treat and foltz-designed ornamental cast iron column fragment from e.g. raymond store and flat building (1884) added to bldg. 51 collection

a richly ornamented single-sided treat and foltz-designed exteiror building cast iron column capital fragment is one of several new acquisitions made for the bldg. 51 museum over the past two months. the historically important and meticulously restored cast iron ornament is comprised of uniquely designed leafage and peddled flowers. the exact chicago-based fabricator or foundry is not known.

samuel atwater treat (1839-1910) and frederick foltz (1843-1916):

the firm’s work included several commercial and industrial buildings, although foltz personally preferred residential work. he devoted much of his time to designing private homes and apartment houses, and among the latter was the first duplex apartment erected in chicago, built at the southeast corner of chicago and michigan avenues for the winston estate. treat & foltz were also architects of the arizona apartments on lake shore drive: the martin ryerson house on drexel avenue; the c. b. farrell residence on pearson st. just west of lake shore drive built in 1882; the charles libby house on michigan avenue and the home of george armour on prairie avenue.

treat and foltz designed the 4-story victorian style e.g. raymond pressed brick store and flat in 1884. the facade of this narrow building (25-90 feet) was comprised of red pressed brick punctuated with ornamental unglazed terra cotta and sheet metal dormers flanking a centrally located roofline pediment. the building was demolished in 1985 after years of continued neglect. 

all images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bldg. 51 archive. all rights reserved. 2022.