Reggie Griffin (Transcript Only)
INTERVIEWER: Jean Van Der Mark INTERVIEWEE: Reggie Griffin
Date: August 25, 1986
Full Name: Reginald Eric Griffin
I SUPPOSE YOU’D LIKE TO TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY BACKGROUND.
I was the oldest of a family of nine children. I lived on the south side of
Chicago, went to Englewood High School. Most of my family still lives on the south side. I came to the North Side, when I married my wife in 1964.
DID YOU COME TO EDGEWATER? she asks.
No, I came to Lincoln Park, at least I think it was called Lincoln Park, because it was near North Avenue. Shortly after we were divorced in 1972, I came to Uptown on the advice of a friend.
WHERE DID YOU LIVE in UPTOWN?
Oh, I lived on the corner of Winthrop and Argyle and stayed there four or five years. And the building I was staying in was being sold. The landlady who was selling that building had another building in Edgewater and asked if I would like to move there, so I agreed to move into the new building which was at Berwyn and Winthrop. While I was in Uptown, I was a member of the Board of the Uptown Commission, and that’s where I first met Kathy Osterman who was also a member of the Board, and there was a joint project between the Council and the Uptown Commission, where I met several other members of the Council, one of them being Bob Remer, who at the time was president of the Council. After they heard that I had moved into the area, because even now, both the Council and the Commission sometimes claim the area between Foster and Bryn Mawr as their service area.
WHAT KIND OF SERVICES DO THESE COMMUNITY GROUPS OFFER?
Well I feel they should be offering a better life for all residents of those areas.
DO YOU THINK THEY’RE TRYING TO DO THAT?
Yes, I think a real honest effort is being made. But of course there’s always room for improvement.
HOW DOES EDGEWATER AS A COMMUNITY DIFFER FROM UPTOWN? And WHAT ARE ITS NEEDS?
The difference is, I feel, that Uptown is a much more closely-knit community,
where neighbors know each other better.
WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? DO YOU THINK THE HIGH RISES MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
No, I don’t think it’s a difference in housing. Housing in Uptown, in many respects, is not as well kept as housing in Edgewater. I think the conditions that many of the residents face in Uptown draws them closer together. Edgewater is more of a middle-class community and people are able to make it on their own, so they seem to stay to themselves a lot more. In that respect, high rises do tend to foster that kind of living. It keeps a lot of people separated. But in Uptown, they all seem to draw closer together because they seem to work harder since there isn’t as much good housing as there is in Edgewater. So I think the housing situation tends to draw a lot of people closer together.
IN WHAT OTHER WAYS DO THE COMMUNITIES DIFFER? YOU HAVE ENJOYED LIVING IN EDGEWATER?
I’ve enjoyed living in both communities because I found in them both the basis of what I believe in. The differences? That’s where the housing question comes in; I think there’s a lot of differences in the type of housing in each area. The better stock of housing in terms of more single and more single-dwelling family units, you will find more of those in Edgewater. They are more stable; you find much more tree land, grass and this type of thing in Edgewater than in Uptown. Maybe, I think that’s the reason why people try harder in Uptown.
DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANYTHING THAT MAKES EDGEWATER UNIQUE FROM CHICAGO COMMUNITIES?
Oh, definitely so, even with the division of peoples. Both Edgewater and
Uptown have people of great diversity of backgrounds, and the fact that a
lot of different types of people can live together. This is one of the things
that made me kind of fall in love with the area. You can go to many
different areas in the city, as you know, where blacks are not wanted, or
whites aren’t wanted or any other ethnic groups. But this is not so in
Edgewater. I think it’s very unique. And as you know, we have one of the
most diverse school populations, in our high schools. For instance, Senn
High School has probably the most diverse ethnic population of any school in
the city.
THAT’S TRUER IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS!
Yes, of course; most of this diversity has occurred in the last seven years. So that tells you a lot about Edgewater.
DO YOU LIVE IN A HOUSE OR AN APARTMENT?
In an apartment.
HOW DID YOU HAPPEN TO CHOOSE THAT PARTICULAR APARTMENT?
Well, I happened to choose that apartment as I have done things in other types of my development–knowing someone. About a year and a half ago, Allan Franzen, who was then president of the Council, was also a resident in that building. Based on his recommendation to the management of the building, I was able to get in.
YOU HAD BEEN LIVING ON SHERIDAN ROAD, I THINK, AND I UNDERSTAND YOU MUCH PREFER THIS LOCATION TO SHERIDAN ROAD?
Oh, definitely. People may not know this but I am a person who likes a lot of peace in his surroundings, because I’m involved so much with others, I need to get away sometimes without a lot of distractions or noise. And this community that I live in now gives me that. Whereas Sheridan Road is always full of hustle and bustle–buses and a lot of other types of activity. That’s why I prefer the quiet, serene type of living.
