Rhonda Contreras sent me an email with images of postcards of White City amusement park she'd collected from Ebay. Here's an exerpt from her email
My grandmother (Jessie Mae Jarrell, who lived on Alloway Place) used to go to White City Amusement Park when she was a girl. Have you noticed that the gate to the yard of the house at Confederate & Waldo has a "C" on it? It was named for the Chicago World’s Fair of 1898, I think. Here is what she told me about it: The man's name was Charley Chosewood, and he is said to have married a beautiful girl. On a trip to Florida (their honeymoon?) she drowned. He allegedly returned to Atlanta and drained the lake and closed the amusement park, because he couldn't stand the thought of anyone drowning in the lake.
I've assembled the images she sent into a photo album. Click here to see the postcards.
Beautiful! And what an interesting story.
Posted by: Amber | December 03, 2005 at 07:56 PM
Great photos love the postcards!
Posted by: Ashley Bowers | December 22, 2005 at 10:07 AM
Larry.
I wish we could all get along too. But the thing that really gets me is the total lack of respect many of the residents have for their neighbors---dogs barking, bass booming, loud cursing. It really makes it difficult to accept that type of behavior, which has been prevelant since I moved here eight years ago. It has gotten better though since more homeowners have started to move in.
Posted by: chad carlson | July 10, 2006 at 08:57 PM
Do you know where the White City Amusement Park was located? Was it Piedmont Park, or Grant Park? Thank you.
Posted by: Peggy Davis | November 13, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Yes-- I was age 4 0r 5, my late uncle was manager of all the "joints," i.e., carnival-type games of chance" (all "fixed" or "gaffed," as the carnies
put it). Since everyone knew who I was, White City (Chicago) was my free "baby sitter."
Posted by: John D. McCauley | January 15, 2009 at 08:40 PM
To Peggy Davis(Nov.13,'08):
White City was located at 63rd & South Park on Chicago's south side.
Posted by: John D. McCauley | January 15, 2009 at 08:48 PM
I think Charley Chosewood may be related to my husband's family, and I am interested in finding out more about White City Park.
Debbie at bluebirdhill3930@gmail.com
Posted by: Debbie Radford | June 17, 2009 at 01:23 PM