08 Aug well-maintained 19th century italianate rowhouse dissected through demolition
two words: senseless and stupid. post demolition: ...
01 Aug the dark history of “harpo studios” overshadowed by its contemporary use as a tv studio
a demolition that has recently drawn much media attention is underway on the near west side, where harpo studios will be razed to make way for a mcdonald’s corporate headquarters. the studio complex, which is often discussed of late in terms of its occupancy for...
30 Jul a seemingly mundane key fob tied to a richly historic demolished chicago hotel
Posted at 16:35h
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions
fifty years ago a sunset pink structure with towering stepped profile crumbled to the ground beside lake michigan. under pressure of bankruptcy and the promise of new development, the edgewater beach hotel abruptly closed its doors in the far northern neighborhood of chicago, only to...
28 Jul additional artifacts from vincent formusa’s “time capsule” found within his shop on grand avenue documented
Posted at 04:03h
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, New Products, Salvages
as covered in a prior post, last week brought about the salvage of a century-old three-flat commercial masonry structure located near grand and halsted, set to be demolished in the near future. the facade belies somewhat its historic character as residence and production space of the...
27 Jul imminent demolition for the harry hale waterman-designed figural terra cotta “eagles building”
[gallery ids="22584,22583"] another historic structure is threatened with impending demolition at the corner of broadway and sheridan, an iconic art deco building with white molded cement eagles protruding from the cornice and lending the building its colloquial namesake, the "eagles building." the early 20th century harry hale...
26 Jul demolition looms over turn of century henry j. schlacks-designed st. boniface church
i revisited st. boniface after spending the afternoon bouncing back and forth between the demolition of harpo studios and of a mid-19th century cottage across the street from my shop. despite the local coverage over st. boniface's fate (with recent developments suggesting demolition is imminent),...
26 Jul late 1870’s combination brick and frame two-story boarding house punctuated with incised keystones reduced to rubble
i'm never terribly thrilled when a demolition bleeds into the weekend, especially with family in town, but that's the price you pay if you want to remain committed to documenting the death of 19th century chicago at any and all costs. the house set to...
25 Jul an afternoon photographing “portals to the past” in milwaukee, wisc.
[caption id="attachment_22931" align="alignleft" width="2048"] hand-painted wood sign with shadowed lettering, jennaro brothers produce, milwaukee, wisc. the vacant building was purchased for redevelopment.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_22932" align="alignleft" width="1492"] dock 4, john pritzlaff hardware company, milwaukee, wisc. founded in 1850, closed in 1958.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_22930" align="alignleft" width="2048"] detail (figural zinc...
20 Jul demolition of late 19th century building once housing chicago’s oldest italian food importer weeks away
Posted at 23:40h
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, Salvages
near the intersection of grand and halsted, demolition was recently handed to a 19th century building which, until relatively recently, housed chicago’s oldest italian food importer -- a family business that operated from 710 w. grand for over a century. in documenting and salvaging the...
19 Jul discovery of downtown chicago dump provides insight into the lives of mid-19th century chicagoans
Posted at 15:52h
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, New Products, Salvages
a recent dig site has proven to be a fruitful source for 19th century bottles and artifacts. the site, along the north branch of the chicago river, is unassuming, sitting in a dead space between a glass and steel skyscraper and an industrial warehouse undergoing extensive...
17 Jul victorian-era “schmidt” cottage and former organ workshop on evergreen street slated for demolition
Posted at 15:30h
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, Salvages
though it isn't the first time they've been threatened with demolition, two late 19th century buildings within chicago's downtown area, at 317 and 321 evergreen street, received a death sentence this month. before they are reduced to rubble, however, i was able to document the exterior...
15 Jul yet another huron street workers cottage in west town succumbs to the ruthlessness of the wrecking ball
as i document existing wood-framed cottages around the city for an ongoing study, i continually find myself gravitating to structures that are outside the parameters of my research-- buildings that hide in the shadow of newly-built residential homes. when i spot these, i approach as closely as i possibly...
15 Jul late 19th century queen anne-style “edward uihlein building” in the west loop inches closer to demolition
Posted at 09:30h
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions
the glow of a stormy sky reflected the situation perfectly: at the intersection of lake, ogden and loomis, a queen anne style structure (and long-time residence of the italian restaurant "la luce") is slated to be reduced to a pile of rubble. the ornate four-story building was constructed...
12 Jul excavation of two mid-19th century wood frame cottages on aberdeen yields hundreds of artifacts
within the past month, demolition commenced and then quickly finished on two wood framed cottages located at 455 and 457 aberdeen street (just west of the site where the john kent russell house once stood) in west town. since the excavated lots have been emptied...
12 Jul post-fire two-story commercial building in heart of old town faced with demolition
over a month ago, the existing building standing at 1443 n. wells street (in the heart of "old town") landed on the demolition delay hold list, a sure sign it will be wrecked and replaced when the "hold" is released. the multi-story commercial masonry building occupying a single lot with garage...
06 Jul another historically important post-fire home within the “burnt district” threatened with demolition
a multi-story masonry building at 1756 north cleveland avenue was placed on the demolition delay list just last month, meaning its death sentence is likely imminent. the white painted brick structure is a classic italianate style building, with bracketed cornice and ornate rounded window hoods surrounding unusual...
03 Jul thousands of artifacts unearthed behind an 1860’s-era building once housing a saloon
Posted at 10:45h
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, Sales and Promotions, Salvages
i recently detailed the partial demolition of a pre-fire, multi-story brick structure once occupied by nicholas eckhardt, whose family lived in the building while operating a saloon on the street level during the post-civil war era and on. after the wreckers had torn down the rear...
01 Jul urban remains launches new website – many more changes to follow in coming months
Posted at 14:38h
in Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, New Products, Sales and Promotions, Salvages
as of this morning (june 1, 2016) urban remains finally launched its new website, a more elegantly designed and technologically advanced platform, utilizing the latest ecommerce software available today. if you have any questions, concerns, or comments please feel free to contact a sales associate by...
30 Jun historically important pre-fire chicago saloon in west town partially demolished
Posted at 13:16h
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, Salvages
a pre-fire building that has stood on chicago avenue for 149 years is now undergoing a partial demolition and redevelopment, bringing changes which have already significantly altered the existing building. the 3-story red brick facade has been shuttered for some time and notably suffered the...
30 Jun one of chicago’s oldest cottages, replete with hewn beams, discovered through its untimely demise
i've spent hours pouring over j.t. palmatary's illustrated "birdseye view" of chicago as it looked in 1857. in fact, i had the entire map blown up so large, i had to use a truck to deliver it to my downtown office. although it is remarkably detailed, especially in...