Over the past three weeks, this column has focused on some heavy topics: youth violence, civility in political discourse, and aging. Now we need a break. It is the middle of summer, after all! This week I am including a portion of an article entitled “Memories of Assumption Church and its Parishioners from the Turn of the Century through 1933.” It was written by Sister Eleanor Garibaldi, M.S.C., a graduate of Assumption School on Erie Street, which closed in 1945. It offers a colorful glimpse of River North when it was still a close-knit Italian community.

“The schools were two: Assumption (Catholic) and Kinzie (Public). The Undertakers were two: Sbarbaro, and Rocca & Hayes. The movie houses were four: The Lil Erie, the Big Erie, the Newberry, and the Windsor. The children went on Saturday and Sunday afternoon and saw every move twice (How else could they get their money’s worth?). Mrs. Edith Rockefeller McCormick was a movie buff. She used to go to the Windsor. Her chauffeur and footman in plum-colored livery used to wait in the limousine for her.

“Do you remember the buildings? The Cuneo Building on the corner of Illinois and Franklin, extending south all the way to the alley? The Garibaldi Building next to it and extending all the way to the Rectory of the Assumption Church? The cluster of buildings across the street from Assumption Church? They are all gone now except for the one on Illinois and Franklin that houses Gene and Gorgetti’s. There was Billy Bertini’s gourmet grocery store specializing in imported food items. Later on it became a fine restaurant, The House of Bertini. Pete Nanni’s Ice Cream Parlor? When we were little we used to order ice cream sodas because they were bigger. Across the street there was Victoria Restaurant, open all night and lighted up like a Christmas tree. It was the scene of the murder of Arthur Firelli, who happened to be dining there during a hold-up and made the mistake of running into the kitchen where he was killed by a pistol wielding chef. A little further up was the Cavalier Athletic Club which boasted of a baseball team. Once, an umpire rendered an unfair decision. Instead of just protesting, the Cavalier player slugged the umpire.

“The church was the heart of the neighborhood. The church bells chimed the Angelus at 6:00am, at noon, and at 6:00pm. People who wanted to sleep late used to call them ‘those d____ cow bells’ Do you remember the priests who staffed the parish church during those years? Fr. Tom Moreschini, ‘the god of the Irish,’ Fr. Angelucci, Fr. Carlo, Fr. Mondini, Fr. McElligott, the son of a fire chief who was killed in a fire. Jennie Borella could not pronounce Fr. Angelucci’s name correctly. She used to call him ‘Father Babbalucci.’ Sesto Belluomini used to love making her repeat it.

“Do you remember the big outdoor event of the year when the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows was carried in procession on Illinois Street between Franklin and Orleans by the men of the Holy Name Society? The ladies of the Santa Maria Society followed, and all the other sodalities tagged along behind them. On one occasion, when I was standing on the church steps, Edward Brizzolara blurted out: ‘Here comes the Young Ladies Sodality in wheel chairs.’ Do you remember the big indoor event of the year, the Columbian Banquet? Even the politician came. The chief items on the menu were ravioli and roast chicken. Once a man walked into the kitchen with a serving dish full of ‘the part that went over the fence last.’ Then there were the church services. My mother made us attend the Sunday afternoon services whether we wanted to or not. Likewise, the evening church services, and the interminable Holy Week Services. Once we ran home on Holy Saturday morning before the services were over. My mother chased us right back! Then there were the baptisms. One Sunday afternoon a baptismal party wanted to name the baby ‘Garibaldi.’ Fr. Angelucci told them to go find another church.”

Two footnotes to this story: Sbarbaro Funeral Home at 708 N Wells was the site of the 1924 funeral of Dion O’Banion, a member of the gangland royalty and Capone’s chief rival. O’Banion’s murder started a gang war with 600 casualties. His casket supposedly cost $10,000 (in 1924!) and over 10,000 well-wishers came. Leaving the funeral home, the procession was a mile long and included three bands. Mr. Sbarbaro, was also an Assistant District Attorney in Chicago and later a judge. His family has continued to support Assumption. The House of Bertini at 535 N Wells lasted under various names as an Italian steakhouse until 1987. The façade of the building has been compared to an Italian opera set, because Mr. Bertini was a great opera fan. In the 1950’s when north Wells had become very shabby, a Tribune reviewer wrote, “The dumpishness of the neighborhood invariably raises eyebrows. The succulence of the steaks cements friendships.”

                                                                                               Fr. Joe