Chicago rat hole

Last updated

Chicago rat hole
Original Photo of the Chicago Rat Hole from WinslowDumaine Tweet.jpg
The hole, as pictured in Dumaine's original tweet
Chicago rat hole
41°56′36″N87°40′37″W / 41.943321°N 87.676881°W / 41.943321; -87.676881
LocationNear 1918 West Roscoe Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
TypeHole
RemovedApril 24, 2024 (2024-04-24)

The Chicago rat hole was a hole shaped like a rat in the sidewalk of West Roscoe Street in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States. After existing for decades, it became a viral phenomenon on social media (mainly Twitter) in January 2024, attracting tourists to the site. City officials removed the sidewalk slab containing the hole from the street on April 24, 2024, but the hole remains intact.

Contents

An apparent example of accidental lifecasting, the hole was described by The New York Times as "Chicago's Stonehenge", as its origins are unknown. [1]

History

Gatorade Should Be Thicker.
@WinslowDumaine
X logo 2023.svg

Had to make a pilgrimage to the Chicago Rat Hole

January 6, 2024 [2]

The hole gained worldwide attention on January 6, 2024, via a tweet by Chicago-based comedian and writer Winslow Dumaine. [2] [3] [4] The post quickly became viral, compelling many Chicago residents to visit the hole—in what has been described as a "pilgrimage"—and to make offerings to it, such as coins, flowers, candles, cheese, cigarettes, alcohol, children's toys, foodstuffs, and estradiol pills. [3] [5] [6] One group of visitors took shots of Chicago specialty Malört beside the hole, before leaving the bottle as an oblation. [7] The Riot Fest Historical Society also dedicated a plaque at the site of the hole. [8]

Despite its newfound attention in 2024, the hole had existed for at least 20 to 30 years, according to locals. [3] [4] [9] A local softball team has been using the rat as its unofficial mascot since around 2018. [10]

On January 10, 2024, Ann Williams, the state representative for Illinois's 11th district, posted an online video promoting the hole, calling it "the jewel of the 11th district". [3]

On January 11, 2024, the Lakeview Roscoe Village's Chamber of Commerce started receiving suggestions of names for the rat hole, accepting submissions until January 18, 2024. [11] On January 19, 2024, submissions had been narrowed down to five finalists, which residents had until January 21 to vote on: "Lil' Stucky", "Splatatouille", "Splat", "Roscoe Road-dent" and "Dibs". [12] The winning name was "Splatatouille". [13]

The hole was filled in with plaster or cement by an unknown party on January 19, 2024. [14] City officials later confirmed they had not filled in the hole. [15] Ann Williams posted a video stating "we are shocked and saddened" by the news, and "are closely monitoring the developing situation". [12] Local residents attempted to excavate the hole, using their hands and implements such as ice scrapers and license plates. [14] Eventually, a woman cleaned out the hole and restored it to its original condition. [16]

Following the restoration, Williams wrote "This is what community is all about." [1] Shortly afterwards, an engagement and a marriage ceremony took place at the hole. [17] Some residents of West Roscoe Street expressed frustration with the hole's newfound viral status, with some locals citing public nuisance, vandalism, and accumulation of garbage on the sidewalk. [13]

On April 24, 2024, the Chicago Department of Transportation removed the sidewalk slab containing the hole while keeping it intact; it is unclear what the city officials plan on doing with the sidewalk slab. [18] A "Rathole Music Fest" was held at a venue under three miles south of the site in June, featuring local bands as well as burlesque and poetry performances. [19]

The rat hole has also brought attention to other object-shaped sidewalk holes, such as a gun-shaped hole in Richmond, Virginia, that was similarly enshrined by locals. [20]

Debate over origin of hole

Despite the hole's popular name, some locals believe it was formed by a squirrel. [9] The director of Lincoln Park Zoo's Urban Wildlife Institute, Seth Magle, told NBC Chicago that he believed it likely that a squirrel fell on the wet concrete from a tree. Magle also clarified that the thinness of the tail cavity, used by some to argue in favor of it being a rat hole, should not be considered, given that fur does not always leave impressions. [21] Supporting this theory, one resident stated that an oak tree had existed above that section of the sidewalk that had since been cut down. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prairie dog</span> Genus of ground squirrels

Prairie dogs are herbivorous burrowing ground squirrels native to the grasslands of North America. There are five recognized species of prairie dog: black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison's, Utah, and Mexican prairie dogs. In Mexico, prairie dogs are found primarily in the northern states, which lie at the southern end of the Great Plains: northeastern Sonora, north and northeastern Chihuahua, northern Coahuila, northern Nuevo León, and northern Tamaulipas. In the United States, they range primarily to the west of the Mississippi River, though they have also been introduced in a few eastern locales. They are also found in the Canadian Prairies. Despite the name, they are not actually canines; prairie dogs, along with the marmots, chipmunks, and several other basal genera belong to the ground squirrels, part of the larger squirrel family (Sciuridae).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidewalk</span> Pedestrian path along the side of a road