YOU HAVE A PLAYGROUND ALMOST ACROSS THE STREET? WHO USES THAT? DOES THE COMMUNITY USE IT?
Well, yah, mostly the little kids who live in the area–and their parents. And even during the school term, many of the students from Senn High School, like on their lunch break, or whenever they’re free, they seem to use it a lot, too.
IS EDGEWATER A COMMUNITY THAT IS MIXED ACCORDING TO AGES? OR IS THAT TRUE OF JUST CERTAIN PARTS OF IT? I GUESS YOUR AREA IS ONE THAT HAS A MIX OF AGES.
Well, yes and no! The choices for seniors are mostly up and down Kenmore. If there are senior citizen dwellings located in Edgewater, they are mostly on Kenmore. In my area, there are mostly young professionals between the ages of 25 and 40, and there are a lot of persons who own their own homes and who have been in the area for a long time. On the block I live there are mostly multi-dwelling units which are basically apartments. A few blocks away are single-family homes of people who have lived in the area for a long period of time, and many of them, of course, are seniors. A lot of younger families are beginning to buy in within the last four or five years.
ARE THOSE WHO ARE BEGINNING TO BUY IN, DO THEY HAVE CHILDREN?
Many of them are planning for families, so if they don’t have children yet, but they are buying space for their future families. And many, I find, are people whose families have expanded, and they’re looking for more room. And as we all know, those who have families, trying to rent an apartment that allows children, means they have to find an alternative form of housing.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE TRANSPORTATION IN EDGEWATER?
That is one of the loves I have for Edgewater, and I had in Uptown as well. The best transportation I have known through all my years in Chicago is to be found right here; and I was born in Chicago. We have access to buses and trains in all sorts of directions throughout this community. You never have to wait that long. If you miss one, especially in the morning or coming home from work in the evening, you don’t have to wait that long, just a matter of minutes. They run them so often, especially in the morning, that many times I prefer taking the bus, especially if I leave home in time, rather than take the train. Transportation in this area is particularly very good.
COMING BACK TO EDUCATION, YOU SAID SENN HAD A MIXED POPULATION. WHAT ELSE?
Edgewater has from grammar school, or elementary school, through college has an educational school system from kindergarten all through college.
WHAT KIND OF AN EDUCATION DO YOU GET? GOOD, BAD, OR INDIFFERENT?
I think the schools are good— well-rounded with a good reputation. We have two institutions of higher learning–Loyola University and Mundelein College, which happen to be Catholic institutions. We have Senn High School, and just off the top of my head, at least the ones I know about, five elementary schools which are in the Edgewater community. Therefore, I think we offer a very good opportunity to anyone seeking a good education, a well-rounded education that they couldn’t get every place else.
THEY WOULDN’T BE DEPENDENT ON PRIVATE SCHOOLS IF THEY DIDN’T WANT TO USE PRIVATE SCHOOLS? IS THAT WHAT YOU’RE SAYING?
Yes, this is true. You have a choice of either public or private schools, even though there are more public schools, you can go to private schools if you can afford it.
HOW ABOUT AMUSEMENTS? DO YOU HAVE TO GO OUT OF THE COMMUNITY FOR THAT, OR CAN YOU FIND THAT IN THE COMMUNITY, TOO?
That’s one of the real pluses that the Council has brought about since I have been a member of the Council. And that is they have provided for the amusement of the children. There was a ten-year effort between the Council and the powers-that-be to have the Broadway Armory, on Broadway and Glendale converted to a facility where our youngsters can go and have all sorts of activities, including baseball and other kinds of sports activities, that any youngster would enjoy. There has also been a joint effort between the Council and the Park District to convert the Viatorian property on Granville and Sheridan into a cultural institution.
HAS THAT BEEN RECENT? THOSE THINGS ARE RECENT. WHAT ABOUT BEFORE THOSE TWO THINGS?
That’s one reason why the Council works so hard to get these two projects going. Because before that time, we didn’t have anything where anyone living in the community could go over and enjoy something.
WE HAVE BEACHES?
Yes, and we have tot lots for little children. But for youngsters thirteen and up, there wasn’t that much. I think we have begun to deal with that issue, and Edgewater, at this point, does offer something for all age groups.
AS AN ADULT, IF YOU WANTED TO SPEND A WEEKEND OF FUN AND FROLIC, COULD YOU DO THAT WITH EASE IN EDGEWATER?
With considerable ease. We have a beautiful shore line, which is surpassed by none other in Chicago – beautiful lake front, in which the Council has been very involved in trying to keep intact. There are many local block clubs that are active in sponsoring many types of festivals and many other types of things. We have an open market which is quite well known. We have many street sales where communities get together to offer nice things to residents.
