Trip 119: Superman and Vintage Cars

Date: September 18, 2011
Trip: 119
Landmarks Visited: 2
Landmarks To-Date: 341
Landmarks Remaining: 12

Shawn and I started out to see five landmarks on this grey Saturday morning, but first Superman and then vintage cars slowed our progress. First, I was driving on Lower Wacker when I saw a police SUV driving directly at me in the wrong lane. My first thought was that I was going the wrong way. Then I saw the camera car behind the police and realized that they were filming a scene for the next Superman film. At the next intersection the police directed us off Wacker. Still, it would have helpful to have been given earlier warning of the street closure.

So a little later than we expected we were approaching our first destination when the street was closed again, this time for a vintage car show of some sort. I tried driving around to enter our destination street from the other way, but then realized that it was a one way street. So no luck there...

After all the delays, we only managed to see two landmarks before rain and afternoon plans sent us home.

1. DuPont-Whitehouse House (3558 S Artesian Avenue)

This is a large house that is part way through what appears to be a major renovation. The house is for sale (listed for $199,000) so I was able to get some info from the listing. Here are the details if you're in the market for a historic home:
LAST CHANCE TO OWN A PART OF CHICAGO HISTORY BEFORE IT COMES OFF THE MARKET...... A CHICAGO LANDMARK, THE DUPONT WHITEHOUSE. 4,332 SQUARE FEET + 1,444 SF IN BSMT. SELLER HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK TO THIS PROPERTY BUT THERE’S STILL WORK TO COMPLETE. OFFERS 3 FIREPLACES, 4.5 BATHROOMS. DUAL PARLORS, GORGEUOS SKYLIGHTS, MSTR BEDROOM WITH FIREPLACE, 2 CLOSETS AND FULL BATHROOM. CASH OFFERS ONLY!!! ONLY SERIOUS BUYERS!!!

2. Walter Burley Griffin Place District (1600-1800 W Griffin Place [formerly 104th Place])

The houses in this district date from the early 1900s, and seven of them were built by Walter Burley Griffin. Early in Griffin's career he had worked with Frank Lloyd Wright, and Wright's influence can be seen in some of the homes here.

Trip 118: Life Goes On

Date: September 11, 2011
Trip: 118
Landmarks Visited: 5
Landmarks To-Date: 339
Landmarks Remaining: 14

On the anniversary of the terrorist attacks, Shawn and I went to see some landmarks. Going on with normal life seemed like the right way to spend the day.

1. Sunset Cafe (315 E 35th Street)

This former jazz club is now a hardware store.

2. Giles-Calumet District (3700-3800 Giles and Calumet Avenues)

This is another district of period row houses. Although not as opulent as those in some other districts, these homes still have a lot of character.

3. Richard Wright House (4831 S Vincennes Avenue)

The author wrote his first novel while living on the second floor of this house.

1. Greenwood Row House District

These row houses are located near the University of Chicago, and according to something I read were originally targeted at professors. Interestingly, the houses look detached from the front, but are connected in the back.

4. Raber House (5760 S Lafayette Avenue)

I've been wanting to see this landmark since I read a Tribune article about it. Apparently a developer wants to buy the building, renovate it, and use it as basically the headquarters for an urban vineyard that would utilize the surrounding vacant land. This would be very back-to-the-future because the building was originally the manor house for an urban plantation.

Given the condition of the building, it would be amazing if these plans came to fruition. The city owns the building so buying it would probably not be a problem. But I can't imagine the costs of restoring the structure. From the outside at least, all that appears to be left is the brick facade. But I would love a chance to see the interior...

Trip 117: Two New Guests

Date: September 10, 2011
Trip: 117
Landmarks Visited: 2
Landmarks To-Date: 334
Landmarks Remaining: 19

Two new friends, David and Kevin, joined me on this sunny Saturday morning. We visited two landmarked districts on the south side.

1. Jackson Park Highlands District (6700-7100 S. Bennett, Constance, Cregier and Euclid Avenues)

This neighborhood really reminded me of how wealthy the south side of Chicago was at one time. The neighborhood is block after block of substantial brick homes with large yards. It's still a beautiful neighborhood today. Unique for Chicago is that the neighborhood does not have alleys or visible power lines. I read on the landmark plaque that underground power lines were one of the innovations in this district.

2. Washington Park Court District (4900-4959 S. Washington Park Court)

This district is basically a block of row homes on both sides of the street. I think it is unusual for Chicago in that the houses are physically connected, where in most Chicago neighborhoods there is some space between each home. The variety of architectural styles is impressive for such a relatively small area.