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an afternoon at chicago's cemetery of architects

i spent a few hours wandering around graceland cemetery (est. 1860) the other weekend. i briefly visited several grave sites, seeking out the stones denoting where notable persons from chicago's past were laid to rest. special attention was given to a few of the architects whose buildings i've spent so much time documenting and/or salvaging, when they too faced death by way of wrecking ball.

it was a very peaceful and relaxing occasion, despite my inherent sadness over the tragic circumstances surrounding their deaths (e.g., louis h. sullivan - penniless - died alone in the closet of his single room at the warner hotel) along with the many buildings that lived on until they too were brought down, with their remains earmarked for burial in some distant landfill.

sullivan designed what are perhaps two of the most significant  tombs in graceland cemetery. this included the carrie eliza getty tomb, commissioned in 1890 by lumber baron henry harrison getty for his wife (see cover photo detail), and an egyptian revival style mausoleum built for lumber baron and real estate speculator martin ryerson, commissioned by his son martin ryerson jr. in 1887 and completed in 1889. quite ironically, sullivan's own grave marker was originally quite utilitarian and plain. thankfully though, five years later in 1929, his headstone was "upgraded" when architect thomas e. tallmadge designed a massive boulder, adorned with an inscription on one side and a marvelous cast bronze medallion on the other. inset onto the stone, it features one of sullivan's own designs with his profile in the center.

another important gravestone, not far from sullivan, marks the resting place of architectural photographer and preservationist, richard nickel, who lost his life salvaging ornament from adler & sullivan's chicago stock exchange building in 1972. nickel is known for his relentless efforts documenting and preserving the work of louis sullivan during the 1960's at the height of urban renewal, when scores of older buildings (including several adler & sullivan-designed residential and commercial structures) were being demolished across the city.

john wellborn root's celtic cross and daniel h. burnham's irregular-shaped, gargantuan stone set on an island surrounded by lake willowmere are two sites i visit time and time again.

 

 

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