Showing posts with label Historic Buildings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Historic Buildings. Show all posts

Friday, January 26, 2024

Merchandise Mart in Chicago, History and Little Known Facts.

The Merchandise Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, a colossal monolith on the Chicago River, boasts a rich history as grand as scale and as vibrant as the city itself. From its Art Deco beginnings to its modern-day transformation as a tech hub, I delve into the whole story of this iconic Chicago landmark:

In the roaring 1920s, Chicago retail titan Marshall Field & Company envisioned a revolutionary concept: a single, centralized marketplace for wholesale goods. Enter James Simpson, the company's visionary President, who commissioned the construction of the 4.2 million square feet Merchandise Mart. 
The Merchandise Mart is under construction, seen from the Lake Street Bridge in 1929. —Chicago Tribune historical photo.


Transforming the site of the historic Wells Street Station site, construction began in 1928; by 1930, the behemoth stood tall, dwarfing its surroundings. At the time, the Mart was the largest building in the world by floor space, a title it held for over a decade. Its imposing Art Deco facade, adorned with geometric patterns and stylized eagles, reflected the era's optimism and grandeur.
The view of the new Merchandise Mart was still under construction in 1929.
—Chicago Tribune historical photo
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The Mart, designed by Alfred P. Shaw of Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, embraced the Art Deco aesthetic. Its sleek lines, geometric forms, and limestone-terracotta cladding exuded modernity and ambition. 

The Mart wasn't just a building; it was a self-contained city. It housed Field's wholesale showrooms, manufacturing facilities, and a plethora of amenities for tenants and visitors alike. Restaurants, banks, post offices, and even a telegraph office buzzed with activity, making the Mart a bustling hub of commerce.
An aerial view of the Merchandise Mart in 1930.
Chicago Tribune historical photo.



The Mart's official opening in 1930 was a momentous occasion. It housed Field's wholesale showrooms, manufacturing facilities, restaurants, a bank, a post office, a telegraph office and a plethora of amenities for tenants and visitors alike. It was a self-contained city within a city. However, the Great Depression soon cast a shadow, making it initially challenging to fill the vast space.

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The Merchandise Mart was once the largest building in the world by floor space, a title it held until the Pentagon's construction in 1943.

The Great Depression threw a wrench in the Mart's initial success. The wholesale market dwindled, forcing the Mart to diversify. Over the years, it transitioned from a purely wholesale center to a multi-purpose complex, welcoming office tenants and diverse businesses.

It housed manufacturing facilities for war materials during World War II (1939-1945). The legendary Kennedy family acquired the Merchandise Mart in 1945, ushering in a new ownership era. Under their guidance, the Mart continued to evolve, adapting to the changing times. 
The Merchandise Mart in 1949.
In the 1950s, it found new life as a center for design and architecture.

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The building's rooftop was used as a landing pad for helicopters during the early days of air travel by helicopter. In 1953, New York Airways became the first scheduled passenger helicopter air carrier in the United States. In the 1950s and 1960s, "helicopter airlines" operated in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, carrying people to and from the airport at high fares. 
Merry Christmas is written in lights on the Merchandise Mart on November 25, 1964. —Chicago Tribune historical photo.






INTERESTING MERCHANDISE MART FACTS:
Federal, State, and Local Government Offices:
During World War II, the Merchandise Mart saw declining tenant interest in its original function. To fill vacancy, the building was converted to house various federal government offices, due to its vast space and central location. This lasted until the 1950s.

The Mart again welcomed a small number of state and local government offices as tenants in 1990.

The CTA's presence in the Merchandise Mart:
The CTA moved its headquarters into the Merchandise Mart in 1942, occupying several floors. The CTA's offices in the Merchandise Mart were home to a variety of departments, including administration, planning, and operations. The CTA relocated its headquarters to a new building at 567 West Lake Street, Chicago, as part of a larger effort to improve its efficiency and customer service.

The CTA sold its remaining office space in the Merchandise Mart in 2006.
The CTA Merchandise Mart 'L' Station.


The Merchandise Mart is still a major CTA transportation hub, with an 'L' station on the Red Line (the North-South line), the Brown Line (the Ravenswood line), and the Purple Line (the Evanston Express line) on weekdays during rush hour.
1970 Merchandise Mart CTA Station. The'L' sign says "Evanston - Wilmette."


The CTA buses that stop at the Merchandise Mart are:
Washington & State (Routes 126, 152, 156).
Michigan & Randolph (Routes 62, 128, 151, 155, 157).
Orleans & Merchandise Mart (Routes 60, 65).

