salvage or no salvage, i'm compelled to document the death of old chicago buildings

despite leaving the jobsite of a mostly non-nondescript building with no "salvageable" artifacts of significance, i still felt the need, or perhaps "duty", to document the building before its remains are trucked off to the dumpsite.

i'm especially saddened when i witness the demolition of buildings anchored on the corner of street intersections, regardless of architectural merit or condition. this particular building was sparse in ornament and simply beyond saving from decades of neglect.

however, when the building was opened up during demolition i noticed several interior characteristics - beyond the old growth timber and brick - that provided me a sense of what the building was likely used for and how its interior was finished when constructed.

the front portion of the first floor contained a decent stamped ornamental tin ceiling, unadorned cast iron columns that were likely flanked by massive plate glass windows, and a single entrance door outfitted with a full pane of beveled edge glass. the transom above the door may have had the name and address of the proprietor in shadowed gold lead stencil. since the second floor contained a single apartment with a nice projecting bay window, i assume the owner of the establishment, be it a saloon, drugstore, grocery store, etc., lived above the shop. this arrangement was especially common among corner saloons, where the owner or barkeep lived above.

a medium-sized safe fabricated by the s.h. harris company was discovered in the basement. the heavy duty cast iron safe contained a beaded border and oversized ornamental cast iron rollers. the interior wood partitions were original and in good shape. nothing was found inside when the safe was "cracked."

the rear section of the building still retained the original "bullseye" pattern header blocks and casing, likely made from pine. this style was very standard in residential and commercial buildings alike during the 19th and early 20th century. a few sections of wall still held the original embossed wallpaper, with a repeating floral pattern. i suspect, despite being painted over, that it's original to the time the building was constructed.

the last interesting discovery was of original cast iron vault light sidewalk doors with unusually large openings for glass lenses. the panels were tucked away between the limestone foundation and the concrete sidewalk. unfortunately, the swinging doors were badly damaged, with the glass lenses in disrepair or replaced with cement. when opened, the doors allowed vendors to access a stairwell to the basement from the side of the building, where they could load their delivered goods. although a maker could not be found, i suspect the brown brothers fabricated the vault light panels.

according to an 1886 sanborn insurance map, the lot was undeveloped, so any objects unearthed will aid me in establishing a more accurate window of time pertaining to the date of construction. perhaps once the lot is excavated, buried trash will provide greater insight into what this establishment used to be, and what both occupants and patrons consumed.