1. to stimulate awareness concerning the merits of living in Wicker Park
2. to foster neighborhood peace and safety
3. to maintain ethnic and racial harmony and cooperation
4. to encourage the restoration and preservation of the Wicker Park environs
5. to recognize the many contributions made by the business community to the character of the neighborhood

The committee members believed that through the efforts of its residents the area could provide a model for contemporary urban living. (from CIRCA, Spring, 1975)

In September, 1973, the acting chairman was Lino A. Darchun. Peter S. Wells was treasurer. Treasury records began Sept. 10. The balance forward was $76.00. Eleven memberships @ $3 were received. Pass the hat donations totaled $27.95. Matchbook sales totaled $56.00 (cost 28.30). $68.65 was spent on artwork and letterheads. Pablo DeLeon designed posters to advertise the neighborhood. The balance at the end of the year was $96.00. By October, the committee was meeting at St. Paul’s Church, 2215 W. North Ave. In October, Lino A. Darchun and other OWPC members spoke to faculty and students of the Department of Geography at the University of Chicago. The theme was private rehabilitation. In November, letters were sent to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital introducing OWPC.

1974
The OWPC met every other Monday at St. Paul's Church, 2215 W. North Ave. The officers were: James Montague, president; Lino A. Darchun, vice-president; Peter Wells, treasurer; Christine Wells, secretary. In July, Sandy Daggett was corresponding secretary. In December, Mr. Montague resigned. Lino Darchun became president and Alan Crane became vice president.

February 6, 1974 the OWPC was incorporated by the State of Illinois as a Non-for Profit Organization. The first board of directors on these papers included Lino Darchun, James Montague, Peter Wells, and Christine Wells. The constitution and by-laws were drafted. Preamble: The Old Wicker Park Committee is concerned with the condition of the Chicago inner city and flight to the suburbs of many valuable residents. The Committee has as a major goal the stabilizing of the Wicker Park area by involving the current residents in the maintenance and rehabilitation of existing structures and attracting concerned and responsible homebuyers and renters to available properties. Minority groups are viable residents of the inner city and contribute to the richness of urban life. The Old Wicker Park Committee recognizes that friction and misunderstanding exist and have existed between various ethnic and racial groups within the city and its neighborhoods. The Old Wicker Park Committee wishes to promote racial and ethnic harmony by the full and equal participation of all the concerned residents in the effort to provide a safe and congenial environment for everyone in the area. The Old Wicker Park Committee recognized the contribution made by the business community to the character and condition of a neighborhood. Those merchants and businessmen who provide their services with courtesy in pleasant environments should be encouraged to remain in the area and to join the residents in efforts to improve the commercial sections of Wicker Park.

The Old Wicker Park Committee believes that through the efforts of its residents the area can provide a model for contemporary urban living.

Article I, Policy: The Old Wicker Park Committee is not collectively politically partisan nor is its’ goal that of a pressure group. The OWPC’s primary thrust is to project a positive, honest and realistic image regarding the Wicker Park area.

March: Letters of introduction were sent to Alderman Gabinski, Hon. Matthew Bieszczat, Hon. Dan Rostenkowski, and Lewis Hill of the City Department of Planning and Development.

May: On May 28, there was a NCO Senate at Josephinum High School about the abandoned buildings in the neighborhood, called “Stop the Destruction Now”. From the flyer, “Richard Ice, Director of FHA Property Disposition will be at the NCO Senate meeting to hear our demands.”

June: On June 3, Commissioner Lewis Hill from the Department of Development and Planning was at the OWPC meeting to discuss the development of the neighborhood and the quality of life.

October: We received a status report from Louis Pagones, Director of Neighborhood Planning and Development about a zoning variation for 1530 Hoyne, a proposal to locate a half-way house of Pierce between Hoyne and Leavitt, a car stripping operation at 2221 North. OWPC had been working with the City on these issues.

November: Charles Brown, Community Relations Director for Jewel Food Stores, in response to a request from OWPC, sent Richard Dube from their real estate department to be a guest at the Nov. 4 meeting. The community discussed ways to improve the Jewel store at 1520 Damen.

December: Letters of appreciation were sent to people who had renovated or improved their property, including James Cippola for 1647 Milwaukee, Robert Suggs for 1661 Milwaukee, Iglesta Pentacostal Church at 1905 Schiller, the CTA re: the Damen St. station, Charles Brown re: the Jewel store. A letter of deep concern was sent to John Waner, Regional Director of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, who refused to meet with OWPC about the HUD housing in the area.

“An early project of the OWPC was to design posters promoting the neighborhood. These large signs were displayed at tha Civic Center for several weeks to bring Wicker Park to the attention of Chicago area residents.” (Circa, Spring, 1975)

In 1974 there were about fifty members, including but not limited to the following.

