The Last Houseboat

Belle Plaine and the River–Tied to the bank north of Irving Park Road lay the last houseboat out of a colony of more than five hundred which lined the banks during the 1930’s. These boats were basically an effort (successful) to dodge property taxes during the years when every dollar counted. This particular vessel had been stationed at that point on the river since 1922, and was kept afloat by a pool liner submerged beneath the hull. Porky could generally be found daily at the houseboat from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. He fed the cats and rats and then settled down to a game of gin rummy with anyone who cared to take him on. Porky was (according to him) the “world’s greatest gin player.” In the winter, he would light the oil drum stove, and the place was heated adequately in the main “salon.” Porky’s daily absence from home (an Oak Park carriage house) no doubt contributed to the longevity of his marriage.

The River Rats–In the summer of 1990 the Sanitary District embarked on a “clean-up” project along the North branch of the Chicago River. It amounted to a concerted effort to get rid of all the structures along the banks which had accumulated over the years and had no legal sanction to be there. The District minions attempted to learn the identity of the owners of the houseboat, but the names were not to be revealed. The result was a lawsuit filed by the Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago against the “River Rats.” Fortunately Porky knew a judge on the Supreme Court and the matter was settled by listing the District as a “named insured” on the liability policy. So the games went on for several more years.