Marty Spaulding <martman@net-link.net> Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997
Dear Chancellor Broski < David.C.Broski@uic.edu>
All over the world, historians and blues fans are deeply distressed about the possibility that Maxwell Street -- the birthplace of Chicago blues....and arguably the birthplace of early rock n' roll -- will be destroyed.
For more than 2 generations this common-man's "flea market" was the hub of not only Chicago's blues community, but also a hub of social activity for Chicago's south side. Over the years nearly every great Chicago blues artist played there -- strictly for tips -- although this was typically ten times what they'd make in the old South side clubs.
You'd have seen Robert Nighthawk... Big and Little Walter.... Junior Wells... Big Voice Odom... Earl Hooker and all of the others...
It is my belief that Chicago is the blues capital of the world, and further that Maxwell Street was the spawning ground of the entire Chicago genre of the blues. The politics of the situation, at least to my view, are that the City and UIC are not aware of the historic significance of this landmark. To you it is perhaps just an urban blight.
I know you are a man of wisdom and vision. You would have to be to have attained the position you are in. PLEASE SEE THE POTENTIAL OF MAXWELL STREET !!! Is it not your goal and desire to redevelop this district into a prosperous and viable urban center ? Then why can't you incorporate the existing Maxwell Street asset into this plan?
This is a substantial potential selling point of the district that you are poised to simply throw away. The BIRTHPLACE OF THE BLUES in the BLUES CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. Once you've thrown it away, it is gone forever. There are generations yet to be born who will have wanted to see Maxwell Street, and this piece of history should be here for you and your great grandchildren to experience.
This is BLUES HISTORY BEING DESTROYED! The world is watching. We are covering this issue on my radio show and I know of others in the media interested in this as well. I am sure you don't want your university to go down in history as the university who destroyed Maxwell Street, Birthplace of Chicago Blues, one of our country's preeminent African-American landmarks.
Please re-consider including the existing Maxwell Street asset in your redevelopment plans.
Marty Spaulding, WRKR Radio
SUNDAY BLUES, Southwest Michigan's Home of the Blues
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