Twin Anchors Chicago

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Twin Anchors

Old Photo Twin Anchors Building

     Twin Anchors is an iconic Restaurant and Tavern located at 1655 N. Sedgwick Street in the Old Town Area of Chicago.  It is one of the oldest restaurants in the Windy City.  It is  in a three story masonry building with a tar and gravel roof.  The building dates back to 1881. As early as 1890, the first floor operated as a saloon.  This was in operation until Prohibition. 
     During Prohibition, Don and Ethel Humphrey operated a speak easy in the building.  It was named Tante Lee Soft Drinks.
Twin Anchors Front Door
     In 1932, Bob Walters and Herb Eldean opened Twin Anchors at the Sedgwick Street site.  Bob and Herb belonged to the Chicago Yacht Club thus the name Twin Anchors. Originally, there was no kitchen at the bar.  Bob’s wife used to cook dinners for the pub goers on Sunday. Eventually, A kitchen was built.

Area of the Tavern.  There are booth for diners

          The Tuzi family took over the ownership of Twin Anchors in 1978 and are still managing it.

The bar was a gift from Schlitz Company

            The restaurant currently has 2 indoor rooms 1) room with an old bar (donated by the Schlitz Company) and booths for dining 2) second room with tables and chairs.  Outdoor dining is also available.      Frank Sinatra was a frequent guest and he had multiple parties there.  Twin Anchors was mentioned in articles in multiple publications including GQ, London Times, Fortune Magnazine, Gourmet Magazine, NY Times, Chicago Tribune, Sun Times.  The restaurant was featured in 2 movies Return to Me (1999) and Dark Knight (2008)

Silver Beach Amusement Park Saint Joseph, Michigan

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Silver Beach Amusement Park Saint Joseph, Michigan

      In 1880, Logan Drake purchased 20 to 22 acres of sand dunes along Lake Michigan in Saint Joseph from Native Americans. On this property, Logan Drake and his partner Louis Wallace opened Silver Beach Amusement Park  in 1891.  They were also partners in a boat construction company  in addition  to the Silver Beach Amusement and Realty Company. The park was located below the bluffs of downtown of Saint Joseph, Michigan.  A Pete Marquette Railroad Station was also built in this area in 1913.

Same as above

     Initially, a boardwalk was built in the area.  Local merchants opened up stands to sell novelities.  In the early 1900’s, a bathouse, a roller skating rink and a a dance pavilion were constructed.  Games of chance were added.

     One of the roller coasters was named Chase through the Clouds.  It operated from 1905 to 1923. It was a sit down wooden coaster with a figure of 8 course.  It was designed by John A.Miller.The builder was Frank Ingersoll.  A second Coaster was named the Comet (aka the Velvet Coaster). It was a wooden sit down coaster. It was designed by John A. Miller.  It opened in 1924 and closed in 1971.

Comet Roller Coaster


     From 1910 to 1920, the merry go round, Shadowland Ballroom, Funhouse, Bumper Cars, Ferris Wheel, and the penny arcade were added. Other rides were the Toboggan Slide, Carousel.

Aerial View of Silver Beach Amusement Park

     Over the years, attendance gradually dropped at the park. Finally, after operating many years it closed in 1971.

Roller.Coaster Silver Beach Amusement Park

Board Walk Silver Beach

The Comet Roller Coaster