chicago – Page 2 – Chicago and Cook County Cemeteries

Meet the Undertaker named “Kill” (Really!)

Back in the day, Chicago storefront undertakers were simply known by their family name. Many of these undertakers endured for generations such as Drake, Roberts, Weinstein, Herdegen, Brieke, Nelson, Ewald , Cooney, Grein, Patka, Burkhard and dozens more. The small storefront undertaking establishment at 3932 S. Wentworth was no different.

Untangling the three Waldheim Cemeteries

The dead buried in Forest Park, Illinois (population 14,300) have been estimated at over 600,000 souls , possibly as much as one million, most of which are in one of three Waldheim cemeteries. Also in Forest Park is Concordia Lutheran Cemetery, Altenheim, and Woodlawn Cemetery.

There are thousands of Cook County deaths certificates simply marked “Waldheim” (German for forest home). If you are doing your family genealogy and run into one of these death certificates, you may be unsure as to which Waldheim is your correct one. It is a question I get often.

The answer is even more complex than the title of this story. There are basically three cemeteries BUT actually over 270 separate burial grounds, that can be considered Waldheim., all in Forest Park, Let me explain.

So who was Mr. Piper?

“Piper’s Alley was opened in Nov. 1965 but was once was the H. Piper Baking Company and stables. It became a popular tourist spot in the 1960’s at 1608 N. Wells Street. There hung a huge Tiffany style umbrella between the Caravan store at 1606 N. Wells and the upscale That Steak Joynt at 1610 N. Wells. Many of us explored the narrow alley that led to a myriad of quirky shops.

You might remember Charlie’s general store with. Charlie a real live monkey. Farther along were Poor Richards, Second Hand Rose, Jack B. Nimble Candle Shop, John Brown’s Leather Works, and more. There was also the Aardvark Cinematheque Movie Theatre and the famous Second City improv theatre.

Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood was originally a farming community of German-immigrants settling in the 1840’s and anchored by St. Michael’s Catholic Church built in 1869, which survived great Chicago fire of 1871.

Wells Street by the way, before the 1909 Chicago street renaming and renumbering, was 5th Avenue.

But let’s look at the fascinating history of Pipers Alley, How did Piper’s Alley get its name? Well it was originally the horse and wagon access to the H. Piper Baking Company.

And was there a Mr. Piper? There certainly was, his name was Heinrich “Henry” Piper (1840-1914) who built one of Chicago’s most successful bakery operation at 1610 N. Wells, famous for a wide variety of breads, German pumpernickel, sweets and much more. Henry lived there with his wife, family and four servants.

1914: Chicago’s Devon Avenue originally Church Road

You are looking at a photograph taken about 1914, looking east on what was Devon Avenue (6400 North) originally Church Road..

The person taking the picture was standing just east of Western Avenue (2400 west) at about Bell Avenue (2232 West).Just barely visible way in the distance and just above the tree line at Church Road and Ridge Avenue was the beautiful St. Henry’s church steeple.