Marquette Park - Lithuanians, nuns and Nazis

In this episode of a drive around Chicago's southwest side, Joe Zekas remembers a derogatory term for Lithuanians, visits the grounds of a convent, and talks about the American Nazi Party.

[@reysustaita]

I currently live in Marquette Park. Don't come back. This area has now gone to hell and there is no sign of improvement. I am desperate to leave.

[@darthvetter8238]

+Reynaldo Sustaita hey, but theres no nazis.

[@rehsifmas708]

yes they are look at the end of the video they are on the left side about to hit some babys

[@tomkelly9714]

Use to call us Irish biggers Gobblers spoke with a Brogue

[@b2dary890]

@@tomkelly9714 were there Irish in this area?

[@Mooresworld]

Thanks for the tour and historical commentary. My grandparents were Lithuanian immigrants who lived in Roseland, near 106th and Lafayette. My grandfather built railroad cars at the Pullman factory. I was born in Roseland Hospital myself. My father and all his siblings are gone now, so your video is a most welcome connection to their culture.

[@mair18]

Lived in Marquette Park 40 years ago .The park itself was beautiful sure do miss those days .

[@handgunner1911]

Grew up in this area lots of great memories when i was a kid this was a beautiful neighborhood to grow up in I remember the nazis in the park when I was young

[@TimotiejusSevelis]

Wear your LUGAN with PRIDE!!! Though, not from Chicago, lived there in 1996, Lincoln Park Area (Detroit Lithuanian), I moved out West and NEVER regretted it!

[@frankd.5424]

I was born in Holy Cross Hospital, baptized in Nativity BVM Church (the old church which was in the school building), attended Nativity BVM School where I watch the construction of the present church from the 2nd grade classroom window, attended St. Rita High School, and left for Wisconsin in 1969 after graduating from the U of I at Champaign. I never heard of any Nazi's in Marquette Park while living in Chicago.

[@ann-tw8vt]

Born and raised there with pride! 70th and Washtenaw.

[@rhecker9770]

Those were the days? At least kids weren't getting shot.

[@andrewneswick748]

Beautiful memories 😢 my wife and kids lived in an apartment on 69th lil Europe Thanks for the memories 😢❤❤❤

[@arnasgsn]

in Marquette Park park they use to have lithuanian stores but they close that shit cuz no business cuz of the blacks. But is alot of old lithuanians still living there. im Lithuanain and i still be going araund there.

[@tomkelly9714]

Hear Lithuanians buying the Properties

[@Scapone2001]

The white population is now less then 4%

[@YoChicago]

That's news to me and my Lithuanian father. Unless my memory has become completely faulty I didn't feel positive vibes when people used the term.

[@3108frank1]

I lived not far from Marquette Park and went there often. I caught a turtle in a small pond near my house by Midway Airport. I kept it for a while and released it in the lagoon at Marquette Park. That lagoon must have seemed like an ocean to it. I often wondered how long it lived. I left Chicago in 1968 and joined the Air Force. I'm out in California now but it was nice to see this video. The park was a great place.

[@mvygantas]

great video -- my parents grew up in this area and moved out around the 70's. would love to take a drive through the area with them again sometime.

[@rhecker9770]

A ha ha. A ha ha ha ha. Really want that life insurance

[@TS-hi8vo]

My how things change. I grew up on 65th and Albany. Ya wonder why things went the way they did. 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@artmarquette5767]

Liths had nothing to do with the freaking Nazis. I know because I lived here.

[@deadoppzzz2974]

I live around this blocks since I was born and I still do

[@artmarquette5767]

The worst thing about Marquette Park were the taverns on 69th Street

[@josephgarcia391]

it was nice before 1990

[@rhecker9770]

Yep. Then our peeps came en masse.

[@xeroxed7766]

I used to live in Marquette Park around 64th and Maplewood

[@b2dary890]

My father is half Lithuanian, and is from this area

[@tomsenft7434]

Lithuanian Chicagoans built a beautiful church on 67th, but fled to Hickory Hills and Palos Park to flee the scary black people. Racists abandon their neighborhood and blame that on the other races. I love that church, and was born in that hospital. It's a same to not share.

