a sobering recollection of chicago's disappearing cityscape in 2016

being semi-retired has been incredibly rewarding, and has allowed me ample time to pursue my obsessions, and immerse myself in various chicago histories. looking back at this past year inspired me share a few of these "themes" i dedicated great time and energy to. some will certainly carry over into the new year, but most of these projects have been thoroughly documented, researched, and stamped with a seal of "completion," insofar as i have managed to walk away from it feeling some sense of resolution.

i didn't feel the need to pore through hundreds of blog entries from 2016 to create the "list" below. instead, i looked around the museum, reflected on a small portion of items, and then took a badly needed nap - a rare occurrence this year. the following are thus a cross-section of topics which represent the range of work completed this year under the auspices of urban remains and the bldg 51 collection.

osborne and adams post-fire building (1872, john mills van osdel, architect), documenting and salvaging its artificial stone facade, and subsequent demolition.

crane brothers company post-fire factory addition (1870) salvage above and below ground

harvesting "chicago method" hybrid balloon frame cottage materials to understand methods

continued excavating - long after "unearthing chicago" project completed - with emphasis on finding building elements from a city under the city.

exhaustive photodocumentation of chicago architectural ornament - from nearly forgotten cottages to landmarked commercial buildings

developing narratives around historically important building fragments from chicago's past

salvaging the "munich style" zessler windows from park view lutheran church

recovering five chicago church building time capsules with contents (reviewed in an earlier post)

first significant museum acquisition of the year: adler & sullivan's 1893 chicago stock exchange wall-mount sconces and single pendant light fixture

the long and painful destruction of a framed workers cottage and neighboring 1organ factory

vincent formusa's forgotten mementos

the death of a post-fire cottage on state street.