West Montrose Drive

Slipping through time, let’s journey back to the 1950s on West Montrose Drive. Before the prevalence of cars, Chicago thrived on public transit, primarily streetcars. Businesses strategically lined the streetcar routes to attract customers. By the 1920s, commercial hubs flourished along these lines. The city reinforced this growth with zoning laws, designating blocks along main streets for businesses. These lots often remained empty while residential side streets filled with homes. The idea was that once a neighborhood was established, businesses would eagerly occupy the commercial lots. This pattern played out near West Montrose Drive. Homes filled nearby streets, but the Depression, World War II, and the post-war suburban boom stalled commercial development. West Montrose Drive, from Central west to Narragansett, remained largely vacant, zoned for commerce but undeveloped. These empty stretches were locally known as “prairies.” Kids transformed these prairies into makeshift baseball fields. Our story unfolds on one such prairie, now 5919 West Montrose Drive. Unlike others, it wasn’t a corner lot, limiting our baseball field. The right field line extended only about 80 feet to an old Sinclair gas station. Another challenge was the dog owners who used our field as a dog park. Around 1960, the city revised its zoning, and houses and apartment buildings quickly replaced the prairies along West Montrose Drive. This blend of two eras creates an intriguing streetscape today. West Montrose Drive, once a desolate prairie, now bustles with life, a testament to Chicago’s ever-evolving urban landscape.