Chicago Tribune, May 2, 1896
Chicago will in all probability soon have a South Shore drive. Interested citizens have been working on the project for two years, and it is said matters are now so far advanced the drive is an assured fact.
The idea originated with George H. Hess, and has met with such favor that of the 46,000 feet of frontage affected more than 23,000 feet have already signed for the improvement. It is thought there will be little difficulty in getting at least 90 per cent of the frontage required.
The project grows out of the congested condition of Michigan avenue, north of Thirty-fifth and Thirty-ninth streets. South of those points there are Grand boulevard and Drexel boulevard, leading to the south parks, but north there is only the one avenue, and that at times is so crowded it is dangerous. Another thoroughfare from the central part of the city to the South parks Is considered a necessity. Investigation has shown that such additional thoroughfare can now be obtained at comparatively little cost, and can, as a most desirable and important feature, be located near the shore of the lake; near enough to afford at frequent intervals a view of the water, and still sufficiently removed to be exempt from any danger in driving on account of passing trains.
Route of the Drive.
The route more generally approved is from Jackson Park to Fifty-first street by East End avenue, from East End avenue to Lake avenue in Fifty-first street, thence by Lake avenue to Thirty-fifth street, thence through Douglas, Groveland, and Woodlawn Parks to Thirty-third street, in Thirty-third street to Groveland avenue, thence to Twenty-eighth street, by Twenty-eighth street to Iglehart place, to South Park avenue, in South Park avenue to Twenty-fourth street, by the latter to Calumet avenue. thence to Eighteenth street, thence to Prairie avenue, Prairie avenue to Sixteenth street, and by the latter to Michigan avenue.
Incidentally two things, it is hoped. will be accomplished by the movement to establish the South Shore drive. These are to force heavy traffic away from the streets outlined for the drive and to provide against the usurpation of the streets by the railway companies for trolley lines. It is pointed out that the extension of the Forty-seventh street electric line from Cottage Grove avenue to the lake was carried through against the wishes of the best element of the property-owners by the purchase of frontage consents by the railroad company.
In the World’s Fair year Lake avenue was paved and put in admirable condition, but the roadbed is now in such deplorable shape the teamsters are forsaking it for streets better fitted for their purpose.
Chicago Sunday Chronicle, October 11, 1896
J. W. Ellsworth, the president of the board of south park commissioners, gave a dinner at his residence last evening which may mark one of the most important epochs in the history of Chicago. The gathering which was composed of most representative men was called for the purpose of listening to one of the greatest plans for the improvement of the city which has ever been suggested, probably, in fact more important than the inauguration of the matchless park system which is today one of the chiefest sources of pride for the city and which if carried out, will make a most wonderful addition to that system.
The plans proposed by Mr Ellsworth and D. H. Burnham, the architect who has been associated with him in planning the improvement and which have been concurred in by the members of the board of south park commissioners, were presented in detail last evening to prominent members of the other park boards, newspaper men and wealthy property owners The gathering represented millions of dollars, immense influence and hundreds of thousands of people. It was confidently asserted that the big improvement will be no longer a vision, but a reality in less than five years, and the men who were present all of whom are cool, calculating business men not apt to be carried off their feet in a rush of enthusiasm, were most favorably impressed with the idea, and many of them volunteered their influence and personal endeavors to the carrying out of the stupendous project. If carried out the design will give to Chicago the finest park system, the finest waterway, and the most magnificent boulevard system in the world.
Project In Detail.
The design which has been outlined contemplates the improvement of the lake front, 300 feet wide and one mile long, lying between the Illinois Central road and Michigan avenue, the lake front 1,300 feet wide east of the Illinois Central railway and the south shore drive stretching from the lake front downtown to Jackson park, and running on an average 600 feet from the shore. The idea is to convert the entire lake front which is now such an eyesore into a magnificent park and to reclaim by filling in 1,300 feet of land which is now covered by the waters of the lake.
The plans in detail, as outlined at length by Mr Burnham and presented to the men who enjoyed Mr Ellsworth’s hospitality last evening, are as follows:
The 300-foot strip between Park row and Peck court is arranged to leave a place for a monument opposite the end of Harmon court while opposite Peck court a driveway is to extend eastward as shown on block plan. From Peck to Hubbard court to be a treatment of the whole space leaving as a center, the equestrian state of General Logan by St. Gaudens, opposite Eldridge court, and a street extending eastward opposite Eldridge court.
