The Almighty Gaylords Nation is a Chicagostreet gang which was most active during the mid and late 20th century. It originated on the intersection of Grand Avenue and Noble Street in Chicago's West Town neighborhood. The original president of the Gaylords selected the name after reading about the Gaylords in the public library (the Gaillards, later anglicized to Gaylord, were people from Normandy who lived near the Château Gaillard, constructed by Richard I).[2] They are part of the People Nation alliance.[3] They are reputed for disputing rival gangs near Kilbourn Park.
The Almighty Gaylords Nation is one of Chicago's oldest street gangs[4] and was founded in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago in 1953. The majority of the original members were Italian, but they did take in some non-Italians, including some Mexican Americans. This ethnic makeup reflected the population of the Neighborhood at the time, and was known as one of Chicago's "Little Italies". The first street corners they claimed were Huron and Throop, where they hung out at Angie's, followed by Grand and Ogden, and finally Ohio and Noble. The Gaylords would soon take control of about half of the West Town area and all of Noble Square. They had their own clubhouses and baseball teams. The main clubhouse for the Gaylords by the late 1950s was on the corner of Ohio and Noble Street. Some of their earliest rivals were C-Notes, Lazy Gents, and Playboys. Some original Ohio & Noble Gaylords included Anthony Johnny Boy Anarina and Bobby Shipbaugh. It should also be noted that there were other clubs in Chicago with the name Gaylords, that had no connection to the Gaylords of West Town/ Noble Square, like the Little Village Gaylords that started in 1950 - 1951 and lasted until the Vietnam war, when most of their members enlisted and the Gaylords club within the Taylor Street area, which started at some point prior to 1954.
The Gaylords grew in the 1960s, opening up territory in the Pilsen neighborhood, at 18th & Western and more notoriously in Logan Square, at Lawndale and Altgeld and in Kilbourn Park. More turf for the Gaylords opened up across the north side, as middle class Whites left for the suburbs, leaving poor Whites behind to fend for themselves in increasingly Puerto Rican, Mexican and African American city slums.[5] At the height of the Gaylords reign in 1979, they were listed as the fourth most powerful gang in Chicago with about 1,500 members and were noted as "Chicago's largest White street gang...considered a violent, bigoted outfit."[6] In 1970, they were suspected for being involved in the murder of a black Chicago citizen named Joe Henson, but no charges were brought: a later feature article in the Chicago Reader alleged police and political coverup.[7] It must also be noted that the Uptown Rebels were suspected of the murder and were more likely the real perpetrators of the crime.
During their peak period, the Chicago Gaylords held sets (or sections) on the North Side, West side and the South Side of Chicago. By the early 1980s it was said the Gaylords were the third largest gang in Chicago with 6,000 members.The West side sections included Ohio and Noble, Ohio and Leclaire and Monticelllo and Augusta. Their South Side sections included Back of the Yards and West Englewood (around 55th & Ashland, Sherman Park), Pilsen (18th & Western), and Bridgeport (Throop Street). Their North Side presence included Belmont Cragin, Manor Bowl, Reinberg School, Chopin Park, Blackhawk Park, St Gens., Humboldt Park (Moffat & Campbell); Logan Square (Palmer & California, Lawndale & Altgeld); Irving Park (Albany & Byron); Kilbourn Park (Roscoe & Kilbourn); Kelvyn Park (Kilbourn & Wrightwood); Dunham Park (Montrose & Narragansett); Ravenswood (Seeley & Ainslie); and Uptown (Sunnyside & Magnolia, Lawrence & Broadway). Two of the most powerful Gaylord sections existed in Logan Square: Lawndale and Altgeld (L-A section) and Palmer and California (Palmer Street).[6]
By the early 1990s, the Gaylords were in decline, as many of their leaders went to prison and the last of Whites were leaving the inner city for the suburbs. In 2011, police and federal agents arrested 9 members of suburban Gaylords factions on charges of drug dealing, gun trafficking, and violent intimidation.[8] However, they continue to remain active within their strongholds in Chicago and its environs to this day.[citation needed]
Gang structure
Divisions Within Sets
Age Group
Slylords/Palmer Puds
Under 14
Midget
15 to 17
PeeWees
17 to 20
Juniors
20 to 25+
Seniors
25 and older
Gang colors
The sets, or sections, started by Kilbourn Park wore black and light blue. Sections started by Palmer street wore black and gray. South Side sections started by the 18th and Western section like 55th and Ashland and Sherman Park wore black and brown.
