My Saturday morning Madison Street stroll

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010 11:46 AM

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By John Hubbuch

So I'm getting my morning exercise Saturday morning around 7AM and I'm walking east on Madison . I've lived in Oak Park for 34 years, but I never noticed that there are 8 black beauty shops on Madison between Ridgeland and Austin, and customers are pouring in at 7AM. How come? I rack my white brain, and I can't come up with an explanation as to why so many African- American women get their hair done at 7AM on Saturday morning. I feel that living in an 'integrated" community I should know this. Even worse, it occurs to me that I don't know a single black women well enough to call and ask about my Saturday discovery. Kind of sad.

One more thing: Madison Street is the home of the John L.Hedges Parks and Rec Building. John is a current Village Trustee, but before that, he was long time boss of Oak Park parks. Is he the only living person in Oak Park with a building named after him? Pretty impressive. Even George Washington had to wait for his memorial!

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John Hubbuch from Oak Park

Posted: October 7th, 2010 7:13 AM

Good call on Chris Rock's Bad Hair. I'll put it in my Netflix Q. I'll also check again this Saturday at 7AM to test the wedding theory. I'll report again once I have solved this mystery.

john murtagh from Oak Park

Posted: October 6th, 2010 2:05 PM

My bet is that it was family and friends getting ready for a morning wedding. My experience with my daughter was that more time is spent getting ready for a wedding than the actual event.

Mary Vostal from Oak Park

Posted: October 6th, 2010 10:52 AM

Hey John, watching Chris Rock's hysterical movie, Bad Hair, might be some insight into an explanation for the early morning beauty appointments. I hope some black ladies write to enlighten you as well. It's one of those things you wouldn't ask of casual acquaintances and in the interest of fair play you should ask if there is some mystery that is specific to white people that blacks are curious about. Good luck with the blog.

John Hubbuch from Oak Park

Posted: October 6th, 2010 8:54 AM

Exhibit #1 for discontinuing "living naming" is Stroger Pere. But if we insist, how about Jack Fagan District 97 Administrative Building? If Ray Johnson gets elected for a 3rd term, there must be something that we can name for him. How about Don Harmon? Everybody likes him.

Dan Haley from Oak Park

Posted: October 5th, 2010 4:21 PM

John,In naming the parks headquarters after John Hedges, Oak Park was getting in on the state and county practice of "live naming." See Stroger Hospital and the James R. Thompson State of Illinois building.

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