Big-T Burger, Devon and Milwaukee Avenues, Chicago.

Looking Northwest from Devon and Milwaukee Avenues. The late 1970s.

Charles "Chuck" Nichols ran a Tastee Freeze franchise (still serving the "Big Tee Burger"), which closed every winter when ice cream lost its appeal. Nichols renegotiated the lease with the building's owner and turned the space into a burger business to operate year-round. To attract teens from nearby Taft High School, he dubbed the restaurant "Big-T Burger." 

Nichols worked there seven days a week. He overcame competition from a nearby McDonald's, Burger King, and Superdawg across Milwaukee Avenue.

On the last day of business, before Nichols was forced to close Big-T Burger, he told his sons to be at their "very best." He adhered to the 'always do your best' philosophy and ingrained it in his employees. 

Nichols gave more than his time to the business. Homeless people often wandered into Big-T Burger, and Nichols knew everyone by name. He would give them a hot dog and a cup of coffee when they came in and let them warm up or cool off. 

 

Chuck Nichols of Park Ridge died on October 26, 2003, at 89 years old.

INDEX TO MY ILLINOIS AND CHICAGO FOOD & RESTAURANT ARTICLES.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

The History of Chippewa Park in Chicago, Illinois.

Chippewa Park, 6758 North Sacramento Avenue (at Pratt Boulevard) in Chicago, was one of four parks created by the Ridge Avenue Park District, established in 1896. The park district's other properties were Indian Boundary Park, Pottawattomie Park, and Morse Park (now Matanky {Eugene} Park).

In 1931, the park district purchased the property in the southwest corner of the district, built a one-story brick fieldhouse designed by Clarence Hatzfeld, and designated the new park Chippewa.

The five-room fieldhouse, including a kitchen, sits on 3.26 acres with a new "ChicagoPlays!" playground, and a water spray feature.

Looking NW at the Chippewa Park Fieldhouse on Sacramento Avenue, with Pratt Boulevard just to the right, but out of the picture. (March 30, 1936)

The name recognized the Chippewa Indian tribe that lived in the Great Lakes region when Europeans arrived. Between 1600 and 1760, the Chippewas made their home along the northern shores of Lakes Michigan and Superior and numbered between 25,000 and 30,000. The Chippewa formed a loose confederacy with the Ottawa and the Potawatomi. By the 19th century, the three tribes were known as "the Three Fires." 

The name Chippewa is an adaption of the word Ojibway, "to roast till puckered up," a reference to the puckered seams of their moccasins.

Today, the park offers Interaction for toddlers. Classes for preschoolers include Early Childhood Recreation, as well as Playschool Activities.

Don't forget to feed the Bunnies!

Classes for youth include Arts & Crafts and Fun and Games. Choose from Soccer, T-ball, Flag Football, Snag Golf and Outdoor Tennis for multi-ages. Chippewa also offers a fun-filled day camp for ages 5-8, which runs for 6 weeks.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.