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Best curse
Proposed condo development at 3414 S. Halsted It is now a vacant lot, soon to be developed into condos and town homes. But what the developers and future residents do not know is that the site of their future condo is sitting on land that once housed Augustine’s Spiritual Goods. By day, the shop sold graveyard dust, voodoo dolls, candles and other products having to do with astrology, mysticism, voodoo and Santeria. At night, owner Frank Pulaski would hold rituals. Sometimes they would include traders who would come in and create blood altars, seeking financial blessing in the commodities markets. Other times he would have ceremonies to honor favorite celebrities like Hilary Clinton. Almost three years ago, Pulaski was presented a letter from the city of Chicago saying that rules of eminent domain dictated that a police station be built on the properties along his block. Pulaski gathered all of his friends on a cold, moonlit night in January. “I have nothing against cops,” Pulaski later related. “But I grew up in Bridgeport. This ain’t gonna be a police station. Somebody did this to make money.” On that night, Pulaski and friends went down to the building’s basement and dug a deep, deep hole. Inside it were spells written in Latin, lodestones, amulets, voodoo charms, powders, oils, candle wax and dozens of other items. “I put amulets to Saint Michael, which would protect the police, but I don’t think this land will ever see a police station,” Pulaski continued. “I know you are going to laugh or think I am crazy, but I cursed the hell out of the land, not only the developers, but the poor bastards that are going to move in.” Three years later, Pulaski was right about one thing. The sign announcing the “Future Site of The New Bridgeport Police Station” disappeared in the middle of the night last spring, replaced by one touting a residential real estate development. Now, all eyes are on the curse.
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Best of Chicago 2005 was written by Dave Chamberlain, Brian Hieggelke, Melissa Lane, Tom Lynch, Ray Pride, David Witter, Michael Workman
With additional contributions by Mike Barr, Ted C. Fishman, Jessica Herman, Adrienne Hill, Mary Susan Littlepage, Nina Metz, Kathy O¹Neill, Trish Smith
Copyright
Newcity Communications, Inc.
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