Yes, you are right. It lo0ks like the holiday season has slowed the movement of news, criticism and observation on these pages. There are a couple of things of entertainment and informational value to say before getting to the very real state of things that need attention.
LINCOLN HEIGHTS OF OLD
You might have noticed on the side bar that there is a link to the HISTORY OF LINCOLN HEIGHTS website that has a section all about Lincoln Park. It is an amazing compilation of things that were unknown to most local residents, even the long-standing ones, and you might take a look at it. It is loaded with old photos, some just old and others of the antique class. One part that jogs my memory is the section on the original Carousel "or "Merry-Go-Round". The present version is simple a distant cousin to the original.
The original Lincoln Park Merry-Go-Round was truly magnificent, presenting the wooden horses with some especially fine craftsmanship, unknown by today's standards, since those things just don't get built anymore as simply too expensive. The other thing I remember was the dispenser with "golden rings" that you could try to reach out for as you go around: it was like the "take-a-number" dispenser at the meat counter in the market- when the large metal ring, the "Gold Ring," was showing, you could try to reach out grab it. If you were successful, well, I don't remember exactly what happened. It didn't seem that hard to do, but I don't remember whether I was able to do it myself. The payoff, I think, was a free ride.
Another reason for no more golden rings these days might be the huge lawsuits that the city would risk if a rider reached out and fell off. The same risk of liability if a hand or finger were injured by the device would be a big reason in this day and age for its dissapearance.
Visit that site and see how different life was when the city began to develop in this area. Be a "contributor" if you can. If you have photos or information, it is always a welcome addition. You may just visit the "Guestbook" and relate some of the personal memories that you have in that part.
BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO LOCAL HISTORY.
One resource that is valuable and often ignored are the family elders with their accumulated experience and knowledge. You might check with your older relatives and ask about "back in the day" events. I think I have long ago crossed the line on this- I used to ask others who were around in WW II or at times past, for what THEY did. Now, especially from my past students, I was the one getting the questions. As a teacher, being among the older Lincoln High alumni, the questions were phrased just as above, "Hey, mister (all male teachers get the "mister" label), back in the day, ... (and the question goes here)." Those questions always made me feel unusually old, so a few times I started off the answer with someting like this, "First, we had to ride horses to school if we missed the covered wagon, ...."
You or a family member, neighbor or friend may have some bits of first-hand information sitting back in the memories area of the brain that just need some prodding for more of us to know another view from the "first person" accounts of the day. I am a believer in taking oral or verbal histories as much as possible. All young persons should get to know the stories of others in their families, beginning with their parents, so that they can at least pass them on.
Once any one of us happens to die, all that memory that wasn't written, recorded, spoken to others or saved in some way, is completely lost. In that situation, you will have only stories or accounts from OTHERS that become the history of the period. The other benefit- and there are several- for doing this is that the questioning makes anyone feel good that somebody cares to ask what they think and have done. It also also helps to know others better and maybe know why they are so cranky, happy, friendly or negative about some things.
WHAT'S IN A STREET NAME?
There's another shorter web site linked in the sidebar that gives information about the history of the street names. Mozart was the name of the composer- funny that a tiny street (at least from Ave. 17 to Ave. 20) bears the name of composer of huge fame. And think about Griffin Avenue, that some sometimes is mixed up with the name from "Griffith Park", resulting in "Griffith Avenue." There are two separate people represented by those different names. Some of the names were pretty important people in city and state history in their day.
And for the record, the main street running through Lincoln Heights is called "North Broadway." That's all it needs for a complete name. I still see local residents and groups print references to "Broadway Ave." or "Broadway St." The "way" part of the word "Broadway" means a "street" or "path", so there is no need for anything else in the name. It is fine the way it is.
Adding anything more to the name it is like saying "Main Street Avenue" instead of just "Main Street."
And that is more about Lincoln Heights.
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