THE ASBURY HOME FOR CONVALESCENTS AND ELDERLY PEOPLE - Mrs. Martha Twitchell

I have mentioned in the past that I check ebay on a daily basis for memorabilia from my home town, Evanston, Illinois.  I have been quite lucky over the years and have managed to pick up some interesting pieces.  Recently I was checking ebay and I saw that someone had listed several old telephone directories for Evanston from the 1940s.  I found this on the back cover of one of the 1940s directories:

BTW - the hole in the upper right corner enabled you to hang the directory next to your telephone.  

I was very familiar with Marquette Coal and Mining Company - we bought heating oil from them when I was a child.  But it was the other advertisement that piqued my curiosity:  The Asbury Home - for Convalescents and Elderly People.  A lifelong Evanstonian, I had never heard of The Asbury Home, so I figured that it might be an interesting story for this blog, and it is.  Before we look at The Asbury Home itself, we need to take a look at the Founder and Manager, Martha (Mrs. Ross) Twitchell. 

Martha Elizabeth Johnson was born in Evanston, Illinois on April 30, 1889 to Martin J. Johnson (1854-1920) and Elizabeth "Betsy" Larson Johnson (1856-1915).  Martin Johnson was a Clothes Cutter by trade.  Martin and Betsy Johnson had nine children:  James Garfield Johnson (1882-1938), Anna K. Johnson/Mrs. Frank Hoppe (1884-1960), Oscar Adolph Johnson (1886-1966), Ruth Victoria Johnson/Mrs. Charles Bourke (1887-1968), Martha Elizabeth Johnson/Mrs. Ross Twitchell (1889-1961), Merritt Martin Johnson (1892-1969), Albert Edward Johnson (1893-1961), and Charles William Johnson (1897-1950).  There was also a ninth child who died at a young age that I was unable to identify.

Martha makes her first appearance in the 1900 US Census.  The family was living at 1723 Ridge in Evanston.  A modern condominium building occupies that spot today.  The family consisted of Martin Johnson (45 years old), Betsey (43), James G. (18), Annie (15), Oscar (14), Ruth (12), Martha (11), Merrit (8), Albert (6), and Charles (3).  In addition there were three "Boarders":  Emma Johnson, Freida Johnson, and Freida Tumander.  Emma and Freida T. reported their occupation as "Laundress," Freida J. was a "Seamstress."  Martin Johnson said he was born in Illinois, was a "Tailor's Cutter," could read and write English and owned the family home.  Betsey said she was born in Sweden, and emigrated in 1873.  She reported that she had given birth to nine children, and eight of them were alive in 1900.   

The 1910 Census showed the Johnsons still living at 1723 Ridge Avenue in Evanston.  The family consisted of:  Martin J. Johnson (55), Betty (54), James G. (27), Anna (25), Ruth V. Palmer (22), her husband William Palmer (30), Martha Johnson (20), Merritt (18),  Albert (16), and Charles (13).  Martin Johnson reported his occupation as a "Tailor" in "Manufacturing."  James worked in a Stationery Store, Anna was a Telephone Operator, William Palmer was a Clerk in a Hotel, and Merritt worked in "Dairy."  No occupation was listed for Martha.  

The 1910 US Census for the Johnson Family was reported on April 19, 1910.  On August 10, 1910, Martha Johnson married Edward R. Rake.  The bride was 18, the groom was 19.

Edward R. Rake (1891-1972) was born September 17, 1891 in Niles Township, Illinois.  He was a Steamfitter by trade.  The newlyweds moved into 2013 Livingston in Evanston:

2013 Livingston, Evanston, Illinois

Martha and Edward were blessed with two children:  Virginia Marguerite Rake (1911-1933) and Marshall Edward Rake (1912-1974).  

Before the 1920 US Census Martha had lost both of her parents.  Her mother Betsy died September 29, 1915 at the age of fifty-nine and her father Martin died January 15, 1920 at the age of sixty-five.

The 1920 US Census for the Rake Family took place on January 30th and 31st, 1920.  The Rake Family was living at 2506 Payne Street in Evanston:

2506 Payne Street, Evanston, Illinois

  

The family consisted of Edward (28), Martha (30), Virginia (8) and Marshall (7).  Edward said he was a "Steamfitter."  Martha's father Martin Johnson had been living with them until his death on January 15.  Her siblings Anna (34) and Charles (23) were also living with the Rakes.

