Neighborhood News: From Industrial Roots to Cool Brews and Family Fun
Formed by the North Branch of the Chicago River on the west and the North Branch Canal on the east, Goose Island is a 160-acre artificial island, and while it’s now synonymous with good times and cool young people, thanks to the success of Goose Island Brewery and the area’s nightlife.
History
Goose Island’s roots harken back to the mid-1800’s, where, in 1853, William B. Ogden, who, according to the Encyclopedia of Chicago History, had served as Chicago’s first mayor, purchased land on the east side of the river to excavate clay for brick-making. Ogden saw the important connection between rail and water transportation and ran the terminus of the first railroad in Chicago right to the banks of the north branch.
As an investor in the Chicago Canal and Dock Company, Ogden gained control of property along the Chicago River and adjacent Lake Michigan, even hiring Abraham Lincoln to help him gain clear title to river and lakefront property. The “Ogden” canal, then, formed Goose Island.
Why is it called ‘Goose Island?’
Were geese coming to roost on the Chicago River? Well, in a sense….
‘Goose Island’, according to the Encyclopedia of Chicago History, may have come from a small clay island, home to geese and other birds, located just to the north of the confluence of the north and south branches of the Chicago River.
In the late 1860s, Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company bought land just east of Goose Island and opened the Gas House. The flames from the plant led to the neighborhood nickname of “Little Hell,” which was generally east of Goose Island although sometimes extended to parts of the Island.
As the Chicago Architecture Center notes, around the same time, Chicago emerged as the most important railroad center in the country. By the late 19th Century, railroad tracks radiated from Chicago in more directions than any other city. Industrial development boomed on Goose Island because of the city’s network of rail lines and canals. The same advantages that made Chicago a hub for grain and livestock industries also made the city a major furniture manufacturing and warehousing center. Wholesalers like Marshall Field and mail-order retailers like Montgomery Ward saw the benefit of using the network of railroads that brought grain and livestock into the city for processing as a distribution system. These rail lines delivered finished goods cheaply and efficiently to far-flung farming communities.
Goose Island’s access to water made it the perfect place for industry. By the late 1800s the small island was covered with tanneries, breweries, and soap factories, and by 1887, there were “two grain elevators, eleven coal yards, and a railroad” among these other industrial businesses, according to Chicago’s Neighborhoods.
The Great Depression halted the seemingly relentless expansion of Chicago’s manufacturing and wholesale operations. Though many companies closed their doors, Goose Island continued to be an important industrial center on Chicago’s north side through the 1970s.
While the industrial era waned in the late 20th century, the island later became a protected manufacturing district and is now experiencing commercial and residential development, though it retains its industrial character.
Redevelopment and Brewery
In the late 70’s, Goose Island became a site of redevelopment of former industrial locations to residential and mixed-use towers and high rises, similar to the River North, Fulton Market and Pilsen neighborhoods of the city.
But the biggest change probably occurred in 1988, when Goose Island Brewery opened. Founder John Hall, a Chicago native, took a tour across the Europe. According to their website, Hall thought, “America deserves some damn fine beer like this, too.”
The result was a new fascination with craft brewing. Hall experimented with many different varieties of beers, stouts, and ales, including the 312, IPA and Bourbon County brands. By 1995, John’s beer became so popular that he decided to open a larger brewery, along with a bottling plant to keep up with demand. 1999 brought even more growth, along with an additional brewpub. In 2011, Goose Island was sold to Anheuser-Busch.
That said, Goose Island Brewery maintains a major presence in the area and continues to manufacture and sell its products at their pub and the nearby Salt Shed music pavilion.
Celebrate Fall at Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up!
From September 18-November 2, Goose Island is host to Chicago’s largest fall festival at Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up, 1265 W. Le Moyne Street. This family-friendly, one-of-a-kind immersive experience includes Jack’s Infamous Pumpkin House, pumpkin patch, loud music, twinkling lights, carnival games, racing pigs, and hundreds of Instagram-worthy photo ops for the full autumn vibe. For tickets and information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
