|
 The
Old Town area began as a group of farms around the Church of St.
Michael the Archangel. The farmers came from the Nekkar Valley in
Germany.
 They
tilled the wet sandy soil, grew winter vegetables, won praise for
white asparagus. The vegetables were carried in wagon and later
truck to city markets, the new hotels and private homes.
The first
church was a small block-house still standing. It was secure and
virtually windowless because of fierce and marauding Indians. The
Army came. Captain Wells led them. Wells described himself as an
Indian fighter. A high street, which is now Wells
 Street,
lay along the riverbed. Butcher shops, shoemakers, small factories
and all the businesses needed for village life followed.
In
the 1960’s, a vibrant art community drew an
alternate theater community which drew an alternate music community
which attracted the hippies.
 Candle
shops, cutting edge retailers, drug paraphernalia shops and sin
shops drew large crowds from the suburbs. In the 1970’s,
gentrification began. Property values escalated and we come to
today.
Old
institutions like Second City and the Old Town School of Fold Music
endure. Modest cottages, new $4 million dollar mansions, working
class cottages, modern townhouses and condominiums share tree-lined
quiet streets. Prices continue to rise.
 Today
the area is vibrant, diverse, exciting, lively and urban. Theater,
fine restaurants, casual restaurants, art galleries, small shops ,
florists, an ancient wine shop and fine food stores draw large
crowds. The locals perambulate. Visitors
park in the parking lots and walk about. Old Town is a happy and
interesting place.
The lake,
its parks, the zoo and Michigan Avenue are steps away. The Gold
Coast is just to the east. The downtown business district is a neat
two miles distant. |
