Edward Brennan claimed never to have personally profited from his work on the reform of Chicago's addresses. His efforts were recognized in a resolution of the City Council on April 21, 1937. When Edward Brennan died in 1942, not only had the city been renumbered, but also at his urging the City Council had changed hundreds of street names. Brennan did not succeed in winning implementation for every aspect of his vision. For example, designations of Street, Avenue, and Road continued to be used randomly instead of being assigned to east-west, north-south, and diagonal streets respectively--but his overall plan still makes life easier for every Chicago resident and visitor.

Photographer: Chicago Daily News
Source: Chicago Historical Society (DN-0080188)