A sidewalk, pavement, footpath in Australia, India, New Zealand and Ireland, or footway is a path along the side of a road. Usually constructed of concrete, pavers, brick, stone, or asphalt, it is designed for pedestrians. A sidewalk is normally higher than the roadway, and separated from it by a kerb. There may also be a planted strip between the sidewalk and the roadway and between the roadway and the adjacent land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evanston, Illinois</span> City in Illinois, United States

Evanston is a city in Cook County, Illinois, United States, situated on the North Shore along Lake Michigan. A suburb of Chicago, Evanston is 12 miles (19 km) north of Downtown Chicago, bordered by Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, Wilmette to the north, and Lake Michigan to the east. Evanston had a population of 78,110 as of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winter Park, Florida</span> City in Florida, United States

Winter Park is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 29,795 according to the 2020 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winslow Township, New Jersey</span> Township in Camden County, New Jersey, US

Winslow Township is a township in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 39,907, an increase of 408 (+1.0%) from the 2010 census count of 39,499, which in turn reflected an increase of 4,888 (+14.1%) from the 34,611 counted in the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake View, Chicago</span> Community area in Chicago

Lakeview is one of the 77 community areas of Chicago, Illinois. Lakeview is located on the city's North Side and is bordered by West Diversey Parkway on the south, West Irving Park Road on the north, North Ravenswood Avenue on the west, and the shore of Lake Michigan on the east. The Uptown community area is to Lakeview's north, Lincoln Square to its northwest, North Center to its west, and Lincoln Park to its south. The 2020 population of Lakeview was 103,050 residents, making it the second-largest Chicago community area by population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tight end</span> Position in American football

The tight end (TE) is an offensive position in American football, arena football, and Canadian football. It is a hybrid that combines the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a receiver. As part of the receiver corps, they play inside the flanks (tight), contrasted with the split end who plays outside the flanks (wide). Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be effective blockers. On the other hand, unlike offensive linemen, they are eligible receivers and potent weapons in a team's offensive schemes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bird feeder</span> Device to supply food to birds

A birdfeeder, bird table, or tray feeder is a device placed outdoors to supply bird food to birds. The success of a bird feeder in attracting birds depends upon its placement and the kinds of foods offered, as different species have different preferences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richardson's ground squirrel</span> Species of rodent

Richardson's ground squirrel, also known as the dakrat or flickertail, is a North American ground squirrel in the genus Urocitellus. Like a number of other ground squirrels, they are sometimes called prairie dogs or gophers, though the latter name belongs more strictly to the pocket gophers of family Geomyidae, and the former to members of the genus Cynomys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slab City, California</span> American alternative lifestyle community

Slab City, also called The Slabs, is an unincorporated, off-the-grid alternative lifestyle community consisting largely of snowbirds in the Salton Trough area of the Sonoran Desert, in Imperial County, California. It took its name from concrete slabs that remained after the World War II Marine Corps Camp Dunlap training camp was torn down. Slab City is known for attracting people who want to live outside mainstream society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Center, Chicago</span> Community area in Chicago

North Center is one of the 77 community areas of Chicago, Illinois, located in the city's North Side. North Center is bordered on the north by Montrose Avenue, on the south by Diversey Parkway, on the west by the Chicago River and on the east by Ravenswood Avenue; it includes the neighborhoods of Northcenter, Roscoe Village, St. Ben's, and Hamlin Park. The Brown Line of the Chicago 'L' has stops within the community area at Addison, Irving Park, and Montrose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tree squirrel</span> Small tree-dwelling mammals that are members of the squirrel family (Sciuridae)

Tree squirrels are the members of the squirrel family (Sciuridae) commonly just referred to as "squirrels". They include more than 100 arboreal species native to all continents except Antarctica and Oceania.

In civil engineering, concrete leveling is a procedure that attempts to correct an uneven concrete surface by altering the foundation that the surface sits upon. It is a cheaper alternative to having replacement concrete poured and is commonly performed at small businesses and private homes as well as at factories, warehouses, airports and on roads, highways and other infrastructure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodent</span> Order of mammals

Rodents are mammals of the order Rodentia, which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are native to all major land masses except for Antarctica, and several oceanic islands, though they have subsequently been introduced to most of these land masses by human activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rats in New York City</span> Rodent infestation

Rats in New York City are widespread, as they are in many densely populated areas. They are considered a cultural symbol of the city. For a long time, the number of rats in New York City was unknown, and a common urban legend declared there were up to five times as many rats as people. However, a 2023 study estimates that there are approximately 3 million rats in New York, which is close to a third of New York's human population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ring (company)</span> Home security products manufacturer

Ring LLC is a manufacturer of home security and smart home devices owned by Amazon. It manufactures a titular line of smart doorbells, home security cameras, and alarm systems. It also operates Neighbors, a social network that allows users to discuss local safety and security issues, and share footage captured with Ring products. Via Neighbors, Ring could also provide footage and data to law enforcement agencies to assist in investigations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House at 130 Mohegan Avenue</span> Historic house in Connecticut, United States

The House at 130 Mohegan Avenue, also known as Rusty, the House of Steel or Steel House, is a prefabricated, modular, International Style house in New London, Connecticut, United States. The House was designed by Howard T. Fisher, who founded General Houses, Inc. in 1932. Winslow Ames, a professor of art history at Connecticut College and the art director of the Lyman Allyn Museum, had the home built after attending the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. The House is a single story 21 feet (6.4 m) by 37 feet (11 m) rectangular steel prefabricated home that rests upon a concrete slab. It originally had a flat roof and included an attached garage. Throughout the years, the house has undergone significant alteration, including the addition of a gable roof.

