Douglas (Bronzeville) in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Ida B. Wells Homes
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 27, 2021
1. The Ida B. Wells Homes Marker
July 16, 1862 - March 25, 1931
They consisted of over 1,600 units located between 37th & 39th Streets and King Drive & Cottage Grove.
They were named after journalist, anti-lynching crusader, women's suffragist, civil rights activist, Ida B. Wells, who was born enslaved in Mississippi and lived in Bronzeville for over 35 years.
Erected 2019.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is July 30, 1939.
Location. 41° 49.644′ N, 87° 37.003′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Douglas (Bronzeville). Marker is at the intersection of East 37th Street and South King Drive, on the right when traveling east on East 37th Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60653, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ida B. Wells-Barnett (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Victory, World War I Black Soldiers’ Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Supreme Life Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Richard Wright (approx. ¼ mile away); Sunset Cafe (approx. ¼ mile away); The Boulevard System (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Ida B. Wells-Barnett
this page online
Regarding The Ida B. Wells Homes. Michelle Duster was instrumental in the creation and installation of this marker.
Also see . . .
1. July 30, 1939 - The Ida B. Wells Homes are Built (AAReg).
Excerpt: "On this date in 1939, The Ida B. Wells Homes are celebrated. It was a Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) public housing project. It was located in the heart of the Bronzeville neighborhood of the city.(Submitted on September 13, 2021.)
Named for Black journalist and newspaper editor Ida B. Wells, the housing project was constructed between 1939 and 1941 as a Public Works Administration project to house Black families in the "ghetto", in accordance with federal regulations requiring public housing projects to maintain the segregation of neighborhoods. It was the fourth public housing project constructed in Chicago before World War II and was much larger than the others, with 1,662 units. It had more than 860 apartments and almost 800 row houses and garden apartments and included a city park, Madden Park."
2. Plaque and honorary street sign unveiled in memory of Ida B. Wells. 2019 article by Meagan Horstead in the Chicago Defender. Excerpt:
Michelle Duster approached Alderwoman Sophia King about three(Submitted on June 26, 2023.)years ago promoting the idea of having an honorary street name and historical marker placed at 37thStreet and King Drive, in the area that Wells once lived in.Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 27, 20212. The Ida B. Wells Homes Monument
“I felt it was important for there to be something tangible to help people remember that there was an entire housing community located in that area,” Duster said. “My fear was that land will be developed with who knows what, and there will be a complete memory erasure of what was there before. I felt that since the homes were so significant and stood for so long, it’s an important history for not only for the city of Chicago to remember, but in particular, the former residents.”
3. Ida B. Wells (National Park Service). (Submitted on September 13, 2021.)
4. Ida B. Wells Marker In Bronzeville Is Getting A Community Garden. 2023 article by Jamie Nesbitt Golden in the Book Club Chicago Excerpt:
Michelle Duster, the great-granddaughter of Wells and founding member of the Ida B. Wells Memorial Foundation, told Block Club it took less than three days to meet the $1,300 crowdsourcing goal earlier this year for the garden project.(Submitted on October 9, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)
“It tells me if people think this is important, that honoring Ida is important. People responded, they donated, and then I received a lot of emails from people were like, ‘Oh my god, this is so overdue. She’s such an icon and she definitely deserves bigger,'” said Duster, whose foundation also organizes the annual Ida B. Wells Festival.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, August 27, 2021
3. The Ida B. Wells Homes Marker Monument - wide view
The marker is mounted to a low large rock at the corner, with the large empty green field where the housing project was once located, now standing empty behind it.
Photographed By Michelle Duster
4. The Ida B. Wells Homes Marker
In 2023 a small community garden surrounding the marker was built and planted. There in more information in the article at link No. 4 on the Also See section above.
Oscar B. Willis (courtesy of the New York Public Library), 1890s
5. Ida B. Wells
By Russell Lee / Farm Security Administration (Public Domain) (courtesy of the New York Public Library), 1941
6. “Ida B. Wells Housing Project for Negroes, Chicago, Illinois”
Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,394 times since then and 151 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 13, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 4. submitted on October 9, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on September 13, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