The RTA buses that stop at the Merchandise Mart are:
Merchandise Mart (Routes 27, 36).



The iconic "heads" (busts) on the roof of the Merchandise Mart building actually had two distinct chapters in the building's history. While neither group currently graces the building's rooftop today, their stories deserve to be told:

Chapter 1: The Native American Chiefs (1930-1961)
A Controversial Adornment: When the Merchandise Mart opened in 1930, its rooftop boasted 56 sculpted heads of Native American chiefs, designed by John Awre. 

Uncertain Names: Not all the chiefs had identified names. Some were assigned names based on tribal affiliations or geographical regions, while others remained anonymous. The identification process was complex and controversial, so some names may be inaccurate or disputed.

Stereotypical Representation: It's important to remember that the sculptures reflected the era's romanticized and inaccurate portrayals of Native American cultures. They did not represent individual historical figures and perpetuated harmful stereotypes.




  1. Apache: "ah-PAH-chee," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  2. Arapaho: "A-ra-pa-ho," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  3. Arikara: "uh-rih-kuh-rah," An Indigenous Tribe.
  4. Assiniboine: "uh-sin-uh-boin," An Indigenous Tribe.
  5. Blackfoot: "Black-foo-t," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  6. Caddo: "KAH-doh," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  7. Cayuga: "kay-YOO-ga," An Indigenous Tribe
  8. Cheyenne: "shy-AN," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  9. Cherokee: "chEH-ruh-kEE," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  10. Chickasaw: "CHIK-ə-saw," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  11. Chinook: "Chok-NOOK," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  12. Chippewa: "chi-puh-waa," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  13. Choctaw: "Chauk taw," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  14. Comanche: "kuh-MAN-chee," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  15. Cree: Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  16. Crow: Crow tribe's name is Apsáalooke "ahp-SAH-loo-keh," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  17. Delaware: A Tribe - called initially the Lenape tribe, aka Munsee and Unami bands.
  18. Flathead: A Chief - "Ahl-shah-taa-pee," named by Europeans for Chief (Flat Head).
  19. Gros Ventre: "Groh Vahn-truh," ("big belly," French) Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  20. Haida: "Hay Da," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  21. Hopi: "HOH-pee," An Indigenous Tribe.
  22. Huron: "Hoo-RON," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  23. Iroquois: "ear-ro-kwa" (French), Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  24. Kalapuya: "Cal-uh-poo-yuh," An Indigenous Tribe.
  25. Kansas: "KAN-zəs," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  26. Kiowa: "Hy-oh-wa," An Indigenous Tribe.
  27. Kootenay: "KOOT-nee," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  28. Lenape: "lun-NAH-pay," An Indigenous Tribe - aka Delaware Tribe
  29. Lummi: "LUH-mee," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  30. Mandan: "mah-N'-DAN," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  31. Menominee: "Meh-NOH-meh-nee," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  32. Miami: Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  33. Micmac: "Meeg-em-ach," An Indigenous Tribe.
  34. Modoc: "MO-dock," An Indigenous Tribe.
  35. Mohawk: "Mo-hawk," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  36. Navajo: "na-va-ho," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  37. Nez Perce: "Nay Pers-say," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.[1]
  38. Nuutka: "Nuu-chah-nulth," aka Nootka, An Indigenous Tribe. 
  39. Ojibwe: "Oh-JIB-way," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  40. Osage: "OH-sage," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs. 
  41. Ottawa: "Ah-dah-wa," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  42. Papago: "pap-uh-goh," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  43. Pawnee: "PAWN-ee" Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  44. Penobscot: "peh-NOB-skot," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  45. Pomo: "po-MOH," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  46. Ponca: "Pohn-kuh," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  47. Potawatomi: "Boh-da-wah-dmi," (Tribal Pronunciation), An Indigenous Tribe.
  48. Pueblo: a group of tribes (i.e., The Illinois), Indigenous Tribes & Chiefs.
  49. Quapaw: An Indigenous Tribe.
  50. Sauk (Sac) & Meskwaki (Fox): "Mesk-wa-ki," Indigenous Tribes.
  51. Salish: "Slah-LEESH," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  52. Seminole: "Sem-uh-NO-le," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  53. Seneca: "Sen-eh-kuh," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
  54. Shoshone: "shoh-SHO-nee," An Indigenous Tribe.
  55. Sioux: "soo," (confederation of 7 nations; i.e., The Illinois), Indigenous Tribes & Chiefs.
  56. Ute: "Yoo-tey," Indigenous Tribe & Chiefs.
[1] The name "Nez Perce" ("pierced nose") is actually a misnomer: It comes from French fur traders who mistakenly applied it to the tribe based on a misunderstanding of their cultural practice of nose ornaments. The tribe prefers to be called Nimiipuu, which means "The People."