Boumenot, John
Boumenot, Mary
Crane, Alan
Daggett, Ken
Daggett, Sandy
Darchun, Lino
DeLeon, Carol
DeLeon, Pablo
Donne, Gordon
DuciBella, Joe
Foster, Edna
Goodman, RW
Hartung, Bob
Klocek, Thos
Monkowski, Isabel
Montague, Jim
Montague, Mary
Morey,Ty
Nicoloff, Boris
Palder, Arnold
Planey, Jim
Snarski, Estelle
Walsh, Jim
Walsh, Pat
Wells, Chris
Wells, Pete
Winter, Jerry

These names are those that are legible in the handwritten treasurer’s record book. Also members were Emil ….hausen, West …., Peter, Blanca, Ron, and one or two others.

1975
Meetings were held every other Monday at St. Paul’s church. Dues were $4. Lino Darchun was chairman until 2-6-75, then Alan Crane took over. He had been vice president. Boris Nicoloff took this position. The treasurer was Jim Walsh, then Robert Vogel. Corresponding secretary was Christina Wells until the summer when Monica Flores took this position. Recording secretary was Pat Walsh.

Jan. 6: letters re: proposed CHA housing at 1451 Bell to Hon. Richard Austin, US Court House and to Harry Schneider, Executive Director of CHA.

Jan. 14: letter to Allen Reiffman, Asst. States Atty. thanking him for touring the neighborhood.

Feb. 15: Lino Darchun and Alan Crane and two others met at 1937 W. Schiller with Alderman Zydlo and Commissioner Matthew Bieszczat to discuss mutual interest in improving this area of the 26th ward. Neighborhood signs were one of the topics discussed.

Spring: Volume I, number 1 issue of Circa.

March 24: Guest speaker, Mr. Martin Tangora, vice president of the Landmarks Preservation Council explained the meaning of landmark designation and offered ideas on what OWPC can do in this area.

April 7: Guest speakers – Ms. Marian Chainski, President, Sheffield Neighborhood Association, Ms. Joan Martin, Lincoln Park Conservation Association, and Me. Shanower, also a community activist.

April 21: Guest speaker, George Brody, President of Fairfield Savings and Loan about banking practices in Wicker Park.

April 9: Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation were approved to include the provisions needed to file for Federal tax exemption.

May: Letter to Ivan Novak, Security Federal Savings and Loan, 1209 Milwaukee re: dialog about neighborhood development and banking practices. He appeared at the June 16 meeting.

First letter to a realtor denying permission to use Circa in publicity.

Letters to States Attorney to express appreciation for his help in effecting the demolition of the “infamous Hoyne-Pierce project” and to Hon. James Geocaris to thank him for how he handled the matter. Two large apartment buildings were destroyed after having been abandoned for five years.

OWPC hosted a house tour for teachers of Wicker Park School.

“On June 30 four proposals under the Community Development Program of the City of Chicago were presented to the Department of Development and Planning, Lewis W. Hill, Commissioner. In summary the proposals were: 1) Funding assistance to place 20 signs identifying the Wicker Park area in three languages to reflect the ethnic character of Wicker Park; 2) Funding assistance to produce a brochure about the history and architectural significance of Wicker Park; 3) Suggestions for renovation of Milwlaukee-Ashland-Division Triangle; and 4) Participation of Wicker Park owner-occupants of 1-4 unit properties in a loan-assistance program for home improvement. A copy of the proposal package was sent to Mayor Daley.” (Circa, I,2)

1975 Summer Clean-up Campaign: “The OWPC’s summer clean-up campaign got off to a vigorous start Sunday, July 20. Leavitt Street going south from North avenue was the first target of the campaign. Committee members present with their rakes, shovels, etc. were aided by the local Boy Scout troop headed by Scout Master Don Shutters, and a few neighborhood children drafted on the spot. This was the first of three clean-ups scheduled for this summer with the Boy Scouts. The next two will be August 24 and September 14.” (Circa,I,2) Chris Padula, director of the paid summer job BUILD cleanup program worked with OWPC also. OWPC was able to illicit materials from local companies for BUILD.

The first T-shirts were sold for $4. The first order of six dozen sold in two weeks.

Summer, 1975 – Circa, Volume I, Number 2

August 10: The meeting, with a tour, was held at St. Mary’s Hospital at the invitation of Sister Stella Louise who had spoke at the July 28 meeting. Also at the meeting was Jeanne Sigler, Director of Urban Programs, Chicago United.

Letter to Carlos Garcia, Illinois Bell, thanking him for plans to beautify their building at 1530 Damen.

September: House tour for the teachers at Sabin High School.

October 6: General membership meeting – Guest: Julian Levy of the Mayor’s committee for Neighborhood Restoration.

October 17, 1975: Article in the Daily News by Don deBat, “Wicker Park: Classic architecture makes a ‘comeback’.”

November: Commander Garcia and the Wood Street Police were invited to a house tour to be held on December 7. This apparently was cancelled due to concern, it was alleged, that there was a policeman in the neighborhood who was targeting stained glass windows for theft. It was to be rescheduled for the Spring, but was not.

November 3: General membership meeting – Sgt. Greenspan of the Wood Street Police Station explained the recently established Beat Rep Program.

