Lakeview in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Calaboose

Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 13, 2023

1. Calaboose Marker

Inscription. On this site stood the calaboose and original town hall of the Township of Lake View

Erected 1937 by Chicago’s Charter Jubilee.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Law Enforcement • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Chicago's Charter Jubilee series list.

Location. 41° 57.148′ N, 87° 39.659′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Lakeview. It is at the intersection of West Byron Street and North Clark Street, on the right when traveling east on West Byron Street. The marker is about 7 feet high on the red-brick side of an apartment building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1241 West Byron Street, Chicago IL 60613, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

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and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Colonel Marcus M. Spiegel (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Joseph R. Scott (approx. 0.2 miles away); Graves Family Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Alta Vista Terrace (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Alta Vista Terrace (approx. ¼ mile away); Prairie Plant Root Depths (approx. ¼ mile away); Pollinators of the Prairie (approx. ¼ mile away); Birds of the Prairie (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Regarding Calaboose. The marker is one of 78 historical markers placed by Chicago’s Charter Jubilee in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Chicago’s city charter. The Lakeview jail described here was probably not actually here, but about ¾ of a mile southeast of here at the intersection of Addison and Halsted.

Also see . . . Historical Markers That Don’t Quite Hit the Mark.

Excerpt from WTTW (Channel 11) in Chicago: “Here’s the trouble: according to the town’s records, the original Lake View calaboose was in the same building
Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 13, 2023

2. Calaboose Marker
View from Byron Street; Clark Street is just off camera to the left.
as the town hall, which was at the northwest corner of Addison and Halsted – nearly a mile away from the Byron and Clark marker. It’s certainly possible that another jail existed where the marker stands, but despite the inscription that each marker was ‘Authenticated by the Chicago Historical Society,’ Charter Jubilee markers don’t have a great reputation for accuracy.”

(Submitted on October 13, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Lakeview Town Hall (built 1874) image. Click for full size.

Chicago Historical Society

3. Lakeview Town Hall (built 1874)

The town hall included the calaboose (prison) likely being mentioned in this marker. However, it is about a mile southeast, at the intersection of Addison and Halsted.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 350 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 13, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.