Old Irving Park is indeed a crown jewel among Chicago neighborhoods. Located on the city's north side, it is peaceful and family oriented with a suburban-like charm. It has many handsomely restored older homes with distinctive architectural styles. Old Irving Park was the birthplace of Irving Park, a quaint suburb established in 1869 that was annexed by Chicago in 1889. It has a rich history with over a century of memories. Stately churches sit on quiet street corners exuding a neighborly spirit. Various churches and schools have held centennial celebrations, and old, majestic trees line every street. It has seen many changes but is still a thriving community with character, nice homes, and a legacy of civic-minded individuals and organizations. / Wilfredo Cruz is a longtime resident of Old Irving Park. Having earned his PhD from the University of Chicago, he is a professor of sociology at Columbia College Chicago. He has published two other Arcadia Publishing books, Images of America: Puerto Rican Chicago and Images of America: Chicago Latinos at Work. / The Images of America series celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Using archival photographs, each title presents the distinctive stories from the past that shape the character of the community today. Arcadia is proud to play a part in the preservation of local heritage, making history available to all.