| Dates: | 1944 |
| Size: | 1 photo album (236 photographs) |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, Special Collections, 400 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60605 |
| Collection Number: | c00119 |
| Provenance: | Purchased from Zephyr Used & Rare Books, 2019 |
| Access: | No restrictions |
| Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: People’s Gas Light & Coke Co. Photo Album, [Photograph #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library. |
| Processed by: | Michelle McCoy, November 2019 |
Historical Note
Established in 1849, People’s Gas was the first utility in Chicago to light city streets with natural gas lamps in 1850. With the introduction of electricity at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, People’s Gas switched its focus from gas lighting to cooking and heating. Between 1895 and 1910, twelve gas companies merged under the direction of president C.K.G. Billings, Jr. to become the Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company. By 1932, the company had constructed a long-distance, high-pressure natural gas pipeline from Texas that enabled industrial power and heating in the city. Construction of pipelines would continue to expand after World War II and by 1962 the company was able to meet demands for residential heating across the city, thus eliminating the use of coal and oil to heat homes.
The photographs in this album reference three former manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites in Chicago, all of which are now Superfund cleanup sites monitored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Crawford Station site is bounded on the south by the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, on the north by the Chicago and Illinois Western Railroad, on the west by the Chicago and Western Indiana Belt Line Railroad, and to the east by Pulaski Road (formerly Crawford Avenue). It was acquired by Peoples Gas in 1928 and was their largest facility in the early years of the 20th century. The station was retired in 1965.
The 22nd Street Station site is located at 2200 S. Racine Avenue and is bounded to the west by commercial property, to the north by Cermak Road, to the east by an electrical substation, and to the south by the South Branch of the Chicago River. Developed in 1862 to produce gas from coal, by 1922, the plant was used only for high demand periods. The last facilities at the plant were dismantled in 1960.
The 15-acre Division Street Station located at 1241 West Division Street was built exclusively for the production of water gas in 1883. The gas production structures were dismantled in 1962.
Scope and Content
The photo album documents People’s Gas Light & Coke Company natural gas pipeline projects extending to and from the Crawford Distribution Station, the Division Street Station and the 22nd Street Station in 1944. The album contains 236 photographs that document the projects from groundbreaking to completion, including views of equipment, natural gas pipes, iron fittings, workers and the surrounding neighborhood. Identified street-by-street, the pages record the entire process of gas pipe implementation from ditch digging to pipe laying to repaving.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into 5 series based on the People’s Gas Light & Coke Company’s divisions in the photo album. The photographs are numbered in the order they appear in the photo album with the loose photographs added to the end.
Series 1:
Groundbreaking and Station Yards
Series 2:
30″ Cast Iron Natural Gas Main from Crawford Distribution Station via Pulaski Road, 33rd Street, Hamlin Avenue, 24th Street, Oakley Avenue, and 21st Place to Wolcott Avenue
Series 3:
24″ Cast Iron Natural Gas Main from 21st Place via Wolcott Avenue, Iowa Street, Wood Street, Walton Street, Ashland Avenue, Cortez Street, Noble Street, Thomas Street, and Throop Street to Division Street Station
Series 4:
Cast Iron Natural Gas Main from Wolcott Avenue via 21st Place, Blue Island Avenue, 21st Street, Allport Avenue, and Cermak Road to 22nd Street Station
Series 5:
Loose Photographs
Subject Terms
- Beverly (Chicago, Ill.)
- Bridgeport (Chicago, Ill.)
- Environmental pollution
- Gas Pipelines
- Little Village (Chicago, Ill.)
- Lower West Side (Chicago, Ill.)
- Near West Side (Chicago, Ill.)
- North Lawndale (Chicago, Ill.)
- People's Gas Light & Coke Co.
- Pilsen (Chicago, Ill.)
- South Lawndale (Chicago, Ill.)
- Superfund Innovative Technologies Evaluation Program (U.S.)
