“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.
Continue reading “So who was Mr. Piper?”
Chicago and Cook County Cemeteries 