remarkably intact c. 1915 chicago prairie style brick two-tone brick house on burling street bulldozed today

with only two hours left in the work day, i received a call that a house constructed in 1915 was scheduled to be demolished the next day. i had no choice but to drop what i was doing and head to the jobsite. when we pulled up i could not believe my eyes; this structurally sound prairie style brick residence was going to be reduced to rubble the next morning. why? the question is largely rhetorical, but the exterior and interior were in pristine condition.

the original golden oak woodwork was very well-maintained. the original stamped brass ornament door hardware, fabricated by the reading hardware company, had not been painted or altered in any way. the first and second floors retained the original solid oak wood built-in cabinets with leaded glass doors. the vestibule doors were big and bulky, with heavy plate glass panes, accentuated with beveled edges. i was simply in awe, and rather confused as to why this house was going to be demolished.

with time running out and darkness creeping in, we quickly went to work removing everything we could within a one-hour window of time. most of the doors, yellow brass hardware, leaded cabinet doors and other fixtures made their way to safety at the urban remains warehouse. sadly, a great deal more was left behind.

i was a little frustrated that i wasn't given notice earlier in the day, but at least we managed to remove some of the architectural artifacts. i hope the salvaged pieces will live on in another period appropriate home that badly needs these artifacts, lost from countless remuddlings.

the leaded art glass cabinet doors were likely designed and fabricated by h. eberhardt & company, while the passage doors and other millwork was manufactured at the sprawling foster-munger company that was responsible for outfitting several chicago homes throughout the late 19th and early 20th century. the stamped brass hardware was designed and made by the reading hardware company, located in reading, pa.

end