Dilla’s Chicago is a biweekly window into the hidden histories of Chicago area historical figures, buildings, neighborhoods, and more from Shermann “Dilla” Thomas. Thomas is a Chicago historian and content creator and the founder of Chicago Mahogany, LLC . He serves as the brand ambassador and chief of social media for the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. Find him on Instagram or TikTok @6figga_dilla.

Anyone who has ever taken one of my neighborhood history tours has heard me repeatedly say, “If it has a name, it has a history.” This statement applies to everything, including the names given to buildings and other structures.

Recently, I saw an Instagram post of a man touring the interior of a century-old building that he had recently purchased. My first thoug

See Full Page