where time stood still: a visual record of william borden residence shortly before its demolition in 1962

richard nickel images of william borden’s chateauesque mansion (1884) undergoing demolition in 1962. the facade consisted of smooth-faced beford limestone, with windows, main entrance, turrets, and dormers accentuated using hand-carved bedford limestone ornament. the mansion was designed by architect richard morris hunt. it remained with the borden family until it was sold and demolished. 

william was the son of john borden, who commissioned adler and sullivan to build his mansion in 1880 (also destroyed) containing over 20 stately rooms and 22 fireplaces. the exterior was comprised of red brick with sullivan-designed joliet limestone ornament.
nickel’s visual record of the interior is jolting considering the house and everything in it was reduced to rubble days later. the original carved wood staircase with fret-sawn panels, paneled rooms and oversized mantels, period bathroom fixtures, and so on, escaped senseless alterations and/or renovations since the borden family occupied the house from the time it was completed until it was destroyed.

it’s a a rare instance where time stood still, which makes its destruction all the more painful to witness – whether in person or through the images nickel wanted us to see.
borden’s mansion was located on the corner of lake shore drive and bellevue place, where the carlyle stands today.

images courtesy of ryerson and burnham, art institute of chicago. when time permits, i will include additional digitized images taken of the borden house demolition, including his father's residence (1880) an early residential commission for architectural firm adler and sullivan. sadly, the john borden residence suffered the same fate as his son's house only years apart. 

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