References
^Thacker, Matt. "Alleged hate group members suspected of burglaries". News and Tribune.
^Scott, Michael (September 4, 2004). Lords of Lawndale: My Life in a Chicago White Street Gang. AuthorHouse. ISBN1418482196.
^Florida Department of Corrections. . State of Florida. Archived from the original on 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
^. UIC Gang Research Website. University of Illinois. 27 January 2002. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
^. Archived from the original on 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
^ abKilian, Michael; Fletcher, Connie; Ciccone, E. Richard (1979). Who Runs Chicago?. St. Martin's Press. p. 165. ISBN031287023X.
^Bogira, Steve (February 29, 2012). "The color of his skin". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
^Heinzmann, David (August 23, 2011). "18-month gang investigation leads to arrest of 9". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
External links
Gaylords Official Website Chicago Gaylords, Chicago Street Gangs, Chicago Gang Information. 'Gaylords history from Post World War II until 1998'
January 21, 2023
chicago, gaylords, this, article, require, copy, editing, grammar, style, cohesion, tone, spelling, assist, editing, january, 2023, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, almighty, gaylords, nation, chicago, street, gang, which, most, active, during, la. This article may require copy editing for grammar style cohesion tone or spelling You can assist by editing it January 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Almighty Gaylords Nation is a Chicago street gang which was most active during the mid and late 20th century It originated on the intersection of Grand Avenue and Noble Street in Chicago s West Town neighborhood The original president of the Gaylords selected the name after reading about the Gaylords in the public library the Gaillards later anglicized to Gaylord were people from Normandy who lived near the Chateau Gaillard constructed by Richard I 2 They are part of the People Nation alliance 3 They are reputed for disputing rival gangs near Kilbourn Park Almighty GaylordsFoundedearly 1950sFounding locationChicago Illinois United StatesYears active1950s presentTerritoryChicago IndianaEthnicityMostly White Americans Some Mexican AmericansMembership1 000 2 000ActivitiesExtortion Battery Assault Gun trafficking Violent intimidation HomicideAlliesPeople Nation Latin Kings Insane South Side Popes 12th Street Players Indiana Aryan Brotherhood 1 Vice Lords Latin BrothersRivalsFolk Nation Insane Deuces Simon City Royals Insane Spanish Cobras Maniac Latin Disciples C Notes Insane North Side Popes Contents 1 Origins and history 2 Gang structure 3 Gang colors 4 References 5 External linksOrigins and history EditThe Almighty Gaylords Nation is one of Chicago s oldest street gangs 4 and was founded in the West Town neighborhood of Chicago in 1953 The majority of the original members were Italian but they did take in some non Italians including some Mexican Americans This ethnic makeup reflected the population of the Neighborhood at the time and was known as one of Chicago s Little Italies The first street corners they claimed were Huron and Throop where they hung out at Angie s followed by Grand and Ogden and finally Ohio and Noble The Gaylords would soon take control of about half of the West Town area and all of Noble Square They had their own clubhouses and baseball teams The main clubhouse for the Gaylords by the late 1950s was on the corner of Ohio and Noble Street Some of their earliest rivals were C Notes Lazy Gents and Playboys Some original Ohio amp Noble Gaylords included Anthony Johnny Boy Anarina and Bobby Shipbaugh It should also be noted that there were other clubs in Chicago with the name Gaylords that had no connection to the Gaylords of West Town Noble Square like the Little Village Gaylords that started in 1950 1951 and lasted until the Vietnam war when most of their members enlisted and the Gaylords club within the Taylor Street area which started at some point prior to 1954 The Gaylords grew in the 1960s