history – Page 2 – Gentleman Unafraid

Save the Portage Theater!

Attend the public meeting tonight, Monday, March 26,Â at 7 p.m. at the Portage Theater, 4050 N Milwaukee.

More information at 45th Ward alderman John Arena’s website.

Today we made the journey to Manlius, and Princeton, IL, to see a few of the remaining works of former Louis Sullivan draftsman Parker N. Berry. The folks in both towns couldn’t have treated us better. My faith in humanity was reinforced by the graciousness and industry of the members of the Manlius Historical Society and the Bureau County Historical Society. More later.

Finding Parker

I’m heading to Manlius and Princeton, IL, this weekend to see some of the few remaining works of architect Parker Noble Berry, Louis Sullivan’s final draftsman and a promising architect in his own right. Sadly, Berry died at age 30, a victim of the 1918 Spanish Flu. I don’t think his hospital is still standing, but we’ll see.

Man of Brains, Man of Beef

Rutabaga o’Lantern

In honor of my Gaelic roots, I carved a rutabaga this year. It takes some doing (scooping out the guts isn’t as efficient as it is with a pumpkin), but the end results are creepily worth it. STAY AWAY, EVIL SPIRITS!

Kling Brothers and Co. Building, by Alfred S. Alschuler

A happy accident of misdirection took me past this lovely thing. Alschuler is probably best known for the London Garantee Building at Michigan and Wacker. I don’t know anything about the Kling Brothers, but I’m assuming this was a warehouse/factory of some kind. Nice incorporation of the Magen David in the logo. Side note: Alschuler worked for Dankmar Adler and designed the second synagogue for the KAM Isaiah Israel Temple in Hyde Park. The previous building was designed by Adler and Sullivan, which suffered a horrific fire back in 2006.

Let Us Now Praise Crazy Men

I honestly had no idea there was a statue of Captain Streeter in Chicago. Now we need one for the Unknown Brick Stealer.

Ghost Signs!

Ghost signs found on Dempster and Bronx Ave. in Skokie. I’m sure many, many photographers have snapped shots of these already, but I finally got around to doing it yesterday. Love the old alphabet phone numbers! And most of you young ankle-biters probably have no idea what Green Stamps were.

No Rumble in the Bronx

I’ve passed by the “historic Bronx building” many times on my way through Skokie, and I’ve always meant to stop and take a few shots. Looks like a 20s era building. Not sure what makes it historic. I haven’t found much more info about it online, save from the company that was apparently hired to rehab itâ€”and they seem to be incurious creatures. Snazzy entryways! Anyway, enjoy: