Mount Greenwood, Chicago
Encyclopedia
Mount Greenwood is one of 77 well-defined Chicago
community areas
. It is a predominantly Irish-Catholic neighborhood on the Southwest Side
of Chicago. It neighbors the Chicago neighborhoods of Beverly
and Morgan Park
to the east, the suburb of Evergreen Park
to the north, the suburb of Oak Lawn
to the west, and the suburbs of Merrionette Park
and Alsip
to the south. Because of the presence of cemeteries, the area was once known as Seven Holy Tombs. Mount Greenwood is about 14 miles (22.5 km) SW of the Loop.
Even though there were a small number of settlers in Mt. Greenwood, the origins of Mt. Greenwood began in 1877 when it was surveyed by George Waite. Mr. Waite established an area where he could trade with the local Native Americans
. Mount Greenwood Cemetery was established around this time by Mr. Waite. With the cemetery came the saloons and restaurants and eventually tracks for horse and greyhound racing. The cemetery is also the final resting-place of Robert Haslam (Pony Bob) (1840-1912), who as a twenty-year-old immigrant from England became one of the most celebrated riders of the Pony Express
mail service that operated from 1860-1861.
Mt. Greenwood became part of the city of Chicago in 1927. It was not until 1936 that the Works Progress Administration
finally laid sewage systems, and paved and lighted city streets. As late as the 1960s, the Mount Greenwood Civic Association was still fighting the city for curbs and gutters. By the 1980s, Mount Greenwood was home to the last surviving farm in the city, which was developed as the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences at the southeast corner of 111th and Pulaski.
Mount Greenwood is home to many Chicago Firefighter
s, Police Officer
s and Union workers of Irish
heritage.
Most of Mt. Greenwood's population is also Roman Catholic
. Most students in the neighborhood attend Catholic elementary schools
and high schools. Mount Greenwood is home to two Catholic elementary schools (Queen of Martyrs and St.Christina), three Catholic high schools (Brother Rice High School, Marist High School, and Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School
) and a Catholic university (Saint Xavier University). Public grade schools in the area are Mt. Greenwood Elementary School and George F. Cassell Elementary School. Both are filled with neighborhood children.
. The library in this area looks identical to the Hegewisch
Branch of the Chicago Public Library. The library has a significant Irish heritage collection.
Several features of Mount Greenwood Park honor noted local citizens. A parking area is dedicated to Frederick G. Abrams, Sr. a Chicago Alderman and Treasurer of the Village of Mount Greenwood from 1918 to 1927. A baseball diamond bears the name Rooney Field, in honor of Rooney Richardson (--1982), who took an active role in community affairs.
John R. Powers
wrote a fictionalized account of his experience growing up in Mount Greenwood in The Last Catholic in America (1973). Powers called the neighborhood "Seven Holy Tombs" in the book.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
community areas
Community areas of Chicago
Community areas in Chicago refers to the work of the Social Science Research Committee at University of Chicago which has unofficially divided the City of Chicago into 77 community areas. These areas are well-defined and static...
. It is a predominantly Irish-Catholic neighborhood on the Southwest Side
South Side Irish
South Side Irish is the term that refers to the large Irish-American community on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois.-South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade:...
of Chicago. It neighbors the Chicago neighborhoods of Beverly
Beverly, Chicago
Beverly is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago, Illinois. It is located on the South Side on the southwestern edge of the city. Beverly Hills was built by English engineers as an exclusive streetcar suburb and the homes and large lots reflect this historic distinction...
and Morgan Park
Morgan Park, Chicago
Morgan Park, located on the far south side of the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, is one of the city's 77 official community areas.-Morgan Park:...
to the east, the suburb of Evergreen Park
Evergreen Park, Illinois
Evergreen Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,044 at the 2009 census.-Geography:Evergreen Park is located at . The suburb is surrounded by the city of Chicago on three of its sides, while Oak Lawn and Hometown border it on the west...
to the north, the suburb of Oak Lawn
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Oak Lawn is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 55,245 at the 2000 census.Oak Lawn is a suburb of the city of Chicago, located southwest of the city...
to the west, and the suburbs of Merrionette Park
Merrionette Park, Illinois
Merrionette Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,999 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Merrionette Park is located at ....
and Alsip
Alsip, Illinois
Alsip is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 19,725 at the 2000 census. It is a suburb of Chicago.Alsip was settled in the 1830s by German and Dutch farmers. The village is named after Frank Alsip, the owner of a brickyard that opened there in 1885...
to the south. Because of the presence of cemeteries, the area was once known as Seven Holy Tombs. Mount Greenwood is about 14 miles (22.5 km) SW of the Loop.
