A Short History of Clearing
The area of Clearing developed in much the same way as Garfield Ridge to the north. The original land owners were brought in with the building of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. Former Chicago mayor "Long" John Wentworth bought up most of the area starting in the 1850's . He eventually owned 4700 acres and called his land holdings his "Summit Farm".
Sometime around the 1870's a subdivision begins appearing on maps around 63rd and Narragansett. This subdivision was named the "Lost Village" by local historian and author Robert Hill in his book about the history of Clearing, "A Little Known Story of a Land Called Clearing."
After the death of Wentworth his family began leasing the land to Dutch truck farmers.
Clearing received its name from a proposed railway-switching yard. A. B. Stickney, president of the Chicago Great Western Railroad, laid out a plan in 1888 for a one-mile circle, called Stickney's Circle. This circle would allow workers to unload and load goods, avoiding the rail congestion closer downtown. This scheme failed,
so the enterprising Stickney tried to cut a deal in 1891 with the upstart Chicago National Stockyards to rival the Union Stock Yard. This effort also failed, in part
because of a national economic depression from 1893 to 1897. “Stickney's Circle” became “Stickney's Folly.”
Stickney's railyards were taken over by Henry H. Porter who created the the Chicago Clearing and Transfer Company in the early 1900's. Porter encouraged other businesses and the first to build was the Argo Corn Products plant, which opened in 1907. This began what was to become the Clearing Industrial District, which was one of the first Industrial Districts in the World. Eventually more than 90 industries built in the district. By 1915 the area was annexed to the city. By 1927 the city was looking for somewhere to build an airport and Clearing was chosen. In 1927, Mayor William Hale Thompson dedicated the Chicago Municipal Airport. In
1928 there were 4 runways, expanding to 16 by 1941. By 1949 the airport was renamed Midway Airport to honor victories at Midway Island during World War II.
Sometime around the 1870's a subdivision begins appearing on maps around 63rd and Narragansett. This subdivision was named the "Lost Village" by local historian and author Robert Hill in his book about the history of Clearing, "A Little Known Story of a Land Called Clearing."
After the death of Wentworth his family began leasing the land to Dutch truck farmers.
Clearing received its name from a proposed railway-switching yard. A. B. Stickney, president of the Chicago Great Western Railroad, laid out a plan in 1888 for a one-mile circle, called Stickney's Circle. This circle would allow workers to unload and load goods, avoiding the rail congestion closer downtown. This scheme failed,
so the enterprising Stickney tried to cut a deal in 1891 with the upstart Chicago National Stockyards to rival the Union Stock Yard. This effort also failed, in part
because of a national economic depression from 1893 to 1897. “Stickney's Circle” became “Stickney's Folly.”
Stickney's railyards were taken over by Henry H. Porter who created the the Chicago Clearing and Transfer Company in the early 1900's. Porter encouraged other businesses and the first to build was the Argo Corn Products plant, which opened in 1907. This began what was to become the Clearing Industrial District, which was one of the first Industrial Districts in the World. Eventually more than 90 industries built in the district. By 1915 the area was annexed to the city. By 1927 the city was looking for somewhere to build an airport and Clearing was chosen. In 1927, Mayor William Hale Thompson dedicated the Chicago Municipal Airport. In
1928 there were 4 runways, expanding to 16 by 1941. By 1949 the airport was renamed Midway Airport to honor victories at Midway Island during World War II.
