Beneath the Green Line terminus sits Harlem/Lake station. It stands as a testament to Chicago’s transit history. Today, we explore Harlem/Lake station. We will uncover its story.
Harlem/Lake is more than just a stop. It is a connection point between Chicago and its suburbs. The station is located at 1 South Harlem Avenue. While named Harlem/Lake, Lake Street is actually not nearby. The station sits at Harlem Avenue and South Boulevard, near the Oak Park Metra station.
Originally named Harlem Terminal, Harlem/Lake opened on October 28, 1962. Before its construction, the Lake Street Elevated line extended further west. It went through Oak Park to Marion Street. This extension happened in 1901. Later, in 1910, the line reached Forest Park station, just beyond Harlem Avenue.
The original tracks ran at street level. They paralleled the Chicago & North Western Railroad. This setup led to numerous accidents. Pedestrians and wagon drivers often failed to notice oncoming trains. Neither the “L” nor the C&NW had crossing protection initially. Harlem station emerged from consolidating Forest Park and Marion stations.
In 1961, a project began to elevate the Lake Street “L” tracks. The project cost 4 million dollars. Multiple entities financed it. They included the Chicago Transit Authority, the City of Chicago, and the Village of Oak Park. Cook County, the State of Illinois, and the US Bureau of Public Roads also contributed. The Chicago & North Western Railroad cooperated. Instead of building a new elevated structure, the “L” tracks moved onto the C&NW’s embankment. This relocation eliminated 22 grade crossings between Laramie and Harlem avenues.
New stations replaced the old street-level ones. The new Harlem station featured island platforms on the embankment. Street-level station houses were built on the embankment’s south side. The modern design included large picture windows and ceramic glazed brick walls. The color code for Harlem station was green.
The station had entrances at Harlem Avenue and Marion Street. Some promotional materials called it “Harlem-Marion”. The platform had a wooden floor and a steel canopy. Lake “L” trains began using the elevated right-of-way on October 28, 1962. Temporary fare control areas were used until the permanent station houses were ready.
The Marion station house opened on January 11, 1963. The Harlem station house followed on January 16, 1963. The terminal was completed in 1964. A car storage yard and a two-story Transportation Building were added. The Transportation Building featured a stainless steel CTA logo.
In 1994, the Green Line closed for refurbishment. The Marion entrance was rebuilt to modern standards. An escalator and elevator were added. The Harlem Avenue entrance received new lighting and fare controls.
Harlem was renamed Harlem/Lake after the Green Line reopened in 1996. This change helped distinguish it from other Harlem stations. Today, Harlem/Lake continues to serve as a vital transportation hub. It connects communities and preserves a piece of Chicago’s rich transit heritage.