In 1930, new homes were being built in Forest Hills, south of 47th street. But, Central Avenue was as far west as they dared build.
View of 47th St. (left) & Central Ave. looking east – 1930
Except for a select group of senior citizens who grew up in Western Springs, few of us can remember what the Forest Hills subdivision looked like back in the 1930s.
Today’s 47th Street (originally called, “South Boulevard”) was the southern border of Western Springs in the 1920s. But, soon, land developers began purchasing the farmlands to the south for an upscale development named Forest Hills.
While the land was relatively flat and easy to develop, the western-most lots were prone to flooding. This was due to Flagg Creek, which every spring would overflow its banks in response to melting snow and spring rains. And, although efforts were made to channel the water, the springtime floods were an ongoing problem.
47th St. (left) & Central Avenue (foreground)– 2015
For many years, Central Avenue was about as far west as anyone dared to construct a home. Eventually, more storm sewers were installed which made the problem more manageable. But, in 1958, the Tollway Authority deepened the channel as part of the Tollway construction project. And, afterward, the creek was able to handle much larger volumes of water than previously.
Today, many of the original “lakefront” homes on Central Avenue still exist. And, with luck, they will continue to do so for many years.