Schiller Woods Forest Preserve Magic Water Pump on Irving Park Road, Particulars.

The pump is located in Schiller Woods Forest Preserve in Schiller Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Google Maps: 41°57'08.8"N 87°50'38.6"W 

It was installed in 1945 to serve picnickers, just another of the hundreds of water pumps erected in the forest preserves of Cook County. 

It is a hand-operated pump that draws water from an aquifer. Many local residents believe the water has magical properties, improving health and vigor. Some believe the pump's water extends the life of anyone who drinks from it regularly, leading to the nickname "Chicago's fountain of youth." The pump is the most used of over 300 pumps maintained by the Forest Preserve Department of Cook County, necessitating yearly repairs. The pump handle was briefly removed in 1974 due to impurities but restored in 1975 after the water cleared.

There is no scientific evidence to support the claims that the water from the pump has any magical properties. However, many people swear by the water, and the pump remains a popular destination for people seeking a healthier lifestyle.

People say it has a specific taste and is unlike other waters. And it's not. It's the best water in the world! You've heard it's magic, right? I don't know if it is or if it has the rejuvenating qualities they say. But I don't try other pumps. 

It has been said that the Pope blessed it. "Holy water — that's what they call it." In 1979, Pope John Paul II visited the Northwest Side of Chicago. The Pope's motorcade drove along Nagle and Milwaukee avenues and the Kennedy Expressway and barely slowed down.

Those who swear by the Chicago's fountain of youth pump have said a lot of things: You hear it tastes better than tap water; it keeps colder for longer; it contains holistic qualities; it's good for heart and teeth; it's unfiltered and therefore not chlorinated or fluoridated; the water from this pump will keep you young an unnaturally long time.

There is no scientific evidence to support the claims that the water from this pump has magical properties.

The pump is located at the intersection of Irving Park Road and Cumberland Avenue. It is open from dawn to dusk. There is no fee to use the pump. If you're interested in visiting the pump, it's recommended that you go during the week. Remember to bring your own bottles to fill with water.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Abraham Lincoln's Plank on Education

When Lincoln prepared his first circular to be distributed among the voters of Sangamon County, Illinois, in the summer of 1832, he worked a plank[1] on education into his political platform. The following excerpt shows his interest in the subject when he was only twenty-three. 

Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or system respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.

"Upon the subject of education, not presuming to dictate any plan or sys· tern respecting it, I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in. That every man may receive at least a moderate education, and thereby be enabled to read the histories of his own and other countries, by which he may duly appreciate the value of our free institutions, appears to be an object of vital importance, even on this account only, to say nothing of the advantages and satisfaction to be derived from all being able to read the Scriptures and other works both of a religious and moral nature, for themselves. 

For my part, I desire to see the time when education─and by this, morality, sobriety, enterprise, and industry─shall become much more general than at present, and I should be gratified to have it in my power to contribute something to the advancement of any measure which might have a tendency to accelerate that happy period." 

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

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[1] Lincoln's plank on education was a platform for the Republican Party in the 1860 presidential election. The plank called for universal education, meaning that all children, regardless of social class or race, should be able to attend school. The plank also called for establishing public schools, which would be funded by the government. Lincoln's plank on education was a radical idea at the time, as most children in the United States did not attend school. However, Lincoln believed education was essential for a democracy to function correctly. He argued that an educated citizenry would be better equipped to make informed decisions about government and to participate in civic life. The Republican Party's victory in the 1860 election helped to pave the way for establishing universal education in the United States. In the years following the Civil War, many states passed laws that established public schools and required children to attend school. Today, education is considered a fundamental right in the United States, and all children can attend school.

Cut-Rate Toys at 2424 West Devon Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, (1958-1991). My Story.

Marvin Hecht (1927-2019) opened Cut-Rate Toys at 2424 West Devon Avenue, Chicago, in 1958. He was an angry man who apparently didn't like children (his angry actions spoke volumes). He sat in his raised watch tower by the cashiers. 

I'm sure shoppers threw stuff at Hecht, which is why he wrapped his cage in chicken wire. Try yelling at adults to their faces and see what happens. Now I understand why he secured his little perch. Adults put up with Hecht's antics because the prices were low.

Hecht's philosophy regarding toys was "low price, high volume." He'd buy up odd lots at toy shows and pick up closeouts from Mattel, Milton Bradley, Hasbro and other toy makers. 

Marvin and Renee Hecht

“He would get on the microphones and say, ‘Get your children’s hands off the toys or get them out of the store, NOW!" his Daughter, Linda Karmin, said. “I mean, people were terrified of him.” Dad was a passionate musician who played classical piano concerts for charity.

