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By Kathy Headley
Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor
6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778
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Happy 2024. As I mentioned last week, we have some catching up to do from the weeks I was gone. So let’s get started with this one:
It was back in 1947 that a Chicago Lawn teen and graduate of Lindblom High School got together with his friends of like interest and began the Lindblom Alumni A Capella Choir. That group was later renamed the Chicago Choral Club and finally in 1957 changed the name to Musichorale.
Art Silhan was a longtime and much-loved teacher at McKay Grade School, teaching eighth grade there for many years and running the school’s music program.
In 1980, Art’s son Jeff, who locally had been choir director at both Grace Church and Chicago Lawn Methodist, stepped up and became the director of Musichorale, the choir his father founded back in 1947.
Their legacy has lasted for 76 years, but sadly came to an end when the final performance, Musichorale’s 75th Gala Noel Concert, was held this past December at H. L. Richards High School Performing Arts Center.
Throughout the years, Musichorale has called the Ogden Park and Marquette Park Fieldhouses home before moving to 59th and Sacramento and then over to Clearing. Thanks to the Silhans, Musicorale had a great run.
Last fall we talked about the safety islands that were going up in the middle of the 63rd Street on the corners between Western and Kedzie. I have now noticed they’ve been going up on Western Avenue as well.
We’ll do some more catching up next week, but for now let’s look at some upcoming events you might find interesting.
At St. Adrian, The Children’s Celebration of the Three Kings will take place in the church, 7000 S. Washtenaw, on Friday, Jan. 5, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Beginning on Saturday, Jan. 6, once again this year, Marquette Park is a drop-off site for live Christmas trees. As in the past, no garland or wreaths, just trees. All decorations should be removed, including a plastic bag that might hold the tree. According to the city, more than 20,000 trees were recycled through this program since its inception, which is the equivalent of diverting 30.000 pounds from landfills.
All are invited to celebrate the 144th birthday of Venerable Mother Maria Kaupas, foundress of the Sisters of St. Casimir, on Saturday, Jan. 6, in the St. Casimir Chapel, 2601 W. Marquette Road. Mass praying for the beatification of Mother Maria begins at 9:30 a.m. followed by a social in the cafeteria. Enter off the parking lot.
Community Cinema brings the 2014 Universal Pictures film Lucy to the Chicago Lawn Branch Library, 6120 S. Kedzie, on Sunday, Jan. 7, beginning at 2 p.m. This is an adults-only film for ages 18 and up.
The first CAPS meeting of the year for Beats 831 and 832 will be on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Marquette Park, 6734 S. Kedzie, at 7 p.m.
Over at the Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center, 87th and Western, Wednesday, Jan. 10 is Open Nature Play Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Little ones can connect with nature, enjoy stories, art and do some exploring. Depending on the weather, this takes place either indoors or outdoors.
There’s still time to pick up the current book for the next Senior Book Club meeting which will take place on Saturday, Jan. 13, at 10 a.m. January’s selection was written by Jessica George and is entitled Maame- A Novel. Get your copy at the Chicago Lawn Branch Library. Book Club meetings are held via Zoom. For more information on signing up, contact the Southwest Regional Senior Center at (312) 747-0440.
We had an early deadline due to the holiday for this week’s paper, so we will leave our two trivia questions ride for one more week:
Forty-two years ago, do you remember where Elmhurst Federal Savings was in the neighborhood?
And, in 1981, when we were getting ready for New Year’s festivities, where might we have gone on 63rd Street for a deli tray of authentic Italian meats and cheeses?
Now as I’m sure you know, there are a lot of folks that grew up on the South and Southwest Sides that became very well-known in their fields. So, since we mentioned Lindblom in the beginning of the column, let’s end with a question connected to the school too. A well-known daytime show host that attended Lindblom, Eugene Peter Jeljenic, who passed away in 1999, would have celebrated his birthday recently. When on television, he kept his nickname and was known as Gene. Can you guess who this gentleman is?