Welcome!

This site contains block history information that was shared at the 2017 Berteau Block Party. Since then, more research has been done and more information has been added to this site.  Information about other blocks has been compiled, to paint a more comprehensive picture of our community’s history.

How and why was this research done?

Way back in about 2016, some of the neighbors on Berteau were talking and saying that it would be interesting to know when our houses were built and who lived in them.  Jenny Snyder has a friend who works at the Newberry Library who gave Jenny a print out of a census record for Jenny’s house.  Wow, I said, do you think your friend can get us all of the census records? Alas, we were told that searching the entire census is not that easy.

So, the quest began. Eventually, some of the different resources and ways for finding house history information were investigated and I was able to compile very interesting and exciting information, which has been consolidated and documented here on this web site.

Besides learning how to search the US Census by neighborhood instead of by person, some original building permits stored on microfilm were located, as well as the original real estate transactions publicly available (in person) at the Cook County Clerk’s office.

Other interesting information was collected during the research process and shared here, as well.  With the help of the neighbors, I’m hoping we can share photos, artifacts, and stories.  Why?  Because it’s fun and interesting, and I love my neighborhood and neighbors!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me!

Ruta at 5035