mobile icon
Toggle Nav
My Cart
Close
  • Menu
  • Setting

2018 Year in Review

as 2018 draws to a close, i culled the urban remains/bldg. 51 blog post archive to create a carefully curated collection of information, images, and acquisitions capping a year of relentless, unforgiving, and exhaustive work. the creation of this ever-expanding american architectural history database - revolving around 19th and early 20th century chicago construction materials and methods - has slowly morphed into my life's work - for now. the links are listed below in chronological order.  work from previous years - offered in similar fashion is included. 

LIMITED-EDITION SOFTBOUND "LOST AND FOUND" BOOK CHRONICLING DISCOVERY OF CONGRESS THEATER'S HIDDEN OBJECTS IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

FORGOTTEN COLLECTION OF HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT 1871 CHICAGO FIRE DOCUMENTS ADDED TO BLDG. 51 MUSEUM ARCHIVE

DOCUMENTING CHICAGO'S ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT IN 2017

DIGITIZATION OF THE BLDG. 51 MUSEUM REFERENCE LIBRARY TOP PRIORITY IN 2018

BLDG. 51 MUSEUM 2017 ACQUISITION HIGHLIGHTS

DEMOLITION OF SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO CHURCH RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR

SHEDDING LIGHT ON LONG LOST ARTIFACTS RESCUED FROM COLUMBUS MEMORIAL AND ITS NEIGHBOR, THE VENETIAN BUILDING

FORMER HUMBOLDT GARAGE & AUTO SERVICE COMPANY BUILDING (1911) UNDERGOING DEMOLITION

CLARENCE HATZFELD'S SOUTH SIDE MASONIC TEMPLE (1921) UNDERGOING DEMOLITION, PART 1

CAST PLASTER COVE MOLDING FROM LOUIS SULLIVAN-DESIGNED ALBERT SULLIVAN RESIDENCE JOINS BLDG. 51 MUSEUM COLLECTION

D.H. BURNHAM'S CHICAGO MACHINERY EXCHANGE WAREHOUSE HANDED DEATH SENTENCE

CONTENTS FROM HUMBOLDT GARAGE & AUTO SERVICE BUILDING WALK-IN VAULT SAVED SHORTLY BEFORE ITS DEMOLITION

NEWLY DISCOVERED IMAGES OFFER A CLOSER LOOK AT RICHARD NICKEL SALVAGING GARRICK THEATER

UNUSUAL TIME CAPSULE EXTRACTED FROM BETHEL CHURCH (1905) DURING BUILDING'S DEMOLITION

A RELENTLESS FOCUS ON DIGITIZING IMAGES OF CHICAGO'S PAST A WELCOME CHANGE FROM DOCUMENTING BUILDING ORNAMENT

NEWLY DISCOVERED LOUIS H. SULLIVAN POLYCHROMED LIGHTOGRAPHED TIN STOVEBOARD JOINS BLDG. 51 MUSEUM COLLECTION

DEMOLITION NEARING ITS END ON CLARENCE HATZFELD'S SOUTH MASONIC TEMPLE BUILDING

CITY OF CHICAGO BUILDING TERRA COTTA: A VISUAL STUDY OF ORNAMENT FROM THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE TO THE GREAT DEPRESSION

