09 Dec rare collection of albumen prints featuring notable 19th century near south side mansions
a seldom seen collection of original 19th century albumen prints of historically important mansions designed by notable chicago architects. the majority of the images feature houses (many demolished during land clearance) on the near south side, including prairie avenue.
original james w. taylor albumen print of marshall field jr. mansion (s.s. beman, 1884) located at 1919 s. prairie avenue. the image was taken prior to façade alterations by d.h. burnham & co. in 1902.
courtesy of private collection.
original james w. taylor albumen print of burnham and root’s thomas dent house (completed, 1881) as it appeared shortly after it was built. the non-extant house was located at 1823 prairie avenue.
image courtesy of private collection.
albert levy albumen print of the sydney kent house nearing completion. note the tradesmen or contractors in the window, the entrance boarded up, the sawhorse and surrounding woodwork located below the bay window, a sign posted on the facade identifying the builders, and art glass windows have yet to be installed. the extant house was completed in 1883 by burnham and root.
image courtesy of ryerson and burnham, art institute of chicago.
albert levy albumen print of the sydney kent house nearing completion. note the tradesmen or contractors in the window, the entrance boarded up, the sawhorse and surrounding woodwork located below the bay window, a sign posted on the facade identifying the builders, and art glass windows have yet to be installed. the extant house was completed in 1883 by burnham and root.
image courtesy of bldg. 51 archive.
james w. taylor albumen print of the david a. kohn residence, located at 3340 s. michigan avenue. architect and year house was constructed is not known.
courtesy of private collection.
james w. taylor albumen print of the edwin pardridge house designed by wheelock and clay in 1886. the non-extant residence was located at 2808 s. prairie avenue.
pardridge made his fortune in the stock market. he also owned dry goods stores in chicago and buffalo.
image courtesy of private collection.
original james w. taylor albumen print of burnham and root’s joseph sears house completed in 1882. the prairie avenue house was later altered by architect arthur heun in 1902. demolished in 1967.
courtesy of private collection.
rare james w. taylor albumen print of burnam and root’s ozro clapp residence as it appeared shortly after its completion in 1877.
the non-extant home with bracketed hipped roof and imposing portico, was located at 2120 south prairie avenue.
clapp was a successful stockbroker with offices in chamber of commerce building (1872-1890, cochrane and miller, architects).
image courtesy of private collection.
rare james w. taylor albumen image of cobb and frost’s richardsonian romanesque style o.r. keith house as it appeared around 1889. the house to the north is h.h. richardson’s glessner house (1887).
the house was demolished in 1968.
courtesy of a private collection.
only known image (taken by james w. taylor) of the charles m. henderson house (1873). the italianate style mansion with mansard roof and intricate cast iron cresting or “widow’s walk,” was located at 1816 s. prairie avenue. architect unknown. demolished around 1926. burnham and root’s wheeler house (1884-1968) is shown to the north.
albumen print courtesy of private collection.
original james w. taylor albumen print of burnam and root’s augustus byram house (left), completed in 1881. the house was located at 2909 s. michigan avenue.
the house on the right was built for william a. fuller (of palmer, fuller & company) in 1889 by architect w.w. clay. fuller’s richardsonian romanesque house was demolished in 1921.
courtesy of private collection.
original james w. taylor 19th century albumen print of the joseph g. coleman house (extant) designed by cobb and frost in 1886. the romanesque revival sandstone house is located at 1811 south prairie avenue, chicago, ills.
courtesy of private collection.
rare james w. taylor albumen image of solomon s. beman’s charles w. brega house, completed in 1885. brega was a prominent member of the chicago board of trade at the time his house was being built at 2816 s. michigan ave., chicago, ills.
the three-story bedford limestone house was built at a cost of 40,000. as the sign on the front door indicates, the interior furnishing were done by carsley & east mfg. co., known for outfitting several prominent homes with millwork, mantels, etc.
brega’s mansion was later sold to otto c. lightner, publisher of hobbies magazine in 1933. the house became his own personal museum, stuffed with architectural artifacts from buildings and mansions as they were being demolished over the years.
ther house was demolished in 1967 during urban renewal.
image courtesy of private collection.