- West Town (Chicago, Ill.)
Related Collections
Container List
Series 1: Groundbreaking and Station Yards
| Photograph 1.1 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road, groundbreaking for 30″ natural gas main construction with E.L. Gibbs, 2 laborers, K.B. Nagler, P.O. Bruck, J.J. Novy, E.F. Schuldt, R.J. Nash, H.S. Lipp, W.T. Deveney, T. Higgins and P.V. Henehan, 1944 April 17 |
| Photograph 1.2 | South Lawndale - Crawford Station yard [4161 W 36th Street], 30″ cast iron pipe, 1944 April 17 |
| Photographs 1.3-1.4 | West Town - Division Street Station yard [1241 W Division Street], 24″ cast iron pipe, 1944 April 17 |
| Photograph 1.5 | West Town - Division Street Station yard, aerial view with 24″ cast iron pipe, 1944 April 17 [photo printed in reverse] |
| Photograph 1.6 | Lower West Side - 22nd Street Station yard [2200 S. Racine Avenue], street view with 24″ cast iron pipe, 1944 April 17 |
| Photograph 1.7 | Lower West Side - 22nd Street Station yard [2200 S. Racine Avenue], aerial view with 20″ cast iron pipe, 1944 April 17 |
| Photograph 1.8 | Lower West Side - 22nd Street Station yard [2200 S. Racine Avenue], aerial view with cast iron fittings, 1944 April 17 |
| Photograph 1.9 | Lower West Side - 22nd Street Station yard [2200 S. Racine Avenue], street view with 24″ cast iron pipe, 1944 April 17 |
| Photographs 1.10-1.11 | North Lawndale - Pulaski Road Bridge and Ogden Ditch, 30″ cast iron pipe, 1944 May 7 (2) |
Series 2: 30″ Cast Iron Natural Gas Main from Crawford Distribution Station via Pulaski Road, 33rd Street, Hamlin Avenue, 24th Street, Oakley Avenue, and 21st Place to Wolcott Avenue
| Photograph 1.12 | South Lawndale - Crawford Station yard, looking northeast, 1944 April 25 |
| Photographs 1.13-1.15 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road, unloading gas main, 1944 April 25 (3) |
| Photographs 1.16-1.19 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road [at Crawford Station], lowering gas main into ditch, 1944 April 25 (4) |
| Photograph 1.20 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road [at Crawford Station], digging trench, 1944 April 25 |
| Photograph 1.21 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road [at Crawford Station], digging trench, 1944 May 3 |
| Photograph 1.22 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road [at Crawford Station], crane, 1944 May 3 |
| Photographs 1.23-1.24 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road [at Crawford Station], gas main in trench, 1944 April 25 (2) |
| Photographs 1.25-1.26 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road [at Crawford Station], sand in ditch being puddled, 1944 May 11 (2) |
| Photograph 1.27 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road [at Crawford Station], trench backfill, 1944 May 26 |
| Photographs 1.28-1.29 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road [at Crawford Station], road repair area, 1944 June 13-14 (2) |
| Photograph 1.30 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road [at Crawford Station], paved road, 1944 June 27 |
| Photograph 1.31 | North Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at Ogden Ditch], sewer bend, 1944 May 11 |
| Photographs 1.32-1.33 | North Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at Ogden Bridge], digger, 1944 May 3 (2) |
| Photograph 1.34 | North Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at Ogden Bridge], sewer, 1944 May 11 |
| Photograph 1.35 | North Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at Ogden Bridge], backfill, 1944 May 26 |