This reflected a popular Art Deco motif of the time but also carried problematic connotations of cultural appropriation and romanticized stereotypes. 

Shifting Tides: As social awareness grew in the mid-20th century, the depictions of the chiefs faced increasing criticism for their insensitivity. By 1961, the decision was made to remove them from the building.

What Happened to the "Indian Heads?" In 1961, the heads were deemed outdated and removed from the roof. 

Most were sadly destroyed, but a few found their way to different destinations:
  • Two busts were found in the Campia family's home in Lake Forest and auctioned off in 2014.
  • The remaining heads are believed to be lost or destroyed.
As of January 26, 2024, the exact location of the remaining heads is unknown.

The two auctioned busts might be in private collections, but their specific ownership is not publicly available.

So, while most of the Indian "heads" are unfortunately lost to history, a small piece of their legacy survives in private hands. 

Chapter 2: The Merchandise Mart Hall of Fame
Standing tall as guardians of American commerce, eight colossal bronze busts grace the entrance of The Merchandise Mart, the world's largest wholesale buying center in Chicago. These larger-than-life figures immortalize some of the most influential figures in American retail history, their names and companies woven into the very fabric of consumer culture.


Commissioned in 1953 by Joseph Patrick Kennedy Sr., the 44th U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, these four-times-life-size busts stand as a testament to the vision and dedication of the men who shaped the American retail landscape. Each bust, meticulously crafted in bronze, captures the essence of its subject, with their determined gazes fixed on the future of commerce.

From Frank Winfield Woolworth's 5 & Dime stores to Marshall Field's luxurious emporiums, these pioneers revolutionized the way Americans shopped. Their innovative ideas and unwavering commitment to quality forever changed the face of retail, leaving an enduring legacy that inspires generations of entrepreneurs.
Marshall Field
  1. Frank Winfield Woolworth: The founder of F.W. Woolworth Company.
  2. Marshall Field: The founder of Marshall Field and Company.
  3. Aaron Montgomery Ward: The founder of Montgomery Ward & Company.
  4. Julius Rosenwald: Was a Sears, Roebuck and Company President.
  5. Robert Elkington Wood: Was a Sears, Roebuck and Company President.
  6. John Wanamaker: The father of modern advertising.
  7. Edward Albert Filene: Preseident of William Feline & Sons. Filene's department stores.
  8. George Huntington Hartford: The founded The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. (A&P)
Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Friday, December 29, 2023

Ford's Theatre vs. Ford’s Opera House, Washington, DC

Ford's Athenaeum was a theatre located at 511 10th Street NW, Washington, D.C., which opened in 1861. After a fire destroyed it in 1862, he rebuilt a new building on the same site and named it Ford's Theatre, which opened in 1865. 
Ticket Color Determines the Seating Section.
 
Ford's Theatre Ticket, Late 1860s.


The building is now named "Ford's Theatre National Historic Site."

The Two Theatres Owned By John Thompson Ford (1829-1894).
Ford's Opera House was a theatre at the southwest corner of 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC., which opened in 1871. Ford's Opera House closed in 1928 and was demolished in 1930.
Ford's Opera House, 1928


The brainchild of renowned theatre manager John T. Ford, the opera house opened its doors to the public on October 2, 1871. It was a magnificent structure, boasting a grand Italianate facade, a spacious auditorium with plush seating for 1,700, and a state-of-the-art stage equipped for elaborate productions. 
Ford's Opera House Stationary Header.


The opera house quickly became a popular destination for Washingtonians, offering diverse performances, from grand operas and operettas to Shakespearean plays, vaudeville acts, and even political rallies. Notably, the famous newspaper publisher Horace Greeley was nominated as the Liberal Republican presidential candidate in 1872.
As the years passed, the opera house faced increasing competition from other theatres and entertainment venues in the city. The rise of vaudeville and musical comedy further eroded its audience for traditional operas.

By the early 20th century, the opera house was struggling financially. Attempts were made to revive its fortunes by hosting silent films and other popular attractions, but the success was short-lived.

After a final performance on April 29, 1928, the curtain fell on Ford's Opera House for the last time. The building was eventually demolished in 1930 to make way for a parking garage, sadly erasing a piece of Washington's cultural history.

While the physical structure is no more, the legacy of Ford's Opera House remains. It was a pioneering venue that brought world-class entertainment to Washington, D.C. and played a significant role in the city's cultural life. Its demise serves as a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of the arts and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.

