April 28, 2022
When all of this started in 2017, the scope of my research was limited to the history of 5000 W. Berteau block houses, which meant locating building permits, census records, and real estate transaction records. Additionally, in hopes of locating old neighborhood photos, I started researching Arthur W. Dickinson, the person who built the majority of the houses on my block, hoping the research would lead to finding his descendants.
In 2021, I started wondering about some of the other adjacent blocks – when were they built, who were the players, what were common elements, what was different. And so, the scope of research started growing, not only about the houses but also about the Dickinson family history. And, as more neighbors become engaged, there are more interesting questions to look into, which leads to other areas of exploration.
So, as of 2022, I’d like to clarify the scope of my research:
The area or section of our neighborhood that I am focusing on is the land that was owned by the Dickinson family. The boundaries of the land are Irving Park to the south, Berteau to the north, Cicero to the east, and Laramie to the west. This was the land Chester Dickinson purchased, lots 11 and 12, when he settled in the area in 1847 – 80 acres.
Chester Dickinson passed away in 1904 at which point his land was divided up among his three children. Arthur W., the youngest of the three, had already been dabbling in home building, architecture, and real estate development prior to this time. As his real estate business started to grow, he purchased additional land in the area, including most of the north side of the 5000 W. Berteau street, some lots on Hutchinson, some on Dakin, and others yet to be discovered. Therefore, the scope of my research inevitably includes some of these areas outside of the original Dickinson land.
Basic facts are interesting and, by the wonders of Google, can be found rather readily these days. However, insights about “why” and “how” are more elusive but add to the richness and understanding of history. Therefore, continuing to explore the history of the Dickinson family, particularly now that the living descendants are a source of some of that information, has become part of the overall scope of this research. I am finding that the history of the houses, of the neighborhood, and of the Dickinson family are all inextricably tied together.
Where will this lead to………………? Who knows, but it’s a fun and fascinating journey.