From Eldridge court to Congress street the space is designed as a whole, leaving as a center piece opposite Harrison street a Roman fountain, with water thrown up from the rim toward the center. A feature to be repeated on the left of the central drive opposite Congress street, bringing another fountain opposite Van Buren street around which passengers for the Illinois Central railway shall pass.
From Jackson street to Monroe street the space is treated by itself with the Art institute as a center, opposite Adams street the two circles inclosing places for antique statues and a peristyle supporting north and south of them. Any special design preferred by the Art institute can be substituted From Monroe to Randolph street one design having a place for a monument opposite Madison street and a grand triumphal arch opposite Washington street this arch to face southward. Through it the tunnel connecting the north and south sides to pass the decline of the roadway starting at the fountain opposite Madison street
Grand Arch A Feature.
The grand arch is to be the chief piece of architecture of the whole design of the Lake park and the stand in the center at the north of the 300 foot strip.
By this design of the 300 feet strip the axis of every east and west street is recognized and as a citizen goes toward the lake on one of these streets he will see a fitting monument, a driveway, an abutment, or a fountain before him, so that the great centers of the design on the lake front will make themselves felt far back in the city.
The bridges included in the design are six in number and are located where the principal design of the lake front and the 300 feet strip demand. Those now built by the Illinois Central can be used and with little difficulty shifted as required by the plans.
The center of the design of the Lake Front park is the museum, on the north of which will be the military establishment, the buildings and the parade ground; on the south the playgrounds, and a possible permanent exposition building for the city of Chicago A monument to Columbus the discoverer is indicated east of the museum a monument to Washington the liberator on the north a monument to Lincoln the emancipator on the south and a pedestal on the west to be left until Chicago shall see fit to honor the memory of one of her own illustrious sons. Besides these places for monuments are many others shown upon the design whereon can be placed the statues of men and women found worthy as time goes on to be remembered by their fellow citizens.
On the east and west axis of the museum, at the edge of the lake, to be a beautiful formal fountain such as the one called “MacMonnies” which stood in front of the Administration building in the fair.
Tunnel Way To North Side.
The driveway on the east side should be continued over the Chicago river to the north side and should connect with the boulevards of Lincoln park. A space for a grand concourse should be obtained on the north side from which this viaduct can spring on that side. Connecting with the 300-foot strip the tunnel is to run under the river and come up in Pine street. This tunnel is not to be like any already made but a thing of extreme beauty decorated with mural carvings and statues in full relief. The south shore drive perhaps the most important of the planned improvements will be from Jackson park to the lake front five and one-half miles long. This improvement is to be made out in the lake from 500 to 700 feet east of the present shore leaving a lagoon behind it in which one can go by water from the harbor in front of the downtown park to the southern end of Jackson park internal waterways. The lagoon is to have picturesque islands throughout its length and all the shores to be natural wooded slopes, planted so as to have vistas through which the lake will be seen from the shore. The planting is to be rich and designed to show all the flowers fruits and colored foliage that will grow in this climate.
The lagoon will form an athletic watercourse five miles in length and be the most picturesque and beautiful in the world its islands and coves being places for boat-houses and little clubs. On this water at stated periods in the summer will be pageants by day and floating’ illuminations by night, and the flotilla at Venice will be outdone. The driveway itself will consist of an outer and an inner carriage way, of a bicycle and an equestrian way and of broad walks of stone. The parapet will be of stone and the trees should be the species that in the course of a few years will give the best results in dignity and grace.
There are five bridges over the Illinois Central to this roadway as shown. Under each will be a waterway, between the lagoon and the lake, which can be closed by locks. On the axis of each bridge but in the center of the driveways will be a broad concourse in the center of which is to be a tall monument effective from the shore the lake and the roadways themselves The one at the end of the drive down from the City park will act as a lighthouse a figure. holding a flaming torch that shall shine far up the boulevard and light up the harbor itself. There will be locks at each end of the lagoon also so that the water in this inner way can be maintained at a level, without which fine plants cannot be made to live and thrive.
There are five great stations for heroic monuments as shown each having a concourse in the center of which it will stand. The one at the north end will be a great Pharos, lighting the avenue clear down to Jackson park, and illuminating the harbor and craft in front of the city.
The men present last evening were Messrs. George M Pullman, H. H. Kohlsaat, William Penn Nixon, Martin Becker, Carl Moll, W. S. Bogle, C. J. Vopicka, Best Booth, Brego, Oliver Uihlein, Henrici and Graham.
Jackson Park along South Shore Drive
1906
Chicago Tribune October 5, 1937
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