06/14/2026
On June 14, 1987, the Chicago Tribune published a feature on Pullman and one of its oldest residents, 103-year-old Mamie Stanley, whose memories stretched back to the community's earliest days. Born in Pullman in 1884, Stanley recalled a bustling company town filled with workers, neighborhood businesses, wooden sidewalks, horse-drawn wagons, and community gatherings in Arcade Park. She also remembered the 1892 Market Hall fire and the hardships of the 1894 Pullman Strike.
The article contrasted Pullman's complex past with its hopeful future. After decades of decline and a near-demolition threat in 1960, residents united to save the historic neighborhood. By 1987, preservation efforts led by local volunteers and organizations were attracting new residents, restoring landmarks like the Hotel Florence, and positioning Pullman as one of Chicago's most unique historic communities. As one resident noted, “Pullman is still here and we are a vital community.”
On June 14, 1987, the Chicago Tribune published a remarkable story ...