Pizza Rat is an internet meme based around a viral video of a brown rat carrying a slice of pizza down the steps of a New York City Subway station in Manhattan. The video was first uploaded to Instagram on September 21, 2015, and a copy was uploaded to YouTube later. As of September 2023, the YouTube video has more than 12.35 million views.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Our Lady of the Underpass</span> Salt stain under Chicagos Kennedy Expressway and pilgrimage site

Our Lady of the Underpass was a salt stain and purported appearance of the Virgin Mary under the Kennedy Expressway along Fullerton Avenue in Chicago that was noticed in 2005. The site became a pilgrimage site for local Catholics as well as a general curiosity. Later, it became a target for various acts of vandalism. The Illinois Department of Transportation determined that the stain was likely formed by salt run-off.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pavement light</span> Flat-topped skylights designed to be walked on

Pavement lights (UK), vault lights (US), floor lights, or sidewalk prisms are flat-topped walk-on skylights, usually set into pavement (sidewalks) or floors to let sunlight into the space below. They often use anidolic lighting prisms to throw the light sideways under the building. They were developed in the 19th century, but declined in popularity with the advent of cheap electric lighting in the early 20th. Older cities and smaller centers around the world have, or once had, pavement lights. In the early 21st century, such lights are approximately a century old, although lights are being installed in some new construction.

References

  1. 1 2 Deb, Sopan (January 19, 2024). "Someone Filled the Chicago Rat Hole. Residents Took Action" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Winslow Dumaine [@WinslowDumaine] (January 6, 2024). "Had to make a pilgrimage to the Chicago Rat Hole" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024 via Twitter.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Schmall, Emily (January 13, 2024). "Chicago's Latest Attraction? A Rat-Shaped Hole" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 Edwards, Jonathan (January 13, 2024). "Chicago has a new tourist destination: The 'Rat Hole'" . The Washington Post . Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Moos, Jeanne (January 17, 2024). Rat impression in sidewalk has the internet talking (News report). New York City: CNN. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  6. Fisher, Alexandria (January 17, 2024). "Cheese and cigarettes: People are setting up shrines at the Chicago rat hole". NBC Chicago . Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  7. Miller, Violet (January 19, 2024). "'Chicago rat hole' restored by neighbors after it's mysteriously filled in: 'Chicago takes care of its own'". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  8. Hernandez, Alex V. (January 19, 2024). "Someone Tried To Fill In Chicago's Rat Hole — But Neighbors Brought It Back To Life". Block Club Chicago. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Washburn, Kaitlin (January 10, 2024). "Going down the 'rat hole?' Viral phenomenon is actually decades-old squirrel imprint beloved by the block, neighbors say". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  10. Dudek, Mitch (January 20, 2024). "Chicago 'rat hole' figure is the longtime mascot for local softball team". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  11. "It's time to make it an official attraction: Name the Chicago Rat Hole!". Fox 32 Chicago . January 12, 2024. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  12. 1 2 Hernandez, Alex V. (January 19, 2024). "Someone Tried To Fill In Chicago's Rat Hole — But Neighbors Brought It Back To Life". Block Club Chicago . Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  13. 1 2 Brennan, Noel; Harrington, Adam (January 23, 2024). "Neighbors have had it with people flocking to the Chicago 'rat hole' - CBS Chicago". CBS News . Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  14. 1 2 Fisher, Alexandria; Shapiro, Alex; Swidler, Francie (January 19, 2024). "The Chicago 'rat hole' is no longer a hole — it appears to have been filled in". NBC Chicago . Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  15. "Dirty rat! Culprit fills in Chicago neighborhood landmark known as the 'rat hole'". AP News. January 20, 2024. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  16. Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere [@TylerLaRiviere] (January 19, 2024). "A woman who didn't want to be identified due to possible "ratribution" (her words not mine) cleans the iconic Chicago Rat Hole of a plaster type substance in the 1900 block of W. Roscoe St. in the Roscoe Village neighborhood, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024 via Twitter.
  17. Lee, Lloyd. "Chicago's 'rat hole' was mysteriously filled and then restored. Now it's a place of holy rat-rimony". Business Insider . Archived from the original on January 21, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  18. Rodriguez, Marisa (April 24, 2024). "'Chicago Rat Hole' has been removed by city". WGN-TV . Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  19. Harrington, Adam (June 29, 2024). "Chicago rat hole memorialized with music fest - CBS Chicago". CBS News . Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  20. Moreno, Sabrina (January 30, 2024). "Chicago rat hole is out. Richmond gun hole is in". Axios . Archived from the original on January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  21. "Zoo expert reveals 3 reasons why Chicago's 'rat hole' might not be a rat". NBC Chicago . January 16, 2024. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.