| Photographs 1.36-1.37 | North Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at Ogden Bridge], road repair area, 1944 June 13-14 (2) |
| Photograph 1.38 | North Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at Ogden Bridge], paved road, 1944 June 27 |
| Photographs 1.39-1.42 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at 33rd Street I.C.R.R. tracks], gas main bend and bracing, 1944 May 9-11 (4) |
| Photographs 1.43-1.45 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at 33rd Street I.C.R.R. tracks], paving, 1944 June 13 (3) |
| Photograph 1.46 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at 33rd Street I.C.R.R. tracks], tracks, 1944 May 9 |
| Photographs 1.47-1.54 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at 33rd Street I.C.R.R. tracks], pipe bends, 1944 May 9-11 (8) |
| Photographs 1.55-1.56 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at 33rd Street I.C.R.R. tracks], trench backfill, 1944 May 26 (2) |
| Photograph 1.57 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at 33rd Street I.C.R.R. tracks], paved road, 1944 May 27 |
| Photograph 1.58 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at 33rd Street], cracked sidewalk, 1944 May 9 |
| Photographs 1.59-1.62 | South Lawndale - Pulaski Road, [at 33rd Street], ditch, 1944 May 9-11 (4) |
| Photographs 1.63-1.64 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, pipe bends, 1944 May 26 (2) |
| Photograph 1.65 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, ditch sheeting and bracing, 1944 May 26 |
| Photographs 1.66-1.67 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, gas main blown out of ditch, 1944 May 27 (2) |
| Photographs 1.68-1.69 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, ditch cave-in, 1944 May 27 (2) |
| Photographs 1.70-1.71 | South Lawndale - 33rd Street [at Hamlin Avenue], gasoline water pump, 1944 May 27 (2) |
| Photographs 1.72-1.75 | South Lawndale - 33rd Street [at Hamlin Avenue], pipe blown out of ditch, 1944 May 27 (42) |
| Photographs 1.76-1.77 | South Lawndale - 33rd Street [at Hamlin Avenue], ditch sheeting and bracing, 1944 June 2 (2) |
| Photograph 1.78 | South Lawndale - 33rd Street [at Hamlin Avenue], road repair, 1944 June 10 |
| Photograph 1.79 | South Lawndale - 33rd Street [at Hamlin Avenue], gas services above main, 1944 May 26 |
| Photograph 1.80 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, [at 33rd Street], sand in trench, 1944 May 26 |
| Photograph 1.81 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, [at 33rd Street], gas pipe in trench, 1944 May 26 |
| Photographs 1.82-1.83 | South Lawndale - 3121-3207 Hamlin Avenue, cracked road, 1944 May 9 (2) |
| Photograph 1.84 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, [at 3st Street], backfill trench, 1944 June 2 |
| Photographs 1.85-1.86 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, [at 31st Street], lowering pipe, 1944 June 2 (2) |
| Photographs 1.87-1.89 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, [at 30th Street], gas pipe in trench, 1944 June 2 (3) |
| Photograph 1.90 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, [at 27th Street], pipe braces, 1944 June 13 |
| Photograph 1.91 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, [at 26th Street], sewer and gas main, 1944 June 14 |
| Photographs 1.92-1.95 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, [at 24th Street], clamped joints and test bags, 1944 June 20 (4) |
| Photograph 1.96 | South Lawndale - Hamlin Avenue, [at 24th Street], bends and braces, 1944 June 20 |
| Photograph 1.97 | South Lawndale - 24th Street, [at Christiana Avenue], bends and braces, 1944 June 27 |