By 1922 the Rake Family had moved to 1623 Orrington Avenue in Evanston, above a store next to the YMCA:

By 1925 the Rake family had moved again - this time to 2526 Ridgeway Avenue in Evanston.  A home built in 1998 sits on that plot today.  Edward reported his business as "Hardware."

In 1928 the Rakes moved to 2351 Ridge Avenue in Evanston:

2351 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, Illinois

There were significant changes in the Rake family by the time of the 1930 US Census.  The biggest change was that Martha and Edward Rake had divorced.  Martha and the children were still living at 2351 Ridge, but Edward was not.  Edward went on by himself to open a hardware store at 1240 Chicago Avenue in Evanston.

The 1930 US Census reported that the Rake family now consisted of Martha (40), Virginia (19) and Marshall (17).  In addition, there was also a Lodger, Ross Twichell.  More on him later.

Martha told the Census Taker that she owned the house on Ridge free and clear and that it was worth $18,000 ($291,770 today).  Martha reported no occupation and the young people were in school.  Ross Twichell was a Mail Carrier and a Veteran of the World War. 

In 1931 Martha Johnson Rake married her Boarder, Ross Twichell.  Ross' last name was sometimes spelled "Twichell" and sometimes "Twitchell."  The bride was forty-two years old, the groom was thirty-four years old. 

On May 1, 1933, Martha's daughter Virginia died.  She was twenty-one years old.   

She is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, Illinois:

The house that used to sit at 1554 Asbury Avenue (the northwest corner of Asbury and Grove) in Evanston was built in 1894/95.  Here is a copy of the application to build a "2 story and Basement + Attic" House:

  

1554 Asbury Avenue, Evanston, Illinois

In all likelihood it was built as a rooming house or small hotel inasmuch as it had 23 rooms.  Although people in those days had large families and live-in servants, it is unlikely that a family would need a 23 room house.   The earliest reference I could find to 1554 Asbury was in 1895 when it was called the "Hotel Netherlands."  Here is an ad from the Chicago Tribune of December 1, 1895:

The Hotel Netherlands was still operating through 1909 although the owner, a "Mr. Caldwell" attempted to sell the building and furnishings as reported in the Chicago Tribune of January 24, 1904:

In 1910 it changed names again, now being called "The Asbury" run by Mrs. Frances Diefendorf.  This is from the Chicago Tribune from August 12, 1914:

Mrs. Diefendorf seemed determined to make The Asbury a world-class hotel, even advertising in the El Paso (TX) Herald in 1914:

1554 Asbury changed ownership in 1922 when it was renamed the "Asbury Apartments" owned by a man named Henry C. Landon. 

In 1925 it changed to the "Asbury Inn" run by Catherine Boyd.

In 1929 it was now the "Asbury Hotel," run again by Henry C. Landon.  Here is an ad from the Chicago Tribune from June 4, 1933:

It remained the Asbury Hotel until 1935 when the building was bought by Martha Twitchell and opened as the The Asbury Home for Convalescents and Elderly People.  

You would not expect a nursing home to generate much publicity and that is the case with the Asbury Home.  In fact, the only time it was mentioned in the Chicago newspapers was in connection with an elderly resident who had passed away.

The 1940 US Census has one separate page devoted to the "Asbury Home for Convalescents."  Ross Twichell was listed as the head.  He said he was forty-three years old, and had completed four years of high school.  He had lived in the same place in 1935.  He listed his occupation as "Mail Carrier for the Post Office."  He reported his income for 1939 as $2,100.00.

Martha Twichell was listed next.  She said she was forty-nine years old (she was actually 50).  She had also lived in the same place in 1935 and had gone as far as the 7th grade.  Strangely she reported no income and no occupation.

Along with the Twichells in the Asbury House was one Registered Nurse, one Practical Nurse, two Maids and fourteen Patients.

The 1950 US Census shows Martha and Ross Twichell living at 1560 Asbury as opposed to the nursing home which is at 1554 Asbury.  Ross lists his age as fifty-three; Martha said she was fifty-eight.  They both list their occupation as "Co-Owner of Old Womens Home." Living with them are three Practical Nurses.  The Nursing Home itself at 1554 Asbury lists one Private Nurse and fifteen "Lodgers."  Among the Lodgers are Otto Foss and Julius McDermid.  I wonder how they ended up in an "Old Womens Home."

