Let’s imagine you’re standing right here, looking out at the waters of the North Branch of the Chicago River. You’re on Goose Island, a 160-acre piece of land, formed by the river on one side and the North Branch Canal on the other. This island was not always here, and it wasn’t always called Goose Island. You might think a place like this was naturally formed, but this island’s story begins with one of Chicago’s first mayors, William B. Ogden. He was a real estate developer and a driving force behind the expansion of Chicago. He believed the Chicago River needed to be more accessible for commercial use. To make this happen, in 1853, he formed the Chicago Land Company. This company purchased a piece of land, and between 1853 and 1857, they dug North Branch Canal, or Ogden’s Canal, to create a shortcut around a bend in the river.
What happened when they dug that canal? That’s right, an island was formed! The island was nicknamed Ogden’s Island after the man who created it, but eventually, it got called Goose Island. No one knows for sure why it got that name. Maybe its earlier natural location was called Goose Island. Some believe it was named because of geese that lived there. In the late 1840s, a group of Irish immigrants called Kilgubbin was living on the land where Goose Island was. They lived a rural-urban life, raising livestock and working in nearby factories. They were joined by Polish and German immigrants. They built houses, built taverns and lived a simple life.
However, the industry began to move in. Companies like the Peoples Gas, Light & Coke Co. bought land on Goose Island. The plants gave off a lot of smoke. People couldn’t escape the smells and soot, and that led to a nickname for the area – “Little Hell.” The island became a destination for industrial development. By the 1880s, there were grain elevators, coal yards, stone yards, and more. Eventually, the residents moved off the island out to make room for industrial plants and warehouses. But industry left the island too. The Great Depression and the decline of manufacturing in Chicago led to the decline of Goose Island. Over several decades, the buildings were demolished and Goose Island became a symbol of Chicago’s changing industrial landscape.
In the last 20 years, Goose Island has seen a resurgence. Companies are seeing the appeal of the thick floors in the old industrial buildings. They’re turning them into office space and even technology companies are leasing space there. This transformation has changed the face of Goose Island. It’s still an island, but the sounds of industry have been replaced with the hum of innovation. If you look around you’ll see the new developments. The history of this island is one of change and transformation. It’s a story that’s still being written.