REVISITING "UNEARTHING CHICAGO" IN 2018

NEWLY DISCOVERED PHOTOGRAPHS CAPTURE THE TRAGIC LOSS OF ADLER & SULLIVAN'S PILGRIM BAPTIST CHURCH

BLDG. 51 MUSEUM HOSTS IIT'S COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE PHD PROGRAM STUDENT FIELD TRIP

A PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF LOUIS H. SULLIVAN-DESIGNED BUILDING HARDWARE

BURNHAM'S LAST ARCHITECTURAL COMMISSION - THE CONTINENTAL BANK BUILDING - IS JUST A STANDING SHELL OF ITS FORMER SELF

DEVOTING TIME TO DOCUMENT CHICAGO'S ARCHITECTURE HAS PROVED CHALLENGING IN 2018

WITH DEMOLITION COMPLETE, DOCUMENTATION OF SOUTH SIDE MASONIC TEMPLE DRAWS TO A CLOSE

JOHN VINCI SLIDES OF CHICAGO'S PAST: THE FIRST OF SEVERAL POSTS COVERING THE DIGITIZING OF HIS EXTENSIVE ARCHIVE

HERMAN V. VON HOLST'S SOUTHSIDE CHICAGO PRAIRIE STYLE GAITAN BUILDING (1924) THREATENED WITH DEMOLITION

DEMYSTIFYING THE BOWER-BARFF PROCESS: AN ANALYSIS OF "RUST-PROOF" ORNAMENTAL IRON AND BUILDERS' HARDWARE

ANOTHER POST-FIRE CHICAGO RESIDENCE ON ORCHARD FACES WRECKING MACHINE

ORIGINAL 19TH CENTURY EDISON "HAIRPIN" FILAMENT MOLD BLOWN LAMPS FROM CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE TRADING ROOM

THE "WHITE CITY" LIVES ON THROUGH COMPANY THAT CONTRIBUTED TO ITS CONSTRUCTION

SEVERAL HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT ARTIFACTS, BOOKS AND EPHEMERA JOIN BLDG. 51 MUSEUM AND ARCHIVE IN 2018

VILLAGE THEATER'S POLYCHROME TERRA COTTA FACADE STAYS, BUT THE BUILDING'S AUDITORIUM GOES

DECONSTRUCTION OF 19TH CENTURY TWO-STORY FRAME STRUCTURE OFFERS RARE GLIMPSE AT ITS BUILDING METHODS AND MATERIALS

A SELECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS FROM RICHARD NICKEL AND JOHN VINCI 1960'S CONTACT PRINTS

HISTORIALLY IMPORTANT WINDOWS FROM BURNHAM & ROOT'S PALMER V. KELLOGG MANSION (1883) JOIN BLDG. 51 MUSEUM COLLECTION

A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE BUILDING ENTRANCE ARCH

KODACHROMATIC JOUNERY CHRONICLING THE DEATH OF ADLER & SULLIVAN'S CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE BUILDING IN 1972

LATEST INSTALLMENT OF DIGITIZED IMAGES FROM THE BLDG. 51 MUSEUM ARCHIVE

POST-FIRE ITALIANATE ROWHOUSE ON ORCHARD ON ITS WAY OUT

BLDG. 51 MUSUEM ACQUIRES HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT TERRA COTTA FROM THREE ADLER & SULLIVAN BUILDINGS

LATEST DIGITIZED KODACHROME SLIDES FROM THE JOHN VINCI ARCHIVE

AN UNEXPECTED TOUR OF SOUTH SIDE CHICAGO WITH TIM SAMUELSON AND JOHN VINCI

ADLER & SULLIVAN'S CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE FEATURED IN JULY 1894 ISSUE OF WINSLOW BROTHERS'S "ORNAMENTAL IRON"

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE BLDG. 51 ARCHIVE AND CHICAGO ART INSTITUTE'S RYERSON & BURNHAM ARCHIVE

RARE PACIFIC GARDEN MISSION AUTOCHROME GLASS SLIDES HIDDEN AWAY FOR OVER 60 YEARS IN SAFE FOUND DURING DEMOLITION

RESTORATION WORK ON 1927 JEWELERS BUILDING EXTERIOR TERRA COTTA WORK RESUMES AS SPRING ARRIVES

BLDG. 51 MUSEUM ACQUIRES DRUMMOND-DESIGNED AVERY COONLEY REMODEL PLAYHOUSE LEADED GLASS WINDOWS

RICHARD NICKEL'S INSTITUTE OF DESIGN SCRAPBOOK NOW DIGITIZED

RECONSTRUCTION OF ADLER AND SULLIVAN'S TRADING ROOM THROUGH JOHN VINCI'S KODACHROME SLIDES

PUBLICATION OF GARRICK THEATER SALVAGE BOOK TOP PRIORITY FOR 2018

PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE CARRIE ELIZA GETTY TOMB'S EXTERIOR ORNAMENT

LOUIS SULLIVAN'S 1896 GUARANTY BUILDING: A PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF ITS TERRA COTTA ORNAMENT

