They kept everything.

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My Grandparents kept everything, and it all ended up in my lap. This collection of stuff ranged from the cool (WWII V-Mail from my Uncle Frank) to the "you've got to be kidding me" (receipts from a trip taken in the 50s). I've weeded out a lot of the nonsense and kept the more interesting (at least what was interesting to me). In turn I decided to create this site to not only post some items, but also as a research exercise. Most items are from Chicago and Detroit, but of course family trips expanded their reach of hoarding. I hope you enjoy this very random collection. Frank Kownacki

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Paulina Street is where my Grandmother and Grandfather lived while growing up in Chicago.  So having a token from an establishment on that block isn’t that surprising.  Unfortunately, not only is the Old Village Inn gone, the building has disappeared as well.  I tried looking up info on the Chicago History Museum’s web site and found nothing (including the Encyclopedia of Chicago which brought back way too many entries to try and weed through).  If I was still in Chicago I could try searching old city directories for a possible lead, but since I’m not I’m limited to the internet.  I then hit the archives for the Chicago Tribune.  I came up with some leads on articles with titles about some banquets.  Since I don’t want to pay the Trib to read these pieces, I’m going to assume that the dinner mentioned was taking place at the Old Village Inn.  (The best title was a 1953 article: “Women of Moose Group to hold benefit dinner.”)  This would make sense since the now empty lot is a pretty good size and could have easily held an old fashioned banquet hall.  The last remaining question (besides why did they keep this token) is what could you have gotten for 25 cents in trade?  

Paulina Street is where my Grandmother and Grandfather lived while growing up in Chicago.  So having a token from an establishment on that block isn’t that surprising.  Unfortunately, not only is the Old Village Inn gone, the building has disappeared as well. 

I tried looking up info on the Chicago History Museum’s web site and found nothing (including the Encyclopedia of Chicago which brought back way too many entries to try and weed through).  If I was still in Chicago I could try searching old city directories for a possible lead, but since I’m not I’m limited to the internet.  I then hit the archives for the Chicago Tribune.  I came up with some leads on articles with titles about some banquets.  Since I don’t want to pay the Trib to read these pieces, I’m going to assume that the dinner mentioned was taking place at the Old Village Inn.  (The best title was a 1953 article: “Women of Moose Group to hold benefit dinner.”)  This would make sense since the now empty lot is a pretty good size and could have easily held an old fashioned banquet hall. 

The last remaining question (besides why did they keep this token) is what could you have gotten for 25 cents in trade?  

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