documenting destruction on dearborn street

the last pocket of 19th century residential buildings spanning three decades (i.e., 1870s, 1880s, 1890s) on a downtown chicago city block are undergoing demolition, beginning with the heavily modified three-story 1870s italianate to the far left. 

the house in the middle features a painted brownstone (michigan sandstone) facade with projecting bay, decorative window hoods, and mansard roof punctuated with pedimented dormers. 

the last to fall is an 1890s romanesque style 4-story with 3-sided projecting bay, ornamental stamped tin cornice and single arch above entrance. the facade is comprised of rusticated bedford limestone. need to carve out time to establish exact build dates, architects, etc.

at the very least, i did manage to salvage exterior ornamental wrought and cast iron window guards and stair railings fabricated by the dearborn foundry, chicago, ills., from two of the houses.

further reading: