James Walker Warehouse

Ryerson Building, James Walker Warehouse
Life Span: 1888-1953
Location: 200-214 S. Market
Architect: Adler and Sullivan

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904

Chicago Tribune, February 14, 1888

FOR THE SAKE OF CHARITY

THE MUNIFICENT BEQUEST OF THE LATE MARTIN RYERSON.
A Property That Yields $16,000 a Year Donated to Eight Charitable Institutions in Accordance with a Request Made by the Benefactor Shortly Before His Death—The Beneficiaries Selected by Martin A. Ryerson—The Building Nos. 235 and 237 Adams Street.
When Martin Ryerson breathed his last the 6th day of September, 1887, eight charitable institutions of Chicago began to enjoy an equal share in an income of $16,000 a year. They were not aware of their good fortune then, and it is probable that several of them will get their first intimation of it from the columns of this morning’s Tribune. The bequest was made through Martin A. Ryerson, son of the deceased lumberman, who was intrusted with the task of selecting eight from among the worthy charitable organizations of Chicago to share and share alike in the income derived from property valued at $225,000. Mr. Ryerson made this beguest while on his death-bed, and since then his son has personally examined the purposes, methods, and needs of almost every private hospital and asylum in Chicago. The task was a delicate and responsible one and was only completed last week.

Acting in accordance with the wishes of his fatner Mr. Ryerson said as little as possible about the matter, and it was only discovered yesterday that Thursday last a deed had been recorded conveying ta Henry H. Getty, O. S. A. Sprague, and A. C. Bartlett in trust for the institutions referred to the six-story building Nos. 235 and 237 Adams street and the lot upon which it stands, the whole being valued at between $200,000 and $225,000, and occupied by Keith Bros. Co., who pay an annual rental of $16,000. The beneficiaries named in the deed are:

The Chicago Relief and Aid Society, the Old People’s Home, the Women’s ana Children’s Hospital, the Half Orphan Asylum, the Alexian Brothers’ Hospital, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, St. Vincent Infant Asylum, and the Little Sisters of the Poor.

The last-named organization supports two homes for the aged, one on the West Side and another on the North Side, so that nine hospitals and asylums altogether are benefited.

“The whole matter can be covered in a few words,” Mr. Ryerson said to a Tribune reporter last night. “My father did not desire that any publicity should be given to his bequest, and I have endeavored to fulfill his Wishes. Shortly before he died he told me that he wanted this property devoted to eight charitable institutions and asked me to make the selection. I have done so, the deed has been recorded, and that is all there is to it.”

“About what will be the amount of the income of each of these institutions!”

“The annual rental of the property is $16,000. The net income will be that amount less the taxes, insurance, and repairs. The first distribution will be next March. After that the payments will be made quarterly.”

“Did vou find it difficult to decide which of the many institutions in Chicago should benefit by your father’s gift?”

“Well, yes, it was quite a delicate question to determine. There are a great many charitable institutions in Chicago, All are doubtless worthy, and nearly all are in need of aid. Chicago is growing very rapidly and the increase in the number of sick and destitute is much more rapid than the increase of facilities for their relief.”

“Were you influenced in your selection principally by the needs of the institutions visited or by their general worthiness!”

“As all appeared to be worthy, and all in need of aid, 1 selected those which seemed to possess the greatest capacity for affording relief. Both Protestant and Catholic organizations were selected, as you see, yet the government of no one of them can really be called sectarian, inasmuch as neither will ask the religious belief of an applicant, but will receive him at once without a question if there is room for him.”

It will also be noticed that no element in society is neglected, from orphaned children to destitute old people—institutions for the relief of each being included in the bequest. Mr. Ryerson said that none of the beneficiaries had been formally notified vet, but while he was making his investigations he d?d not doubt that some of them discovered what was in contemplation. He found that almost without exception the charitable institutions of the city were excellently conducted.

The property bequeathed has a fifty-foot frontage on Adams street between Market and Franklin. The building is a fine six-story structure admirably located in the wholesale district and regarded as more likely to increase than to decline in value.

Inter Ocean, April 15, 1888

Plane are nearly completed by Architects Adler & Sullivan for Martin Ryerson’s $300,000 block on the west aide of Market street, running from Adams clear to Quincy street.

Rand, McNally & Co.’s Bird’s-Eye Views of Chicago, 1893

⑰ The Ryerson Building.
This magnificent structure, whose Norman arches of granite are the first architectural exhibit of Chicago to be seen by the visitor who arrives at the Union Passenger Station, and comes over the Adams Street bridge near by, resembles the Grand Central Station in its outer walls. The interior follows the plan of wooden pillars, adopted in Marshall Field’s wholesale store. The Adams Street front is on an incline of 152 feet, leading to the bridge on the south side of the street. The Market Street front is 166 feet. The building is 98 feet high, with 6 stories and basement. It is occupied as the wholesale dry-goods store of James H. Walker & Co., with 300 employes. There are 5 elevators.

Chicago Tribune, December 19, 1954

The board permitted American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago to establish a parking lot at 200-214 S. Wacker dr., a commercial district, on the lower level.

FOR THE SAKE OF CHARITY

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