Martha Twitchell died October 19, 1961 in Evanston.  She was seventy-two years old.  Here is her obituary from the Chicago Tribune of October 21, 1961:

and her Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune from October 22, 1961:

Here is a photo of her grave at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, Illinois:

Her obituary mentions that Martha Twichell owned and operated two nursing homes in Evanston:  the Asbury and the Ridgecrest.  After Martha's death, the family decided to sell the Asbury and continue to operate just the Ridgecrest.  In 1963 the building at 1554 Asbury was purchased by the Board of Pensions of the Methodist Church, which was at that time headquartered in Evanston.  They applied for a permit to raze the building and a permit was issued in December of 1963:

In 1964 the Methodist Pension Board built several homes on the property that had been occupied by The Asbury Home.  Perhaps they were built to house executives of the Pension Board - I was unable to verify that, but I do know that the houses are no longer owned by the Methodists.  Perhaps someone who reads this article will be able to fill me in on the details.  

I was never in the Asbury but I do have a personal connection here because my maternal grandmother was a resident of the Ridgecrest from 1965 until her death in February of 1966.  The Ridgecrest Nursing and Convalescent Home was in a big old home on the northwest corner of Ridge Avenue and Church Street in Evanston.  I was only nine years old when my grandmother moved into the Ridgecrest but I remember it well.  My mother's oldest brother, Anthony J. "Tony" Kramer had been an alderman and Justice of the Peace in Evanston for many years.  When it came time to look for a nursing home for his mother he did some checking and The Ridgecrest was very highly recommended.  There was said to be a long waiting list to get into the Ridgecrest but apparently my Uncle Tony used his political influence and got my grandmother into the home as soon as it was practicable. I remember my mother dealing with a "Mrs. Rake" who would have to have been Marshall Rake's wife Catherine Buether Rake (1914-1987).  

Catherine Rake
Photo courtesy of John Rake

Martha Twichell was dead by this time, so apparently Mrs. Rake stepped in to manage the Ridgecrest on a daily basis.  

The Ridgecrest was at 1703 Ridge Avenue in Evanston.  It was a mansion like so many in Evanston from that era.  The story was that Mrs. Rake had grown up in the big house at 1703 and that when the house became too expensive to keep as a single family home, she turned it into a nursing home and moved into the coach house in the back.  Martha and Ross Twichell did live in the Asbury Nursing home for a time, but I could not find any evidence that Catherine Buether Rake ever lived in the big house at 1703 Ridge either before her marriage to Marshall Rake or after.

Martha Twichell and her successor tried to run the Ridgecrest as much like a family home as possible.  Residents were encouraged to bring their own furniture or other items to decorate their rooms at the Ridgecrest.  Other than a hospital bed in each room, it looked just like any other large residence.  There was a large wrap-around porch outside on the first floor in front where my grandmother loved to sit by the hour and "watch the Fords go by" as she used to say.  There was an office of the business as well as kitchens on the first floor, then a big winding staircase up to the second floor which was all bedrooms with connecting baths, and finally the third floor where many of the nursing staff lived.    

My grandmother didn't know or didn't realize that she was living in a convalescent home (as they used to call them back then.)  She thought she was in a hotel and told my mother that it was the nicest hotel she had ever stayed at.

My grandmother died in 1966, and the Ridgecrest was sold to the YWCA in 1969.  The charm of the big old home was what led to its demise:  It had no elevators, nor any room to install elevators.  Multi-story nursing homes without elevators were doomed to fail.

The Ridgecrest as seen from Church Street

The house was used for years by the YWCA but sadly was torn down in 2020.  

As mentioned earlier, Martha Johnson Rake Twichell's daughter Virginia died in 1933.

Martha's first husband Edward R. Rake died in 1972.

Her second husband Ross Twichell died in 1973.

Martha's son Marshall Rake died in 1974.

Martha's daughter-in-law Catherine Buether Rake died in 1987.

Martha's grandson Marshall Rake, Jr. died in 2000.

Ross, Martha, Virginia, Marshall, Catherine and Marshall, Jr. are buried in a row in Lot 142 of Section C of Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, Illinois.

Edward Rake is also buried at Memorial Park, although in a different section.

So now you know the story of the Asbury Home, another bit of history from Evanston's past.  May Martha Twichell and everyone associated with her nursing homes rest in peace.

