Part 1: Market Street: Work

Part 1: Market Street: Work

On New Year’s Day, 1920, the local Waukegan newspaper ran a story of the reminiscences of an un-named “old-timer” recalling when the town became a “melting pot.” Sixty years previous, those not classified as “Yankees” were either German or Irish. With the arrival of the large factories, a wide array of European immigrants came to town, with the Irish on the west side and Market street almost entirely German. The nickname for those living on Market street, “Sand Rats,” gives an indication of the a attitude of the older residents toward the newer arrival. At the same time, “many who in those days were regarded as wealthy and exclusive hit the toboggan in various ways.”  (1)

The first decades of the twentieth century was a period of rapid change for Waukegan, with growth and expansion and a rapid increase in population.

 As arguably one of Waukegan’s poorest districts, life on Market street must have been difficult. Wedged between 2 railroad lines, it must have been noisy and dirty. Even as early as 1907, the local health commissioner grew concerned that areas of the city, Market Street for one, were “miserably overcrowded” and unsanitary, though the blame for unclean conditions seems to fall upon the residents themselves:

“People filthy in their habits of living beyond belief have been reported to the health department from various sources…. People in some spots are said to live lives worse than those of dogs, crowded into rooms that are said to be indescribably dirty and unsanitary….Baths are said to be infrequent as there are no conveniences for them, while house cleanings, even so much as the scrubbing of a floor, are said to be unheard of.”  (2)

Complaints against air pollution continued for at least several years.

in 1904 a smoldering fire at the coal docks produced headaches throughout town, and permeated the atmosphere so this it was “hardly breathable.” (4)

Local residents in the vicinity of the refinery, including Market street, complained of “cinders” from the refinery smokestack when the wind blew in from the east. Laundry left to dry on such days was ruined, while “walks of the south side were covered with cinders while pedestrians would be seen digging at their eyes to remove cinders that had blown in.” Not to mention what was breathed in. Their protests, however, seemed ineffectual in causing change. (3)

In 1911, Market street resident Frank Deluga filed suit against the corn refinery, complaining that they “allow their chimneys to pour out soot and soft coal smoke upon the heads of” of the town’s citizens. The press report noted that such a suit “would do a great deal of good,” and showed concern for the rising level of pollution generally throughout the town. It is unclear if the results of the suit.(5)

 

1900

A newspaper account from July, 1900 lists the total population of Waukegan at 9418. (6) The 1900 census lists approx. 698 residents of Market Street, approx. 421 adults and 277 children. The population was predominantly adult, with 60% of the total population over 18 years of age, with 40% under 18. The population was also predominantly male, with 64% of the adults were male, and 36% were female. Male children also out-numbered female children, but only slightly, 52% male to 48% female.  Most houses included boarders.14% of the population was listed as “boarders,” and these were predominantly male. 33% of all adults 18 years or older, were unmarried, not counting widows and divorced. 41% of all adult males were single compared to 19% of all adult females.

In 1900, approx. 48% of the Market Street population was foreign born, from various European countries: the Scandinavian countries comprising the largest group at 19%, followed by Germany and Austria 8% each, Russia, including Lithuania, 7%, Great Britain, including Ireland, 3%, Holland 2%,  and various other European countries, including Yugoslavia, 2%. Only 1 person is listed as having been born in Italy, and no one from far Asia or Latin America. 52% of the population was listed as having been born in the US. Most of those listed as having been born in the US (66%), were under age 18 in 1900, and the vast majority of the children born in the US, (86%) were born to parents who had been born in other countries. There was no one identified as “Negro” in 1900; all other European descendants and American-born persons were identified as “white.”

Of the 89 addresses listed on the census, most people rented (78%), compared to owned (22%) their residence.

the 1900 census lists 22 individuals as widowed, 10 males and 12 females.

Mary Carlson was a widow in 1900 at age 42. and was living with 1 adult daughter Emily and 6 other minor children ranging from 15 to 2, at 812 Market,  2 sons and four daughters.

