69th on the Normal Park 'L' by cta web Via Flickr: Today marks the 110th anniversary of the opening of the former Normal Park branch of the South Side 'L'. This photo shows the terminal at 69th with its Greek Revival-style stationhouse and a streetcar in service on the 67th-69th-71st line (predecessor to today's Rt. 67 67th-69th-71st). This part of the 'L' was actually a branch of a branch--it started just west of the Harvard station on the Englewood Branch of the South Side 'L' (now known as the Ashland branch of the Green Line), and continued on south to 69th/Normal. An important destination served by this former branch was the Chicago Normal School (later the Chicago Teachers' College, Chicago State College and now Chicago State University), which was located near the end of the line. (It's since moved to 95th/King Drive, a few blocks east of the end of the Red Line.) This humble branch had just three stops--65th, 67th (Marquette Rd) and 69th. Trains on the line through most of its life would be little one- or two-car trains which would meet with trains from the Englewood branch's former Loomis terminal west of the Harvard station and couple together to continue on to the Loop and back or through to the North Side ('L' routings to/through downtown have varied greatly over the years). Today, you can catch the 'L' near where this branch once ran via Red Line stops just a bit east at 63rd or 69th, or the Green Line a few blocks west at Halsted.
