‘Slim’ Lindbergh lands in the limelight

The new post office at 314 Circle sold this commemorative Lindbergh stamp the day it opened, July 1, 1927.

The new post office at 314 Circle sold this commemorative Lindbergh stamp the day it opened, July 1, 1927.

A 1933 Rand-McNally map (courtesy of Kevin Walsh at http://www.airfields-freeman.com/IL/Airfields_IL_Chicago_C.htm#checkerboard ) depicted “Checkerboard Aviation Field” along with the adjacent “Veterans Auxiliary Field” & a beacon to the west.

This photo (from the 1930’s)of Madison St. looking east is Mader’s Tire shop (left) and Albright’s (right), where Lindbergh could be seen hanging around Forest Park in the 1920’s.

“The Lone Eagle”, “Lucky Lindy”, or “Slim,” as he was known around Forest Park, took the first ever flight across the Atlantic Ocean 90 years ago.  The 33 ½ hour solo flight from New York to Paris in the custom built “Spirit of St. Louis,” was completed by young aviator, Captain Charles Lindbergh on May 20-21, 1927.

Lindbergh, originally from Minnesota, lived in Forest Park after WWI.  He was an airmail pilot at the Checkerboard Air Field, at 1^st Avenue and Roosevelt Rd.  According to the Checkerboard Recreation Club, the legendary flight started in Maywood. 

Charles Lindbergh was the slim, blonde fellow, who would hang around town with the other aviators.  He was said to have frequented the DeLuxe Restaurant at 7434 Madison (now Doc Ryans) and Albright Restaurant at 7522 Madison (now Angelo O’Leary’s) and the Mader’s Tire shop across the street. 

The new post office at 314 Circle sold this commemorative Lindbergh stamp the day it opened, July 1, 1927.

Read more about early days of Air Mail at Checkerboar and it’s connection to Forest Park cemeteries and burial vaults here.

Read more about Albright’s Restaurant on Madison and Ferdinand here, and see photo of the restaurant.