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John Thompson Ford worked as a bookseller in Richmond, Virginia. Ford wrote a comedy play poking fun at Richmond society. The farce was entitled "Richmond As It Is," and was produced by a minstrel company called the Nightingale Serenaders. It focused on humorous aspects of everyday life. This type of play is termed "observational comedy," which is exactly the type of humor that Jerry Seinfeld has used to established one of the most successful comedy careers of our era. He worked in management with the Nightingale Serenaders, traveling around the country. During his career, Ford managed theatres in Alexandria, Virginia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Charleston, South Carolina; and Richmond, Virginia.

Ford was the manager of this highly successful theatre at the time of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. He was a good friend of Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, a famous actor. Ford drew further suspicion upon himself by being in Richmond, Virginia, at the time of the assassination on April 14, 1865. Until April 2, 1865, Richmond had been the capital of the Confederate States of America and a center of anti-Lincoln conspiracies.

An order was issued for Ford's arrest, and on April 18, he was arrested at his Baltimore home. His brothers, James and Harry Clay Ford, were thrown into prison along with him. John Ford complained of the effect that his incarceration would have on his business and family, and he offered to help with the investigation. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton made no reply to his two letters. After 39 days, the brothers were finally fully exonerated and set free since there was no evidence of their complicity in the crime. The government seized the theatre, and Ford was paid $88,000 ($1.7 Million  today) for it by Congress.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

The Chicago Home Insurance Building: The Pioneer of Skyscraper Architecture in 1885.

Standing tall and proud amidst the bustling streets of Chicago, the Home Insurance Building etched its name in the annals of architectural history as the world's first true skyscraper.

Designed by the visionary architect William Le Baron Jenney, this impressive 138-foot-tall, 10-story structure revolutionized how buildings were conceived and constructed, paving the way for modern skyscrapers that dominate cities worldwide. Construction of the Home Insurance Building began in 1884 at the Northeast corner of LaSalle and Adams Streets and was completed in 1885.

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Two additional stories were added to the Chicago Home Insurance Building in 1890. This increased the building to 12 stories and its height to 180 feet.

CONCEPTION, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
In the late 19th century, Chicago was booming, its population swelling and its businesses expanding. The demand for office space was surging, and traditional masonry construction methods were proving inadequate to meet the growing needs. 
During Construction
The Home Insurance Building's origins can be traced back to the late 1870s when the Home Insurance Company of New York sought to establish a branch office in Chicago. The company's management envisioned a grand and imposing structure reflecting its prominence in the insurance industry. In 1884, they approached Jenney, a respected architect known for his innovative designs and use of fireproof construction. Jenney faced the challenge of creating a tall, fire-resistant building that could withstand Chicago's harsh weather conditions.

PIONEERING CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
Interior Views
Note the full-size windows.
Jenney's solution was a 10-story, 138-foot-tall building with a frame made of wrought and cast iron, along with Bessemer rolled steel beams (steel), a revolutionary concept at the time. Before this, buildings were primarily constructed using masonry walls, limiting their height and fire resistance. The steel frame provided the strength and support needed to build taller buildings, allowing for thinner walls and larger windows hung on the steel frame. It could withstand the weight of its walls and floors. The building also featured fireproofing measures, including fireproof terra cotta cladding and hollow tiles filled with concrete.

This revolutionary design enabled the building to reach an unprecedented height of 138 feet and set a precedent for future skyscrapers.

IMPACT AND LEGACY
The Home Insurance Building was a testament to Jenney's architectural ingenuity and marked a turning point in skyscraper design. Its innovative use of a steel skeleton frame and other features established the foundation for modern skyscrapers, paving the way for taller, safer, and more efficient buildings.
The "I WILL" Postcard Series № 186C: Home Insurance Building, Chicago. From the private collection of Dr. Neil Gale. Chicago Postcard Museum.
The building's impact was immediate and far-reaching. It inspired a wave of skyscraper construction in Chicago and other cities, transforming urban landscapes and ushering in a new era of vertical architecture.

The building's impact extended beyond its structural innovations, influencing the aesthetic of skyscrapers. Its exterior, clad in terracotta panels, reflected a transition away from the heavy ornamentation of Victorian architecture towards a more streamlined and modern aesthetic.

While the Home Insurance Building was demolished in 1931 to make way for the Field Building, another skyscraper, its impact on architecture and urban development remains profound. It stands as a symbol of innovation and ingenuity, forever etched in the history of skyscrapers and the evolution of modern cities.
Architect and Engineer William LeBaron Jenney was born on September 25, 1832. He died in Los Angeles, California, on June 14, 1907, at the age of 74.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Friday, November 3, 2023

The Newberry Library and Walter Loomis Newberry's History.

