Maps

For best zoom/magnification control, please download maps to your computer. See enlarged map snips below the Sources section.

Historic Maps

1834 Illinois Plats Jefferson Township – Source : Illinois Digital Archives
1851 Rees County Map – Source: Library of Congress
1861 Cook County Map – Source: Library of Congress
1889 Rufus Blanchard Real Estate Map – Source: Univ. of Chicago
1890 Snyder Real Estate Map – Source: Library of Congress
1903 Mitchell’s Real Estate Map of Chicago and Suburbs – Source: Univ. of Chicago
1910 Rand McNally Standard Map of Chicago – Source: Univ. of Chicago
1911 Chicago Annexation Map – Source: Univ. of Chicago

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1924 Old Portage Park – Source: Chicago Public Library
Sanborn Map – 1905 Six Corners, prior to the 1909 street renumbering – Source: Chicago Public Library

Other

Aerial Photo of Portage Park/Six Corners, 1938-1939 – Source: Illinois Geospatial Data Clearinghouse, Univ. of Illinois

Sources

Chronological Map Snips with comments

1851 – Taverns seem to be the most notable items to indicate on this map, and the Post Office.

1861 – Note the hotel near Six Corners – presumably the Dickinson Tavern. Also note the Milwaukee (Plank Road) toll gate, school, and probably the police station at Six Corners. The Dickinson land extended east of Cicero up to Montrose at this time.

1889 – Street naming was probably changed after the town of Jefferson was incorporated into Chicago in mid 1889.

1890 – Dickinson’s land east of Cicero appears to be sold. Three structures (the black squares) are now shown on the Dickinson farm. Toll gate still operational at Six Corners (including police station and school)

1903 – Dickinson land is not divided into lots yet. Note the train tracks between Cullom and Hutchinson. This was the Chicago Terminal Transfer Railroad. See NWCHS Newsletter July 2020 for good article (Ghost Train) about C.T.T.R.R

1905 – Six Corners prior to the 1909 street numbering (old numbers on this map). Despite the sparse amount of buildings, there are 4 saloons in this small area – near the police station and school. Where the Klee Building now stands is a tiny cobbler shop and office, but not much of anything else. S = Store, D=Dwelling, unless otherwise indicated.

1910 – Neighborhood development is well under way.

1924 – The Dickinson Tavern is still standing in a large open lot. The Milwaukee-Belle Plaine intersection is still rather sparse.