Chicago’s manufacturing roots, legacy endure

DES PLAINES – For much of the 20th century Chicagoland was the manufacturing capital of the world. More appliances, bicycles, candy, clothing, electronics, furniture, office equipment, pinball machines, toys, tools, tractors and watches were mass produced in the Chicago area than anywhere else on the planet.

On Thursday, Sept. 12, self-proclaimed history “edutainment” speaker Barbara Barrett presents Made in Chicago: The Golden Age of Manufacturing in Chicagoland 1872 – 1972 at the Des Plaines History Center, 781 Pearson St. The PowerPoint lecture begins at 1:30 p.m.

“Many of my family members were in manufacturing in Chicago,” said Barrett, of Hoffman Estates. “They worked for Sunbeam and the Schwinn Corporation, and I listened to their stories and followed their careers.”

Even today, Radio Flyer continues to manufacture its signature red wagons on Chicago’s West Side. Lyon & Healy, originally a sheet music company, has been manufacturing harps since 1889 – part of a once-robust hub for the making of musical instruments, including several piano factories.

“It’s interesting to look back at it and realize Chicago’s prominent history,” Barrett said. “History can be exciting. It doesn’t have to be boring.”

Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development notes manufacturing contributes $53.9 billion in GDP to the region’s economy. What’s more, this local sector is extremely diverse.

“In 2018, the manufacturing sector made up about 10 percent of jobs in northeastern Illinois,” according to Chicago’s planning and development department stated. “Approximately 50 percent of the Chicago region’s 360,000 manufacturing jobs are located in Cook County, with about 16 percent of those, or 63,000, within the City of Chicago. Chicago’s top three manufacturing sub-sectors by employment are food, fabricated metal products and transportation equipment.”

Barrett is a retired biochemist who is embracing a second career as a history educator. She earned a chemistry degree from the University of Illinois, with a minor in history, and a master’s degree in public administration from Roosevelt University. She headed Sherman Hospital’s laboratory in Elgin, before going to work for a medical association. But since 2019

Tell me about yourself? History education speaker, biochemist and minor in history and always love history. Biochemist and head of a laboratory and Sherman Hospital in Elgin and work for medical association. But she began presenting programs full-time in 2019 and never looked back.

“It all goes back to visiting my mother-in-law and the long-term care facility she was at. I presented programs around Christmas time. I did some background research and developed “The History of Christmas Carols and Songs” – my first program,” Barrett said. “For me the transition [to speaker] was natural. I’m a bit of a Renaissance person.”

Her husband, Chuck’s, involvement as editor of several automotive newsletters led her to develop vehicle-related programs including Driving Forces – 100 + Years of Women Influencing, Buying, Designing & Driving Automobiles. She has presented programs at the Studebaker National Museum and the Gilmore Car Museum, as well as for C-SPAN American History TV.

Register by calling 847-391-5399 or by emailing contact@desplaineshistory.org. Village Bank & Trust and the Kiwanis Club of Des Plaines help defray the cost of monthly Coffee Talks, but donations supporting this free event are appreciated.

“I hope people leave with an appreciation for the contribution Chicago made to the county as a whole,” Barrett said. “I think they enjoy reliving that history they grew up with.”