I visited the Ottawa area last week September 17-18, 2018 to view the status of the I and M Canal rewatering project.   This has been a proposal in work for years.  Actual work began summer of 2018.    The total length of the project is .6 miles.  It extends from Guion Street to the Illinos Railway one block West of Canal Street.  The pictures above are of the work site.

     Thanks to Arnie Bandstra from the Ottawa Canal Association.

    Chicago Cement Company was one of two cement companies in Oglesby, Illinois.   It was founded in 1898. The operation was purchased by Lehigh Portland Cement in 1916.  It was managed under this operation until 1963.  The plant was closed in 1963 because of the unwillingness of Lehigh to spend the money to refurbish the operation.  Their quarry was sold to Marquette Cement  (this is still operating as Lonestar)

     All photos obtained on 9/16/2018.  All are copyrighted.

Photos taken 9/16/2018.  All photos copywrighted.

All images were obtained on 9/16/2018.  They are copyrighted.

     The founder was Rudolph Hamann.  He was a Chicago resident beginning in 1907.  He died in 1962.  He founded the business around 1922.  His daughter Lorraine took over the business after her father’s death and apparently ran it until 1968.

     The last funeral at this facility was for Anna Kauffmann on 11/22/1968.

      From the 1970’s to the 1980’s,the building was used by Ace Hardware.

     This building is located at 1730 West Greenleaf  Avenue Rogers Park, Illinois.  It was built in 1912-1913 for the Jewel Laundry.  The architects were Aroner and Somers.  The builders were W. Rosenthal and Sons.  The style is Prairie and Sullivanesque.  The walls are brick with the front white glazed.  Other occupants included Maya Romanoff Wallpaper and Textiles (until 2005) and the Etiopian Community Center.