Andrew M. Cohen <rivnrev@memphisonline.com> Date: Tue, 26 Aug 1997
Chancellor Broski:
I am a Blues player and scholar, a historic archaeologist, the one-time co-manager of Jim Brewer (one of Maxwell Street's finest performers), a former resident of Chicago, an alumnus of the University of Illinois, and a Jew. Every one of these points of view cries out to you not to take the last vestiges of this historically important location.
-As a Blues player, I have derived much inspiration from the ambiance of the place.
-As a historic archaeologist, I can tell you it's a heck of a lot easier to deal with an existing structure than to try to reconstruct it after it has been torn down. Maxwell Street is archaeologically important because it was a meeting place among several different universes of discourse.
-As Blind Jim's co-manager (for more than twenty years) I can tell you that the place was important to him from the standpoint of making a living for himself and his blind wife, Fanny. Jim was also mentor to any number of blues and gospel players along the street, such as Blind Arvella Gray, and his longtime friend Albert Hollins. Jim and his various friends played there every Sunday for over forty years.
-As a former resident of Chicago, student at the University of Illinois, and as a Jew, I am appalled that you would even think of countenancing the destruction of such a historically important landmark. Would you tear down the Jerusalem Gates to build a condo? Would you knock down the Alma Mater statue in front of Altgeld Hall in Champaign? Why would you want to tear down the remnants of a neighborhood that was important to the assimilation of three different ethnic groups in succession, one which carried its fair share of the tax burden, and contributed so much to the cultural development of Chicago?
Andrew M. Cohen
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