HIS LIFE ENSHRINED IN OUR HEARTS IS ITS OWN EPITAPH - Sylvan Charles Kusel

October 4, 2022 was a beautiful Fall day in Chicago.  What do I do on beautiful fall days?  Go to a cemetery, of course.  What cemetery do I visit?  I have many "favorite" cemeteries on my list but this time I returned to my most favorite, Chicago's beautiful and historic Rosehill Cemetery.

I had a photo request from one of my Find a Grave friends who lives out of state.  I went to the office at Rosehill and found that the grave I was looking for was in the unusually named "Diamond L" section of Rosehill.  Why is it called "Diamond L"?  See for yourself:

I found and photographed the graves my friend had requested with no problem.  Then I looked around at other graves in the area to see if there was anything interesting, and at Rosehill there always is.  Section Diamond L is one of the so-called "Jewish Sections" of Rosehill.  This is a Jewish section but you will not see any Hebrew lettering on any of the tombstones.  The Diamond L Section mostly contains the graves of Jews who had assimilated into Christian society.  Although they had not actually converted, they looked on their Judaism as a culture rather than a religion.  There is a section for Orthodox Jews at Rosehill, but it is not Section Diamond L.  

Not too far from the road I saw the Kusel Family monument:

At the top of the monument I saw the following:

In Loving Memory of

Our Beloved Son

Sylvan Charles Kusel

Sylvan Kusel's tombstone is in front of the monument:

He died in 1916.  Too early to be a World War I casualty, also too early to have been a victim of the Spanish Influenza.  So what caused the death of Sylvan Kusel just short of his 20th birthday?  The Chicago Tribune from October 24 had the answer.  

 

Before we look further into the accident that killed Sylvan Kusel and three of his friends, let's see what we can "dig up" about Sylvan and his family.

Sylvan Charles Kusel was born November 20, 1896 in St. Louis, Missouri, the only child of  Isidor J. Kusel (1865-1934) and Cora Canmann (1872-1963).  

Sylvan's father Isidor Julius Kusel was born in Chicago in 1865.  During his career he was involved in a myriad of different businesses.  He started his career as a traveling salesman for a cotton goods house.  In 1890 he formed the Missouri Telephone Manufacturers Company.  In 1897 he started the Eureka Electric Company in Genoa, Illinois.  In 1906 he founded the American Car Equipment Company and was president of that company until 1909 when he organized the General Rail Equipment Company.  He was at one time associated with the S. K. Smith Leather Goods Company and was also the founder of the Woodstock and Sycamore Traction Company.

Sylvan's mother, Cora Canmann Kusel was born in 1872 in Missouri.  She was one of eleven children.  Her father Mark Canmann was one of the pioneer merchants of St. Louis.  Isidor Kusel and Cora Canmann were married on March 17, 1896 in St. Louis.  

Sylvan Kusel makes his first appearance in the US Census of 1900.  The Kusel family was living at 387 Oak Street in St. Louis.  That address no longer exists in St. Louis today.  Cora's parents lived next door at 389 Oak Street.  The Kusel family consisted of Isidore (35 years old), Cora (25), son Sylvan (3) and servant Anna Nelson (19), an Immigrant from Sweden.  Isidore listed his occupation as "President".  Isidor said his father was from Belgium, and his mother from Pennsylvania.  Cora said her father was from Germany, and his mother from Austria.  Isidor and Cora told the census taker they had been married for four years, had one child, and that child was alive in 1900.

By the time of the 1910 US Census the Kusel family had relocated to Chicago.  They were living at 3636 South Michigan Avenue.  The Perspective Math and Science Academy occupies that spot today.  The family consisted of  I.J. Kusel (45 years old), Cora (35), Sylvan (13) and "Servant/Maid" Ella Stabbs (26).  Isidore lists his occupation as "Broker of Railway Equipment."  Cora told the census taker that they rented their home, were married fourteen years, and that they had one child who was still living in 1910.

After graduating from high school Sylvan Kusel enrolled at the University of Chicago, Class of 1917.  While at the U of C he was part of a theatrical group known as The Blackfriars.  After receiving his undergraduate degree Sylvan stayed at the University of Chicago, enrolling in the Law School.  

