis only days of pleasure seeking. There are those who break away from business cares and seek the salubrious climes of the summer resorts for a few weeks during the hot months, but this class even frequently do so at a great detriment to their commercial interests. Such conditions are bringing into requisition the manifold natural advantages of the resort features adjacent to Chicago, and as a result Windsor Beach is this season enjoying more liberal patronage and the facilities for bathing are being increased in a most elaborate style. Windsor Beach and Manhattan Beach may well be termed the Coney Island of Chicago. Here within a few minutes’ ride by the Illinois Central, South Side Elevated Road, and electric lines the dust and condensed heat of the downtown districts may be left and the soothing. health-giving breeze from Lake Michigan, with all the attractions of the seaside secured, and at a nominal expense. There are hotels for those who desire to live there for a period where the busy man may take his family, attend to business in the city during the day, and recuperate his lost energy at night, enjoying the resort advantages. A large number of very conveniently arranged and properly conducted pavilions have been erected, and there are clam bakes, water toboggans, merry-go-rounds, trolleys, In fact all the amusement inducements to be found at pleasure points through the country. The nucleus of Manhattan Beach is the Manhattan Beach Hotel.

This building was erected as a Christian Endeavor hostelry for the World’s Fair. Last year it was started as a resort hotel and attracted quite a number of season guests as well as being the visiting point for thousands of people who went simply for an outing. The success of the venture consequently encouraged others to take up the investment in other ways and the result is the present desirable representation of interests devoted to pleasure and health. The hotel is one of the largest summer hotels in the West. It has 450 outside rooms, nearly all of which overlook Lake Michigan. The ventilation is good and as a family resort it is ideally constructed, with a lurge shady court band pavilion on the lake side. Mr. F. J. Hefling is the proprietor.-

Rockaway Beach Bathing.
Beginning at the northern end of the beach. Seventy-Fourth street and Lake avenue, can be found the Rockaway Beach Bathing Resort. The pier of the pavilion extends 500 feet into the lake, and there the steamer John A. Dix lands its passengers. It is under the personal management of the well-known alderman, Thomas H. Currier, and M. J. La Bounty, a prominent contractor. Here patrons will be sure to find all the facilities for fine bathing. The inner man is catered to by Charles W. Baldwin, whose pavilion is located on the west end, and a fine bill of fare can always be had. His excellent coffee is particularly refreshing after bathing. One door west is Cape May. under the management of Louis Marceau, where good accommodations are provided.

Across the street from the Rockaway is Coleman’s Natatorium. This is the frequented rendezvous for private parties from the city, who come out to indulge in a refreshing bath where speclal service is rendered by Host Coleman and Mrs. Coleman. The provisions for the Indies here are very attractive. being under the personal supervision of Mrs. Coleman.

Next to Coleman’s is the Cottage Bathing Beach, conducted by Peter McEwan. There is a space of 200 feet provided here especially for families and private parties. Spacious rooms and a handsome parlor are the features that attract the people here. Further up the beach, between Seventy-Sixth and Seventy-Seventh streets, he has another bathing pavilion. A toboggan and other attractions are provided.

Windsor Park Pavilion.
The Windsor. Park Bathing Company’s establishment at the foot of Seventy-Fifth street is one of the best appointed to be found at any resort in America. In fitting up this place the proprietors, Messrs. A. J. Toolen, ex-bullding commissioner: Ben Hallet, Oscar Schmidt, and others have spared no expense to make this a desirable place for batbers. Several specialties are offered in the amusement line, such as high diving from the top of an eighty-foot derrick and expert swimming. The electric cars run directly to the pavilion, and the steamers Gordon and Cyclone land at their pier from Van Buren street.

Manhattan Beach Bathing.
At Seventy-Fifth street and Lake avenue has Just been opened the Manhattan Beach Bathing Pavilion. It la to the right band as passengers alight from the electrie ears. The pavilion is said to be the best built pavilion on the beach. Everything here in new. New suits, new ideas, such as special dressing-rooms, for ladies to dry their hair atter bathing, Dancing every evening. with re-freshments, will be on the programme. The pavilion is tendered free every day, except Saturday and Sunday, to mothers with sick children. The pavilion is under the personal management of Professor Albert, of World’s Fair renown, and J. Y. Clark.