Mike Mikonen  was 35 and a widower in 1900, living at 316 Market, having immigrated  from Russia just 5 years before. He had a daughter Lulu 3, and a son, William, 1, living with him.

Most of the other widows in 1900 were older, and living with other family members.

3 individuals were listed as divorced, all males.

In 1900, of the 227 workers listed in the census, 53% of them were listed as simply “day laborers,” followed by Wire Mill employees at 10%, machinists at 7% and various other employment including the Tannery, the sugar refineries, carpenters, painters, bricklayers, railroad workers, teamsters, shop-keepers, boarding-house managers, etc.

Few women listed an occupation on the census, predominantly as seamstress, washerwoman or boarding-house keeper.

In 1900, the purchasing power of 1 dollar was the equivalent of $26.90 in 2016 dollars; the price of a quart of milk was 6.8 cents; a dozen eggs cost just under 21 cents, flour was 2.5 cents per pound, a round steak was 13 cents per pound. (7) In 1901, the average family of 5 in the northern mid-west had an annual income of $843, with total expenses running at $786, with food costs at $322 (42%), with rent being the next biggest expense at $99.49 (12%). (8)

1910

According to the 1910 census, the population of Waukegan was 16,069. (9)

By 1910 the Market street population had jumped to 1188, its highest point during the 5 census counts from 1900-1940, 70% adults and 30% children. Adult males still outnumber women 54% to 16%. Male children outnumber female children, but only slightly 16% to 13%. There were 370 individuals  listed as “boarders”, or 31% of the total population. These were predominantly men. In 1910, 40% of all adults 18 years or older were unmarried, not counting widows and divorced. 49% of adult males were unmarried, with 9% of adult females unmarried.

In 1910 Austrians made up the largest country of origin at 29% followed by US-born 28%, Russian, 23%,  various other European 8%, Italian 7%, Great British, German and Scandinavian 1% each. Negros start to be counted as living on Market street, though their numbers were quite small, 1%.

Of the US-born residents, 26% were adults, and 74% were children; of the total number of children, 86% of the children were born to foreign-born parents.

Of the 117 addresses listed in the 1919 census, ownership by residents seemed to drop to 11% from 22 % in 1900; 87% of residents were renters.

In the 1910 census, 11 individuals are listed as widows, 8 males, 3 females. These ranged in age from 34 to 79, a few boarders without children, a few with smaller families and older children.

One male individual is listed as divorced in 1910

Notes

(1) Waukegan became a “melting pot” in later yrs, claim, Jan 1, 1920: Libertyville Independent, p2

(2) Very unsanitary, Feb 8, 1907, Libertyville Independent, p6

(3) Cinders from Sugar refinery arouse south side, July 30, 1909 Libbertyville independent,  p1

(4) Lake County Independent, Jan 22, 1904, p1

(5) Corn product is too smoky, Libbertyville independent, Feb 10, 1911 p9

(6) Lake County Independent, July 6, 1900, P1

(7) Retail Prices, 1890 to 1925: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 418)

(8) (Retail Prices, 1890 to 1911: Bulletin of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, No. 105 Part 1)
 

Appendix

(1) Waukegan became a “melting pot” in later yrs, claim, Jan 1, 1920: Libertyville Independent, p2

Waukegan became a “melting pot” in later yrs, claim

Old-timer recalls that early immigrants were mostly Irish and German

In looking over almost any list of names of Waukegan residents one is impressed with the wide range of nationalities they represent. Old-timers announce that there was a time here when practically all those not classed as Yankees were either German or Irish. They was forty or more years ago.

It was only when the factories began springing up here that the various foreigners from Europe began coming to the city to take jobs in shop and mill. Gradually they began spreading to all lines of industry and business until today they are to be found in practically every calling.

