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1848
Samuel Nicolson was the superintendent of Boston invented the process of wood block pavement. Commonly called the Nicolson pavement -
Time span of wooden roads
The only problem with the wooden roads were the durability. The first road lasted seven years before requiring replacement -
1850s
Samuel Greeley was in favor of Nicolson pavement saying,in an 1859 Tribune article: “Wooden pavement…might have great advantages in a city, where suitable stone was scarce, where lumber was the great staple of the market, and where the foundation was new and yielding.” -
1870s
In working-class areas, alleys provided space for small manufacturing, repair shops, rear houses, children’s play space, and, eventually, garages. -
Period: to
late 19th century and early 20th century
numerous areas in Chicago alleys are still found paved with Belgian block -
1871
In 1871, Chicago had 37 miles of wood paved street. -
1890
wood pavement was considered by many to be an anachronistic failure.6 During this period, more durable and cost-efficient pavement methods like Macadam and Stone blocks came into use -
20th century-21st century
The alley – as a secondary public way – forms the back bone of our transit system. Outside the loop, most elevated rail lines run along alley corridors -
20th-21st century
even though we as Chicagoans don´t get milk and eggs delivered to our back door, we do keep our trash out back and run most of our power, cable and other utility lines through the alley corridor. -
21st century
Forgotten Chicago identifies three remaining alleys in Chicago that feature wood block pavers