While attending the University of Chicago, Sylvan Kusel rented an apartment at 5470 S. Greenwood Avenue in Chicago, within walking distance of the University:

5470 S. Greenwood Avenue, Chicago

While attending law school, Sylvan also volunteered at a Maxwell Street settlement house, teaching English to poor Jewish immigrants.  Like many assimilated Jews of the era, in addition to English, Sylvan was also fluent in Yiddish and German.  The press of the time referred to people like Sylvan who were wealthy and educated but volunteered their time to help the less fortunate, as "Philanthropy Workers."

That brings us to the night of October 23, 1916.  It was a Monday, and the temperature in Chicago was in the upper 40s with a driving rain.  Sylvan had gone to the settlement for his evening tutoring the immigrants and met up with friends.  They were advertising executive Hugo J. Warner (31 years old), his wife Henrietta Warner (30), and cousins Lillian Klausner (30) and Jennie Klausner (22).  

At the end of the evening Hugo Warner offered to drive everyone home.  Newspaper accounts do not list the make or model of his car but referred to it as a limousine.   The occupants were Hugo and his wife Henrietta, Lillian and Jennie Klausner, Sylvan Kusel and another settlement volunteer Sarah Bernstein. 

After leaving the Maxwell Street settlement, they drove east on their way home, talking about their successful evening at the settlement.  Newspapers said the car was proceeding at "a moderate pace due to the thickness of the weather."  Mr. and Mrs. Warner were in the front seat as was Sylvan,  The other three were seated in the back seat.  

The Twelfth Street bridge was a drawbridge, as many bridges in Chicago are, to this day.  It was said that the west approach to the Twelfth Street bridge had always been considered a dangerous one, owing to the skeleton iron work which made it difficult to see if the drawbridge was open.  It had previously been the scene of a number of accidents, but there was no barrier to halt traffic when the bridge was up.  There was a bridge tender stationed at the bridge at night, as well as a signal bell and light that engaged when the bridge was up.  Unfortunately neither the bell nor the signal light was working that night, and the car plunged into the river before the bridge tender could do anything to stop it.  Here are two photos of the Twelfth Street bridge from that era:

Mr. Warner drove his car right up to the brink before he realized that the drawbridge was up.  He immediately hit the brakes, but the momentum of the heavy car caused it to skid.  It bumped the edge of the guardrail, then turned a half somersault and dropped into the river.  So swift was the whole thing that the occupants of the car scarcely realized what had happened, and persons on the shore said there was only one scream, and it was cut short and the car went under the water. 

Witnesses hastened to notify the police, and they and the bridge tender rushed to the river's edge to help in any way they could.  Sarah Bernstein was the first to appear on the surface, and Henrietta Warner followed in a moment.  The tugboat Walter Cahill was in the area at the time of the accident and steamed over immediately to offer assistance.  Both women bravely fought the river's currents until men from the tug pulled them to safety.  They were rushed by police ambulance to Cook County Hospital.

A Chicago Police Boat was summoned and worked for hours using grapples to try to raise the car containing the four bodies without success.  Some of the crew on the police boat declared they saw a man in midstream when they first came on the scene.  The police called out that they would rescue him, but exhausted, he slipped beneath the water without a sound.

Mrs. Warner, was in the front seat with her husband and Sylvan Kusel, said that after the car plunged into the water she fell forward among the gear at the bottom of the machine.  Her clothes were caught in the pedal apparatus and she tried but failed to wrench herself free.  "Then," she said, "someone, I don't know whether my husband or Mr. Kusel, began to pull my clothes free.  An instant later, the hands working under the water thrust me clear of the car and I came to the surface." 

After midnight, while the police boat was methodically searching the water with grapples, an automobile sped up on the bridge and stopped.  A man, with a woman faltering on his arm,  stepped out, and together went over to the bridge rail.

"My son! My son!" moaned the woman, stretching her arms toward the river.  "Our only boy," said the man brokenly, drawing his wife more closely to him.  Then when they woman's grief seemed imminent to overpower her, he guided her gently back to the automobile, and they drove away.

The couple were Mr. & Mrs. Isidor J. Kusel, parents of Sylvan Kusel, the University of Chicago student who died in the plunge.  Mr. Kusel is the manager of the Strongheart Novelty Company.  He declared his son would have graduated from the law department of the university next June.  

