3444 West Congress Parkway, Chicago IL

3444 W Congress Parkway, in the heart of Fifth City on Chicago's west side. This was home to myself & many others over 15 or so years in the late 60's into the late 70's. I lived here as the child of a couple who had joined an organization called the Ecumenical Institute, which later became the Institute of Cultural Affairs. Most of us were white, and this is/ was a predominantly black neighborhood.




The Gym, it also served as a chapel for Daily Office & I'm sure many other things. At some point I believe that the Fifth City Preschool also operated out of this building. I was on the northwest corner of the property. There was a wrought Iron gate that ran from there to Faculty West.




The building formed a huge 'J' shape. It had been apartments, quite posh ones I'm sure in the heyday of that part of town. There were still apartments in it, and a penthouse on the top. It was connected to a building we called Admin. I never realized how really big this building was till I saw these pictures earlier this year.

This is where I lived. In an apartment on the main floor that overlooked the street. This whole complex is gone now, torn down and made into part of Bethany Hospital.

We attended Lief Erickson Elementary School, the most misnamed school on the face of the earth.