New 35th Street Metra Station In Bronzeville

Posted on 24. May, 2011 by citizen in Community Focus

by SheRico Jones

On May 6^th, Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) spoke at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Metra’s new Lovana S. “Lou” Jones/Bronzeville Station; located on 35^th and Federal, in the city’s Bronzeville neighborhood.  Joining Rush were State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, Alderman Pat Dowell; Illinois Institute of Technology’s President John Anderson and Metra’s CEO Alex Clifford among others.

On April 3^rd Metra trains began stopping at the new 35^th street station. The new terminal is dedicated to the memory of Lovana S. Lou, an iconic state and local political figure who served as the 26th district State Representative in the Illinois General Assembly for nearly 20 years.  She died in 2006.

“Lou was one of my dearest friends and mentors and she had a passion for people, for justice and for enriching the lives of children—especially poor and underserved youth.  Her commitment to service and her love of life left a void in the hearts of those, like me, who knew and loved her dearly” Rush said.

The Bronzeville neighborhood is one of the nation’s most significant landmarks of African-American urban history.  The population of the area increased when thousands of African-Americans fled the oppressed south and migrated to Chicago in search of industrial work. The name Bronzeville was coined in 1930, by James J. Gentry, a local theater editor for the Chicago Bee publication as a reference to the brown skin color of African-Americans, who pre-dominated that area.

“Many Chicagoans have no idea about the rich history of the 35th and State Street Corridor.  From roughly 1870 to 1930 the community was known as a ‘Black Wall Street.’” Rush said.  “There were businesses and banks, restaurants and jazz clubs established by the descendants of slaves who came to Chicago from the segregated south in pursuit of a better life.  They built it from the ground up.”

Rush was instrumental in securing $4.9 million in federal funds as well as $6.8 million in federal stimulus money to make the project happen.   The 35^th street station, which is part of the Rock Island Line, provides access to Sox Park, IIT and Bronzeville businesses.

“We are delighted to cooperate with Metra to build a new station at 35th Street,” John Anderson, president of IIT said. “It will provide a new way for our students, faculty, staff and visitors to come to our campus, as well as provide access to the surrounding communities of Bronzeville and Bridgeport.”