28 Nov historically important real photo postcards culled from the bldg. 51 museum archive
the following collection of important and seldom seen original real photo postcards (rppc) represents just a fraction of materials currently being digitized from the ever-growing bldg. 51 museum and archive, housed in chicago and owned and maintained by eric j. nordstrom.
early 20th century real photo postcard of christian a. eckstorm’s 1902 international harvester company headquarters building and holabird and roche’s 1915 century building.
i documented several sections of ornamental glazed terra cotta adorning the century building, including a spandrel with knight’s helmet above an emblematic shield, late last year.
192 sections of damaged terra cotta were replaced on the century’s facade in 1934. the cornice was removed and interior modified in the 1950’s, when it was occupied by a bank. the original staircase remains intact however.
jenney’s fair building (to the right) was built in 1892 and demolished in 1984.
early 20th century real photo postcard (rppc) of adler and sullivan’s auditorium building (1889).
“remember the republic!” personalized real photo postcard from richard nickel
as of late, i’ve been buying any and all post cards pertaining to first chicago school buildings, sullivan’s “jewel boxes,” and company trade cards that fabricated the materials for these buildings. enlarging and printing them for use with building artifact displays provides context and/or enhances the narrative.
“this beautiful residence…” they loved it for the land. comical.
real photo post card (rppc) of the non-extant 19th century south side chicago warner hotel. still researching architect and build date. i know for certain it’s not clinton warren, but looks similar to his hotels (e.g., lakota, metropole, lexington, etc).
the hotel and annex had 300 rooms, with 200 equipped with private bathrooms. the hotel – which wasn’t known as warner until 1901 – housed the popular warner cafe located on street level. it was converted into hotel and apartments in 1911, with daily rates beginning at a dollar or a buck and a half with bathroom. weekly and permanent rates were offered at discount.
architect louis h. sullivan died penniless at the warner in his room on april 24th, 1924. no documents have surfaced indicating which room he occupied. sullivan received his mail at cliff dwellers or the american terra cotta company.
real photo postcard (rppc) of schmidt, garden, and martin’s michael reese hospital taken five years after it was built in 1907.
the hospital was demolished in 2010.
i did my best to save any and all “gardenesque” ornament from the building during its demolition. there was chatter that at the very least, the massive terra cotta frieze below the cornice would be saved. when i arrived, it was already in large chunks on the steps near the entrance. to make matters worse, hundreds of photos documenting the demolition, including structural features of the building were lost when my computer was stolen only a few days after taking the photos.
the speckled or”pulsichrome” glazed terra cotta was executed by the northwestern terra cotta company.
two real photo postcards (rppc) of louis h. sullivan’s national farmer’s bank (1907-08) located in owatonna, mn. the first postcard is dated 1908 and second 1918.
the 1908 postcard shows the original ornamental cast iron name and plaque (likely designed by elmslie, but has sullivan’s name on it) and burglar alarm located above the entrance.
the plaque was either removed or covered over by wells fargo sign (third image) and sullivan-designed alarm removed altogether.
original real photo post card (rppc) of mecca flats skylit interior atrium as it appeared in 1913. the image features one of the oversized ornamental cast iron fountains with pyramidal-shaped cage with ball top finial. the two hanging arc-lamps with clear glass globes were likely fabricated by adams-bagnall electric co., cleveland, oh. the crudely-written description and building address inked along bottom.
the intricately designed and finely executed cast iron balcony baluster was salvaged from mecca during its demolition in 1952 by speedway wrecking. mecca flats was designed as a hotel by architects willoughby j. edbrooke and franklin pierce burnham for world’s fair visitors. possibly fabricated by winslow brothers. the ornament’s original finish was either bower-barff or applied black enamel.
real photo post cards (rppc) of early 20th century residential streetscapes and a seldom seen photographic view of schmidt, garden, and martin’s michael reese hospital (1907, demolished 2010).
the other two show louis h. sullivan’s gage building (1899) as it appeared prior to the four additional stories added in 1902, and montgomery ward (also schmidt, garden, and martin) shortly after it opened in 1908.
seldom found real photo post card (rppc) of the non-extant 19th century south side chicago warner hotel (cannot recall build date, nor architect offhand). i know for certain it’s not clinton warren, but looks similar to his hotels (e.g., lakota, metropole, lexington, etc).
i believe the hotel and annex had 300 rooms, with 200 equipped with private bathrooms. the hotel – which wasn’t known as warner until 1901 – housed the popular warner cafe located on street level. it was converted into hotel and apartments in 1911, with daily rates beginning at a dollar or a buck and a half with bathroom. weekly and permanent rates were offered at discount.
architect louis h. sullivan died penniless at the warner in his room on april 24th, 1924. no documents have surfaced indicating which room he occupied. sullivan received his mail at cliff dwellers or the american terra cotta company.
real photo postcard (rppc) of louis h. sullivan’s national farmer’s bank (1907-08) shortly after it was built in 1908. the bank building is located in owatonna, mn.
real photo postcard (rppc) of louis h. sullivan’s national farmer’s bank (1907-08) located in owatonna, mn. postmarked 1911.
real photo post cards (rppc) of louis h. sullivan’s national farmer’s bank of owatonna, shortly after it was completed in 1908.
the bank’s ornament (including murals) was designed by sullivan, george elmslie, louis millet, and oskar gross.
the cast bronze and iron elements were executed by the winslow brothers. the richly colored exterior and interior terra cotta was fabricated by the american terra cotta company.
both the terra cotta and metalwork was modeled by kristian schneider.
when the bank’s interior was renovated in the 1940’s, some of the original ornament was destroyed, including the bronze signage, teller cages, and freestanding electroliers mounted along the brick walls above the offices, vault, and tellers.
early 20th century real photo post card (rppc) of adler and sullivan’s victoria hotel (1892-93). the hotel was destroyed by fire in 1961 and demolished shortly after.
sections of the richly foliated exterior staff (e.g., column capital segments and frieze panels) were saved by richard nickel and charlie gregerson during demolition.
the three-story hotel was located on the northwest corner of illinois and halsted streets, chicago heights, ills.
original real photo postcard (rppc) of a two-story 19th century wood-framed chicago cottage taken in the early 20th century. note the pediment window hoods with fret-sawn scrolls, bracketed cornice and decorative oculus.
by the 1920s-1930s i’m sure this cottage or boarding house was stripped of its exterior ornament and wood clapboard covered over in asphalt siding, which at the time, was a popular renovation alternative to painting or replacing weathered wood siding. too bad.
rare real photo postcard (rppc) of midland terra cotta’s factory complex as it appeared in 1912.
recently acquired original real photo postcard (rppc) advertising eight newly-constructed early 20th century brick worker cottages built by or for real estate agent and developer, ward t. huston of huston and company, chicago, ills.
from what i can see, the brick cottages were built largely devoid of exterior ornament. i was surprised to see that the turned porch railings and ball finial newel posts were made using painted wood versus the more common cast and wrought iron railings and newels found on most 19th and early 20th century cottages.
original real photo postcard (rppc) of a 19th century two-story south side chicago clapboard residence with white picket wood fence and occupants standing at entrance beneath porch.
verso: “…it seems hard to get used to it, but in some parts of the city the names of streets are changed and that is lots worse.”
chicago’s street numbering system was changed in 1908-09.
original real photo post card (rppc) of mecca flats (1892) exterior courtyard as it appeared in 1912. the apartment complex was designed by architects willoughby j. edbrooke and franklin pierce burnham. mecca flats was demolished by speedway wrecking in 1952 to make way for crown hall at iit.