This area near the Lincoln Park Zoo was originally built in 1889 as an ornate, Victorian style garden.  Its pool was artificially heated.  Over the years, it was overrun with frogs and invasive species of plants.

     In 1936, Alfred Caldwell was hired by WPA to restore the overgrown, neglected garden. His plan was to create a natural Midwest ecosystem on this 2.7 acre site.  It was to resemble a lush area of the Illinois Valley.  After his budget was cut, he used his personal money to complete the project.  He imported native plants from Sauk County, Wisconsin.

     By the 1950’s, migratory birds had claimed the area.  The Lincoln Park Zoo converted the area into a rookery.  The area became overrun.

     The Lincoln Park Conservatory decided to restore the area to Caldwell’s original plan.  The Lily Pool was reopened in 2007.

 

Belden

 

This house is located at 6205 N. Sheridan Rd., Edgewater Neighborhood, Chicago.    It is known as the Joseph Downey House or Berger Park South Mansion.    A building permit for this house was obtained in 1906.  Construction  was completed in 1906.  The architect was William Carbys Zimmerman.   The contractor was M.F.  Powers.  Costs were approximately $20,000.

The building style is American Four Square.    This included cubic forms, hip roofs, and overhanging eaves.

The building is 2 and one half stories high.  The exterior is tan Roman bricks with grey limestone trim.

Also included is a coach house with similar color brick and Four Square style.

Joseph Downey  the first owner was born in Ireland.  He immigrated to Chicago  at the age of  12.   At an early age, he worked as a brick layer.  He became partners with builder James McGraw.  He eventually became a successful building contractor on his own.  One of his well known buildings was the Illinois Central Railroad Station.

From the 1940’s to the 1980’s, this house was used by the Viatorian Catholic order as a residence for its novitiates.   The order sold the house to the Chicago Park District in the 1980’s.     The Downey House and the adjacent Gunder House became part of Berger Park.

This house is located at 6219 N. Sheridan Road Edgewater Neighborhood, Chicago

Gunder House

Essanay Studios were founded by George Spor and William Anderson.  The operation was based on Chicago first at 496 Wells Street and then at 1333-45 Argyle Street.  The studios were in Chicago from 1908-1917 and the relocated west.

The Argyle Building is now part of Saint Augustine College.  In the basement are two vaults used to store the highly flammable nitrate based film.

Essanay Studios