Dunning in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Veterans Memorial
Photographed by Sean Flynn, January 6, 2024
1. Veterans Memorial
Honoring those who served, fought and died in the defense of America's freedom.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Military • Patriots & Patriotism.
Location. 41° 57.156′ N, 87° 47.176′ W. Memorial is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Dunning. It is at the intersection of Narragansett Avenue and Irving Park Road (Illinois Route 19), on the right when traveling north on Narragansett Avenue. The memorial is in the northwest corner of Merrimac Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 6343 West Irving Park Road, Chicago IL 60634, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial 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, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 9/11 Memorial (approx. Ό mile away); Orphaned and Abandoned Infants and Children (approx. 0.3 miles away); Cook County Poorhouse (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Sick and Infirm at Dunning (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Cook County Insane Asylum (approx. 0.3 miles away); Unknown and Itinerant Poor of Cook County (approx. 0.3 miles away); Cook County Cemetery at Dunning 1854 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Civil War Veterans (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.
More about
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Also see . . . Merrimac Park (Kolze Grove) Description & History. See Description & History of site where memorial sits.
Post World War II, the Chicago Park District began a major initiative to create new parks which this site was among the recommended. It included a picnic and dance ground in the rapidly growing Dunning neighborhood. Known as Kolze's Electric Grove.(Submitted on April 22, 2026, by M.Bloom of Leyden, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean Flynn, January 6, 2024
2. Veterans Memorial
circa Circa/1920
3. Former Kolze Grove / Kolze's Electric Park
The memorial sits in the approximate location of the former Kolze establishments Saloon & Restaurant.
The grove had a hotel, clapboard tavern, restaurant, and several other buildings. The large amount of wooded area behind those buildings became the Electric Park fully illuminated at night.
The general public frequented the grove, such as church groups, labor unions, political organizations, military groups, and large family functions, all who could rent the entire park. Among the many buildings was a dance pavilion, shooting gallery, picnic tables, refreshments, concession stands, and plenty of German beer.
Photographed by Sean Flynn, January 6, 2024
4. Merrimac Park's northwest entrance
The veterans memorial is in the background.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,154 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 6, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on April 22, 2026, by M.Bloom of Leyden, Illinois. 4. submitted on January 6, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