December 1, 15: General membership meetings for which we have minutes. Many of the above activities were discussed, as well as neighborhood policing in general and the gang situation at Hoyne and Evergreen. The advisory commission of Landmarks was to present Wicker Park to the Mayor’s Committee for landmark status. A presentation was to be prepared.

1976
Officers: Boris Nicoloff, Chairman; Lon Frye, Vice-Chairman; bob fogel, Treasurer, Gordon Doane, Recording Secretary, Monica Flores, Corresponding Secretary.

CIRCA, Vol. 2, no.1 published in Dec. 1975 or Jan. 1976 – Winter 1976.

Jan. 12: Meeting with guest speaker, Richard Troy, General Counsel of the Chicago Park District.

At the January meeting of the Advisory Committee to the City’s Commission of Historical and Architectural Landmarks, the merits of recommending Wicker Park for landmark designation was on the agenda. “Mr. Tangora emphasized that this is but the first step in what is a long process. (CIRCA, Vol. 2, no,1)

Wicker Park poster at the Civic Center.

Exhibit opened for public view at ArchiCenter with 100 in attendance.

November: Marion Smith writes, “I recall one cold evening in November 1976, when seven to twelve of us, Wicker Park Pioneers, huddled in the basement family room of St. Paul’s Church. The stalwarts who formed OWPC were there: Lonn Frye, Conrad and John, Penny LaBord, Joe Duci Bella, Sandy Daggett, Jim Walsch, Jerry Winters, Pablo De Leon, Bob Hartman and others. We discussed how to put our community ‘on the map’. Someone said, ‘Let’s have a Festival!’ Thus the Greening Festival was born.

1977
Officers were Lonn Frye, Chairman; Susan burgess, vice chairperson; Carl Holmgren, Treasurer; Tom Trots, Secretary; Paul Muther, Legal Counsel.

Application was made to obtain National Historic District Designation with the Department of the Interior.

First Annual Greening Festival held August 20 & 21 with over 2,000 in attendance.

Marion J. Smith was the festival coordinator. The committees were graphics – Pablo De Leon; entertainment – John Boumenet, Carl Holmgren, Tony Kavenaugh, and Jerry Winters; historic tour – Lonn Frye and Tom Knudtson: exhibits and sales – Carl Holmgren, Marion Smith, and Linda Van Doren; Publicity – Susan Burgess, Alan Crane, Pablo De Leon, Bev Griffith, Paul Muther and Marion Smith. Other volunteers mentioned in the archives are Douglas and Susan Bevis, Lou Burgess, Mary Boumenet, Ken and Sandy Daggett, Dennis Daner, Dave Dexter, Leonard Ganiel, Bill Griffith, Sam Levinson, John McCelland, Elena rose, Neal Sasnowski, Richard and Elaine Tilley, and Jim Varchmin. There was a historic walking tour of the neighborhood. Lonn Frye hand lettered large placards describing the homes’ architectural styles, and placed them in front of the major historic buildings. There were community booths (police, arts and crafts, plant sales) and food by Sophie of the Busy Bee on Damen Ave. Banners proclaiming “Busy Bee and Lubinski Furniture Salute Wicker Park Greening Festival” were festooned across Damen and Milwaukee Avenues. Electronic signs advertising the festival flashed on the Dan Ryan, Kennedy, and Eisenhower expressways. Free radio spots also announced the festival. Entertainment included Ethnic Dances, songs and music of Eastern Europe”, Magic Circle Theater Company special Children’s show – “Beauty and the Beast”, Organ recitals at Wicker Park Lutheran Church, and the Folkorico Dance Co. of St Bonaface Church.

1978
Doug Bevis, Membership Chairman. Jerry Winter, CIRCA editor.
Photo Exhibit at the Cultural Center and at the Daley Center.

April 3, The Second Semi-Annual OWPC Pot Luck Smorgasbord at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

May 13, First Annual Spring Plant Sale with a neighborhood Walking Tour as part of the National Preservation Week celebration May 6-15. (Tour maps - $1.50)

A neighborhood tour booklet was published.

August 19 & 20, Second Annual Greening Festival. Marion Smith and Jerry Winters, CoChairs
Large numbers of visitors attended. The eight-page festival guide featured a proclamation
signed by then Mayor Michael A. Bilandic. Festival committee members and volunteers doubled from the first year.

August 24: After fest evaluation meeting.

September 11: Membership meeting

September: CIRCA, number 9

October 2: Membership meeting – elections

A storefront office was opened. It was obtained rent free – value equivalent to $3000 a year.

1979
August 16 & 17, Third Annual Greening Festival. Elaine Coorens, Chair
Several firsts occurred. House tours included interiors for the first time. Tickets were $3 per adult. The booklet expanded to 28 pages, house signage was professionally coordinated and the festival turned a profit.

The Second Annual Neighborhood Plant Sale

OWPC received notice of Historical District Designation approval by the Department of the Interior. Old Wicker Park is now one of the largest Urban Historic Districts in the nation.

Internal Revenue Service issued a Non-Profit Registration number and an employer identification number.

OWPC received a $500 contribution from the Pritzker Charitable Foundation.

OWPC participated in the first City House Exhibit at Navy Pier.