The body of Hugo Warner was recovered from the Chicago River by the Chicago Police Department the next day, October 24.  After ascertaining that the three remaining bodies were still trapped in the car, the city sent diver Harry Halvorsen down to recover them.  Halvorsen was known for his work in recovering bodies from the Eastland tragedy in July of 1915.  Halvorsen was successful in recovering the bodies of  Sylvan Kusel and the two Klausners.

The funeral for Sylvan Kusel was held  Thursday October 26.  Here is the Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune of that date:

   

Sylvan was buried in Chicago's Rosehill Cemetery, in Section Diamond L, Lot 57:

    

His parents had a beautiful monument erected over their family plot:

 

Sylvan Charles Kusel - Lost as his life was just beginning - May he rest in peace.

The Rest of the Story:

After the accident there was an outcry that something be done about the hazardous draw bridges in Chicago.  Here is an article on the aftermath of the accident from the Chicago Tribune of November 15, 1916:

The 12th Street (now Roosevelt Road) bridge over the Chicago River was finally replaced in 1928, and rehabilitated in 1994.  It is still a drawbridge.

As mentioned above, Sylvan Kusel was buried in Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.  His friend Hugo Warner is also at Rosehill - in Section T:

The Klausners are both buried at Jewish Waldheim Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois at Gate #31 - Free Sons of Israel:

Jennie Klausner:

Lillian Klausner:

After a series of financial reversals, Sylvan's father Isidore J. Kusel took his own life on April 8, 1934:

SOLDIER TWINS DIE IN TRAIN WRECK - William Jackson Gabriel and Joseph Glen Gabriel

I was recently at Acacia Park Cemetery in Chicago filling a Find a Grave photo request (what else is new?).  The person had requested a photo of the grave of William G. Gabriel, who is buried in the Willow Section.  I found it without any problem:

Then I saw the tombstones for two of his sons:

I noticed that they were twins - both born on the same day - December 18, 1925.  But then I noticed they had died just days apart - William on December 31, 1944 and Joseph on January 3, 1945.  I figured it was just a sad coincidence that they had both been killed in combat around the same time.  In that I was incorrect.  However, I felt there must be an interesting story here and in that I was right.  Before we look at the tragedy that took the lives of Joseph and William let's take a look at their family and their lives before the war.

Joseph Glen Gabriel and William Jackson "Jack" Gabriel were born in Chicago on December 18, 1925.  Their parents were William Glenn Gabriel (1905-1990) and Georgianna Moore Gabriel (1901-1993).  William and Georgianna were married in Missouri in 1925.  In addition to the twins, they had four other children:  Dale G. (b. 1931), Harry Donald (1934-2007), Annalee Joy (1936-2011), and Coralee June (b. 1941).  William Glen Gabriel was a mechanic by trade.

The first time we encounter the twins is in the 1930 US Census.  The family was living at 2513 Lowell Avenue in Chicago:

2513 N. Lowell Avenue, Chicago, Illinois

The family consisted of William G. (25 years old), Georgia (28), and the twins (4).    They were renting, and their apartment cost $30.00 per month.  Neither William nor Georgia were employed (it was during the Great Depression).  

By the time of the 1940 US Census the family had changes significantly.  They were now living at  1122 W. Drummond Place in Chicago:

1122 W. Drummond, Chicago

  

The family now consists of William (35 years-old), Georgia (38), twins Jack and Joseph (14), Dale (8), Donald (5), and Annalee (3).  They are renting their apartment for $22.00 per month.  William is working as a "Mechanic in a Garage."

Jack and Joseph Gabriel registered for the draft on December 20, 1943, right after they turned eighteen.  They both indicated that they were living at home with their parents.   Home was now 1114 W. Wrightwood Avenue in Chicago:

1114 W. Wrightwood Avenue, Chicago

They were both working for their father, who now owned a Service Station:  Gabriel Service Station, 7200 W. Addison in Chicago.  Surprisingly it is still a Service Station but they no longer sell gasoline:

7200 W. Addison, Chicago

   

Joseph was 5' 9" tall, weighed 178 lbs., had brown eyes and black hair with a ruddy complexion.  In addition, he wore glasses.

Jack was 6' tall, weighed 185 lbs., and (surprise) also had brown eyes, black hair, a ruddy complexion and also wore glasses. 

After they both graduated from Lane Technical High School in June of 1944 the entered the US Army.

