Ridge Historical Society
National Police Week: The History of the Morgan Park Police Station – Part 2
By Carol Flynn
The Morgan Park police station was closed in 1918, four years after it was established when the village annexed to the City of Chicago. Morgan Park was now serviced by District 8 – Precinct 10, referred to as the Kensington station, located at 200 East 115th Street. The District 9 – Precinct 12 station at 8501 South Green Street, referred to as the Gresham station, was the other station that could service the area.
A frame building at 11033 South Hale Avenue was used as a small sub-station after 1918, with a few officers assigned there. The building was behind the storefront originally used as the town hall and was described in the papers as the “old barn in the alley.” One “flivver” squad operated out of the building and other police autos were stored there.
In 1925, the Morgan Park community requested that their area be transferred to the Gresham station as it would be easier and closer. It was also requested that the substation in the barn be moved to the storefront on the property, the old town hall. Concern was expressed it was inconvenient and inappropriate for women to have to walk down a dark alley to get help, especially at night. The transfer to Gresham happened in July 1926, but the relocation of the sub-station did not happen.
By 1927 the Morgan Park community was seriously petitioning the city to establish a new police station there. A series of home robberies and “peeping Toms” at the “scantily protected homes of Beverly Hills” and purse snatches along Vincennes Avenue had led to fear and concern. It was felt it took too long for a response from Kensington or Gresham.
Commissioner of Police Michael Hughes gave assurances that the department would try for a new station and personnel, but this would depend on securing the funding from the city. Hughes reportedly had already asked the city for 8,000 additional men.
Later that year, it was announced that a state-of-the-art police station would be built at Monterey Avenue and Esmond Street in Morgan Park. The plans showed a brick building with professional landscaping that would include a courtroom, holding cells with showers, a dormitory, a gymnasium, and a garage. Designed by city architect Argyle E. Robinson to fit in with the architecture in the area, Hughes described it as “a beautiful building that would look more like a country mansion than a police station.”
Land was purchased at the northeast corner of Monterey Avenue and Esmond Street for the new station. In early 1928, it was reported that the plans for the new station had been approved by all necessary parties; the money had been set aside from a recent bond issue; bids were received and ready to be reviewed; and the contract would be awarded in time for the new station to be open by October.
This new building was never built. Instead, the funds were diverted to completing the central police station at 11th and State Streets.
Disappointed, in 1929, the citizens of Morgan Park again went back to the Commissioner of Police, now William Russell.
The city agreed to rent a double storefront at 1925-27 Monterey Avenue to use as a new station. The location was considered temporary until the funds could be found to build a new station. The facility was remodeled, telephone lines were installed, and the new 13th District opened on December 2, 1929. The day sergeant from the alley substation became the day sergeant in the new facility.
The boundaries of the new district were Halsted Avenue, 99th Street, and the city limits to the south and west. Mount Greenwood had annexed to the city in 1927 and was included in the new district. There were no holding cells or garage at the facility, so prisoners and wagon calls still had to be handled out of Gresham or Kensington.
The Ridge community welcomed the new police staff with a parade, entertainment, speeches, and a luncheon at Morgan Park High School. Every civic group in the community was represented at the event. The entertainment was provided by a vocalist, a trio of police singers, and the high school band.
In January 1936, it was announced that the city had received over $11 million in grants and loans from the Public Works Administration (PWA). This was a federal program during the Great Depression to supply jobs to unemployed men for construction projects. PWA funds could be used for 45% of the cost of a public building. City architect Paul Gerhardt designed a “standard” police station to be built in several locations, including Morgan Park.
A new cement art deco-style station was finally built in 1936 at 1830 West Monterey Avenue. This one included holding cells and a garage. Morgan Park finally once again had a completely functional police station.
And then in 1961, the unthinkable again happened – the City of Chicago closed the Morgan Park police station.
Next post: Once again Morgan Park seeks to reestablish its police station.