Link’s Block
Life Span: 1857-1871
Architect: Otto H. Matz
Location: NW Cor. Lake and LaSalle streets
Weekly Chicago Times, December 31, 1857
The magnificent block of iron front buildings at the corner of La Salle street, 90×61 feet, and five stories hight, besides the basement; for John Link.
This block of buildings is the admiration and wonder of both citizens and strangers, and is universally acknowledged to be by far the most splendid building erected here this season. It will probably sustain this position for a long time to come, and alwavs be the pride of our city. The iron front is 60 feet on Lake street, and 90 feet on La Salle street, making an iron front of 160 feet by five stories high, besides an eight feet deep basement, dry and well lighted. The building is a noble structure of the Corinthian order of architecture. The insulated and fluted columns, rich capitals, embellished arches, keys and cornices, look massive, yet airy and tasteful, and are more plainly presented to the eye of the beholder by deep rustic joints, an imitation of Ashlar block work, inserted strongly and correctly in the piers, string courses and other flat surfaces. The top cornice has hand. some medallion blocks, and drops in the pannelled planceer. The frieze is decorated with circular wreaths, but is otherwise plain, thus throwing more effect upon the lower members. The openings throughout are well proportioned, the window arches counter beaded and finished with neatly carved mullions. The structure is a complete success in every respect, and far superior in architecture, appearance and finish, to any iron building in Chicago, perhaps even in the country. The exterior is painted in a soft yellow tint, a decided improvement on the white painted iron fronts in other parts of the city. The lower floor of the corner building is arranged for banking offices, the ceiling being panelled and adorned with ornamental stuees work. The upper floors are divided into airy offices. Cost $80,000. Otto H. Matz, architect.
Chicago Illustrated, January, 1867
Corner of La Salle and Lake Streets. This is a familiar scene to the people of Chicago. It is one of the busy street crossings. The view is taken from the south-west, looking east. On the extreme left is a portion of Link’s iron building in which Coolbaugh’s Union National Bank has its offices, and in the upper stories are the real estate rooms of Mr. S. S. Hayes. The central building is that of the Marine Bank, condtructed of Illinois marble. It is at the north-east corner of LaSalle and Lake Streets, and was one of the first of the large business houses built of stone.
In 1858-9, the grade of Lake Street having been raised, the entire block of buildings, of which the Marine Bank building was one, extending from LaSalle Street east to Clark Street, were raised from their foundations nearly six feet. The process was one that attracted general interest, and was watched with great anxiety by the public. The buildings were all of brick or stone, four or five stories high, were all occupied, and the work was accomplished without accident and without suspending business for an hour.
Chicago Tribune, November 30, 1858
Architectural.—We call the attention of all who are interested in the erection and construction of buildings to the card of Otto H. Matz, Esq., Architect, who has removed his office to the corner of Lake and LaSalle streets, over the Chicago Bank, in Link’s iron block. Mr. Matz has since his residence here erected some of our noblest and wost substantial structures. Such magnificent buildings as the Central Union Depot, on the Lake Shore, the enormous freight and other depots, and John Link’s iron block, the richest building ever constructed of that material, are the pride of Chicago and lasting monuments to the skill of the architect.
- Link Block
1862
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