Then and Now, Sacramento-Lake

1939–Sacramento Boulevard @ Lake Street, view north

2024–the same location

The older photo shows one of the original stations on the 1893 Lake Street ‘L’ line. Chicago gambling kingpin Michael Cassius McDonald was one of the driving forces behind the project, earning the line the nickname “Mike’s Upstairs Railroad.” By 1939 the area around the Sacramento station was fully-settled.

In 2024 the station here is gone. So are many of the old buildings. But new development is on the way.

–30–

2 Responses to “Then and Now, Sacramento-Lake”


  1. 1 Ad Dawg July 1, 2024 at 4:02 am

    Grew up in that area (Sacramento and Madison Street). I don’t remember a Lake Street “L” station at that location. Time frame: 1957 – 1960.

    Did I get it right or wrong?

    • 2 J.R. Schmidt July 1, 2024 at 8:14 am

      You’re right! By 1957 there was no station at Sacramento. CTA closed the station there in 1948. But just recently, CTA rebuilt the station at Morgan, which had also been axed in 1948. So maybe Sacramento will again get a station in the future.
      –JRS


Leave a comment