History 1947-1957

In 1949, JCC of Chicago established two new branches: Hyde Park Club (5200 S. University Ave, Chicago) and Rogers Park JCC( 1222 W. Morse Ave., Chicago).

By 1951, the Jewish population around the JPI building in Lawndale had declined drastically to an estimated 42,300 people (from 75,400), as Jews began to move to new neighborhoods. In 1955 the JPI Building in the Lawndale area (3500 W. Douglas Blvd) was closed and sold to the Chicago Board of Education.

In 1952, Camp Chi relocated from Loon Lake, IL to Lake Delton, Wisconsin (its current site), and in 1955, Camp Chi transformed from an all-girls resident camp to a co-ed resident camp.

In 1955 the Rogers Park JCC relocated from 1222 West Morse Ave., Chicago to 7101 N. Greenview Ave., Chicago.

In 1957, a group of Rabbis from Niles Township visited the Jewish Federation to plead for the establishment of a JCC in their community. They believed that Jewish teens needed help adjusting to suburban life. This led to the establishment of the Niles Township JCC (4017 Church Street, Skokie).