Torrence Avenue Shopping District

106th and Torrence Avenue Looking South

 The business district of early Irondale was along  106th street between Muskegon and Torrence.  The following businesses were. 

 Larry Hartnett    -Tavern
 Daniel Dugan    -Tavern
 James McCormack   -Tavern & Hotel
 Pat McMannon   -Residence
 Thomas Farrell   -Tavern & Hotel
 Jefferson    -Residence
 Tom Dowler    -Coal Yard
 Jefferson    -Blacksmith Shop
 Bob Hall    -Barber Shop
 Jordan     -Shoemaker
 Dave Scott    -Cigars & Candies 
 Tom Conmore    -Dance Hall & Opera House
 Mrs.  McNulty    -Residence
 Mrs.  Morgan's   -Hotel & Restaurant
 Bob Davis    -Tavern & Bowling 
Silas Gagne    -General Store & Post Office 

106th and Torrence Avenue Looking North

          The early businesses district was on the 106th street between Torrence and Muskegon and on Torrence from 106th to about 108th Street.  Businessmen rented property from Browns Mill for one dollar per year.  There were also people living near Wisconsin Steel at 106th Street.  Mr Burke, a worker in the gas house lived in one house and John Mack lived in another.  The town had no official boundaries and was just a mixture of business places and residences. 
           The certain areas that are mentioned along 106th Street, for the most part, have been taken over by industry.  About 1880, Irondale began to develop on Torrence Avenue, where the business area is today.  Brown's Mill built a row of company houses on the east side of Torrence from 108th to 110th Streets.  They remained for only twelve years and slowly were taken down. One of them was purchased by a Mr. Neff, who had it moved to 108th and Bensley where it still stands today.  (Kijewski, Brosch, Bulanda, The Historical Development of Three Chicago Millgates. 7,8)

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