Walter Loomis Newberry died on November 6, 1868, during a return trip from France for medical treatment. His bequest of $2.1 million ($46 million today) would eventually result in the foundation of the Newberry Library on July 1, 1887.

Walter Newberry was a businessman and philanthropist who was a prominent figure in the early development of Chicago, Illinois. He was born in East Windsor, Connecticut, on September 18, 1804, and moved to Chicago in 1833. 
Walter Loomis Newberry (1804-1868)
Newberry quickly established himself as a successful businessman with interests in land development, banking, shipping, and railroads. He was also a civic leader, serving as an alderman on the Chicago Common Council and President (1863-1863) of the Chicago Board of Education.

Newberry was a generous philanthropist, and he donated large sums of money to support education, culture, and social welfare causes. In 1887, his will established the Newberry Library, a research library that is one of the leading independent research libraries in the Nation. 
Postcard of the Newberry Library in Chicago from Washington Square (aka Bughouse Square) c.1910 from the "I Will" series of postcards, Acmegraph Company, Chicago, ca.1910.


Today, the Newberry Library, at 60 West Walton Street, Chicago, stores tens of thousands of digital files from its collection, which consists of over 1.6 million books, 600,000 maps, and 1,300 distinct archival collections containing approximately 5 million manuscript pages. The number of digital image files stored by the Newberry Library is not publicly disclosed, but it will likely be in the millions.
Early Interior of the Newberry Library, Chicago.


Newberry was also a patron of the arts and sciences. He was a founding member of the Chicago Historical Society and the Chicago Academy of Sciences. He also donated money to support the construction of several public buildings in Chicago, including the old Chicago Main Public Library and the Chicago Art Institute. 

Newberry was one of the founders of the First Chicago Bank, which morphed into (The First National Bank of Chicago in the 1860s, which financed the Civil War; Union National Bank in 1900; Metropolitan National Bank in 1902); and today it is the Chase Bank.

The Newberry Library was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

Newberry died at the age of 64. He is buried in Graceland Cemetery, 4001 North Clark Street in Chicago.

Newberry's legacy continues to benefit the city of Chicago and the world. The Newberry Library is a vital resource for scholars, students, and the general public.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Friday, September 8, 2023

Emma C. Kennett was a female architect and real estate developer in Chicago. (1885-1960)

Between 1910 and 1920, there was an apartment building boom in the Rogers Park Community of Chicago. Many of the spacious apartments in buildings on Sheridan Road and Estes, Greenleaf, and Lunt Avenues were built at that time. Some had two bedrooms, many had three bedrooms, and some even had three baths.

Emma Kennett was born in Chicago in 1885. She worked in a builder's office before marrying James Kennett, a Chicago building contractor. She reentered the building profession when the marriage ended to support her young family. She founded the Kennett Construction Company in 1923 and began developing apartment buildings in Rogers Park.

Kennett was the active head of the Kennett Construction Company of Chicago, who, with a Black partner, Joseph Frederick Rousseau, built more than 80 buildings in the Howard-Jarvis-Ridge areas of Chicago's Rogers Park community. She designed the buildings in Gothic, French, and Spanish styles. By the mid-1920s, she was worth five million dollars ($89 million today).

Kennett designed and built apartment buildings, townhouses, and commercial properties. She was known for her innovative designs and her commitment to quality construction. 

FIRM HISTORY
Kennett Construction Company, 1923-1952 
Kennett Realty Company, 1952-1960. 

Kennett's buildings were known for their eclectic architectural styles, which reflected the popular trends of the time. She used Tudor Revival, Italian Renaissance Revival, and Spanish Mission Revival styles, among others. She also paid attention to the details of her buildings, using high-quality materials and finishes.
Normandy Apartments, 2300 West Farwell Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 1920s.


Kennett was a successful businesswoman and a pioneer for women in the construction industry. She was featured in several articles in the Chicago Tribune, which noted her success as a woman in a male-dominated field. She was also a member of the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
2320-22 West Farwell Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 1928.


Kennett continued to develop buildings in Chicago until the early 1950s. She died in 1960 at the age of 75. Her legacy is one of innovation, quality, and perseverance. She was a role model for women in the construction industry, and her work helped to shape the city of Chicago.
2326 West Farwell Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 1920s.


Most of Kennett's buildings still stand today and are a testament to her talent and vision. Kennett designed all her buildings, assisted only by local architects, including Arthur C. Buckett and Herbert J. Richter, to ensure the correct technical details. 