| Photographs 1.98-1.99 | South Lawndale - 24th Boulevard, [at Marshall Boulevard], trench and pipe, 1944 July 7 (2) |
| Photograph 1.100 | South Lawndale - 24th Boulevard, [at Marshall Boulevard], location of main, 1944 July 7 |
| Photograph 1.101 | South Lawndale - 24th Boulevard, [at Marshall Boulevard], cutting machine, 1944 July 7 |
| Photograph 1.102 | South Lawndale - 24th Boulevard, [at California Avenue], backfilled trench, 1944 July 7 |
| Photograph 1.103 | South Lawndale - 24th Boulevard, [at California Avenue], road repair, 1944 July 7 |
| Photograph 1.104 | South Lawndale - 24th Boulevard, [at California Avenue], pipe in trench, 1944 July 11 |
| Photograph 1.105 | South Lawndale - 24th Street, [at Washtenaw Avenue and Rockwell Street], pipe in trench, 1944 July 14 |
| Photograph 1.106 | South Lawndale - 24th Street, [at Rockwell Street], man cleaning pipe spigot, 1944 July 14 |
| Photograph 1.107 | Lower West Side - 24th Street, [at Western Avenue], men breaking pavement, 1944 July 11 |
| Photograph 1.108 | Lower West Side - 24th Street, [at Western Avenue], excavation dirt, 1944 July 21 |
| Photograph 1.109 | Lower West Side - Oakley Avenue, [at Cermak Road], pipe assembly, 1944 August 4 |
| Photograph 1.110 | Lower West Side - Oakley Avenue, [at Cermak Road], pipe cleaning, 1944 August 4 |
| Photographs 1.111-1.112 | Lower West Side - Oakley Avenue, [at Cermak Road], joint, 1944 August 4 (2) |
| Photographs 1.113-1.116 | Lower West Side - Oakley Avenue, [at Cermak Road], cutting machine, 1944 August 4 (4) |
| Photograph 1.117 | Jacks for testing a 30″ gas main, 1944 August 22 |
| Photograph 1.118 | Lower West Side - Oakley Avenue [at Cermak Road], jacks, timber, pipes and cap, 1944 August 4 |
| Photograph 1.119 | Lower West Side - 21st Place, [at Oakley Avenue], bend, 1944 August 4 |
| Photograph 1.120-1.121 | Lower West Side - 21st Place, [at Damen Avenue], sand truck, 1944 August 10 (2) |
Series 3: 24″ Cast Iron Natural Gas Main from 21st Place via Wolcott Avenue, Iowa Street, Wood Street, Walton Street, Ashland Avenue, Cortez Street, Noble Street, Thomas Street, and Throop Street to Division Street Station
| Photograph 1.122 | Lower West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at 21st Place], bracing, 1944 July 7 |
| Photograph 1.123 | Bracing for a sectional test, 1944 August 22 |
| Photographs 1.124-1.125 | Lower West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at 21st Place], plug valve and nipples, 1944 July 7 (2) |
| Photographs 1.126; 1.128-1.129 | Lower West Side - Wolcott Avenue [between 18th Street and 19th Street], trench, 1944 July 7 |
| Photograph 1.127 | Lower West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at 18th Street], main in trench, 1944 July 11 |
| Photograph 1.130 | Lower West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at 19th Street], swing and main in trench, 1944 July 7 |
| Photographs 1.131-1.132 | Lower West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at 17th Street], men tightening bolts, 1944 July 11 (2) |
| Photographs 1.133-1.134 | Lower West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at 16th Street], men cleaning, 1944 July 11 (2) |
| Photograph 1.135 | Lower West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at 16th Street], digging machine, 1944 July 11 |
| Photograph 1.136 | Near West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at 14th Street], digging machine, 1944 July 11 |
| Photographs 1.137-1.138 | Near West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at Ogden Avenue], joint, 1944 August 10 (2) |
