Ma

This building is located at 75 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago.

The building was constructed in 1928.   The architect was Herbert Hugh Riddle.  It is 521 feet tall.  There  is a 25 story  rectangular box like structure.  Atop this is  an 18 story octagonal top.

The style is neo gothic with terra cotta exterior.     It is the most slender high rise in Chicago.  It was the headquarters of the Mather Stock Car Company.  This was a builder of rail cars for transporting life stock

 

After years of disrepair, by the 1990’s,   the top 4 story top  cupola was so deteriorated that it was eventually demolished.    In 2000, Masterworks Development Corporation acquired the structure and undertook a multiyear complete renovation.

The lower portion of  the building  currently houses the River Hotel.    The octagonal  upper stories are currently occupied by Club Quarters–a chain of membership corporate accommodations.

    This building is located at 35 E. Wacker Drive , Chicago.  This building had many names during its history –Pure Oil Building, North American Life Building, and the Jeweler’s Building.  Construction on this structure extended from 1925-7.  Architects on the project were Joachim G.Giaver and Frederick P. Dinkelberg.  Main contractor was Starrett-Dilks Company.  

     Building style is neoclassical. It is 40 stories ( 523 feet).  Structure is currently under renovation by Goettsch  Partners.

This house is located at 1328 Sherwin Avenue Chicago in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Construction was started on July 1, 1908. The house was built by architect Walter Burley Griffin. The building was built for J. Benjamin an auditor. The contractors were Henry Beutler and Evan D. Evans. Construction costs were approximately $6000.

The architect Walter Burley Griffin previously had worked under Frank Lloyd Wright for 5 years. He established his own practice in 1906.

The house style is Prairie School. It features horizontally oriented design with wide projecting eaves; ribbons of casement windows that are parts of the walls; low pitched pyramidal roof and a low substantial chimney.

The Moulton family lived in the house for 3 years; it was sold in 1911 to Jules Raymond, a manufacturer. They lived in the house until 1914. The next owner was Thomas Proctor.

There were several subsequent owners. They made several renovations including: removing the original woodwork, door hardware, lighting and planters and changing the interior finished.

The current owner is Betsy Downs, an architect. She is seeking to restore the house to its original appearance.

This is a 24 story building on at 307 N. Michigan Avenue. It was built in 1924. The architect was K.M. Vitzthum and Company. It was originally was known as the Bell Building.

This building is located at 3325 N. Southport Avenue Chicago.

The building that is now Southport Lanes and Billiards was originally constructed in the early 1900’s.  It was named the Nook.    It was one of the many Schlitz tied taverns constructed  in the Chicago area.

In 1922, the name was changed to  Southport Lanes.  It featured 4 hand operated bowling lanes.

At some time during the 1920’s, the building was converted to a speakeasy with an upper floor brothel.   After prohibition ended, a new room was constructed east of the bar room.   Originally, the new space was used as a gambling facility with direct lines to race tracks across the country.    In the 1950’s, it was converted to a beer hall for rent.  Currently, it is used as a billiard room.

The Southport Lanes were renovated in  1991 and in 2003.