7 on the Streets: Fullerton, Wabansia, Hiawatha avenues
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Have you ever wondered how Chicago streets get their names? Roz Varon finds out in "7 on the Streets."
ABC7 Chicago Facebook fans Raul and Gerardo wanted to know about the origins of Fullerton Avenue.
Fullerton Avenue runs through about eight miles of Chicago on the North Side, starting at the lakefront. It's named after Alexander Fullerton, a lawyer, politician and real estate owner who arrived in Chicago in 1833.
"One of those leaders - like Ogden, like Kinzie - to help get Chicago to take its first baby steps," said Peter Alter, a historian at the Chicago History Museum.
In fact, Fullerton was one of 28 voters who met on Aug. 10, 1833 to decide on incorporating the settlement of Chicago as a town.
After Fullerton's death in 1880, his son Charles inherited large real estate holdings and money, which he used at the Art Institute.
Fullerton Hall, with its Tiffany glass dome, was built in honor of Alexander Fullerton with money donated by his son.
Maureen Matz asked about Wabansia Avenue on the Near North Side.
"Wabansia Avenue is named for Waubonsie, who was an early 1800's Pottawatomi leader. He was very active in relationships between the Pottawatomi and Fort Dearborn," Alter said.
Chief Waubonsie, whose name means "early dawn," was known for his peacemaking efforts.
He helped negotiate several treaties, including the one that signed away the Pottawatomi's land in Illinois, forcing them west, to Iowa, the final resting place of Chief Waubonsie.
Marve Adler asked about Hiawatha Avenue. It is named for the epic poem, "The Song of Hiawatha," written in 1855.
"The founders of the city would have probably been reading Hiawatha, this epic poem, at a time when poets were more well-known and sort of the rock stars of their day," Alter said.
The namesake of the poem was Hiawatha, a founder of the Iroquois peoples. He was known as the great peacemaker, bringing together the five nations of the Iroquois confederacy.
Many Chicago streets have Native American names. Those names are also found in places other than streets.
Waubonsie Valley High School in southwest suburban Aurora shares Chief Waubonsie's name. Neuqua Valley High School in nearby Naperville was named after Waubonsie's son, Neuqua.
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