| Photograph 1.139 | Near West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at Jackson Boulevard], cleaning bell of pipe, 1944 August 10 |
| Photograph 1.140 | Near West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at Monroe Street], regrading a telephone cable, 1944 August 22 |
| Photograph 1.141 | Near West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at Maypole Avenue], trench, 1944 August 22 |
| Photograph 1.142 | Near West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at Maypole Avenue], sectional test, 1944 August 22 |
| Photographs 1.143-1.144 | Near West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at Lake Street], connection point, 1944 August 22 (2) |
| Photograph 1.145 | Near West Side - Wolcott Avenue [at Lake Street], includes J. Brown, D. Fosco, H.S. Lipp, R.J. Nash, Jr., and J.F. Schuldt, , 1944 August 22 (2) |
| Photograph 1.146 | Near West Town - Wolcott Avenue [at Fulton Street], cutting machine, 1944 June 27 (2) |
| Photograph 1.147 | West Town - Wolcott Avenue [at Kinzie Street], bend, 1944 June 27 |
| Photograph 1.148 | West Town - Wolcott Avenue [at Race Street], street flooded, 1944 August 10 |
| Photograph 1.149 | West Town - Wolcott Avenue [at Chicago Avenue], backfill, 1944 August 10 |
| Photograph 1.150 | West Town - Wolcott Avenue [at Chicago Avenue], street paving, 1944 August 10 |
| Photograph 1.151 | West Town - Wolcott Avenue [at Huron Street], pipe in trench, 1944 June 20 |
| Photograph 1.152 | West Town - Wood Street [at Walton Street], backfill, 1944 June 14 |
| Photograph 1.153 | West Town - Wood Street [at Walton Street], bends and bracing, 1944 June 14 |
| Photograph 1.154 | West Town - Walton Street [at Paulina Street], road paving, 1944 August 10 |
| Photographs 1.155-1.156 | West Town - Walton Street [at Paulina Street], trench backfill, 1944 June 14 (2) |
| Photograph 1.157 | West Town - Walton Street [at Wood Street], trench backfill, 1944 June 14 |
| Photographs 1.158; 1.161 | West Town - Walton Street [at Ashland Avenue], road paving, 1944 August 10 (2) |
| Photograph 1.159 | West Town - Walton Street [at Ashland Avenue], digger and trench, 1944 June 2 |
| Photograph 1.160 | West Town - Walton Street [at Ashland Avenue], trench backfill, 1944 June 2 |
| Photograph 1.162 | West Town - Ashland Avenue [at Cortez Street], pavement breaking, 1944 May 26 |
| Photograph 1.163 | West Town - Ashland Avenue [at Cortez Street], trench backfill, 1944 June 2 |
| Photograph 1.164 | West Town - Ashland Avenue [at Cortez Street], pipe bracing, 1944 June 2 |
| Photograph 1.165 | West Town - Ashland Avenue [at Cortez Street], pipe bend, 1944 June 2 |
| Photograph 1.166 | West Town - Cortez Street [at Noble Street], trench backfill, 1944 June 14 |
| Photograph 1.167 | West Town - Cortez Street [at Noble Street], trench bracing, 1944 May 25 |
| Photographs 1.168-1.169 | West Town - Cortez Street [at Ashland Avenue], trench bracing, 1944 May 25 (2) |
| Photographs 1.170-1.171 | West Town - Cortez Street [at Noble Street], bend and bracing, 1944 May 25 (2) |
| Photograph 1.172 | West Town - Cortez Street [at Noble Street], trench backfill, 1944 June 14 |
| Photograph 1.173 | West Town - Noble Street [at Milwaukee Avenue], relocated pipe, 1944 May 25 |
| Photograph 1.174 | West Town - Noble Street [at Milwaukee Avenue], pipe bends, 1944 May 25 |
| Photograph 1.175 | West Town - Noble Street [at Thomas Street], pipe bracing, 1944 May 25 |
| Photograph 1.176 | West Town - Noble Street [at Thomas Street], pipe backfill, 1944 May 25 |
| Photograph 1.177 | West Town - Thomas Street [at Throop Street], crane, 1944 May 9 |
