The History of the Pittsfield Building in Chicago.

The Pittsfield Building is a 38-story skyscraper located at 55 E. Washington Street and a secondary lobby entrance at 39 N. Wabash Avenue in downtown Chicago.

In the Jewelers' Row Landmark District, the property was developed by heirs of Marshall Field and is named after Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where Marshall Field obtained his first job as a clerk in the dry goods store of "Davis & Grant" at 17 years old. The nearby Burnham Center, at the intersection of Clark Street and Washington Street, was initially named the Conway Building after Conway, Massachusetts—the birthplace of Marshall Field. Marshall Field III presented the property as a gift to the Field Museum of Natural History in honor of the museum's 50th anniversary. The museum held the property until September 1960, when the museum sold it.

The Pittsfield Building, Chicago

The Pittsfield Building on Wabash under the 'L' Elevated Loop

It was the city's tallest building at the time of its completion in 1927. Fourteen passenger elevators served the building.

The Pittsfield Building Entranceway Plaque

The Pittsfield Building Entranceway

Designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst, & White, the structure combines art deco and Gothic detailing while complying with a 1923 zoning ordinance that mandated skyscrapers' setbacks. The interior of the building features a five-story atrium, lined by balconies and shops, detailed with glowing marbles, gleaming brass, and Spanish Gothic style carvings.

The Pittsfield Building Atrium

The Pittsfield Building Atrium

The Pittsfield Building Atrium

The architecture of the Pittsfield Building was designed with two different commercial spaces. From 5 to 37, the upper floors were professional offices for lawyers, dentists, and doctors. From the basement to the 5th floor, the lower levels were for small retailers such as jewelers, restaurants, tobacco stores, and other retailers.

The lower levels were decorated in a "Spanish Gothic Revival" style with some Art Deco touches. The architectural style unmistakably recalls the 1920's, which gives you a taste of history. When you step inside, the coffered gilt elevator lobby ceilings thrum with a maze-like hexagonal pattern. The central atrium soars five floors above, crowned with a gigantic chandelier. Marble covers seemingly every spare surface in the lobby and atrium. The beauty of this space makes the Pittsfield a rental for the occasional wedding.

The first of three basement levels was a part of the arcade and housed several shops, the fabulous dark, wood-walled, Pittsfield Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge. They had great food, served quickly during lunch hours, and at a reasonable cost. I ate there many times.

The Barber Shop, on the 1st basement level, the owner was, at one time, the "Royal Family Barber" in London, England, and had several photographs hanging in the shop to prove it.

Mike Royko, Chicago newspaper columnist (winner of the 1972 Pulitzer Prize for commentary), was a regular for a weekly trim. I talked with Royko many times. My Dad was Royko's Optometrist. 

The effect of all the architectural ornamentation is stunning in its opulence and aesthetic appeal. Of course, that fits right into the flashy architectural approach that Marshall Field pioneered at his store.

The Pittsfield Building Brass Elevator Doors

The Pittsfield Building Ground Floor Elevator Floor Indicator

The Pittsfield Building Brass Restaurant Sign at the Staircase to the Lower Level.

Marshall Field III presented the property as a gift to the Field Museum of Natural History in honor of the museum's 50th anniversary. The museum held the property until September 1960, when the museum sold it. The building was designated as a Chicago Landmark on November 6, 2002.

The Pittsfield Building Sign to Lower Level Atrium

The Pittsfield Building Atrium Chandelier

The Pittsfield Building Elevator Foyer

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Grebe & Co. Inc. U.S. Navy Shipyard History on the Chicago River at Belmont Avenue.

In 1926, Milwaukee's former "Great Lakes Boat Building Corporation" became the "Henry C. Grebe & Co. Inc. Shipyard" and moved to Chicago. The shipyard was over eight acres on the north branch of the Chicago River at 3250 North Washtenaw Avenue, across the river from the famous Riverview Park. 

Before World War II, Grebe (Gree-be) produced sail yachts and powerboats for exclusive clientele.

During WWII, Grebe built various wood and steel vessels for the Navy. The yard had cranes to lift 50 tons and a complete inter-yard rail system. There was storage for 400 yachts.

During the war, the shipyard built over 56 ships, wood, and steel, for the U.S. Navy, including 21 tugboats, 4 tankers, and 28 minesweepers (aka auxiliary motor minesweepers). These vessels were used in detecting mines laid by enemy submarines, and their wooden hulls helped prevent the explosion of nearby magnetic-triggered mines. 

This is a 1943 panorama of the Grebe Shipyard, which operated from 1926 to 1994. The former Riverview Park is visible in the background of this photograph. In the foreground, several U.S. Navy vessels are under construction.

Rumor has it that Grebe built P.T. boats (small patrol boats, the most famous, PT-109, was commanded by Lieutenant John F. Kennedy). According to the Chicago Maritime Museum, which holds the Grebe archives, they never built P.T. boats.

The shipyard's existence was why moveable bridges were kept in place on the north branch of the Chicago River because the bridges needed to open to let the Grebe-built craft to Lake Michigan.

Grebe Shipyard looks east across the Chicago River. Note Riverview Park's rides, Shoot the Chutes and The Bobs roller coaster in the background, circa 1928.

The Yard Minesweeper 84 (YMS-84) was laid down on June 2, 1941, by Henry C. Grebe and Co., Chicago, IL. Launched on March 3, 1942, and was completed on May 23, 1942. The USS YMS-84 was a YMS-1 Class Auxiliary Motor Minesweeper built for the United States Navy and commissioned into service in May 1942. Notable for being the first U.S. Navy Vessel built in Illinois during the Second World War, the YMS-84 and her crew steamed down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and into the Gulf of Mexico, where she began training and convoy escort duties through early 1943.

After the war, Grebe returned his business to mostly building pleasure craft for such Chicago luminaries as Philip Wrigley and Sterling Morton of Morton Salt. They also made some powerboats for the Chicago Police Department.

When Grebe passed away in 1952, his widow Marguerite took over operations, unusual enough to merit several newspaper articles about her. As time went on, the interest in these high-end yachts waned. She ran the company until they completed their last boat in 1972. The company continued to operate at the site until 1994, providing boat maintenance and storage. The land was worth more than the business.

Today the site is occupied by the Belmont River Club townhomes.

ADDITIONAL READING: Houseboats on the Chicago River; The history of living on the river.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.