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chicago's 19th century housing stock continues to diminish year after year

another year of new residential development has once again left us to mourn the loss of hundreds of 19th and early 20th century house casualties leaving in its wake a quickly eroding historic fabric that has given chicago's neighborhoods visual character, identity, and a seemingly unbreakable link to the past. while i may feel tied down by discouragement and defeat, i still make an effort to make a visual record of these portals to the past before they are erased and replaced with new construction. gone, but bot forgotten... 

comments from previous posts:

on my way to shop, i noticed 1214 w. hubbard is being demolished (from the back). the well-maintained red brick chicago two-flat - incised with joliet limestone headers and original stamped tin knisely bracketed cornice, will likely be gone by the end of the week. 

amazingly, the original ornamental cast iron newels and wrought iron railing (fabricated by the dearborn foundry) is largely intact. i'm truly in disbelief... and so, here i am, devoting a great deal of my time - year after year - documenting the death of 19th century chicago architecture.

 

 

 

 

the late 19th century two-flat located at 1214 w. hubbard was reduced to rubble yesterday afternoon. when i arrived, i found the joliet limestone window hoods on the ground broken. the ornamental dearborn foundry wrought iron railing flanked by "chicago style" ball finial newels were scrapped. a complete loss.

meanwhile, in a nearby neighborhood:

two-story 1890's chicago residence featuring joliet limestone window hoods, well-maintained stamped tin knisley cornice, and original chamfered edge paneled entrance doors and surround will be demolished in the coming weeks - maybe sooner... 
the surrounding buildings were likely built around the same time. in addition to losing the house, the neighborhood's historic fabric will be greatly compromised - inviting the possibility of more tear downs. the address is 859 n. marshfield ave.

19th century two-flat undergoing demolition

well-maintained facade with tin cornice and joliet limestone window hoods

likely built between 1885-1895

detail of the wood corbel atop the pilaster dividing the two doors leading to each unit.

 

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