| Photographs 1.178 | West Town - Thomas Street [at Throop Street], main in trench, 1944 May 9 |
| Photograph 1.179 | West Town - Thomas Street [at Throop Street], digging machine, 1944 May 9 |
| Photograph 1.180 | West Town - Thomas Street [at Throop Street], trench backfill, 1944 June 14 |
| Photograph 1.181 | West Town - Thomas Street [at Throop Street], pipe bend, 1944 May 9 |
| Photograph 1.182 | West Town - Throop Street [at Thomas Street], main in trench, 1944 May 9 |
| Photograph 1.183 | West Town - Throop Street [at Thomas Street], trench bend, 1944 May 9 |
| Photograph 1.184 | West Town - Throop Street [at Thomas Street], trench backfill, 1944 June 14 |
| Photograph 1.185 | West Town - Division Street Station [1241 W Division Street], shaft head backfill, 1944 June 27 |
| Photograph 1.186 | West Town - Division Street Station [1241 W Division Street], surge tank foundations, 1944 June 27 |
Series 4: 20″ Cast Iron Natural Gas Main from Wolcott Avenue via 21st Place, Blue Island Avenue, 21st Street, Allport Avenue, and Cermak Road to 22nd Street Station
| Photograph 1.187 | Lower West Side - 21st Place [at Wolcott Avenue], plug valve, 1944 August 4 |
| Photograph 1.188 | Lower West Side - 21st Place [at Wolcott Avenue], road paving, 1944 July 7 |
| Photographs 1.189-1.190 | Lower West Side - 21st Place [at Paulina Street], road paving and concrete mixer, 1944 July 11 (2) |
| Photograph 1.191 | Lower West Side - 21st Place [at Blue Island Avenue], pipe bend, 1944 April 25 |
| Photographs 1.192-1.193 | Lower West Side – 2128 Blue Island Avenue, pipe in trench, 1944 April 25 (2) |
| Photograph 1.194 | Lower West Side - 21st Street [at Loomis Street], main trench, 1944 May 9 |
| Photograph 1.195 | Lower West Side - 21st Street [at Throop Street], main trench, 1944 May 9 |
| Photograph 1.196 | Lower West Side - 21st Street [at Throop Street], rubbish from trench, 1944 May 9 |
| Photograph1.197 | Lower West Side - 21st Street [at Throop Street], sidewalk paving, 1944 July 21 |
| Photograph 1.198 | Lower West Side - Allport Avenue [at Cermak Road], road paving, 1944 July 21 |
| Photograph 1.199 | Lower West Side - Allport Avenue [at Cermak Road], pipe bend, 1944 June 2 |
| Photograph 1.200 | Lower West Side - Cermak Road [at Allport], trench sheeting, 1944 June 2 |
| Photograph 1.201 | Lower West Side - Cermak Road [at Allport], railroad track bracing, 1944 June 13 |
| Photograph 1.202 | Lower West Side - Cermak Road [at Allport], road paving, 1944 July 21 |
| Photographs 1.203-1.204 | Lower West Side - Racine Avenue Tunnel, 1944 July 14 (2) |
| Photographs 1.205-1.206 | Bridgeport - South Station [at Eleanor and Loomis Streets], buildings and equipment, 1944 July 14 (5) |
| Photographs 1.207-1.209 | Bridgeport - South Station [at Eleanor and Loomis Streets], buildings and equipment, 1944 November 21 (3) |
| Photographs 1.210-1.214 | Bridgeport - Throop Street Station [at 25th Street], buildings and equipment, 1944 November 21 (5) |
| Photographs 1.215-1.218 | Lower West Side - 22nd Street Station [2200 S. Racine Avenue], buildings and equipment, 1944 November 21 (4) |
| Photograph 1.219-1.226 | West Town - Division Street Station [1241 W Division Street], buildings and equipment, 1944 November 21 (8) |
Series 5: Loose Photographs
| Photographs 1.227-1.229 | [Beverly] - Beverly Avenue, pipeline construction, undated (3) |
| Photograph 1.230 | Unidentified gas main installation, 1929 November 14 |
| Photographs 1.231-1.234 | Unidentified station and railroad, undated (4) |
| Photographs 1.235-1.236 | Washington Heights - 95th Street and Halsted Street, gas main installation, 1924 September 13, undated (2) |
