27 Sep latest john vinci photographic images of burnham and root’s first regiment armory building and office quarters

john vinci images of burnham and root’s first regiment armory building (1891) during its demolition in 1967. when time permits, i will include all of vinci’s kodachrome slides, which were taken around the same time when both vinci and richard nickel were documenting the armory’s demolition from beginning to end.

the exterior consisted of massive 35-foot walls comprised of rusticated or rock-faced michighan brownstone. the distinctive small slotted windows wrapped around the corner turrets were protected with wrought iron basket grating that still existed at the time of demolition. 
the original drill room floor was comprised of polished black oak. interior company quarters and officers’ rooms were supported by three-hinged braced trusses and steel cables suspended from the roof. the “hanging” upper stories were equipped with bathrooms, banquet halls, kitchen, serving rooms, and lockers.

vinci documented a few of these rooms that hadn’t been altered much since the time it was built. the images of an officers’ lounge with quartered oak wood-paneled walls, bench seating, and a monogrammed desk or console are the most compelling in my opinion.

courtesy of ryerson and burnham, art institute of chicago.