April 2021

THE TEST OF TIME

“When we build, let us think that we build forever,” English critic John Ruskin once famously said.

It’s a nice thought, but when it comes to urban spaces like our downtown Des Plaines, it doesn’t always apply.

For better or worse, the downtown landscape is always changing, and not every building will stand the test of time.

Currently, we’re witnessing the construction of the 1.9-acre Bayview-Compasspoint Ellinwood Apartments development.

The two photos above were taken on March 28, 2021 and show what is now a construction site between the Post Office at 684 Lee and the Mexico Restaurant at 694 Lee St.

Lee Street has certainly seen its share of teardowns and new construction over the decades.

In the above photograph, two unidentified men stand in an empty lot at 692 Lee Street in August 1953. The block of 688/690 Lee Street was razed to make room for new storefronts and the Kaufman Building.

Above, the Kaufman Building at 688 Lee Street as it appeared in 1998. Businesses seen here, left to right: Advocate Health Care Thrift Shop, Furs by Gregory Stergiou, Law Offices of Bonis and Kaiser, Ltd; and Alpine Camera.

Find more pictures of Lee Street as see how it has changed from 1915 to the present HERE.

The Bayview-Compasspoint luxury apartments are being built on the 1420 block of Ellinwood Street. The old First National Bank building will remain. This view above was taken from the Southeast corner of Lee and Ellinwood on May 22, 2019.

Another photo taken of the 1420 block of Ellinwood Street, taken on May 22, 2019. Seen here (but now gone) from left to right: El Mexico Grocery Store, Threshold Martial Arts, and the Gift Depot.

Ellinwood Street west of Pearson Street as it appeared, circa 1915. The man in the picture above is walking past Behren’s Department Store.

Find more pictures of Ellinwood Street and see how it has changed from 1915 to the present HERE.

A TRASHY SIGN OF THE TIMES

One of the first submissions to the Life During COVID 19 collection was a photograph of a discarded surgical mask. Now, used mask litter is a common sight, and people are sending us more photographs for the collection.

Ann Michael sent us this photo and said, “COVID-19 produced a new litter item most commonly seen in store parking lots. The mask was on the parkway in front of my home in Des Plaines.”

Ted Landtree sent us two examples. He commented: “Seeing these used surgical masks in the streets and even littering people's yards. Not nice.” We have to agree.

Masks and face coverings of all varieties are already iconic images associated with the pandemic. Find more in the Life During COVID-19 collection HERE.

EVENTS ON ZOOM

The Des Plaines Public Library and the Des Plaines History Center are working together to collect and preserve the shared experience of the Des Plaines community for the benefit of the current and future generations to come.

We invite you to add to the Life During COVID-19 collection by sharing your photographs and writings. Please send us anything you are willing to share and feel is important! Here’s how you can contribute:

Visit our new Share Your Story page on Des Plaines Memory.

Submit your written accounts on the Des Plaines History Center COVID-19 Stories.

Submit via email through our Des Plaines Memory email account at dppl.digi@gmail.com.

Questions or comments? Email Des Plaines Memory curator Steven Giese directly at sgiese@dppl.org.

All individual contributions to Des Plaines Memory will be preserved in the Des Plaines Public Library and Des Plaines History Center digital archive.

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