A Clam Bake.
An old-fashioned New England clambake can be secured every Saturday and Sunday with an elaborate bill of fare at Rodley’s, Seventy-Fifth, street and the lake. The personal attention of W. W. Rodley, the caterer, at No, 3110 Indiana avenue, is given to all the service. Private orders may be had any day.

One-half block south from Seventy-Fifth street is the Far Rockaway, under the management of A. J. Giltman. In his spacious pavilion lovers of fresh and salt sea food are wont to linger and enjoy these delicacies after a plunge in the lake. Especial attention is given to parties wishing the most popular of seaside summer resort dishes, a clambake. Soft drinks, cigars, etc., can also be found here. Mr. Giltman has achieved quite a reputation for the Far Rockaway, and is very proud of his success.

At the foot of Seventy-Sixth street is the Windsor Park Natatorium, which extends several hundred feet into the lake. It is presided over by George Nicholls, the pioneer of bathing at this beautiful resort. Mr. Nicholls started with his small six-stall pavilion, which he built for the use of himself and friends in 1890. Since then he has twice been obliged to improve, until now he has accommodation for nearly 400 people. The ladies’ apartments are especially nice, and under the direct supervision of Mrs. Nicholls and two lady assistants. People can go at will either to the right or left of this pavilion and find
a beautiful sand beach, where all the latest contrivances for pleasure making, such as spring boards, rafts. swings, and other amusements are provided for the benefit of bathers. The steamer Chief Justice Waite lands at this pier, and crowds visit this pavilion daily.

Corner Seventy-Sixth and Lake avenue stands the Manhattan Beach Pavilion, W. H. Ford & Co.; proprietors, where summer amusements are given, such as dancing and music. Free dancing every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday is provided, and at the lunch counter, which is run by N. E. Perry. the renowned Fulton Market clam chowder is served.

The proprietor of the Windsor Beach Toboggan Company is Jordan, an early comer to the beach. He has a stock of interesting details of resort life that would make a funny book. He is ingenious in devising means of enjoyment for his patrons and has a very popular bathing spot. One of his introductions is a shower bath for ladies and gentlemen, which may be used both before and after a plunge into the lake. He also has something original in suits for bathers that goes to make his place patronized. In connection with the bathing pavilion he runs a restaurant and refreshment stand. The business is on the increase, and be is very enthusiastic over the future success of Manhattan and Windsor Beach as a resort.

Across the beach from Jordan’s is the watermelon patch. This is liberally patronized. The pavilion is built directly over the lake, and clam chowder and other refreshments were served here to throngs of people dally.

Everybody who visited The Fair remembers Old Vienna and Professor Nootbar, who now is proprietor of a large bathing pavilion between Seventy-Sixth and Seventy-Seventh streets. The pavilion is so constructed as to afford a fine view of the bathers from the Inside, and has many popular features.

After leaving the beach and coming down Seventy-Fifth street toward the Illinois Central station, the Sylvan is located at No 97-99 Seventy-Fifth street. This is a delightful pavilion, fitted up with handsome interior woodwork, and quarter-sawed oak furniture, and easy wicker rockers. Soft drinks of all kinds, ice cream, lunches, and cigars are sold here. Tables are reserved for ladies.

How to Get There.
A popular way to get to Windsor Beach is by the Alley L to Stony Island avenue. This road is thoroughly equipped for handling crowds and is a perfect elevated road- from every standpoint. The elevated cars are always cool, and afford a fine view of the most desirable portion of Chicago. After arriving at Stony Island avenue on the elevated for a 5-cent fare, then take the Windsor Park electric line.

Electric Car Servies.
The excellent transportation service offered by the electric cars of the South Chicago City Railway Company, from Sixty-Fourth street to Windsor Park, is worthy of special mention. These cars run at frequent intervals during the day and night up to 12 o’clock. connecting with the elevated trains. The company erected several commodious, handsomely finished cars for this line and it may safely be said that no system in the world is any better equipped nor is more satisfactory in service than the company is giving its patrons. The run from Sixty-Fourth street to Windsor Beach is made in lifteen minutes and the fare is only 5 cents.

