Shep grew up in Hammond Indiana at 2907 Cleveland Street and many of his childhood stories are based on actual places in Hammond, but in a fictional town called "Hohman" There is actually a street in Hammond called Hohman Street - (See postcards below).
Here's a sattelite view of the neighborhood
Jean Shepherd Community Center
Opened March 15, 2003 this Hammond Indiana Community Center was named after their local hero.
This is the street where Shep grew up in real life and as Ralph in his childhood stories
1930 Census
Click image to enlarge
Here's a copy of the 1930's Census showing Shep's house. It is on lines 29-32.
The Brunner household is listed right above.
The Schools
Shep attended Warren G. Harding and Hammond High
Flick's Tavern
Owned by Flick's father and eventually by Flick himself. Shep used the tavern in his book "In God We Trust All Others Pay Cash"
Borden's Dairy
The Borden's Dairy in Hammond where Shep's father worked.
A Tour of Hammond Postcards and Pictures From Hammond
Hammond Library c1917
Hammond High
Hohman Street, south of State Street, Hammond, Ind c1910
Lion Dept Store
Burgards in Hammond,showing the Art Deco styles of the era.
Orpheum Theatre Courtesy - Dennis Missett
This set of five pictures were sent in by Brian Pearson was able to obtain from family members and the Calumet Room of the Hammond Public Library.
Goldblatts & Walgreens on Hohman Avenue. Goldblatts was by far the anchor of downtown Hammond. It closed in 79 or 80. Goldblatts was no doubt portrayed as Higbees in ACS. At onetime Goldblatts resembled a Marshall Fields or Carsons (in the Chicago area) with it's Christmas window displays.
No more Goldblatts!
Jack Fox's...where Shep was fitted for his tux in Phantom Of The Open Hearth and where Shep told many of his stories when it came to his mother buying him nice clothes for school.
The State Theatre in downtown Hammond. This is where many of the greats passed through like The Marx Brothers, the 3 Stooges and who knows maybe the inspiration for dish night?
Woolworths on Hohman Avenue in it's hey day.
All Saints School (which still stands), this is where Josephine Cosnowski and all the other pretty girls from East Chicago went to school.
Bob Clark (Not the one who made A Christmas Story) sent these photos from around Hammond.
Downtown Hammond - 1949
Monon Tower in Hammond on Hohman Ave. Shep took his first train trip from near this spot while in the Scouts
