Trip 90: Valentine's Day on the South Side

Date: February 14, 2011

Trip: 90

Landmarks Visited: 5

Landmarks To-Date: 237

Landmarks Remaining: 116

On a sunny Valentine's Day afternoon I drove to the south side to see four landmarks on Michigan Avenue and one on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology. The drive on South Michigan Avenue was a pleasant surprise because there are more of the original homes remaining than I expected. It wasn't always easy to look at a block and pick out the landmarked building.

1. Griffiths-Burroughs House

2. Eighth Church of Christ, Scientist



3. George Cleveland Hall Branch, Chicago Public Library

4. Pate-Comiskey House

This house is unique both because it combines elements of Prairie Style and traditional design, and because it was the home of a long time owner of the Chicago White Sox.

5. Main Building & Machinery Hall

I have seen these buildings a number of times from the Kennedy Expressway, but because the Illinois Institute of Technology is famous for its Modernist buildings, I wasn't sure if they were part of the campus. The first group of photos is of the Main Building. I'm pleased that I was able to get a shot of the stained glass windows through the front door of the building. I also tried to show the stripped stone that makes up the foundation of the building.

The second group of photos is of Machinery Hall, which is just across 33rd Street from the Main Building.

Machinery Hall

The following pics are of 'non-landmarked' buildings on the campus. I'm guessing that this building is named after the Armour family of meat packing fame.

These photos are of the new student union building. The most interesting aspect is that is was built directly under the L. A tube was built around the L tracks to reduce the noise in the building. The interior of the building utilizes a number of translucent walls. This had given me some ideas for my long-term renovation plan for my condo...

I'm guessing these buildings are dorms, but whatever their purpose, I like the design.

Trip 89: (Former) Engine Company 86

Date: February 12, 2011
Trip: 89
Landmarks Visited: 1
Landmarks To-Date: 232
Landmarks Remaining: 121

On Saturday I drove to a friend's house for a pre-Valentine's Day martini. On the way I drove past the former Engine Company 86 building. The building looks to have been converted to a private home. But the most interesting feature is that it's a wooden structure.

This is the first wooden firehouse that I've seen in Chicago. It's located far enough north that it could pre-date the fire. Somehow I don't think any wooden firehouses were built in Chicago after the fire.

The large snow piles in the photos are the remnants of the Blizzard of 2011--better know as Snowmageddon.

Trip 88: A Quick Trip to the West Loop

Date: January 23, 2011
Trip: 88
Landmarks Visited: 3
Landmarks To-Date: 231
Landmarks Remaining: 122

On a cold but sunny Sunday I took the Red Line down to the Loop to see one landmark, and then took a short ride on the Green Line to see two more in the West Loop. We had a snow storm the night before so there were not many people out and about.

1. Page Brothers Building

The interesting thing about this building is that it has different facades facing north (Lake Street) and west (State Street). The landmark plague explains that the State Street side was updated when it became a more important commercial street than Lake.

Walking to another landmark I took the photo below. It's of a diner that I think my dad would appreciate. The outdoor seating area includes a railroad crossing gate and railroad car wheels.

2. Site of Haymarket Tragedy

This monument marks the approximate location of the spot where a bomb was thrown during a labor demonstration in May of 1886. A number of police and civilians died from the bomb and the confusion that followed. Many people believe this event is the origin of May Day as an international day for labor.

I actually thought of current events in Egypt when I visited this monument. No one could have foreseen the outcome of events at Haymarket Square that day, just like no one could have predicted that one man's death in Tunisia would lead to demonstrations across the Middle East.

The following pic is of Claes Oldenburg's Batcolumn sculpture. I walked past it on my way to the next landmark. I know that the Ferris Wheel was Chicago's actual response to the Eiffel Tower, but I've always thought of this sculpture as Chicago's Eiffel Tower. The steel frame construction is very reminiscent (in my opinion) of the tower.

3. Engine Company 5, Truck 2

This building is still an active fire station.

On my walk back to the train, I happened to look up at the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower. I had heard about the new glass floor ledges on the observation floor, but had never actually seen them before. I definitely want to check it out in person at some point.

Look closely at the top few floors of the tower and you can see the glass areas that extended outward from the facade of the building.

Trip 87: Another Four North Side Houses

Date: January 22, 2011
Trip: 87
Landmarks Visited: 4
Landmarks To-Date: 228
Landmarks Remaining: 125

On a very cold Saturday afternoon I drove to see four more houses on the north side. The biggest challenge of the day was very icy sidewalks. The streets were fine, but the sidewalks were dangerous.

1. Jackson-Thomas House

2. Charles N. Loucks House

This house is currently for sale. It would definitely make a unique home with a three story tower, a brick facade on the first floor with wood shingles above, and what looks to be the original garage.

3. John and Clara Merchant House

4. Dr. Philip Weintraub House

This house is definitely an example of the International Style. Given the lack of ornamentation and the flat roof, it's difficult to tell from the street whether it is a home or a commercial building. It also makes the building somewhat timeless--it's difficult to determine its age just from looking at the structure. (It was built in 1940-41.)

One feature that surprised me is the slightly whimsical porthole window near the main entrance.

Trip 86: Four North Side Houses

Date: January 15, 2011
Trip: 86
Landmarks Visited: 4
Landmarks To-Date: 224
Landmarks Remaining: 129

It was a cold and overcast Saturday afternoon so I decided to drive to a few scattered landmarked homes on the north side.

1. Race House

This Italianate style house originally belonged to the founding Race family of Irving Park, now a neighborhood of Chicago.

2. Wingert House

This house in the Norwood Park neighborhood is one of the oldest surviving farmhouses in Chicago. Having been built in 1854, it is also pre-dates the fire.

3. Turzak House

I could find little info about this house except that it was built in 1938-39. It's definitely a very modern design for its era.

4. Henry V Peters House

Similarly I could not find any info on this house.

Trip 85: Hazelton-Mikota House

Date: January 9, 2011
Trip: 85
Landmarks Visited: 1
Landmarks To-Date: 220
Landmarks Remaining: 133

On Sunday I put up with my continuing cold to visit the Forest Glen neighborhood. It's a quaint neighborhood of single-family homes adjacent to a forest preserve. The Hazelton-Mikota house is a wood frame, Queen Anne style farmhouse that is one of the oldest surviving homes in the neighborhood. It's currently painted plain white which makes me wonder what the original color palate might have been.

Trip 84: Engine Company 59, Truck 47

Date: January 8, 2011
Trip: 84
Landmarks Visited: 1
Landmarks To-Date: 219
Landmarks Remaining: 134

On Saturday morning I braved 16 degree temperatures and a stubborn cold to try-out my new GPS (a Christmas gift from my parents) and to visit my first landmark of 2011. Engine Company 59 is located in a neighborhood on the north side. For a neighborhood firehouse it is relatively ornate with a tile roof, bronze encased dormer windows, two bronze City of Chicago emblems and significant white terra cotta decoration, including Chicago Fire Department logos above each door.

It's also relatively large and has adjacent parking. The building looks vacant. I'm surprised that a developer hadn't converted it to condos prior to the 2008 real estate crash. The building looks to be in very good condition, so perhaps the city still makes use of the second floor for offices of some type.