13 Jul unearthing long-forgotten remnants of william le baron jenney’s isabella building buried under parking lot that replaced it

images of elevator drums (two), foundation grillage, structural riveted joint columns, buff-colored terra cotta (northwestern terra cotta), and floor slabs unearthed during excavation (i.e., potholing) in preparation for new construction erected on site of parking lot that replaced jenney’s isabella building (1893). 

ABOVE BROUND:

BELOW GROUND:

Morse elevator

all images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bldg. 51 archive. all rights reserved. 

FURTHER READING:

JENNEY’S ISABELLA BUILDING ELEVATOR FRAGMENT AND DOORKNOB SHED LIGHT ON EARLY USE OF CAST ALUMINUM AS ORNAMENT