A PARTIAL LIST OF KENNETT PROJECTS:
  • 1141 West Devon Avenue, Sun Parlor Apartments, Chicago, Illinois
  • 2020 West Jarvis, Chicago, Illinois
  • 2029 West Jarvis, Chicago, Illinois
  • 2114 West Arthur Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 2300 West  Farwell (Normandy apartments), Chicago, Illinois
  • 2308-10 West  Farwell, Chicago, Illinois
  • 2314-2316 West Farwell, Chicago, Illinois
  • 2320-22 West Farwell, Chicago, Illinois
  • 2326 West  Farwell, Chicago, Illinois
  • 2332-2334 West  Farwell, Chicago, Illinois
  • 6644 North Artesian Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 7339 North Seeley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 7349 North Seeley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 7351 North Seeley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 7352 North Seeley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois - razed
  • 7354 North Seeley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 7355 North Seeley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 7356-58 North Robey (Damen Avenue today), Chicago, Illinois
  • 7358 North Seeley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 7359 North Seeley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 7360 North Seeley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 7360-62 North Robey (Damen Avenue today), Chicago, Illinois
  • 7361-7363 North Seeley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 7440-42 North Hoyne Avenue, (Chateau Le Mans), Chicago, Illinois
  • 7441-43 North Navarre Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 7446-48 North Hoyne Avenue, (Maison Louviers), Chicago, Illinois
  • 7447-49 North Hoyne Avenue, (Barcelona apartments), Chicago, Illinois
  • 7452-54 North Hoyne Avenue, (Chateau Beauvais), Chicago, Illinois
  • 7453-55 North Hoyne Avenue, (Valencia apartments), Chicago, Illinois
  • 7536 North Seeley Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
  • 1065 Estate Lane, Lake Forest, Illinois
  • 1070 Estate Lane, Lake Forest, Illinois
  • 1111 Estate Lane, Lake Forest, Illinois
  • 1144 Estate Lane, Lake Forest, Illinois
  • 1221 Estate Lane, Lake Forest, Illinois
  • 136 Custer Avenue, Evanston, Illinois
  • 1416 Fairway Drive, Lake Forest, Illinois
  • 1433 Fairway Drive, Lake Forest, Illinois
  • 810 S. Ridge Road, Lake Forest, Illinois
  • 960 S. Ridge Road, Lake Forest, Illinois
Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Springfield, Illinois, Town Square Conflagration of May 15, 1855.

From the May 16, 1855, Chicago Tribune:
The sun this morning rose upon a scene in Springfield, the like of which has never before been witnessed here. More than half the block of stores on the west side of the square, commencing from the north, was in ruins, and the goods and furniture not destroyed, were scattered about mainly on the state house square, presenting further evidence of the melancholy catastrophe. This great destruction was, without question, the work of an incendiary. 
North side of Springfield town square, Washington Street, c.1855.



West side of Springfield town square, 5th Street, c.1855.



The fire was kindled among some boxes near one of the buildings, and such was the dry state of all the material about that the buildings immediately caught fire, which was not arrested until nine stores and one or two other buildings of less consequence were consumed.

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The Public Square in Springfield is bound by Adams, Washington, Fifth and Sixth Streets. It was created on paper in December of 1823.

The following is a list of the sufferers: ($1.00 in 1855 = $35.00 in 2023)
  • Clark & Henkle, a clothing store, was insured for $5,000 ($175,000 in 2023) in Northwestern and $1,000 in Mohawk Valley. Loss estimated at $6,000. House owned by Johnson & Bradford, insured for $1,500.
  • Thayer & Co., dry goods merchants, stock of goods valued at $17,000, insured for $8,000—saved goods to the amount of $10,000 or $12,000 in the wrong order.
  • Canedy & Johnson, druggists, insured on stock and fixtures $6,500, on house $2,500. Loss estimated at $9,000. P.C.Canedy's dwelling was saved by the most persevering efforts; back buildings with the house on the west torn down. House and furniture, which are considerably damaged, were insured.
  • R.H. Reach's clothing store insured $5,000. Loss of about $2,000.
  • Irwin & Davis, dry goods merchants, insured on goods $5,000, no insurance on the house. Loss estimated at $6,000.
  • A. Freeman & Co., dry goods and grocery merchants, no insurance either on house or goods. Loss estimated at $8,000.
  • Spear & Brothers, dry goods merchants, insured $3,000 on goods, no insurance on the house. Loss of about $4,000.
  • Dr. Harper's office, Brimm's law office, and a barber's shop, over Freeman's books, papers, etc., mostly saved; Loss estimated at $200.
  • Springfield Coffee House, owned by William H. Camp, had no insurance. Loss of about $2,000.
  • Bradford & Johnson's Book Store, bindery etc., the house owned by N.W. Edwards; insurance for $700. Inventory insured for $3,500; loss of about $1,800.
  • Clark's Exchange Bank, which was fireproof, arrested the fire on the south, but for which, the whole block on the west side of the square would have been laid in ashes.
  • As it went west, the fire's progress was arrested at Mr. Canedy's dwelling house. S.B. Fisher's store, on the north side of the square, while the fire was raging, was discovered to be on fire in the second story. It was soon extinguished, doing but minor damage.
The present is a very appropriate occasion to draw the attention of our city authorities to the necessity of providing more efficient means than they have yet done for the extinguishment of fires.

