M is for McAdoo Heights

McAdoo Heights is a neighborhood located just south of State Street, between Elm and Church Streets, on the fringe of Old Irving Park. It was developed in the early 1900's as a commercial and residential community for mill workers. The close-knit community, known as a "town within a city,"  flourished until the 1940's (reference). It had restaurants, a hardware store, grocery stores, a movie theater, a school,many churches, and its own police officer. Street names include: Golden Gate, Newlyn, Macy, Bernard, Roseland, Buffalo, Georgia, Palm, and Shelton. In earlier years, it was also known as "The Heights."

As we drove around this neighborhood last weekend, we did get a sense of the charm of McAdoo Heights. The community garden, on Golden Gate Drive, is just lovely. Many houses are decorated for Halloween and and, the day we were there, several families out enjoying the fall afternoon. The above house, at 200 East Newlyn Street is larger than many of the one-story mill houses in the neighborhood. It was built in the 1928, also a little earlier than many in the neighborhood. The high triangles of the peaked roofline at the entrance are quite welcoming and the light blue door makes it clear where one it to enter. We'd like to think it has the character of an "anchor" house for the neighborhood the way it stands, in all its glory, on the corner of Georgia and East Newlyn.

We wonder if there is a connection between McAdoo Heights and the retired, professional basketball star, Bob McAdoo who is from Greensboro. He graduated from Smith High School (in the late 1960's) and is currently an assistant coach for the Miami Heat. Maybe Coach McAdoo is the keeper of some great information about this cozy little neighborhood with his same name. Any and all pieces of information would be greatly appreciated.

Today is ABC Wednesday and M is for McAdoo Heights. For our A-L neighborhood pages, look here.

 

*informative reference here.

Comments

[Reader Wil]

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely McAdoo Heights. Good choice for M! Have a great day!
Wil, ABC Team.

[Laloofah]

I love the name "McAdoo Heights" - it sounds bouncy and cheerful! :-) Sounds like it's well named (and how perfect for M week that the neighborhood's houses were built for mill workers!)

And what a magical house! My husband and I were just discussing recently how much we like brick houses, and that they don't build them anymore, at least not out here. They look so sturdy and so tidy with their white trim. The gable and the dustpan dormer really give this house great character. (I'd have painted the front door sage green, but that's just me!) :-)

Funny about McAdoo Heights and local celebrity Bob McAdoo - coincidence? I think not! I hope you solve the mystery!

[Roger Green]

The building its tall, and it reminded me of the basketball player Bob McAdoo.

[Jane Mitchell]

I've never heard of a dishpan dormer before, but I like the name. I agree with Laloofah about the door color.

[Luna Miranda]

fascinating! i'm sure the basketball star would be proud to be associated to this town.

M is for...

[Emille]

I love brick houses like this!

[Janis of So Cal]

McAdoo cannot be a common name, perhaps you could forward your link and a request for any information to the Miami Heat PR rep or Coach McAdoo may have an email himself on the team website...you never know!
This is another very charming home,cozy and inviting. I don't think I could get through the ABCs with neighborhoods around here but perhaps combined with architectural styles I could pull it off...maybe next round.

[Janis & David]

Janis of Southern CA, For ABC Wed, you can combine streets and neighborhoods. We were able to feature them separately.