Hecht habitually posted hand-written signs on the front door, naming and shaming children who had been caught stealing. The signs were quite blunt and always included the kid's name, address and telephone number of the shoplifter's parents.

You can see a note on the front door in this photo. Example: "Bobby Smith at 6512 North Washtenaw was caught stealing from this store. Call his parents at HO 5-0000 and ask them why they raised a child who steals." 

When I was there with my mom, I heard the owner yell at adults and kids over the loudspeaker. 

I went into Cut-Rate Toys by myself with the money I was gifted for my 10th birthday.  

I was looking to buy a Hot Wheels track set. I picked up a box to see all the sides and what was included. Suddenly, I heard the owner yell over the loudspeaker, "YOU... IN ISLE NUMBER FIVE, PUT THAT BOX DOWN NOW!!! DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!" I was startled and embarrassed, and the box slipped out of my hands, hitting the floor and denting a corner of the box.

The owner came running out of his office, screaming, "NOW YOU'RE GOING TO BUY THAT!" I was furious. "If I'm not good enough to look at what I want to buy first," I said, "I just won't buy anything!" He grabbed me, but I was too quick and ran out of the store.

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At eight years old, I was taking the 155 Devon Bus to the Loyola 'L' station to take the subway downtown, by myself. I'd shop at Marshall Field & Company and usually went to Baer's Treasure Chest to play pinball and Skee-Ball and check out the Pro Magic Center on their second floor before heading home. In later years, I was lucky enought to meet Magician Marshall Brodien who worked part time at the Treasure Chest demonstrating complicated magic tricks for professionals. Brodien later opened the Magic Shop in Old Chicago shopping mall and amusement park in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

That was the last time I went to Cut-Rate Toys. I was so disgusted by the owner's behavior that I vowed never to give him my business again.

This behavior from a business owner would not be allowed today, as it would be considered harassment or defamation of a minor and perhaps result in a lawsuit.

In 1992, the store moved to 5409 West Devon Avenue in the Edgebrook neighborhood of the Forest Glen community in Chicago. The store closed in 2015. Marvin Hecht worked for 60 years in the toy business.

Copyright © 2023, Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Harlem Irving Plaza, 4104 North Harlem Avenue, Norridge, Illinois, opened in 1956─

Harlem Irving Plaza (The HIP) is a shopping mall located at 4104 North Harlem Avenue, Norridge, Illinois. It was built on the site of a former stockyard and opened in 1956 as a 337,000-square-foot strip mall featuring approximately 45 tenants. 

The new Wieboldt's store in the Harlem Irving Plaza shopping center in Norridge circa 1957. The store was air-conditioned.

Original anchor stores included Kroger, Walgreens, Wieboldt's, W.T. Grant, and Woolworth.

In the 1970s, the mall was enclosed, and a parking garage was added.

BJ (Bill Jackson) and Dirty Dragon at Harlem Irving Plaza, May 16, 1970.

These were some famous events at Harlem Irving Plaza:

• BJ (Bill Jackson) and Dirty Dragon at Harlem Irving Plaza, May 16, 1970.
• Bozo at Harlem Irving Plaza, September 9, 1970.
• Free Circus at Harlem Irving Plaza in the 1970s.
• BJ (Bill Jackson) and Dirty Dragon at Harlem Irving Plaza, October 1973.

In 1979, Madigan's was added to the roster of department stores. In 1989, Kohl's acquired and converted all of the stores in the MainStreet chain; Carson Pirie Scott opened in the former Wieboldt's the same year. A food court was added in 1996, and Best Buy opened in the former Madigan's. Best Buy relocated to the mall's parking lot in 2001; its original location was replaced with a second parking garage.

The mall underwent a thorough renovation in 2004, gaining a 175,000-square-foot Target in August of that year. In honor of the mall's 50th anniversary in 2006, Harlem Irving Plaza hosted a meet and greet with the original Mouseketeers (Mickey Mouse Club).

In recent years, the mall has faced some challenges, as many traditional department stores have closed their doors. However, the mall has been working to attract new tenants, including a number of popular restaurants. In 2020, the mall was purchased by a new owner, who has plans to invest in further renovations and attract even more new tenants.

Harlem Irving Plaza, 2022

Amusement Parks at the corner of North-West corner of Harlem Avenue and Irving Park Road, Norridge, Illinois:

Kiddie Park, 4200 North Harlem Avenue, Chicago-Norridge. (1938-1952)

KiddyTown Amusement Park, 4200 North Harlem Avenue, Norridge. (1953-1964)

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Eli's The Place for Steak (1966-2005), and Eli's Famous Cheesecake Bakery, Chicagoland.