A Ride on the Water.
Another delightful way to reach Windsor Beach is by boat. From the foot of Van Buren street visitors may take the steamers Macatawa, Cyclone, Leslie, Clara Bell, Viola. These boats are run by the Windsor Park Steamboat Line and are well conducted, safe, and reliable means of transportation to and from Windsor Beach. These boats leave Van Buren street every hour during the day and evening, from 11 a. m. This line of boats is well patronized and every attention is given to patrons by Captain Napler, the commander of the fleet.

Chicago Tribune, September 1, 1895

Train Service to Manhattan Beach.
Trains will leave for Manhattan Beach, Windsor Park Station, via the Illinois Central railroad, as follows:

Saturday, Aug. 31, leave Randolph street, 1:00 p. m., express; 1:40, local; 2:00, express: 2:40, local; 3:00 p. m., express. Leave Windsor Park for the city: 5:10 p. m. (5:34 p. m. express), 6:10 (6:34 p.m express), 7:06 p. m., 7:36, 8:21: 9:21: 10:21, 11:21 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1, leave Randolph street, 12:45 p.m.. 1:00, 1:45, 2:00, 2:45, 3:00. 4:00 p.m. Leave Windsor Park, 5:10 p. m. 5:30. 5:45, 6:10. 8:30, 8:45, 7:10, 7:36. 8:21, 9:21, 11:21 p.m. Local trains leave Van Buren street three minutes later: express trains two minutes later thau departure from Randoiph street. Fare to Windsor Park and return, 25 cents.

Chicago Chronicle, August 20, 1895

George Nichol’s Beach.

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Joint Preliminary Report of the Committee on Bathing Beaches and Recreation Piers and the Lake Shore Reclamation Commission to Mayor Busse and the City Council, December 1910

COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS
In the presentation of a plan for the establishment of bathing beaches and recreation piers, it is to be understood that the same is necessarily more or less tentative. The proposition is one that can not be worked out upon any fixed basis at this time. Yet it is a decided advantage that at least the general outline of the scheme should be well understood and determined as something to which we can hope to attain. The committee recommends the adoption of a plan which contemplates the establishment eventually of not less than seven municipal bathing beaches to be established substantially as follows:

1. Montrose avenue.

2. Diversey boulevard.

3. Ohio street.

4. Twenty-second street to Twenty-fifth street.

5. Thirty-ninth street.

6. Jackson Park.

7. Seventy-ninth street.

The above beaches are shown in detail in the diagram marked “Plate 1.”

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Chicago Tribune, May 25, 1912
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The north side will have a municipal bathing beach this summer. The council committee on bathing beaches and recreation piers yesterday recommended a council resolution to take immediate steps to acquire shore lend for the purpose. It is expected the resolution will be adopted by the council next Monday night.

The site has been selected by the committee, of which Aid. Long, is chairman. The new beach will have a 1,200 toot frontage on the lake between Montrose and Windsor avenues. A double decked bathing pavilion to accommodate 2,000 persons will be constructed on the beach. Plans for the pavilion and piers also have been drawn, and the total cost of the Improvements outside the value ad the land is placed at $22.000.

Size of the Beach.
The land which the committee plans to condemn runs from Clarendon avenue to the lake. The new site has a frontage of 775 feet on Clarendon avenue and is immediately north of the city’s property on which stands the Lake View pumping station. With this the entire city holdings will extend 1,000 feet on Clarendon, but the shore line angle increases the beach length some 200 feet.

“We want to get the land acquired and work on the Improvements started this summer,” Aid. Long said. “Under the law we can either purchase or condemn. The land to be acquired is owned entirely by three men. It may be that a purchase can be arranged without necessitating condemnation proceedings, but even if the latter Is necessary the property can be in the hands of the city before the season is over.”

Aid. Long said it was planned to choose a south side beach site soon.

For Two New Bathhouses.
The council finance committee yesterday authorized Health Commissioner Young to advertise for bids for two new bath houses. One of the municipal bathing places is to be located in the Nineteenth ward and the other in the Sixteenth ward.

Inter Ocean, August 30, 1913

NEW CITY BEACH OPENS TODAY
Bathing Place Provided at Foot of East Ohio Street.
A new municipal bathing beach at the foot of East Ohio street will be opened officially at 10 o’clock this morning. Several park officials will be present. The beach was constructed to, accommodate the crowded blocks between the loop district and Lincoln Park.

INTRODUCTION

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