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historically important chicago street and park light fixtures latest additions to the bldg. 51 museum

recently acquired for the bldg. 51 collection/museum are a pair of remarkable 1920's exterior light fixtures, discovered in a remodeled stairway leading down to lower wacker west of michigan avenue. the exterior sconces were originally installed at the lincoln park zoo.

 

though the large globes are not original (they were replaced time and again), they sit atop the original decorative prairie style cast bronze bases, and greatly complement the vertical fixtures with a brightly colored green patina - weathered from their time outdoors, when they were likely affixed to a street post or bracket on the north side of chicago (e.g., lake shore drive, boulevards or lincoln park zoo). the early 20th century fixtures of this type were specifically designed for lincoln park and later used in various north side parks as well as around the downtown area.

 

based on its design elements and location, this ornamental globe light may very well have been designed by john l. hamilton, who had a hand in such urban design elements during his career as architect for the lincoln park commissioners from 1907 to 1911, and as member of the perkins, fellows & hamilton firm until 1927, (later, the firm of hamilton, fellows & nedved from 1927-1934). he notably designed the lion house in the lincoln park zoo.

in regarding the use of these early 1920’s fixtures it is also interesting to think about what has replaced them, and how the ambiance of downtown has shifted with updated lighting technology. the 1950's brought about the first of several noticeable lighting changes, replacing incandescent bulbs with brighter mercury-vapor bulbs that in some areas gave off a green or blue cast. lower wacker in particular was once known for its emerald glow, the result of green-tinted 6’ long fluorescent bulbs lining the streetway. by the 1970’s, much of the city had shifted to sodium vapor lighting, which created a pervasive orange glow, especially downtown and along lake shore drive. yet again, in the past several decades, replacement of outdated lighting with newer LED lighting, has led to bluer-hued light and another dramatic shift in the urban palette.

though they they will never be seen as in their original context, fixtures like these are artifacts of another infrastructure, that had bearing on the city's sense of design in public space, its visibility, and even its overall hue (through its form and function). even before rewiring, the impressive 3-foot tall lights will help to more vividly imagine the identity of chicago streets of nearly a century ago.

1921



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