Eli Schulman was no ordinary man. A high school dropout, he gave lectures in finance at De Paul University and large amounts of money to such organizations as the Community Assistance for Secondary Education, which provides scholarships for Israeli students, and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. 

The man who proudly wore a watch given to him by Frank Sinatra and who could count such people as Jack Brickhouse, Irv Kupcinet, George Dunne, Ingrid Bergman, Joe DiMaggio and virtually every Chicago "big name" among his friends and admirers was born in Chicago in 1910.

His charitable ways began in earnest on Pearl Harbor Day when he put a pair of signs in his window: "25% discount for men in uniform" and "If you are hungry and don`t have any money, come in, and we`ll feed you free." 

Eli's Ogden Huddle, 3201 West Ogden, Chicago (1940-1966)

Eli's Stage Delicatessen, 3201 West Ogden, Chicago (1958-1984)

Eli Schulman was a successful businessman and restaurateur who had already founded two other successful restaurants (pictured above) before opening Eli's The Place for Steak.

Eli's The Place for Steak was located in a Chicago landmark building, the Galter Carriage House, which was built in 1926 as a five-story parking garage at 215 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.

In 1960, it was expanded to become a 27-story high-rise building that housed employees and patients of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The lower levels of the building were also used for retail and commercial purposes. 

Eli's The Place for Steak was located in the building from 1966 to 2005.

Eli Schulman

Eli's was known for its classic steakhouse fare, including aged filet mignon, ribeye, and porterhouse steaks, cut as thin or thick as you wished. The restaurant also had a wide selection of fresh seafood, pasta dishes, and chops. Eli's Chicago's Finest Cheesecake was a popular dessert that spawned its own company.

Over the years, Eli's became a popular destination for celebrity clientele. Some of the famous guests who dined at the restaurant included Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, Bob Hope, Michael Jordan, and Oprah Winfrey.

During Bill Clinton's visit, Clinton helped to move some freshly baked cheesecakes from the oven to cooling trays. He also spoke with the bakery's employees and sampled some of the cheesecakes. Clinton was a big fan of Eli's cheesecake, and he had cheesecake delivered to the White House after he was elected president.

Bill Clinton and Marc Schulman.

Eli's Famous Cheesecake Bakery

Eli's Famous Cheesecake Bakery was founded in 1979 by Eli Schulman, the owner of the popular Chicago steakhouse Eli's the Place for Steak. Schulman developed the recipe for his signature cheesecake after years of experimentation, and it quickly became a hit with customers. The bakery was originally located in the basement of the restaurant.

The cheesecake became so popular that Schulman decided to open a separate bakery dedicated to cheesecake production and moved the bakery from the basement to a new location at 6701 West Forest Preserve Drive, Chicago, in 1984. 

Schulman's only son, Marc, took over the bakery in 1984. Marc continued to build on his father's legacy, and Eli's Famous Cheesecake Bakery became one of the most popular cheesecake brands in America. The bakery's cheesecakes are now sold in stores all over the United States, and they are also shipped worldwide.

Marc Schulman

Eli's Famous Cheesecake Bakery is known for its high-quality cheesecakes and its commitment to giving back to the community. 

Eli Schulman died of a heart attack on Saturday, May 7, 1988, at 78 years old. "To know this man is to love him," said Chicago Bears coach and restaurant owner Mike Ditka.

The bakery donates a portion of its profits to Eli's Cheesecake Cancer Center, which was founded in memory of Eli Schulman.

The bakery has been featured in several television shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show and Good Morning America.

The bakery is also a popular spot for fundraising events. In 2001, Eli's Famous Cheesecake Bakery helped to raise over $1 million for the victims of the World Trade Center attacks. The bakery has also raised money for other causes, such as the Chicago Food Bank and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Eli's Cheesecake has won numerous awards, including the James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker in 2004.

Eli's Cheesecake Cancer Center

The Eli's Cheesecake Cancer Center, 676 North St. Clair Street, Chicago, opened in 1990 to honor Eli Schulman, who died of cancer. His family established the center in his memory.

Eli's Cheesecake Cancer Center, 676 North St. Clair Street, Chicago

Eli's Cheesecake Cancer Center is a cancer research, treatment, prevention, and education center located at the Prentice Women's Hospital in Chicago, IL. The center was founded in 2006 by Eli's Cheesecake Company in partnership with Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

The center is also home to the Eli's Cheesecake Foundation, which provides financial support to cancer patients and their families. The center has raised over $10 million for cancer research, helped to develop new treatments for cancer, including a new type of immunotherapy, treated over 10,000 cancer patients, and has provided education and support to over 100,000 cancer patients and their families.

On July 30, 2005, Eli's closed its doors due to the demolition of the building it was located in. The site of the restaurant is now occupied by a parking garage.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.