Tootie McGregor Fountain

Tootie McGregor Fountain

Tootie McGregor Fountain

Tootie McGregor Fountain

Tootie McGregor Fountain

Tootie McGregor Fountain

Tootie McGregor Fountain

The Tootie McGregor Fountain was built in 1913 to honor the memory of one of Fort Myers early pioneers.

When originally built, the fountain was located at the intersection Cleveland Avenue, Anderson Avenue, McGregor Boulevard, Main and Carson Street. It was moved to the Fort Myers Country Club in the 1950’s. The designer is unknown

     The I M  Canal Aqueduct over Nettle Creek in Morris, Illinois collapsed in 2013.    Little has been done to repair the structure since that time.  It is estimated that the cost to repair the aqueduct will cost 5 million dollars.  In November of 2018, $250,000 was allocated for the clean up.

     Because of the issue with the aqueduct, Gebhardt Park has suffered and the canal running through it has become overgrown with weeds.

Collapsed aqueduct overlying Nettle Creek in Morris

Same as above

Ramova Theater

     The Ramova Theater is located at the corner of South Halsted Street and 35th Street in Chicago.  It opened on August 21, 1929.  Its opening movie was Desert Song.

Ramova Theater

     It was a sister theater to the north side Music Box Theater.  It had one screen and a capacity of 1,500 seats.   The architect was Meyer O. Nathan.

Ramova Theater

     The  internal style was atmospheric with a deep blue ceiling with glittering stars.  The auditorium was built to resemble a Spanish Courtyard.  The sidewalls had multiple archway with scenes of Spanish Countryside.

     A highlight in the history of the theater came in 1940 when Charles Chaplin had the premier of his movie The Dictator at both the Ramova and the Music Box Theaters.

Current Appearance Interior

     By the 1950’s the Ramova Theater was only showing second run features.  The theater closed in 1985.    Its last feature was Police Academy 2.  The building has stood vacant since.  The city of Chicago took ownership of the building in 2001.

Semicircular Arcades Sidewalls

Hanks Ottawa, Illinois

Hanks

     Hank’s  Farm Restaurant is located on 2973 N. State Route 71, Ottawa, Illinois near a bend in the Fox River.  The restaurant building is located in a former barn.  It opened in 1941 as a neighborhood tavern.  It is now a family owned and operated restaurant.  There are landscaped gardens with turkeys, chickens, ducks, and peacocks.  There is a gift shop next store.

Aragon Ballroom

Aragon Ballroom

Aragon Ballroom

      August 15, 2019.  

     One of Chicago’s most popular music venues, the Aragon Ballroom, is scheduled to get a new name.  Due to a sponsorship arrangement with the Byline Bank, the new name will be The Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom.

     The Aragon Ballroom has been a Chicago staple since 1926.

     Recently, this three story building sold for 4.4 million dollars. It was built in 1911.  It was originally known as the Bank of Fort Myers.  A restaurant named as the French Connection occupied the first floor until 2016.  It is now occupied by Izzy and Oyster Restaurant.

     The second and third floors are currently occupied by Great Jones, a property management firm.  Sony Yoga is on the first floor.      The building is 20,733 square feet.

Izzy ‘s Restaurant

Izzy’s Fish and Oyster

    In June, 2018,the city of Chicago announced a 75 million project to renovate and restore the aging Uptown Theater in Chicago.  This elaborate movie palace has sat empty for years.    It has been vandalized and has suffered extensive water damage.

     As of November, 2019 no restorative work has been done on the building.  What is the delay?.  Apparently there has been a delay in obtaining $26 million dollars in financing.  Developers hope to obtain the money soon so that the project may start in spring of 2020.d

Uptown Theater, Chicago