1940–103rd Street @ Michigan Avenue, view east
2016–the same location
In 1848 Dutch farmers established Roseland’s first permanent settlement, along what’s now the Michigan Avenue ridge. By 1940 much of the area was built up. However, aside from a few older homes, this particular stretch of 103rd Street remained vacant, zoned for business. The rise in the street to the ridge is visible in the foreground.
Commercial development finally came to the 103rd Street strip during the 1950s. Though there are still a few empty lots, at Christmas time the candy canes on the light poles give the street a festive look.
—30—
Chicago History Today 
Chicago is one of my favorite cities. I just found your blog and look forward to reading your posts about the history of the great midwest city.
Thanks!
–JRS
This was my old neighborhood and sadly 103rd Street has lost a great deal of its luster.
I was inducted in to the Navy with a bunch of guys from Roseland at the old Roseland Theatre in 1960. Going to post the story of that event on my blog in a month or so. It has changed a lot since I visited and shopped in the area in the mid-1970’s and 80’s. There were no vacant lots along Michigan Avenue then; just lots and lots of businesses.