17 Jan richman brothers building salvage revisited 15 years later
rediscovered images from the richman brothers downtown chicago department store building salvaged in july of 2007. the building was formerly known as the bee hive dry goods store constructed in 1884 by the architectural firm of adler and sullivan.
traces of the original facade were wiped away when in 1929, when the building underwent an extensive remodel or “facadectomy” consisting of a glazed polychrome enameled terra cotta curtain wall and/or facade fashioned in typical art deco design motifs. the entire terra cotta cornice was removed shortly after the discovery of structural instability and/or severe corrosion of steel support members.
small selection of polychromed terra cotta ornament salvaged from building cornice:
