09 Jan exterior photographic survery of george kingsley’s jackson storage and van company warehouse located at 5951 west madison street, chicago, il.
exterior photographic survery (ornament detail) of george kingsley’s jackson storage and van company warehouse (1921), located at 5951 west madison street, chicago, il.
the sullivanesque style white glazed terra cotta was fabricated by the midland terra cotta company, chicago, il..
the jackson storage and van company warehouse was constructed in 1927; however, the enterprise itself was founded earlier in 1903 by thomas a. jackson (1875–1958). initially established as the chicago and western suburban express company, the term “express” reflected the prevailing nomenclature for moving businesses of that era. jackson’s company, along with many contemporaries in chicago, utilized horse-drawn wagons to transport goods—including industrial, commercial, and domestic items—over short distances. for longer journeys, freight rail was the sole alternative for moving cargo.
jackson entered the moving industry at an opportune time. the express business evolved significantly during the 1910s, expanding its scope from household moving to include storage services. multiple societal changes combined to fuel this growth: increased urbanization led to higher population density and smaller residential units in cities like chicago, necessitating novel approaches for managing household furnishings. at the same time, economic prosperity enabled consumers to acquire and accumulate more possessions, and greater social mobility resulted in more frequent relocations. additional factors, such as extended international travel and rising divorce rates, further contributed to the demand for temporary storage of household goods.
in 1924, arthur reebie, a prominent figure in chicago’s moving industry, observed that furniture storage had become a matter of convenience rather than necessity, attributable to changes in living arrangements, travel habits, and family structures. technological advancements, notably the introduction of internal combustion engines and widespread development of paved roads, revolutionized the work of moving professionals. automobiles and motorized vans provided enhanced flexibility for household moves, increasingly supplanting rail transport. by world war i, trucks had demonstrated their effectiveness in moving large quantities of goods rapidly. nevertheless, infrastructure limitations persisted; for example, in 1920, only 56 miles of the 729-mile route between indianapolis and new york city were paved, resulting in a two-week journey by truck.
after twenty years in business, jackson rebranded his operation in 1923 as the jackson storage and van co., reflecting both the addition of storage services and the adoption of motorized vehicles. the initial warehouse, whose age and builder remain unknown, was situated on w. 22nd street—later renamed cermak road in 1933 in honor of mayor anton j. cermak. this location was strategically selected near developing middle- and working-class neighborhoods, aligning with industry norms by situating the business adjacent to its customer base.
jackson storage and van company’s service offerings included packing and preparing household goods, local and interstate transportation, and secure storage. by 1927, following extensive reconstruction of the original warehouse, the company operated six additional facilities across chicago’s west side and western suburbs, including the classical revival building at 5951 w. madison st., the art deco warehouse at 112 e. burlington ave. in la grange, and other locations in maywood, oak park, and west garfield park. these buildings, distinguished by architectural variety and the company’s branding, conveyed security and professionalism, which was reinforced in advertising materials.
thomas a. jackson became a leading figure in the national moving industry over his five-decade career. in 1928, he co-founded allied van lines, a cooperative enabling collaboration among moving companies nationwide and mitigating inefficiencies associated with empty return trips. he also held leadership roles as president of the chicago movers association and illinois warehouseman’s association, and vice president of the national furniture warehousemen’s association. upon jackson’s passing in 1958, company ownership transitioned to its employees under bill conklin, who continued jackson’s legacy of industry leadership. today, jackson moving & storage operates out of suburban naperville.