LONG-FORGOTTEN 1915 WOMAN'S CHANGE PURSE REDISCOVERED LONG AFTER GARRICK THEATER'S DEMOLITION IN 1960

REVISITING LONG-FORGOTTEN IMAGES DOCUMENTING EXTRACTION OF GARRICK THEATER'S BRILLIANTLY COLORED MOSAIC FLOOR LUNETTES

THREE 19TH CENTURY CHICAGO MASONRY WORKER COTTAGES FACED WITH DEMOLITION

A SELECTION OF FIVE UNEARTHED CHICAGO BOTTLES WITH COMPELLING NARRATIVES

LATEST BLDG. 51 MUSEUM AND CHICAGO ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT ARCHIVE ACQUISITIONS

"CONSTELLATION STARS" AND MULTI-COLORED COVE LIGHTS SALVAGED FROM CHICAGO'S ATMOSPHERIC THEATERS

RICHARD NICKEL IMAGES DOCUMENTING THE DEATH OF HOLABIRD AND ROCHE'S 1899 CABLE BUILDING NOW DIGITIZED

THREE-STORY BRICK COMMERCIAL BUILDING AT 170-172 . HALSTED LATEST BUILDING TO FALL IN FULTON MARKET DISTRICT

A RARE GLIMPSE AT THE DEMOLITION OF ADLER & SULLIVAN'S GARRICK THEATER THROUGH KODACHROME SLIDES

EIGHT BUILDING BRICKS SHED LIGHT ON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF CHICAGO'S ARCHITECTURAL PAST

DOCUMENTING THE DISMANTLEMENT OF ADLER & SULLIVAN'S CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE BUILDING ORNAMENT IRON STAIRCASE

LATEST INSTALLMENT OF JOHN VINCI KODACHROME SLIDES OF 1960'S CHICAGO

RICHARD NICKEL'S GARRICK THEATER "ORNAMENT SCRAPBOOK" NOW DIGITIZED

IMPENDING DEMOLITION OF 1914 CHICAGO AVENUE BASCULE BRIDGE ON THE HORIZON

LOOKING BACK AT THE DOCUMENTATION AND DECONSTRUCTION OF THE NORTOWN THEATER OVER A DECADE SINCE ITS DEMOLITION

PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF UPTOWN THEATER'S ORNAMENTAL TERRA COTTA FACADE

BLDG. 51 MUSEUM SECURES LARGE COLLECTION OF ORIGINAL INSTITUTE OF DESIGN "SULLIVAN PROJECT" PHOTOGRAPHS FROM 1956 EXHIBIT

A PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF LIMESTONE ORNAMENT SALVAGED IN 1953 FROM ADLER & SULLIVAN'S WALKER WAREHOUSE

A PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY OF ADLER AND SULLIVAN'S WAINWRIGHT BUILDING ORNAMENT

EXTENSIVE REPOSITORY OF 19TH CENTURY CHICAGO WORKERS COTTAGE BUILDING MATERIALS HOUSED IN BLDG. 51 MUSEUM ARCHIVE

BLDG. 51 MUSEUM'S CHICAGO "MOVIE PALACE" ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT AND ARCHIVE COLLECTION

BLDG. 51 MUSEUM ACQUIRES WINSLOW BROTHERS ELEVATOR AND STAIRCASE ORNAMENT FROM HOLABIRD & ROCHE'S OLD COLONY BUILDING

REORGANIZING THE BLDG. 51 CHICAGO ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT ARCHIVE IN PROGRESS

VISITING RICHARD NICKEL'S ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT COLLECTION AT LOVEJOY LIBRARY WITH JOHN VINCI

A PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY OF LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY ST. LOUIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING ORNAMENT

SCHMIDT AND GARDEN'S 1907 MONTGOMERY WARD'S MAIL COMPLEX UNDERGOING FACADE RESTORATION

DESIGN ELEMENTS FROM ADLER & SULLIVAN'S TRANSPORTATION BUILDING PRESERVED THROUGH ALBERT SULLIVAN HOUSE DEMOLITION

HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT JOHN BURNHAM ROOT-DESIGNED ORNAMENTAL IRON HEADER PANEL LATEST ADDITION TO BLDG. 51 MUSEUM ARCHITECTURAL ARTIFACT COLLECTION