opening up territory in the Pilsen neighborhood at 18th amp Western and more notoriously in Logan Square at Lawndale and Altgeld and in Kilbourn Park More turf for the Gaylords opened up across the north side as middle class Whites left for the suburbs leaving poor Whites behind to fend for themselves in increasingly Puerto Rican Mexican and African American city slums 5 At the height of the Gaylords reign in 1979 they were listed as the fourth most powerful gang in Chicago with about 1 500 members and were noted as Chicago s largest White street gang considered a violent bigoted outfit 6 In 1970 they were suspected for being involved in the murder of a black Chicago citizen named Joe Henson but no charges were brought a later feature article in the Chicago Reader alleged police and political coverup 7 It must also be noted that the Uptown Rebels were suspected of the murder and were more likely the real perpetrators of the crime During their peak period the Chicago Gaylords held sets or sections on the North Side West side and the South Side of Chicago By the early 1980s it was said the Gaylords were the third largest gang in Chicago with 6 000 members The West side sections included Ohio and Noble Ohio and Leclaire and Monticelllo and Augusta Their South Side sections included Back of the Yards and West Englewood around 55th amp Ashland Sherman Park Pilsen 18th amp Western and Bridgeport Throop Street Their North Side presence included Belmont Cragin Manor Bowl Reinberg School Chopin Park Blackhawk Park St Gens Humboldt Park Moffat amp Campbell Logan Square Palmer amp California Lawndale amp Altgeld Irving Park Albany amp Byron Kilbourn Park Roscoe amp Kilbourn Kelvyn Park Kilbourn amp Wrightwood Dunham Park Montrose amp Narragansett Ravenswood Seeley amp Ainslie and Uptown Sunnyside amp Magnolia Lawrence amp Broadway Two of the most powerful Gaylord sections existed in Logan Square Lawndale and Altgeld L A section and Palmer and California Palmer Street 6 By the early 1990s the Gaylords were in decline as many of their leaders went to prison and the last of Whites were leaving the inner city for the suburbs In 2011 police and federal agents arrested 9 members of suburban Gaylords factions on charges of drug dealing gun trafficking and violent intimidation 8 However they continue to remain active within their strongholds in Chicago and its environs to this day citation needed Gang structure EditDivisions Within Sets Age GroupSlylords Palmer Puds Under 14Midget 15 to 17PeeWees 17 to 20Juniors 20 to 25 Seniors 25 and olderGang colors EditThe sets or sections started by Kilbourn Park wore black and light blue Sections started by Palmer street wore black and gray South Side sections started by the 18th and Western section like 55th and Ashland and Sherman Park wore black and brown References Edit Thacker Matt Alleged hate group members suspected of burglaries News and Tribune Scott Michael September 4 2004 Lords of Lawndale My Life in a Chicago White Street Gang AuthorHouse ISBN 1418482196 Florida Department of Corrections Street Gangs Chicago Based or Influenced People Nation and Folk Nation State of Florida Archived from the original on 2008 03 16 Retrieved 2008 03 08 The Young Lords and Early Chicago Puerto Rican Gangs UIC Gang Research Website University of Illinois 27 January 2002 Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 16 March 2016 Gaylords Chicago Gang History Archived from the original on 2020 08 09 Retrieved 2020 08 02 a b Kilian Michael Fletcher Connie Ciccone E Richard 1979 Who Runs Chicago St Martin s Press p 165 ISBN 031287023X Bogira Steve February 29 2012 The color of his skin Chicago Reader Retrieved 16 March 2016 Heinzmann David August 23 2011 18 month gang investigation leads to arrest of 9 Chicago Tribune Retrieved 16 March 2016 External links EditGaylords Official Website Chicago Gaylords Chicago Street Gangs Chicago Gang Information Gaylords history from Post World War II until 1998 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chicago Gaylords amp oldid 1133956860, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
