Park View Hotel Venice ,Fl

Park View Hotel was built in 1926-7. Built by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.  It was located on the 300 bloc of Venice Avenue. Florida Medical Center, winter headquarters of  KMI in 1932, Hospital for Army Air Base.  The architect was the firm of Walker and Gillette.  The building style was Northern Italian Renaissance.

     There were 100 rooms. 3 floors.  Ground floor designed for commercial use.  There was a space for a large restaurant and 16 shops.  Upper floors housed the guest rooms.

     The building was a steel reinforced concrete block structure finished with stucco.

     

Chicago Bath House 1914 W. Division Street Chicago, Il

Chicago Bath House Chicago

     This Bath house is located at 1914 West Division Street Chicago.   It originally  opened in 1906.  It is a 2 story building.  The first floor contains the banya hot room, steam rooms, cold plunges, the restaurant and bar area.  The second room is for private services including massage therapy and sleeping rooms

Chicago Bath House

     The exterior of the building features  primarily Chicago common brick with plain features.  The roof is flat it consists of multiple layers of bitumen alternating with reinforced fabric.  The roof edge is defined by brick parapet wall capped with clay tiles or stone.   A skylight provides natural light.

Same as above

     The building style is utilitarian brick commercial style. The architects are not definitely known.  They may be Levy and Klein.

     The bath house was originally known as the Kaplan Russian Turkish Bath .  The owners were Jewish. The facility served Eastern European Immigrants. It became a cultural hub in the neighborhood.

     The Colluci family owned and operated the facility for multiple decades. They  maintained the traditional atmosphere of the facility.

    The Bath House is one of oldest continuously operating bath houses in Chicago .  It served as a secluded off the book locations for politicians and mobsters to conduct their business.

Noel State Bank Building 1601 N. Milwaukee Ave Chicago

Noel State Bank Building

     The Noel State Bank building is located at 1601 North Milwaukee Ave Chicago. The bank was founded in 1905 by Joseph R. Noel.   The bank building was built in 1919 -1921. The builder was Gardner  C. Coughlin. He was also the architect for the building. Construction costs were $400,000.

     The building style was neoclassical. Building exterior is clad entirely in ornamental terra cotta. There are large windows divided by engaged pilasters topped with Corinthian Capitals.

     More recently the building was used by Walgreens Drug Store and Barnes and Noble Book Store

Super Dawg Drive In 6363 N. Milwaukee Ave Chicago

Super Dawg In

     Super Dawg In is an iconic family drive in restaurant at Milwaukee, Devon and Nagle Avenues in  Norwood Park Chicago.  It was founded in 1948 by Maurie and Flaurie Berman. It is known for its Chicago style hot dogs served on a poppy seed bun.  They originally created the restaurant to fund their education.

     They created a unique car hop experience featuring hot dogs and custom cut fries.  They are famous for their 12 foot Maurie and Flaurie Statues.

     They have opened a second location in Wheeling.

     They initially opened the stand to be a temporary  summer venture, it quickly turned into a year venture.  It was named after popular heroic comic characters of the 1940’s.  The restaurant is now being managed by the family of the original owners.

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Old Polish National Alliance Headquarters

Polish National Alliance Headquarters

     The Old Headquarters of the Polish National Alliance was located on 1514-1520 West Division Street ,Chicago.   The building was designed by Joseph Slopkowski.  It is a 2 story building.

Historic Plaque

     There is a raised basement.  The exterior on two sides was clad in Ashley limestone wth carved limestone detailing.  2 other sides are clad with unornamented brick.  There is a flat roof.

Old Headquarters of the Polish National Alliance

    The building was built by the Polish National Alliance.  The building style was art deco.  Construction costs were $200,000

     The Polish National Alliance occupied the building from 1938 to 1976.  It is currently being used Studio Gang Architects

Laramie State Bank Chicago

Laramie State Bank Chicago

     The Laramie State Bank Building is located at 5200 W. Chicago Avenue Chicago. The bank was founded in.1924.  The existing building was completed in 1928 to 1929

     The building is 3 stories.  The style is Art Deco.  The facade is ornate poly chrome featuring motifs of industry and wealth. Included was squirrels, coins, and historic workers.

Laramie State Bank Chicago

     The architects were Myer and Cook.

Laramie State Bank Chicago

     The bank closed on August 16, 1930.  From 1936 -1946 FHA used the building for offices.   1946 to 1991 used by Citizen National Bank.  Bank seized by federal regulators in 1991.  1990’s –2012 used by various tenants including restaurant/deli, furniture store, and a banquet hall.  2012 Building foreclosed.  It has remained since