Eden T. Brekke
| Eden T. Brekke | |
|---|---|
 Brekke circa 1935 in Chicago | |
| Born |
Edon Thoranius Brekke December 22, 1893 Chicago, Illinois |
| Died |
July 29, 1978 (aged 84) Long Grove, Illinois |
| Occupation | Commissioner of the West Chicago Park District |
Edon Thoranius Brekke (December 21, 1893 – July 29, 1978) was a Chicago businessman and politician who served as the last Commissioner of the West Chicago Park District and was Republican Committeeman of the 36th Ward and 37th Ward.[1][2]
Biography
He was born as Edon Thoranius Brekke on December 21, 1893 in Chicago.[3] He would later spell his name as "Eden". His siblings included: Mabel Brekke (1898–1980) who married a Bowie; John Brekke; and Evelyn Brekke who married a Mackett.[1]
In 1910 Eden was working as a clerk and living at 815 North 51st in Chicago. Eden married Mae Danielson (1894–1986) in 1912. May was the daughter of Carrie Hansen. Together Mae and Eden had the following children: June E. Brekke (1914–1989) who married Charles N. Shaw; Donald E. Brekke (1915–1982) who died in Barrington; Fern M. Brekke (1917–1974) who married Stuart M. Williams (1913–1987); and William E. Brekke (1922–1990).[1] On June 5, 1917 Eden registered for the draft for World War I while living at 1010 N. Latrobe Avenue and he was working as a coal and ice dealer.[4]
Eden was working as a Superintendent of Parks for the City of Chicago from at least 1920. Charles Shaw writes:
Eden Brekke, was a rising Alderman and Committeeman for the 37th Ward, and the Commissioner of the West Chicago Park District, under the infamously corrupt William Hale "Big Bill" Thompson, chief political lickspittle to one Alphonse Capone. As Park Commissioner, my great-grandfather worked with the internationally renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen and his associates to build a number of smaller West Side parks including Austin, Davis, LaFollette, and Riis in the 37th Ward.[5]
He was the 36th ward Republican committeeman from at least 1936 to 1956.[6][7] In 1944 sought reelection in a difficult campaign.[8][9] In 1956 a bomb was set off outside his house.[6][10]
He died on July 29, 1978 at a nursing home in Long Grove, Illinois and was buried in Mount Emblem Cemetery in Elmhurst, Illinois.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Eden T. Brekke dead at 84". Chicago Tribune. July 30, 1978.
- ↑ Shaw, Charles. "Saul Bellow: Eulogy from a former student.". Scoop. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
At the time a 12-year-old Bellow was stuffing mailboxes for Thompson, my Great-Grandfather Eden Brekke was sitting alderman of the 37th Ward, Austin District, and would soon serve under then Mayor Thompson as commissioner of the Park District.
- ↑ "Edon Thoranius Brekke birth certificate". December 21, 1893. Retrieved 2013-06-12.
- ↑ World War I draft registration
- ↑ Shaw, Charles. "Roots". Conscious Choice. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
It may surprise you to learn that my green pedigree goes back at least a century in this fair city of ours, to the early 1900s when my great-grandfather, Eden Brekke, ... My great-grandfather’s lifelong attachment to Urbs in Horto transcended politics, and transmuted itself across time into me. I only hope I can honor his legacy in the years ahead.
- 1 2 "Brekke Links Bomb to Politics". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 26, 1956.
Eden T. Brekke, a 36th ward Republican faction leader, charged yesterday that politics was behind Saturday night's dynamite...
- ↑ "Brekke Moves to Limit Choice on G. O. P. Ticket". Chicago Daily Tribune. January 12, 1936.
Eden T. Brekke, Republican committeeman of the 36th ward, was sending out a request yesterday to the 61 members of the Cook county Republican central committee for a meeting of the committee to be held tomorrow at Henrici's restaurant.
- ↑ "Brekke Places Bipartisan Tag on Foe in 36th". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 26, 1944.
Eden T. Brekke, 36th ward Republican committeeman seeking reelection April 11, fired a stinging barrage of accusations last week at his G. O. P. opponent, Joseph F. Gubbins, who earlier had charged Brekke with bipartisan dealings.
- ↑ "Brekke Facing Stiff Battle 36th Ward Race". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 19, 1944.
One of the city's blue ribbon campaign features is the 36th ward Republican committeeman fight between the veteran Committeeman Eden T. Brekke, and Joseph F. Gubbins, assistant secretary of the Illinois Commerce commission in the Chicago office.
- ↑ "Bomb Blast Home of Local Politician". Long Beach Independent. March 26, 1956.
... occupants escape injury The blast broke 15 windows in the home of Eden T Brekke Police said the explosion which also shattered windows in a neighbor's ...