Trip 109: Powhatan Apartments

Date: July 1, 2011

Trip: 109

Landmarks Visited: 1

Landmarks To-Date: 307

Landmarks Remaining: 46

I started off my 4th of July weekend by heading down to Hyde Park on Friday after work. Hyde Park is a neighborhood with a lot of mature trees, and you could definitely see some damage to them from the storm that we had earlier in the week.

I often say that one of the (few) things I miss about living in Chicago is thunderstorms--but this week's storm definitely helped make up for that. It started with high winds from the lake. From my apartment I could see some of the biggest waves I've ever seen on Lake Michigan. A newly planted evergreen tree on my balcony did not fare well. Then the wind abruptly stopped and there was some  spectacular lightening. I repeatedly saw bolts that seemed to touch down to the surface of Lake Michigan. Next came heavy rain and hail. Garfield Park Conservatory on the west side seemed to get the worst of the hail damage. I read that in some parts of the building 90% of the glass panels were shattered by the storm.

Back to landmarks--I went to Hyde Park to see the Powhatan Apartments. This art deco high rise overlooks a park and Lake Michigan. The most notable feature of the building is the tile work on the facade using Native American motifs. Interestingly, the tiles on the lowest floors are black, with more colorful and more abstract designs on the upper floors. The building is named for a Native American chief.

Trip 108: Villa District

Date: June 26, 2011

Trip: 108

Landmarks Visited: 1

Landmarks To-Date: 306

Landmarks Remaining: 47

On a beautiful Sunday afternoon Shawn and I visited the Villa District. It's basically a housing development for the early 1900's that was initially all bungalows. It's located on the north side not far from where we live in Lakeview.

Probably the best word to describe the Villa District would be quaint. The neighborhood has tree-lined streets that are marked by stone flower planters that were originally lamp posts. The trees make the neighborhood unusually quiet for Chicago, especially considering that the Kennedy Expressway and Metra tracks are literally adjacent to the area.

Virtually every house appears to be well maintained, and from the same general era. It has very much the feel of the Frank Lloyd Wright district of Oak Park, on more of a Chicago budget.

Trip 107: Hot Sunday Morning

Date: June 5, 2011

Trip: 107

Landmarks Visited: 6

Landmarks To-Date: 305

Landmarks Remaining: 48

On this unseasonably hot Sunday I passed another milestone. I have now seen over 300 landmarks. It made me start thinking about if/ when I see the last landmark. I plan to buy myself a bottle of champagne.

1. Site of the John and Mary Jones House

John and Mary Jones were early civil rights activists. Unfortunately, there is nothing left of their home. I wasn't even able to find a landmark plaque.

2. St. Charles Air Line Bridge

It took a little research to learn why this railroad bridge is called an 'air line' bridge. Apparently it was one of the first movable bridges to utilize air buffered pistons. Its span was also shortened when it was moved to its current position when the underlying portion of the river was straightened.

3. Engine Company 65, Truck 52

This landmark took me to a neighborhood that I had never visited before--Brighton Park.

4. Eighth Regiment Armory

This building was the first armory in the United States built for an African-American military regiment. Today it is a public high school/military academy.

5. Elam House

This house is definitely my favorite landmark of this trip. It's another Chateauesque mansion along one of Chicago's original boulevards. Unfortunately, a 1992 fire destroyed the interior of the building. It has yet to be restored, but the exterior appears to be in excellent condition. From the 1930's through the 70's the house was used as a boarding house for underprivileged women and girls.

6. Chicago Orphan Asylum Building

This building was originally an orphanage. Later it became a community center and was part of the Chicago Black Renaissance of the 30's and 40's. Today it is a Baptist institute.

Trip 106: Four South Side Neighborhoods

Date: June 4, 2011

Trip: 106

Landmarks Visited: 6

Landmarks To-Date: 299

Landmarks Remaining: 54

On this hot and humid Saturday morning I drove to four south side neighborhoods (Pilsen, Chinatown, Bronzeville and Kenwood) to see six landmarks.

1. Thalia Hall

This building was originally built as a community center when the neighborhood was primarily Bohemian. Today the neighborhood is primarily Latino and the building houses a restaurant and appears to be undergoing some renovations.

2. Schoenhofen Brewery

This building appears to be perfectly maintained, but there isn't any signage to indicate what company currently occupies it.

This building is located next door to the brewery building. At first I thought it might be part of the brewery complex, but I think the Star of David on the facade rules that out. I thought the architectural detail made the building worth a couple of photos regardless of its landmark status.

3. James Ward Public School

This is Chicago's oldest school building still in use as a school.

4. Unity Hall

I especially liked the coats of arms above the main entrance to the building.

5. Pilgrim Baptist Church

This church burnt in 2006 and all that remains are portions of the facade. The structure built to support the remaining facade is pretty impressive itself. The building was originally designed by Adler and Sullivan and had a central structure that rose above the surviving walls. Plans are to rebuild the church assuming that adequate funds can be raised.

6. South Side Trust & Savings Bank Building

This building is still in use as a bank. Today it is a branch of Urban Partnership Bank.