photographic survey of post-fire chicago building facade bedecked with white-body terra cotta

the post-fire edward k. rogers commercial block, designed in 1872 by architect wm. w. boyington, is perhaps the only extant chciago building that showcases widespread use of ornamental "gray body" terra cotta on its facade.

the custom-designed ornament was executed by the chicago terra cotta company, which was founded in 1866, but did not begin operations in chicago until 1868. the company later became the northwestern terra cotta works, with their first factory built in 1882.

chicago terra cotta company's distinctive colored clay (see example of salvaged ornament from jenney's 1875 starkweather building) was sourced from abundant clay deposits in indiana.

located at 436 north clark street, the clark commercial block was built in 1872 for chicago coal merchant edward k. rogers, 436 by notable architect w.w. boyington.

images courtesy of eric j. nordstrom and the bldg. 51 archive.