Chicago Tribune, January 2, 1865
Our Public Improvements—Buildings
In the erection and improvement of buildings, the city has done as much as in any former year, notwithstanding the facts that building interests of all descriptions have ruled very high, and the wages of all classes of operatives have been far in advance of those demanded in any previous season for years past. Dwellings especially have sprung up in all parts of the city. with scarce exampled rapidity. both for the habitation of our merchant princes, and of the secondary class of business men, as of operatives and laborers. In the suburbs in particular, a wonderful change is apparent, and the former verture-clad prairie now in thousands of little spots teems with humanity. In the business portions of the city, the band of improvement is also manifest, in the metamorphosis of low, rickety shanties into massive marble and brick buildings, stored with merchandise and goods. In relation to this class of buildings, the greater number were commenced in the latter part of 1864, though probably the “lion’s share” of the expense was incurred in their completion during the past year.
The style of our civic architecture is, too, very much improved. The former heterogeneous assemblage of buildings, without regard to the correspondence of parts or contiguities, is giving place to the harmonized series of structures, the architect having regard not only to the requirements of his art in the details of his own building, but to the character of it. surrounding edifices. Hence, though the erections of 1865 are not, perhaps, vastly superior to those of former years, the higher uniformity attained is much more pleasing. The establishment of the grade have, too, attracted much more attention than formerly, and within the year, a great number of buildings, among them some of our largest blocks have been raised 1o place. Among these is the large iron block on the corner of Wells and South Water streets, weighing nearly thirty thousand tons, which was raised some two feet seven inches during the summer.
The following are the principal public buildings erected during the year, or completed or commenced within its limits.
CHURCHES.
St. Joseph’s (Roman Catholic)—On the corner of Chicago avenue and Cass street. It is built in the Basilica style of architecture, of Milwaukee pressed brick.
with handsome stone cuttings and dressings. The building has a front of 65 feet, and is 150 in depth; the main entrance will be in a solid cut stone portico in the center of the front. This church differs from all others in the city, being m the old column style, with a main nave and two side ones. The main audience room is 62 feet by 125, and with galleries will seat about 1,500 persons. Exteriorly the building wiil present a solid but plain appearance; inside the fittings are of a most magnicent character. The roof will be open, stained wood-work, elaborately carved and ornamented; the windows of fine stained glass. The altar especially is a work of art, and a costly one. The edifice costs over $60,000.
St. Peter’s (Roman Catholic).-This church is on the corner of Clark and Polk streets, and is a very handsome structure. It is in the Byzantine style of architecture, and is built of stone, massively decorated with cut cornices and other ornaments. The windows are ail of superbly stained glass. The estimated cost of the edifice is $40,000. Bauer is the architect
First Baptist Church.—This building is situated on Wabash avenue, a little south of Hubbard court, and has been erected from plans by W. W. Boyington. It is of the Gothic style of architecture, and has a frontage of 90 feet, by 165 in depth. The edifice is constructed of roughly cut stone in imitation of rustic work, and bas a very fine appearance. Surmounting one corner of the roof is an elegantly carved stone spire, shooting 130 feet into the air, and resting at its foundations on piles sunk in concrete. A side entrance to the church is in this tower, but the principal one is in the center of the building on Wabash avenue. The audience-room is 70 feet in width by 120 in length and will seat, with galleries, about thirteen hundred people; throwing open doors in the rear of the pulpit, connection will be made with an elaborately furnished lecture and Sabbath school room, by which means over 2,000 people may be brought within the sound of the speaker’s voice. The edifice will have windows of handsomely stained glass, and be elaborately finished both externally and internally. Its estimated cost is $90,000.
Christ Church.—The new Christ Church is on the corner of Michigan avenue and 24th street, and was built from plans by T.V. Wadskier. It is built in the early English style of architecture, of what is termed “rock work”—a peculiar and handsome finish—of Athens stone.
The main entrance is through a finely cut projecting porch, with three separate doors, and fronts on on Michigan avenue. On either side of the portico, and in the sides.of the building, are large and elaborately stained glass windows. The roof is of the well-known gable type, the front gable being terminated by a belfry. The main audience room is 57 feet by 85, exclusive of the chancel, and presents a very fine appearance. The chancel is octagonal in form, 15 by 25 feet in size, and is handsomely decorated. The only gallery is one for the use of the choir. The body of the hall seats about 700 persons. In the basement is a lecture room 40 feet by 56, and apartments for the use of the Sabbath School, all of which are commodiously fitted up. The
The estimated cost was $25,000.