HOW ABOUT THEATER?
We did have one theater, which I think has moved out (Commons Theater), but another one has moved in. But Pegasus Theater is in Edgewater and has been playing in Uptown and Truman College. But, yes, we do have some of those types of activities.
BUT OVER ALL DO YOU THINK IT IS A GOOD AREA IN WHICH TO LIVE?
Yah, I’ve lived in several types of neighborhoods in Chicago, but I really like living in Edgewater. I think if I had to do it all over again, I’d probably do it in the same way. I’ve met a lot of friends and a lot of good people, and it’s made my stay in Edgewater quite rewarding. So, yes, I’d have to say I do love Edgewater.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF EDGEWATER MIGHT BE?
I think the future of Edgewater is quite promising; it’s quite progressive, based on what I’ve seen since I’ve been here the community is opening up racially, which is a very important point to me, although I do know there have been times in certain parts of Edgewater where black people could not go. In fact, the last new board member shared an experience with me on the block where he lived about four years ago when a black family tried to move in and there were some racial problems. I feel that has since changed, especially in the area where I live because when I first came here years ago they said that minorities were situated east of Broadway, in the area that is known as Winthrop-Kenmore corridor. But there were very few blacks west of Broadway. But this has definitely changed because I’m one who lives west of Broadway, where even four or five years ago I wouldn’t even have thought to live west of Broadway. So I guess it’s just human nature that when people get to know who you are and that you want the same things out of life that they do, that the feeling of living next door to someone not of your race begins to diminish when they get to know you. And because of that I think that Edgewater has a very promising future.
YOU’VE BEEN SPEAKING NOW ASA BLACK, WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE OF OTHER RACES?
ARE THERE OTHER NATIONALITIES ABLE TO LIVE HERE? DO THEY HAVE THE SAME
PROBLEMS IN ENTERING NOW?
Not the ones that I have been in contact with–No! As I said, it’s all a case in getting to know a person. And if a person is black or of some other ethnic minority group, if they would buy a house next door to someone who has been living there for many years, then I think they have to be given an opportunity the same as someone who has been living here twenty or thirty years.
WHAT I WAS TRYING TO ASK YOU–DO YOU THINK EVERY GROUP HAS THE SAME PROBLEM OF ENTRY?
No, I don’t think so, because the way I’ve seen it, when Blacks were trying to enter a few years ago, I didn’t see many other minorities trying to enter at the same time. But I feel that since the racial barrier has been broken with Blacks coming into the area, I feel that we have probably taken the brunt of whatever hostilities were there and that other groups won’t find it so hard. They probably won’t have so much hassle as we had when we tried to come in a few years ago, and I don’t feel they have as much to worry about. By now, I think the old timers have gotten used to different kinds of people coming in, and there won’t be such a fight in a sense to try to keep newer people out.
IN GENERAL, THEN, YOU THINK IT IS A PRETTY GOOD PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE?
Oh, yes, I do.
YOU WOULD INVITE OTHER PEOPLES TO LIVE HERE?
Yes, I have done so. Of course, I think in any city the size of Chicago, there
will be as many problems as there are people living there. It’s just a problem
of groups of people trying to get along with each other, because I may have
problems with people of my own race. I can have problems with many of the blacks
in the area from time to time and I would assume that that would have to happen
with any groups of people trying to live next to each other.
IF YOU WERE TALKING TO SOMEONE WHO WAS TRYING TO DECIDE TO MOVE BACK TO THE CITY FROM THE SUBURBS, WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO COME HERE? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE SELLING POINTS OF THIS COMMUNITY? IN SOME PLACES YOUCAN SAY WE HAVE FESTIVALS, AND IN SOME PLACES PARKS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE SELLING POINTS FOR EDGEWATER?
I think we have some of the best opportunities to receive a good education, to provide a decent place to live for one’s family. In the last few years there has been much effort made to upgrade the housing stock in Edgewater. We’ve had developers come in and take four of the buildings that were almost slums and upgrade them into liveable housing, and I’ve been involved in many instances working with the Council especially in one of the developments, and when you see this kind of activity going on it makes other people who are investigating the area want to come in and do likewise. I feel the opportunities are unlimited for anyone who wants a future here. I feel that urban living provides a lot of opportunities not available in the suburbs, and Edgewater is very high on my list in providing these opportunities. It also affords the privilege of living with some of the greatest people I have ever known in Chicago, and even helping someone who needs a helping hand. I’ve noticed that as well. One of the areas I have found where Edgewater people really care is in supporting Care for Real (a little thrift shop), which is one of the programs of the Council. A lot of people have shown how much they really care and that’s a great opportunity for some people who may not have been exposed to this kind of caring. I feel there are a lot of people here where their whole attitude has become one of caring.