In the early days the major portion of the west side residents were irish, and the vicinity of Market street was almost entirely a german settlement. The various parts of town had their nick-names. Those who lived under the hill toward the lake were known as sand rats. Those who lived on Butrick street were residents of rag alley. Many of the families kept poulty and pigs in the basement of their homes.

The old-timer remarked today that descendents of many of the families that clung to old country way have adopted the methods and manners of “native sons” and become influential, while many who in those days were regarded as wealthy and exclusive hit the tobaggan in various ways.

 Jan 1, 1920

(2) Very unsanitary, Feb 8, 1907, Libertyville Independent, p6

Very unsanitary

Health commissioner gavin and the police have discovered that some of the homes of Waukegan are miserably overcrowded.

Facts have come to their notice that the Market street and eight street districts particularly abound in plague spots where, if disease got a start, it would sweep the city in destructive work.

People filthy in their habits of living beyond belief have been reported to the health department from various sources.

These the health commissioner, with the police, will investigate and it is probable that sweeping reforms will be ordered and the doctrine of soap and water preached practically.

In the main it is stated that the overcrowded districts are along Market and eight streets and vicinities.

People in some spots are said to live lives worse than those of dogs, crowded into rooms that are said to be indescribably dirty and unsanitary.

Baths are said to be infrequent as there are no conveniences for them, while house cleanings, even so much as the scrubbing of a floor, are said to be unheard of.

Feb 8, 1907

(3) Cinders from Sugar refinery arouse south side, July 30, 1909 Libbertyville independent,  p1

Cinders from Sugar refinery arouse south side

Nuisance laid to sugar refinery, long put up with, under protest

South siders complain vigorously against showers of cinders that they claim come from the smoke stacks of the sugar refinery and which cover the entire south side whenever the wind is from the east. The majority of the south side housewives state that they allways marke the direction of the wind before washing, as when the wind is from the east the wash is always entirely spoiled. Last night the wind was from the southeast and the walks of the south side were covered with cinders while pedestrians would be seen digging at their eyes to remove cinders that had blown in. The protests have continued for some time but no relief has been obtained

July 30, 1909

(4) Lake County Independent, Jan 22, 1904, p1

The unusual presence of headaches among residents of the city has caused a feeling to prevail that the cause of the condition is the coal fire on the lake shore, at the coal dock. Most of the time during the past several days the wind has been in such a direction that the odor from the burning coal permeates the atmosphere to the extent that it is hardly breathable. The fumes given off have been so bad at times in some houses that investigations were made to ascertain if furnaces were out of order, the occupants feeling that the gas came from that source. The company is finding itself unable to check the fire and nightly the blaze can be seen springing up to a height which shows that the fire is certainly proving a disastrous one.

Jan 22, 1904

(5) Corn product is too smokey, Libbertyville independent, Feb 10, 1911 p9

Corn product is too smokey

Suit is filed today against corn products charging a violation of the smoke ordinance of the city by Frank Deluga

 The corn products refining company is made the defendant in a suit filed in the court of justice Bals today charging a violation of the smoke ordinance. The suit is filed by Frank Deluga of Market Street and was set for trial for Saturday at 2 o’clock.

There are many other industries in the city whom an action of this kind would do a great deal of good. They appear to have no regard for the law of the city in this respect, and continue to allow their chimneys to pour out soot and soft coal smoke upon the heads of its citizens. There are several buldings uptown on the main streets who are said to be lax also in this respect.

Feb 10, 1911

(6) Lake County Independent, July 6, 1900, P1

Waukegan has a population of 9418. These figure compare favorably with the directory census of a year ago as at that time the Washburn-Moen subdivision was figured as part of this city. That territory has probably 900 people who are now designated resident of North Chicago. When this fact is taken into consideration together with the forced shutdown of the AS&W Co’s plant, the subsequent removal of a no small percent of the foreign population it will be seen that the population will be, when the mills are in full force as is expected they will be in a short time, at least 10,000, which is all that this city has claimed.

July 6, 1900