...And
That's My Opinion©
By Sandy Goldman
The Rogers Park
Community Curmudgeon
Two Rogers Parkers You
Should Know About
Frederick
Douglass (Fritz) Pollard
A friend of mine
called the other day to tell me about an article written by Don Pierson in his column
titled “On The NFL”, (Chicago Tribune
Sports Jan 29, 2005). It was about
Fritz Pollard, the first African-American football coach of a professional
team. Read it at http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-0501280319jan28,1,494092.story
In 1916, he became
the first black to play in the Rose Bowl.
Later he played professional football for the Akron Pros, the Milwaukee
Badgers and the Hammond Pros. Pierson’s story centers mostly on the diversity
issues in the NFL with Pollard vs. Halas and a few other moguls as central
characters. It’s an interesting read if
you can access it. Pollard is
considered a pioneer of racial advancement in sports. You can learn more about Fritz Pollard and his various business
accomplishments on the Internet.
The reason for my
friend’s call, was the fact that Fritz Pollard was born in 1894 and raised in
Rogers Park, one of eight children he attended Lane Tech High School where he
was a three-time All Cook County halfback as well as a track and baseball
player. The Pollard house is on the 1900
block of Lunt Ave. His father John, son
of slaves, was a civil war veteran, and had a barbershop on the 7000 block of
Ravenswood. Fritz’s mother was a Native
American. In later years, Fritz’s older
brother Luther took over the business.
At one of the early “Hi Neighbor” Festivals produced by the Rogers Park
Community Council (RPCC) in the 1960s, Luther Pollard was singled out and given
an award as the resident of Rogers Park who had lived here the longest. Luther died in 1977 in Rogers Park, Fritz in
1986. Their home, next to Paschen Park,
stood vacant for many years, until probate/estate matters were resolved.
My friend also had
a comment about Craig Gernhardt’s blog – “The Broken Heart of Rogers Park”
which can be read at http://morsehellhole.blogspot.com/
“ Gernhardt seems to be getting the job
done,” he said. “Since you told me
about the blog, I have been following the actions and reactions. There was the garbage spillover which was
cleaned up the same day it was featured it on his website - and the hanging
light fixture which was removed the next day, but only after the situation
appeared on the Broken Heart blog. Add
the speedy removal of a box of junk, which was moved to various corners of Lunt
and Glenwood. There are many more
examples of problems being solved because of Craig’s persistence - problems
which ‘the leadership’ should have noticed before Craig ever had to bring them
up.”
“Yes, but you live
in the suburbs,” I said.
“True,” he
responded, “but it really makes the heart pump faster when someone has success
in motivating complacent leadership to deal with unaddressed problems no matter
where they occur.”
Gernhardt’s
greatest coup, although the various community leaders probably will deny it, is
causing the recent Operation: Morse
Avenue Clean-Up, which was trumpeted at the request of Alderman Moore, by every
legitimate community group in Rogers Park on their various websites. It was however, in fact, the direct result
of the constant exposure of Morse Ave. on “The Broken Heart of Rogers Park”.
Over a two-day period last week, City inspectors (40) from ten city departments
visited businesses and residential buildings on Morse Ave. from 1300 to 1600
West. They found many violations of various ordinances and issued tickets. Craig has already noted that at least two
businesses have ignored the closure orders and reopened for business. It would be helpful if they would go up and
down Glenwood from Pratt to Greenleaf too (both sides of the el embankment
please).
“Did your Alderman
really say ‘I do not foresee residents fleeing to places like Evanston to save
a few bucks,’ as Craig quotes, referring to the proposed sales tax
increase? Other than Dominicks where
prices are much higher than at the local food markets there is little
opportunity for national brand shopping even without the tax increases. Of course, they have access to any number of
dollar store items with more on the horizon or to rip-off counterfeits from the
Mega-Mall. I see former neighbors from
Rogers Park everyday in Evanston in my store and at the gas stations, at the
bookstores, at the restaurants, at the drug stores, at the movies, at the
clothing stores, at Costco, at Sam’s Club and Home Depot. Oh, the list goes on and on.”
Keep it up
Craig. While some may call you foolish
– I call you fearless.
...And that's my opinion.
And I'm Sandy Goldman
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Sandy: smgoldman@ameritech.net