by Bob Shamo

With Marian Shaw’s passing last year, Park Tower lost one of its original owners and most colorful residents.  She left behind many items of historical interest, among them issues of the newsletter dating back to 1979, our first year as a condominium association.

Mrs. Shaw’s family offered us those back issues, and we accepted with  appreciation. The News & Social Media Committee is now copying them to our website and, as space allows, we’ll feature one here in the current iteration of the newsletter.

Having just become a condominium association itself, the Spring 1979 ParkTowerNews describes ..

• How homeowners form a condominium association, presumably the steps just completed by PTCA.

• The first Board of Directors, as well as a resident preparing for the 1980 Sailing Competition. (The real Olympics that year, with the sailing portion in Tallinn, Estonia?!? Not clear, but interesting nonetheless.)

• Chart showing that shades are more efficient than drapes or blinds at keeping out summer heat and keeping in winter warmth – also notice that a new rule would soon require shades, and that they must show a uniform color to the outside (gray, as it turned out — a shade that is still available from at least one Chicago retailer, though no longer required).

• Elevator #5, “Which Side is Which!”

• Racquetball courts coming, also several rooftop benches and tables. Grills nixed, however, due to wind and potential “inconvenience” to others.

Find the Spring 1979 newsletter online at www.ptcondo.com/parktowernews-spring-1979/

Finally, know that there are some holes in our historical record, random missing newsletters from 1979 through 2008. If you have any from those years, we would be so grateful. Just drop them off in the management office with a note to pass them along to the News & Social Media Committee.