17 Jul

Posted at 15:30h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, Salvages by

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

Posted at 12:52h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, Salvages by

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

Posted at 09:30h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions by

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

Posted at 12:01h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous by

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

Posted at 23:45h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, Salvages by

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

Posted at 10:45h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, Sales and Promotions, Salvages by

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

Posted at 14:38h in Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, New Products, Sales and Promotions, Salvages by

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

Posted at 13:16h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, Salvages by

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...

29 Jun

Posted at 14:13h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, Salvages by

the following sequence of images - with the exception of lintel ornament, and a deeply incised keystone recovered from the dumpster - capture the long and painful facadectomy of a milwaukee avenue commercial building (1875). its face had been adorned with the distinctive yellow-hued joliet limestone that...

29 Jun

Posted at 08:28h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, Salvages by

  across the alley, jst a stone's throw from the john kent russell house (1855) stood two houses facing aberdeen street, or curtiss street at the time of their construction and/or move to the block. when these side-by-side houses landed in my daily demolition notifications,...

22 Jun

Posted at 16:06h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, Salvages by

unearthing detritus from the lives of 19th century chicagoans often means coming across mundane fragments of glass, bone and broken bottles. sometimes, though, even a shard of glass or a broken object can prove to be an exceptional oddity- evidence of victorian customs or a...

21 Jun

Posted at 12:32h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, New Products by

an unexpected acquisition was made this week, in the form of two historically important and all original sullivan-designed, white glazed ornamental terra cotta lintels from the facade of the sullivan center (formerly known as the carson pirie scott building company). the landmark commercial building was...

21 Jun

Posted at 10:34h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, New Products, Salvages by

when i got wind that a late 19th century two-story brick commercial building was set to be demolished, i modified my schedule immediately to allow for a visit to the building. sadly, the structure waiting to be wiped away from van buren street sat abandoned, exhibiting a high degree of...

15 Jun

Posted at 14:02h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous by

an incredible find was made earlier this week during demolition in lincoln park, as heneghan wrecking company tore back the walls of a c. 1927 grocery store. while the structure was turned to rubble, a long hidden "ghost sign" was unveiled on the neighboring building, having...

13 Jun

Posted at 15:21h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous by

with research ongoing, it is nevertheless clear that only a few single-story brick workers cottages built within the great chicago fire's "burnt district" still remain. the rare survivor, built shortly after the city began its unimaginable rise from the ruins, is now, 144 years later,...

12 Jun

Posted at 12:37h in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, New Products, Salvages by

when i arrived at the partially demolished house, i felt relaxed and more than prepared to get lost in "the zone" of traveling back in time, carefully analyzing and deconstructing - at least in my head - the fully exposed 19th century wood-framed cottage. since i was the...

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