[Lake Township/Stickney Real Estate Atlas]

Uncommon midcentury real estate atlas covering a portion of southwest Chicago around Midway Airport.

This fascinating atlas is one of nearly 3 dozen different volumes created by West Chicago’s Sidwell Studio, Inc. that cover property ownership across all of Cook County, Illinois. This particular example, dated January 1960, covers a large portion of Lake Township that includes the neighborhoods of Clearing, West Lawn, and Marquette Park, as well as southern Stickney. The area sits near Midway Airport, just south of the Sanitary and Ship Canal, and adjacent to large railroad yards, offering a fascinating mix of residential and industrial interests.

A general map of Cook County and an index map of the volume’s contents are followed by 62 plat maps that catalog house numbers, plot sizes, railways and other major infrastructure, notable buildings, prominent property owners, and other details of interest to the real estate industry. Each of these ‘Clear View Maps’ was copywritten between 1958 and 1960 by Joe Sidwell, with revisions dated through early 1960. Blocks of text on either side provide further details on the organization and history of various subdivisions. Only a handful of updates are present throughout the volume, indicating it was lightly used during its lifespan as a practical document.