So, how, where and when did the Gabriel twins die?  Surprisingly since it was wartime, they did not die in combat.  They tragically died in Utah's worst train wreck - an accident that killed a total of fifty people - including twenty-nine military personnel and nine railroad workers.

Here's the front page of the Salt Lake Tribune from January 1, 1945:

From Wikipedia:

The wreck involved Southern Pacific's Pacific Limited as it crossed the Great Salt Lake on the Lucin Cutoff.  It had departed from Chicago at 10 a.m. the prior Friday (Dec 29), bound for San Francisco and normally traveled in one long section, but on this occasion it was split into two, with the passenger train (1st Train) running ahead of the mail express (2nd Train).

Early that morning an unusually long and heavy freight train developed problems whilst traveling west from Ogden.  This required the 1st train of the Pacific Limited comprising 18 cars to stop and then proceed with caution. The 2nd train comprising 20 cars apparently unaware of the problems ahead, continued at full speed.

(The 1st train) departed Ogden at 4:38 a.m. (38 minutes after its scheduled departure) and had slowed to 8 mph at the time of the collision, preparing to stop in response to flagman's signals.  (The 2nd train) departed Ogden at 4:50 a.m. (50 minutes late) and passed two stop signals before the collision.  At Bagley, a siding 17 miles west of Ogden, at 5:14 a.m. in thick fog, the 2nd train, moving at 50 mph crashed into the Pullman car at the back of the 1st train. 

The Ogden Standard-Examiner reported "The force of the impact sent another sleeping car smashing through the dining car and farther ahead slammed one coach into the wooden coach ahead of it. Cars of the mail express section piled up crossways of the track behind the engine, some of them sliding down the causeway embankment into water. Most of the dead were taken from the rear Pullman car and from the telescoped coach."  Several cars in the 1st train telescoped: the thirteenth into the twelfth, the sixteenth into the fifteenth, and the locomotive of the 2nd train into the eighteenth. The twelfth, fifteenth, and eighteenth cars of the 1st train were demolished, and the locomotive and first eleven cars of the 2nd train were derailed.

At the site of the crash, the tracks run along a causeway across desolate mud and shallow water, so all rescue efforts had to come by rail. Two hospital cars were included in the 1st train manned by members of the Medical Corps and tended the injured until rescue trains arrived from Ogden.

The official inquiry into the accident concluded 'this accident was caused by failure to properly control the speed of the following train in accordance with signal indications.'  The 1st train had seen the two preceding stop signals and its engineers were preparing to halt when that train was struck by the 2nd train. After the fireman on the 2nd train missed the first stop signal due to heavy fog, he reported the missed signal to the engineer; the fireman then saw the second stop signal and relayed it to the engineer, but did not witness the engineer of the 2nd train respond by slowing the train. Most of the crew of the 2nd train were resting in the rearmost car and were not aware of any issues until the brakes were applied, approximately 12 seconds before the collision.  Both the engineer of the second train and the flagman of the 1st train were killed.

Although the engineer of the 2nd train had applied the brakes, the position in which he was found indicated that he had been incapacitated prior to the collision. A coroner's inquest concluded the engineer had died from sudden shock or heart failure just before the crash.

The Gabriel family back in Chicago was notified by the War Department that Pvt. William J. Gabriel had died at Bushnell Hospital, Brigham City, Utah and that his twin brother Joseph was seriously injured and at the Reno Army Air Base Hospital.  Their father immediately left for Utah and Nevada.  

The Reno (NV) Evening Gazette reported in their January 4, 1945 edition:

Here is William's Death Certificate:

and Joseph's Death Certificate:

The Chicago Tribune of course reported on the wreck in their January 1, 1945 edition:

But no mention of Chicago casualties was included.  With a war going on, a train wreck was old news, so the information about the Gabriel twins was reported in the Tribune's January 2 edition buried back on page 12:

Joseph's death was published in the edition of January 4, 1945:

The bodies of combat casualties who died in Europe or the South Pacific could not be returned to their families until after the war.  In fact, many never came back, having been buried where they fell.

In that regard the Gabriel family was fortunate.  Because the twins died in the US, their bodies could be quickly shipped home for burial.

Here are their Death Notices from the Chicago Tribune of January 6, 1945:

Here again are their tombstones, in the Willow Section of Acacia Park Cemetery:

William and Joseph Gabriel - Born together - lived together - died together in the service of our country - may they rest in peace.