IMAGES OF ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT ON PERMANENT DISPLAY AT CITY MUSUEM IN ST. LOUIS

A LOOK BACK AT PREVIOUS POSTS CHRONICLING RICHARD NICKEL'S DOCUMENTATION OF BUILDING DEMOLITION

A COLLECTION OF EPHEMERA AND IMAGES FROM THE 1956 LOUIS SULLIVAN ARCHITECTURE OF FREE ENTERPRISE EXHIBIT

CHICAGO'S 19TH CENTURY HOUSING STOCK CONTINUES TO DIMINISH YEAR AFTER YEAR

RESTORATION WORK ON HOWELLS AND HOOD'S NEOGOTHIC LIMESTONE TRIBUNE TOWER GETS UNDERWAY

RECOLLECTIONS "SALVAGING" THE COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL'S POWER HOUSE TEN YEARS AGO

RESTORATION WORK ON COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL'S FACADE FINALLY UNDERWAY

A RARE GLIMPSE AT THE UPPER FLOORS OF ADLER & SULLIVAN'S JEWELERS BUILDING AS PHOTOGRAPHED BY RICHARD NICKEL

LATEST IMAGES OF CHICAGO'S HISTORIC COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL FACADE RESTORATION

FROM ORNAMENT TO ORDINANCE: WINSLOW BROTHERS FOUNDRY AND WORLD WAR ONE

MID-19TH CENTURY MINERAL WATER BOTTLES UNEARTHED FROM SITE WHERE GRAND CENTRAL STATION ONCE STOOD

LOST AND FOUND: ADLER & SULLIVAN'S KNISELY FLATS AND STORE

ANOTHER LATE 19TH CENTURY CHICAGO TWO-FLAT AND 1902 CHURCH BUILDING HEADING TOWARDS OBLIVION

LATEST IMAGES FROM THE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CHICAGO ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY

DOCUMENTING CASS GILBERT'S WOOLWORTH BUILDING REVISITED

THE USE OF ORNAMENTAL TERRA COTTA IN CHICAGO BEFORE AND AFTER THE GREAT FIRE OF 1871

CHICAGO'S POST-FIRE RESILIENCE AS SEEN THROUGH REMAINING 19TH CENTURY ARTIFACTS AND BUILDINGS

JENNEY'S ISABELLA BUILDING ELEVATOR FRAGMENT AND DOORKNOB SHED LIGHT ON EARLY USE OF CAST ALUMINUM AS ORNAMENT

COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL'S FACADE CLEANED, REPAIR OF ITS TERRA COTTA ORNAMENT TO FOLLOW

A PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF LOUIS SULLIVAN'S LAST COMMISSION: KRAUSE MUSIC STORE FACADE

FIVE DAYS SALVAGING THE GARRICK THEATER AS RECORDED IN RICHARD NICKEL NOTES AND PHOTOGRAPHS

SUBURBAN LAWN ONCE SERVED AS AN ARCHITECTURE GRAVEYARD FOR ADLER AND SULLIVAN'S DEMOLISHED BUILDINGS

SIZABLE COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS DOCUMENTING CONSTRUCTION OF COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL RECENTLY UNEARTHED

STENCIL RECOVERY FROM ADLER & SULLIVAN'S GARRICK THEATER THROUGH IMAGES AND FAITHFULLY RECREATED CANVAS FRAGMENT

SALVAGING 19TH CENTURY CHICAGO COTTAGES AND THE WORK OF GORDON MATTA-CLARK

MUCH OF SCHLESINGER & MAYER BUILDING'S INTERIOR ORNAMENTAL IRON SCRAPPED DURING THE DEPRESSION AND AGAIN DURING "GREAT FLOOD"

ORNAMENTAL CAST IRON ROOKERY BUILDING PILASTER PANEL JOINS BLD. 51 MUSUEM COLLECTION

LOUIS H. SULLIVAN'S OWATONNA BANK: A BUILDING BURSTING WITH ORNAMENT

CHICAGO'S STEVENS-DAVIS ADVERTISING COMPANY BUILDING FACES WRECKING BALL

A PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE BUILDING TRADING ROOM FROM BEGINNING, END, AND REBIRTH

THREE HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT CHICAGO BUILDING ARTIFACTS JOIN BLDG. 51 MUSEUM COLLECTION

EARLIEST KNOWN ADLER & SULLIVAN LIGHT FIXTURE RESCUED FROM MORRIS SELZ RESIDENCE BEFORE ITS DEMOLITION

CONTINUED DOCUMENTATION OF HOWELLS AND HOOD'S CHICAGO TRIBUNE TOWER EXTERIOR RESTORATION

DOCUMENTING SELDOM SEEN UPPER FLOORS OF ADLER AND SULLIVAN'S 1881 JEWELERS' BUILDING

STEVENS-DAVIS BUILDING'S GLAZED TERRA COTTA ORNAMENT DESTROYED DURING ITS DEMOLITION

OVERSIZED J.W. TAYLOR ALBUMEN PRINTS OF WILLIAM LE BARON JENNEY'S LEITER II BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION JOINS BLDG. 51 MUSEUM ARCHIVE