— Springfield (Ill.) Journal

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

The Wigwam, Chicago.

There is a third building that should stand on the street, which led from Abraham Lincoln's Kentucky Log Cabin to the White House. Lincoln was obliged to pass this building before he reached Washington D.C. The building was built in 1860, at the corner of Market Street (North Wacker Drive today) and Lake Street in Chicago, a large structure one hundred and eighty feet long and one hundred feet wide. 


It was made of plain pine boards, and in some respects, both the characteristics of a log cabin and a government building were conserved. It was called the "Wigwam," which was built on the site of the old Sauganash Hotel.


On the morning of May 16, 1860, the delegates of the Republican Convention arrived for the purpose of naming the next candidate for the Presidency of the United States on the Republican ticket. It was on Friday, March 18, that this purpose was achieved. It may be truly said that Lincoln passed from his Cabin to the White House by way of the Wigwam. 


Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Friday, April 7, 2023

The Settlement of Chicago and How it was Incorporated.

Until 1833, Chicago was just a settlement with only the Cook County organization for a government. In 1833 with a population of approximately 300, it was incorporated as a town. It became a place of considerable importance and attracted a great body of immigrants who came West that year, producing many improvements.
An 1833 Map of Chicago.


The Indian lands were to be sold, and Chicago started out with a boom. The inns were crowded, and travelers considered themselves fortunate if they could secure a place on the floor to sleep. 

During the summer of 1833, 160 houses were built, and the number of stores increased from five or six to twenty-five. The Green Tree Tavern was the first structure built as a public house among the new buildings. While the old Kinzie house and several other houses had been open to travelers, there had never been a building put up for that purpose until the Green Tree in 1833.

Read a first-hand account of a traveler's overnight stay at the Green Tree Tavern.





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Chicago's First Three Taverns:
Wolf Point Tavern opened in December of 1828. The Wolf Point Tavern was rechristened by its owner, Chester Ingersoll, The Travelers' Home, in October 1833.

Eagle Exchange Tavern  - Mark Beaubien opened the Eagle Exchange Tavern in a log cabin on the south bank in 1829. In 1831 Beaubien added a frame addition and opened Chicago's first hotel, the Sauganash Hotel.

The Green Tree Tavern was built in 1833 - The Green Tree Tavern was later renamed the City Hotel, then the Lake Street House, and finally the Tenement House.

The United States Government began to pay some attention to the growing town on Lake Michigan's shore, and the harbor was improved at the expense of $325,000 ($12M today).

The channel of the river was straightened, widened, and deepened. The sand bar at the mouth of the river turned the river down (south) the shore from Water Street to Madison before emptying into the lake was cut through, and vessels could enter and pass up to the forks. The mail arrived semi-weekly and departed for Galena, Springfield, Alton, and St Louis.

On October 26, 1836, the Town Board took the necessary steps to secure a charter for the city of Chicago. A public meeting was held on November 25, and E. B. Williams, as President, appointed J. D. Caton, Ebenezer Peck, T. W. Smith, W. B. Ogden and Nathan Boiles delegates to draw up a charter for presentation. This charter was presented to the board on December 9, and the Legislature passed the bill approving the charter on March 4, 1837.

THE FIRST CITY LIMITS.
The first meeting was held on August 12, and Colonel Owen was chosen as President. The boundaries of the village were: Commencing at the intersection of Jackson and Jefferson streets, thence north on Jefferson to Ohio Street, thence east on Ohio Street to the lake, thence south along the lake to the middle of the river, thence up to State street, thence South along State to Jackson street, thence west to the place of beginning, comprising about seven-eighths of a mile square. The Jog made from the mouth of the river to State Street was because of the military reservation there. This was the incorporated village of Chicago.