[@b2dary890]

@@tomsenft7434 who were they supposed to blame it on Martians? was it martians fault that property values take a nosedive as soon as black people move in?

[@lastcommodore9651]

The area is mostly Mexican now.

[@ShiningStar919]

Nope all black

[@theunskilledranter6831]

As a Mexican, I can tell you that's not true anymore.

[@xeroxed7766]

From California to Central Park Ave it is mostly Mexican still. From California to Bell ave it's all black

[@dollarmenudave4423]

If it was Mexican the neighborhood would look better

[@xeroxed7766]

Going west from Kedzie is mostly Mexican

[@JustCause2playa]

This is where my mom was raised

[@bruceelkins5985]

Spent my Summers there 69th and Washtenaw across from the school the Juecknavcius Family lived a few doors down (I am sure I destroyed the name) Not sure of the history that Mr Zekas shares but I know that Nazi Hall and that area was OFF limits ! As children we were not allowed to walk near it! I loved Marquette Park . Beautiful childhood memories of this area Parama the restaurants..

[@heavyc71]

Hell ya Marquette Park Born N Breed 71st All day!

[@rhecker9770]

Ain't there now are ya sissy?

[@marquettepark9793]

Hell ya still here pussy boi

[@sofiajordan830]

@@rhecker9770 is this Robert hecker? You have a sister sharon hecker? This is Marina went to school with your sister..

[@rhecker9770]

Not 10 years ago. More.

[@YoChicago]

You know nothing about me. All you seem to know is your own hate.

[@frankd.5424]

I wish you would upgrade your video to something better than 360p. Other than that I enjoy seeing them.

[@ChiTownBaby5700]

this video was in 2009 what u expect 😂 honestly looks a lot better quality then a lot of videos from this time

[@arnasgsn]

im trying get your e mail cuz my familys last name is Zekas i want to talk to you abaut your familys Lithuanian past.

[@artmarquette5767]

The Mexicans live north and west of the park. They love the soccer fields. The blacks only use the basketball courts and are intimidated by the Mexicans

[@hotdrumchick]

I agree with the Nazis being in Marq Pk. I lived on Damen in the late 70's and I remember the skinheads having rallies in the park, and how Blacks could go to White Castle but not west of there.

[@MartVale1]

There’s a White Castle around there?

[@bellalegosi7850]

@@MartVale1 yes. I believe near 71st and western

[@YoChicago]

@arnasgsn You can send me a message through KZbin.

[@torbenelgardsson6247]

The New Hitler from lithuanian in 2089

[@arnasgsn]

Joe zekas let me get your e mail

[@rokasklydzia9656]

Loogan :D lmao. Doesn't sound too bad.

[@stanrupeika3954]

Lugan. Is how its spelled.

[@alfredofigueroa9024]

You can be a leprechaun ☘️👹

[@MVILIUSS]

Tu pats esi gaidys

[@69eddieD]

@ 7:35 you drove right past Rockwell Hall, the former national headquarters for the American Nazi Party. There used to be a pizza parlor where the cleaners is now on 71st Street. At the corner of 71st and California I saw the most horrific atrocities of my life. I was right there for several of the race riots. I was a grammar school kid and I was deeply affected by the hatred and violence I witnessed.

[@frankjimenez967]

Onesti Pizza!!!, my brother "Tattoo" Jim made pizza there in the 80's & my other brother, friends and I delivered flyers for Onesti from house to house since I was 8yrs old up until I was 12yrs old. That job helped me save money to my my first bike at Lonnie's Bike shop on the corner of 71st & Washtenaw. I also hung out at Rockwell after it was no longer a Nazi Headquarters, it was actually between Maplewood & Campbell.

[@hasansheikh3680]

@@frankjimenez967 2519 W 71st st

[@tagekoolander]

Fascinating that the building still stands… If houses could talk, Imagine all the stories it could tell

[@heavyc71]

Hell ya Marquette Park Born N Breed 71st All day!