Golfers swing into spring at the park

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By Kathy Headley

Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor

6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778

On nice mornings as I drive by the fieldhouse parking lot, start to see cars filling the lot and cars begin to park along Mann Drive.

I know why. The Marquette Park Golf Course has opened for another season. Sure enough, this past Saturday morning as the temperatures were creeping up close to 80 degrees, the duffers were waiting patiently for their turn as they lined up at the first tee. They were obviously happy to be out playing golf again, because many were laughing and some were waving to each other. How lucky we are to have the course in our neighborhood.

Kathy Headley

Registration opens today, April 29, at 3 p.m. for Go Run Marquette Park. The free, timed 5k or one mile run, walk or jog, is presented by the Chicago Area Runners Association and will take place on Saturday, May 7, at 9 a.m. All ages, all paces, all abilities are welcome. Register at gorunchicago.org. Then meet up at the starting line just west of the running track off Kedzie Avenue and Mann Drive.

Were you a member of the St. Rita Grammar School class of 1972? If so, it is time for your 50^th class reunion already. The reunion is planned for Saturday, Aug. 27, at 115 Bourbon Street from 7 to 11 p.m. The $50 fee covers food and beverages. Save the date and spread the word. More information to follow as it becomes available.

For the last several years, with the exception of the pandemic years, St. Rita Parish has offered couples that were married civilly or are living in a free union, the opportunity to be a part of a Community Wedding and have their union be blessed in the Catholic Church.

The parish is offering formation and preparation for this year’s event, which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 8. The last day to register is Tuesday, May 3. To register or get more information, stop by the parish office at 6243 S. Fairfield or call (773) 434-9600.

Last week you may have read of the passing of George Vescovi at age 93. An awfully nice fellow, George was an Army veteran and had been a commander for 13 years of the Clearing American Legion Post 600 here on 63^rd Street.

Coming up next Friday evening, May 6, the Post will be back to holding their annual Cinco de Mayo party. The cost will be $20 per person which covers food and refreshments. There will also be a Split the Pot and Bingo. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance call the Post at (773) 767-0230, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Now let’s look back on the question I left for you last week: What was originally sitting on the spot where St. Adrian Church was built? One of the best things about this answer is that the building is still here.

As you can imagine, in the early part of the 1900s that area was farmland. What was sitting on that plot of land which stretched between streets that would later be known as Washtenaw and Fairfield along 70^th Street? It was the home of the German family that owned the farm.

When the land was sold to the Catholic Church, the farmhouse was moved. The descendants of the original farmer continued to live in it at its new location. The farmhouse now sits on California Avenue just four houses from the corner of 71^th Street on the east side of the street. It is well taken care of now with obviously many improvements as the years went by. Take a ride by when you have a chance. Once again, that pretty cool nugget of our history is the courtesy of Paul B. Thanks again Paul.

Now let us resume our visit to 1992. During this past week in 1992 neighbors of Greek ancestry celebrated the feast of Greek Easter. John Rackos had been the Leader of the Local Greek Evzones at the first Greek parade on State Street several years before. (Evzones were elite infantry units of the Greek army. Today they are members of the Presidential guard.)

John also owned a grocery store. To celebrate Greek Easter, he was closing the store during the afternoon hours and inviting everyone to join and celebrate. In the parking lot he would have plenty of barbecue lamb, beverages and other favorite Greek foods, in addition to live Greek music and dancing.

John’s store was a hop, skip and a jump from Chicago Lawn. I wonder if you might have shopped there. The address was 8215 S. Kedzie. Does anyone remember that grocery store?