But during this time, the village of Chicago was fast growing in population, importance and fame. By 1837, the population was over 4,000 people, and the citizens thought it was time to keep pace with the dramatic growth and have the city chartered. 

In 1833 the population had been 200, and in 1836 it had increased to 8,820. The harbor was in the process of improvement, the Illinois and Michigan Canal had begun, land speculators were buying up the land, and there was plenty of capital in Chicago.

On October 26, 1836, the Town Board took the necessary steps to secure a charter for the city of Chicago. A public meeting was held on November 25, and E. B. Williams, as President, appointed J. D. Caton, Ebenezer Peck, T. W. Smith, W. B. Ogden and Nathan Boiles delegates to draw up a charter for presentation. This charter was presented to the board on December 9, and the Legislature passed the bill approving the charter on March 4, 1837.

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The indigenous tribes of the Chicago area were the Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Odawa Nations, as well as the Miami, Winnebago (Ho-Chunk), Menominee, Sauk (Sac), Meskwaki (Fox), Kickapoo tribes, and the Illinois.

The first plat of the Chicago settlement was filed in 1830.

Cook County was created on January 15, 1831 by an act of the Illinois State Legislature as the 54th county established in Illinois. The unincorporated Fort Dearborn settlement at the mouth of the Chicago River became the new county's seat. On May 7, 1831, Cook County elected its first officials.

Chicago was incorporated as a town on August 12, 1833, with a population of about 350. With a population of 4,170, the town of Chicago filed new Incorporation documents on March 4, 1837, to become the City of Chicago and for several decades was the world's fastest-growing city. 

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Monday, April 3, 2023

The Bishops' Mausoleum in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois.



The structure informally known as the Bishops' Mausoleum, designed by architect William J. Brinkmann, is located at Mount Carmel Cemetery and is the final resting place of the Bishops and Archbishops of Chicago; Its formal name is the Mausoleum and Chapel of the Archbishops of Chicago, and it is the focal point of the entire cemetery, standing on high ground. The mausoleum was commissioned by Archbishop James Quigley and was constructed between 1905 and 1912.
Funeral proceedings for Archbishop James Quigley at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.



The roughly rectangular-shaped mausoleum has a stepped pyramidal roof surmounted by a statue of the Archangel Gabriel sounding his trumpet at the moment of the final resurrection.

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The remains of Bishop James Duggan were interred in the mausoleum in 2001 from his former resting place in Evanston's Calvary Cemetery. While Bishop Duggan died in 1899, his interment in the Bishop's Mausoleum is the most recent.



The mausoleum is designed as a Romanesque building outside with a domed Romanesque Classical chapel inside, complete with an altar, religious murals, clerestory windows providing light, and crypts flanking the altar on either side. 
The Altar.




Domed Romanesque Classical Tiled Ceiling.





In architecture, an apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome.


The Papal and U.S. flags also flank the altar. However, Brinkmann did not design the lavish interior, although he was more than capable, as evidenced by his interior for Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica. Instead, Archbishop Quigley engaged one of the foremost religious architects of the day, Aristide Leonori, noted for his 1899 design of the Mount St. Sepulchre Franciscan Monastery in Washington, D.C., as well as the interiors of early 20th-century Mediterranean churches. 


For the mausoleum chapel interior, Leonori relied heavily on using marble and mosaics to give the chapel a Roman look while still referencing Celtic, Nordic and Slavic saints in the design, thus reflecting the archdiocese's many ethnic groups and national churches.
A craftsman replacing missing mosaic tiles in the interior.

The most recent interment was the body of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin after he died in 1996 from liver and pancreatic cancer. Cardinal Bernardin had visited the chapel a few months before his death to select the site of his own crypt, choosing a spot to one side of the late Cardinal John Cody. Bernardin was said to have remarked, "I've always been a little left of Cody."

Notable people in organized crime buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery:
  • Al Capone
  • Frank Capone
  • Ralph Capone
  • Vincent Drucci
  • Sam Giancana
  • Genna Brothers (6) – Sam, Vincenzo, Pete, "Bloody" Angelo, Antonio, and Mike "The Devil"
  • Jake Lingle – murdered journalist and mob associate
  • Antonio Lombardo – Chicago mobster and consigliere to Al Capone
  • "Machine Gun" Jack McGurn (aka Vincent DeMora)
  • Charles Nicoletti
  • Frank Nitti
  • Dean O'Banion
  • Frank Rio
  • Roger Touhy – NW suburban Chicago mobster and beer baron, a rival of Al Capone and wrongly convicted through Capone's influence
  • Earl "Hymie" Weiss – mob boss of the North Side Gang and a bitter rival of Al Capone.
Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.