Book: Streets of the Near West Side by William S. Bike

categories: Book, Illinois, History, Chicago History, Streets, Chicago Streets, Near West Side, Chicago Trivia, Chicago Neighborhood, City Streets, Chicago

William S. Bike

about this book: Streets of the Near West Side is book detailing for whom and what the streets of Chicago's Near West Side community are named. I wrote columns about street names for the Gazette newspaper of Chicago for about ten years, and put them together in this book. People who are interested in Chicago trivia and history enjoy Streets of the Near West Side. The cover shows what the Near West Side looked like in the 1930s, and the buildings depicted in the photo still exist.

Much library research was involved in the book. I learned a lot about the area's history.

I would say to readers: enjoy the short chapters. It's an easy, informative book to read.

Reviews:

• "I loved reading this book. It is an enjoyable, clearly-written introduction to a neighborhood that was "home" to thousands of Chicago's immigrants, including many of my ancestors." — Reviewer on Amazon

• "Streets of the Near West Side is supposed to be a Chicago history book about one small neighborhood, but it's much more. It's about who the area's streets are named after, so it tells the stories of Presidents, Indians, Civil and Revolutionary War battles, and a lot of other quirky, odd, and fun information that you didn't learn about in high school history." — Reviewer on Amazon