Oriental Building I

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Oriental Building I
Life Span: 1867-1871
Location: LaSalle Street between Washington and Madison Streets.
Architect: W. W. Boyington

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Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1867
Oriental Building—West side LaSalle street, between Washington and Madison

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Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
Oriental Building—West side LaSalle street, between Washington and Madison
Globe Mutual Life Ins. Co. of New York, J. G. McKindley, manager, 124 LaSalle

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Chicago Evening Post, May 16, 1867

ORIENTAL ELEGANCE.—One of the most elegant business blocks in this or any other city is the Oriental Building, on La Salle street, just west of the Chamber of Commerce. A large room in this building has been secured by Messrs. R. W. Leachand and Charles Tewksbury, who have fitted it up in so luxurious a manner that they feel justified in calling it the “Oriental Billiard Parlor.” To-night for the first time, it will be opened, and the proprietors invite their friends to be present to inspect and to enjoy it. Tewksbury will be remembered for his connection with the “Palace Hall” establishment, at No. 153 Dearborn street, where he became well known and popular among billiard amateurs. The location is a very convenient as well as a very elegant one.

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Oriental Building
Edwards’ Directory of the City of Chicago, 1867

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Chicago Evening Post, July 26, 1867

Oriental Lodge, the oldest Masonic organization in the city, yesterday evening dedicated its new hall, which is situated on the fourth floor of the Oriental building, on La Salle street, just west of the Chamber of Commerce.

This building is perhaps the most elegant, and, at the same time, the most convenient business block in the city.

The Lodge room occupies the fourth floor of the building. The Blue Lodge room proper is seventy-four by forty-two feet in the clear, and twenty-nine feet high to the crown of the canopies of the ceiling. On the some floor there are two ante-rooms, a Tyler’s room, with closets, and a furnace room, and a large reception parlor, fifteen by twenty-four feet. The apartments on this floor occupy a space of forty-six by one hundred and twenty feet.

Above, on the upper floor, there are five ante-rooms. The various rooms devoted to the Lodge are entirely separate from the offices of the building, and are reached by an independent stairway from the main hall.

The Lodge room is divided into five sections longitudinally, with a large stained-glass window in each space on the sorthern side of the room. There is also a window of the same size on the south. The blanks in the south wall, corresponding to the windows in the north wall, are filled with neatly-painted panels, of the same size and shape as the opposite windows. On each side of the room are two platforms for sofas, one rising an easy step above the other. This room is covered with a rich Brussels carpet. The whole room is finished and furnished in the Oriental style and with oriental luxury.

From the platforms an elegant wainscoting extends around the room. This wainscoting is divided into sections by moulded and paneled pedals, forming the bases of octagonal columns, upon the foliated capitals of which a rich corbel rests. From this corbel spring pendentive arched brackets, supporting the main arched ribs, that cross the room and intersect with the other arched ribs dividing the ceiling into three arched canopies in width, and five in length. Dividing these several ceiling canopies, is rich moulded rib work, which surrounds each one. Those columns which support the main arch ribs are painted and grained in imitation of a rich blue and gold veined marble. In the east end of the room is the throne of the Worshipful Master. The seat of the throne stands within a large and lofty alcove; the arch of which, richly ornamented, intersects with other arches that spring from the side of the room. On each side of the alcove are two niches containing statues of Atlas supporting the celestial and terrestrial globes. The opposite end of the room is somewhat like the one just described; the great difference being, that in place of the alcove there is a large and beautiful organ. In the center of the south side there is also an alcove, containing the throne of the Senior Warden. The altar, as usual, is situated in the center of the room. This altar is of the most beautiful workmanship, and of rich material; being trimmed with the three lisson lights, forming a triangle, while the “all-seeing eye” is in one of the globe lights above. The painting, graining and frescoing of the rooms have been executed in a wonderfully perfect manner by Jevne & Almini. The furniture in the room, in the same style as the room itself, has been made from designs of the architect, by Mr. Charles Tobey. The carpenter work was performed by Mr. Edward Ballard. What has been said of the main room is equally true of the reception parlor; ante-rooms, the Tyler’s room, etc., as regards perfection of finish and conveniences of plan. To all these rooms there is a separate staircase, leading from the main corridor to the ante. room. The architect is Mr. W. W. Boyington, of this city. The cost of the decorations and furniture of these rooms has been more than $20,000, and it is believed that there is no more magnificent Masonic lodge room in the United States.

The dedicatory ceremonies commenced at nine o’clock in the evening by the formation of a Blue Lodge, J. W. Clyde, Worshipful Master of Oriental Lodge, presiding.

The officers ofthe Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois entered, taking their appropriate places. The following are the officers

The ceremonies of the dedication were then performed as follows: The Worshipful Master’s request to the Grand Master to dedicate the hall of which he was the Master: the Grand Architect’e resignation of the implements of of his profession, and therewith the charge of the building which he has created:. the Deputy Grand Master’s request; the Grand Master’s response; the dedicatory prayer by the Grand Chaplain; the chanting of a Masonic ode; the rising of the whole Grand Lodge; its marching, bearing the tessellated pavement, with the perfect ashlar upon it, to the front of the altar; the solemn ceremony of consecration; dropping upon the perfect ashlar the corn of plenty, the wine of refreshment and the oil of nourishment; ending with the solemn invocation by the Grand Chaplain, the chanting of a Masonic ode and a benediction.

Dr. J.Adams Allen then delivered an eloquent oration, appropriate to the occasion.

The dedicatory exercises were closed by the singing of a Masonic hymn.

Oriental Lodge received its charter in 1845. It has increased and grows prosperous since that time, and now numbers 330 members, among whom are some of the must eminent business and professional men of the city.

The following is a list of the Past Masters of the Lodre: Wm. F. Walker, J. V. Z. Blaney, Carlton Drake, Wm. B. Herrick, E. B. Stevens, G. F. Haines, B. F. Patrick, R. W. Dunham, J. A. Bunce and Wm. A. Thrall.

The present officers of the Lodge are: J. W. Clyde, W. M.; W. G. Swan, S. W.; E. Powell, J. W.; A. G. Burley, Treasurer; D. B. Fairman, Secretary; F. P. Cram, S. D.; G. R. Stearns, J. D.; B. S. Downer, S. S.; E. M. Bennett, J. S.; J. Billings. Chaplain; J. P. Ferns, Tyler.

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Oriental Building
Looking North from La Salle and Washington streets.
The Mercantile Building is on the right.

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Chicago Evening Post, October 12, 1867

Oriental Building, on La Salle street, for Mr. George E. Walker. Built in the Oriental style, five stories in height, with marble front; size, 75 by 120 feet. Cost, $125,000.

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Oriental Building
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1869

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