OVER A DECADE DEVOTED TO DOCUMENTING AND SALVAGING CHICAGO'S ARCHITECTURAL PAST

SALVAGING ADLER AND SULLIVAN'S GARRICK THEATER BOOK ON HORIZON

LATEST IMAGES DOCUMENTING RESTORATION OF HOWELLS AND HOOD'S 1925 TRIBUNE TOWER

AN INTENSIVE STUDY ON MATERIALS AND METHODS USED IN BUILDING THE CHICAGO WORKERS COTTAGE

PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY OF 19TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT IN BOSTON'S BACK BAY

A 19TH CENTURY COTTAGE AND 1914 BASCULE BRIDGE WIPED AWAY FROM CHICAGO'S CITYSCAPE

EXAMPLES OF CARVED BRICK AS ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT IN BOSTON

19TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS OF BURNHAM AND ROOT'S ROOKERY'S SKYLIGHT ACQUIRED BY BLD. 51 MUSEUM ARCHIVE

PHOTODOCUMENTING ARCHITECTURAL BUILDING ORNAMENT IN WISCONSIN REVISITED

PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY OF ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT TAKEN DURING WEEKEND TRIP TO BOSTON

LATEST JOHN VINCI'S KODACHROME SLIDES DOCUMENTING CHICAGO'S PAST

DOCUMENTING JEWELERS' BUILDING TERRA COTTA EXTERIOR AND TOWER RESTORATION WORK OVER THE WEEKEND

REPEATEDLY DOCUMENTING BURNHAM AND ROOT'S ROOKERY BUILDING YIELDS NEW DISCOVERIES

SELDOM SEEN RICHARD NICKEL PHOTOS DOCUMENTING THE DESTRUCTION OF BURNHAM AND ROOT'S CHURCH OF THE COVENANT

HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT CHICAGO BOOK AND EPHEMERA COLLECTION JOINS BLDG 51 MUSEUM ARCHIVE AT END OF 2018

CHICAGO'S "DYNAMIC WEEK" CELEBRATED IN PART WITH STAINLESS STEEL BUILDING PLAQUES

EVER-EXPANDING COLLECTION OF DIGITIZED IMAGES FROM COLLABORATION WITH THE ART INSTITUTE'S RYERSON AND BURNHAM ARCHIVE POSTED DAILY

FURTHER READING:

2017: YEAR IN REVIEW

BLDG. 51 MUSEUM 2017 ACQUISITION HIGHLIGHTS

DOCUMENTING CHICAGO'S ARCHITECTURAL ORNAMENT IN 2017

A SOBERING RECOLLECTION OF CHICAGO'S DISAPPEARING CITYSCAPE IN 2016

2016: A YEAR OF EXTRACTING TIME CAPSULES FROM CHICAGO CHURCH BUILDINGS

A DECADE DOCUMENTING THE DEATH OF BUILDINGS: A PERSONAL JOURNEY THROUGH 10 YEARS OF SALVAGING

OVER A DECADE DEVOTED TO DOCUMENTING AND SALVAGING CHICAGO'S ARCHITECTURAL PAST

A RETROSPECTIVE OF DEMOLITIONS, SALVAGES, EXCAVATIONS AND, MUSEUM ACQUISITIONS IN 2015

Leave a Reply
Sorry, you must be logged in to post a comment.


Some Of Our Clientele

WORDLWIDE SHIPPING

If required, please contact an Urban Remains sales associate.

NEW PRODUCTS DAILY

Check back daily as we are constantly adding new products.

PREMIUM SUPPORT

We're here to help answer any question. Contact us anytime!

SALES & PROMOTIONS

Join our newsletter to get the latest information

Close