Even though there were a small number of settlers in Mt. Greenwood, the origins of Mt. Greenwood began in 1877 when it was surveyed by George Waite. Mr. Waite established an area where he could trade with the local Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. Mount Greenwood Cemetery was established around this time by Mr. Waite. With the cemetery came the saloons and restaurants and eventually tracks for horse and greyhound racing. The cemetery is also the final resting-place of Robert Haslam (Pony Bob) (1840-1912), who as a twenty-year-old immigrant from England became one of the most celebrated riders of the Pony Express
Pony Express
The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the High Sierra from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California, from April 3, 1860 to October 1861...
mail service that operated from 1860-1861.
Mt. Greenwood became part of the city of Chicago in 1927. It was not until 1936 that the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
finally laid sewage systems, and paved and lighted city streets. As late as the 1960s, the Mount Greenwood Civic Association was still fighting the city for curbs and gutters. By the 1980s, Mount Greenwood was home to the last surviving farm in the city, which was developed as the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences at the southeast corner of 111th and Pulaski.
Mount Greenwood is home to many Chicago Firefighter
Chicago Fire Department
The Chicago Fire Department, also known as the CFD, is the principal fire suppression, prevention, and rescue agency of Chicago, Illinois, under the jurisdiction of the mayor of Chicago. The Chicago Fire Department is the second largest fire department in the United States after the New York City...
s, Police Officer
Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the Midwest and the second largest local law enforcement agency in the...
s and Union workers of Irish
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
heritage.
Most of Mt. Greenwood's population is also Roman Catholic
Roman Catholicism in the United States
The Catholic Church in the United States is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, the Christian Church in full communion with the Pope. With more than 68.5 registered million members, it is the largest single religious denomination in the United States, comprising about 22 percent of the population...
. Most students in the neighborhood attend Catholic elementary schools
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
and high schools. Mount Greenwood is home to two Catholic elementary schools (Queen of Martyrs and St.Christina), three Catholic high schools (Brother Rice High School, Marist High School, and Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School
Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School
Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School is an all-girl, Catholic high school located in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois at 3737 West 99th Street. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago...
) and a Catholic university (Saint Xavier University). Public grade schools in the area are Mt. Greenwood Elementary School and George F. Cassell Elementary School. Both are filled with neighborhood children.
Chicago Public Library Branch
Mount Greenwood, like many other Chicago neighborhoods, has its own branch of the Chicago Public LibraryChicago Public Library
The Chicago Public Library is the public library system that serves the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 79 branches, including a central library, two regional libraries, and branches distributed throughout the city....
. The library in this area looks identical to the Hegewisch
Hegewisch, Chicago
Hegewisch , one of the 77 community areas of Chicago, Illinois, is located on the city's far south side. It is bordered by the neighborhoods of Riverdale and South Deering to the west, the East Side to the north, the village of Burnham to the south and the city of Hammond, Indiana to the east. It...
Branch of the Chicago Public Library. The library has a significant Irish heritage collection.
Chicago Public Parks
The booming Mount Greenwood community was among the neighborhoods identified for park development in the Chicago Park District's Ten Year Plan to provide increased recreational opportunities in post-World War II Chicago. In 1946, the Mount Greenwood Civic Council urged the acquisition of vacant Board of Education land along 111th Street. The park district purchased the 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) site in 1949, and slowly began improving the property. The park district constructed a fieldhouse in 1966, and added a swimming pool in 1973. The 1990s brought further improvements. A soft surface playground featured an airport/train station-themed play area. A refrigerated ice skating rink provides winter recreation.Several features of Mount Greenwood Park honor noted local citizens. A parking area is dedicated to Frederick G. Abrams, Sr. a Chicago Alderman and Treasurer of the Village of Mount Greenwood from 1918 to 1927. A baseball diamond bears the name Rooney Field, in honor of Rooney Richardson (--1982), who took an active role in community affairs.
John R. Powers
John R. Powers
John R. Powers is an American novelist and playwright. Powers has written four successful books of fiction, The Last Catholic in America , Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? , The Unoriginal Sinner and the Ice Cream God , and The Junk Drawer, Corner Store, Front Porch Blues...
wrote a fictionalized account of his experience growing up in Mount Greenwood in The Last Catholic in America (1973). Powers called the neighborhood "Seven Holy Tombs" in the book.
External links
- Official City of Chicago Mount Greenwood Community Map
- http://www.southwestobserver.com is the neighborhood web site for Mount Greenwood, Beverly and Morgan Park.
- Daily Southtown photo coverage of Mount Greenwood
- Encyclopedia of Chicago entry on Mount Greenwood