Have you ever wondered how a street got its name? Well, today, we are standing right on South Ashland Avenue, one of the most significant thoroughfares in Chicago. It’s a long, straight street, lined with shops and houses. This vibrant avenue stretches through many neighborhoods of Chicago, and its story is deeply entwined with the history of the city itself.
In the mid-19th century, the street was called Reuben Street. Developer Samuel J. Walker, a native of Kentucky, moved to Chicago in 1855. He saw the potential of this street, and so he developed it, widening it, paving it, and even planting trees. He then renamed this street, recognizing its beauty and its importance. He called it Ashland Avenue, in honor of the Kentucky estate of Henry Clay, which was filled with ash trees. This connection to his home state remains a fascinating part of the street’s story.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Ashland Avenue was a major streetcar route, carrying millions of passengers across the city. It was one of what Chicagoans called the “Big Five,” the streets that boasted the most streetcar traffic. You can almost imagine the rumble of the streetcars as they travelled down this avenue, transporting people on their daily errands or to their work.
Today, the streetcars are gone, but Ashland Avenue continues to be a vibrant pulse of the city, a street that has witnessed growth and change. This avenue represents a connection to the past, a rich history that still lives on in the bricks and mortar of this remarkable street.