Oldest Chicago

by David A. Witter

Oldest business: Peacock Jewelers (1838); oldest apothecary: Merz Apothecary (1875); oldest tavern: Schaller's Pump (1889); oldest theater: the Biograph Theater (1914), and oldest drive-in: Superdawg (1948). In Oldest Chicago, journalist David Witter highlights dozens of the oldest local treasures in Chicago and its suburban and exurban areas. Remarkable for having survived demolition and extinction for decades, these beloved landmarks have also helped define our city s landscape, offering continuity and civic identity across generations. Having lost Marshall Field's, Carson Pirie Scott, The Berghoff, and many more in recent years, Oldest Chicago is also a reminder of the value of these familiar faces and a call to preserve them for a future sense of place.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Lake Claremont Press for years. They publish a lot of fantastic books on Chicago history. The latest book, Oldest Chicago, by David Anthony Witter is a great addition to their catalog. Part history, part guidebook, the book includes information on a wide range of institutions, businesses, restaurants, and theaters. The usual suspects are included (Wrigley Field, Water Tower, Palmer House) but it includes things like Oldest Statue (Standing Lincoln), Oldest Bowling Alley (Southport Lanes), and Oldest Funeral Home - Northside (Jaeger Funeral Home). The book makes references to the City's tendency tear down it's landmarks yet it celebrates how each of these institutions was able to survive the years through efforts from an individual family, a neighborhood, or a group of customers. It is an eclectic mix but it helps paint a picture to what makes Chicago so unique and why so many people are drawn to the city.

As a life-long Chicagoan, I was surprised by some of the entries and intrigued by the stories. The book makes me want to go exploring in my home town. I just wish I had this book before. It would have made it planning trips around the city with friends from out of town easier.

If you are from Chicago or planning a trip soon, I would recommend picking up a copy of this book and exploring the city.

[Patrick Muldowney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat outdated little guidebook, some of the places profiled here are closed as of 2025, either the product of the pandemic or somewhat earlier. It was still a fun read!

[Wade]

Oldest Chicago is perhaps best read as a reference book. Each of the sixty-six entries spans a few pages and delves into the history of a site in the city that holds claim to the title of the oldest 'something'. Many of the sites are restaurants broken down into categories by ethnicity or styles of service. Others are retail establishments for all manner of goods, or civic or religious sites (churches, statues, cemeteries, etc.). The majority of the book is arranged chronologically by date of establishment, though the final chapter describes places near Chicago but outside of the city proper. Most entries end with a sidebar about other interesting or notable sights located in the neighbor, and thus can serve as a sort of guidebook. The indexing is adequate, but a geographic index or map would have been a nice touch.

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the concept, but I don't dig the content. Even though there are short descriptions of various "oldest" places, this book wasn't a pleasure to read. It actually took me 6 months to go back and finish it. Maybe as a history geek, I already knew a lot of the information, but what really frustrated me were the number of inaccuracies and geographic misses. This is not difficult to get correct, especially when writing a nonfiction book. But that has always been my problem with the publishers, they have great ideas, they just don't know how to execute those ideas. If Lake Claremont Press wants me to write a book, I'd be happy to do it for them. I think they need the help.

[JP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oldest Chicago showcases a variety of venerable sites in the city that lost too many gems in the great fire and the never-ending construction that succeeded it. Sites such as the Italian Village, the Oldest Italian Restaurant, and First United Methodist Church, the Oldest Church, are each described succinctly, with just enough bsckground to make you want to visit the spot. I get to Chicago a couple times a year and made note of a number of places to see, many convenient to the popular spots I already pass while there.

[Carolyn Bay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun to read. but too many inaccuracies for a nonfiction book. Mostly way off in geographic descriptions. States that 2 sites are near when they're actually miles apart. Had Russell's Barbecue in the western suburbs as near Balmoral Race Track. which is in Crete in Will County.

[Dennis Kocik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having grown up in the suburbs of Chicago, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about places I may have visited, and those I still want to visit. A great read -highly recommended whether you grew up in the Windy City or not!