Grace Methodist Episcopal—A handsome building designed as the chapel of the Church of the Grace Methodist Episcopal congregation, which latter edifice will be erected at some future time, has been built on the corner of Chicago avenue and Lasalle street. The chapel is of the pure gothic type, composed of heavy cut stone. The entrance on Lasalle street is through an archway of massive hewn buttresses, the center being supported by stone pinnacles, the massive appearance of this front is relieved by a large finely painted window. The internal arrangements are of a most complete character. The main room is a fine gothic auditorium, seventy feet by forty, and fifty-seven feet from the floor to the ceiling. On the lower floor are eighty pews, and in an end gallery. twenty feet by forty, are twenty-four additional ones. Altogether the number of sittings is estimated at 528, and the total capacity about 600. The elevation for the chancel is encircled by a black walnut rail with carved oaken balusteres. The pul-pit platform is thirty-two inches above the door. It is smaller than the chancel platform and is one step above. All the windows are of stained glass, most beautifully blazoned with scriptural symbols and monograms.
Jewish Synagogue—The new Jewish Synagogue is on the corner of Harrison street and Fourth avenue. It is built of pressed bricks, with stone trimmings and has a front of 46 feet by 80 in depth. The main audience room is 42 by 75 feet in size and will seat 800 people. The basement is fitted up for the use of the Sabbath School. The building bas one of the old fashioned gable roote. Its estimated cost is $16,000. Bauer is the architect.
German M. E. Church ef West Chicago-Situated on Maxwell atreet, near Twelfth. This Church is a frame, with a brick basement, designed for Sabbath School rooms. It has a bell tower 60 feet in height, and, though very plain, has a neat and elegant appearance. The main audience room is 38 by tO feet and will accommodate 300 persons. The edifice, together with a residence for the pastor, was planned by Otto H. Matz, and cost $6,500.
German Evangelical Lutheran.—This church is on the corner of Franklin and Superior streets. and was dedicated to St. Paul on the 11th of December. It is built in the Romanesque style of architecture, and occupies, a front of 52 feet and depth of 92 feet. The height of the main building is 50 feet. The basement is built of cut stone and is occupied by the rooms of the Sabbath school. The main story is of pressed brick, ornamented with cut stone dressings. It has a tower 85 feet in height, surmounted by a graceful spire, whose summit ie 150 feet frot the ground. The entrances to the vestibules of the church are reached by three flighte of cut stone staps. At each end of the vestibules are flights of stairs leading to the gallery, which extends round three sides of the buiid-ing, and is supported by clustered columns, with richly ornamented capitale, frieze and cornice. The building is well ventilated and lighted by large windowe of richly stained glase, Upon which are blazoned sacred emblems. In accordance with the urage of the Latberan Church. The chancel contains a wall or background of heavy carved work, with a canopy projecting over the pulpit, which is elevated twelve feet from the floor and is reached by a staircase in the rear. The body of the church contains 76 pews, seating in the aggregate 500 persons, while the gallery will accommodate 300 more. The entire cost of this church is a little over $27,000—Otto H. Matz, architect.
HALLS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Chamber of Commerce.—The new building of the Chamber of Commerce is undoubtedly one of the landmarks of the year. It is situated on the southeast corner of Washington and Lasalle streets, and presents a bold and imposing appearance. The design, if not light and elegant, is that of a solid and substantial edifice, appropriate to its intended use. It has a front on Washington street of 98 feet, running back on Lasalle, street and Exchange place 180 feet. Each frout is composed of beautiful white stone. The principal entrance on Washington street is contained in a handsome facade, composed of three arches supported on composite columne with beavy carved capitals, giving entrance to a spacious corridor 16 feet wide running the entire length of the building. Internally it is designed to accommodate thirty-six business firms, and contains an Exchange Room 88 feet wide, 128 feet long, and 45 in height, which will be fitted up in the most magnificent manner. This edifice is an excellent proof of the greatness of our city, being the production of a body of men who a few years ago were insignificant in numbers and power, but who to-day are the monarchs of the merchandize of this Western country. The Chamber of Commerce, when completed, will cost a little over $200,000. E. Burling is the architect.
Catholic School—A Catholic school, in connection with the Cathedral of the Holy Name, was commenced early in the year, on Morgan street, near 12th. It is built of pressed brick, with stone dressings, and is three stories in height, occupying a space of 65 by 125 feet. The building is of the Norman style of architecture, and has a gable roof. Its estimated cost is $42,000. Bauer is the architect.
Addition to Convent-During the year a wing 40 by 45 feet has been added to the Convent of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, on Taylor street. It is three stories in height, and composed of pressed brick, with handsome stone trimings. There is a commodious basement, and Mansard or French roof. The improvement was made under the superintendence of A. Bauer, and cost about $10,000.
Crosby’s Opera House.—A magnificent edifice designed for an Opera House is rapidly approaching completion on Washington street. between State and Dearborn. It is in the Italian style of architecture, fronts on Washington street and runs back as far as Court Place. The entire space occupied is 140 feet wide by 150 in length; the edifice has a most imposing appearance. The erection on Washington street consists of a five storied block in the rear of which is a handsome building 90 feet by 160, and reaching nearly the height of the whole block. The entrance way, will be when fully completed, a splendid work of art, rich with stone cutting and statuettes worthy of the building and of the city. The hall will have accommodations for 3,500 people, and will cost over $200,000. It is owned by U. H. Crosby, Esq., our enterprising fellow citizen. W. W. Boyington is the architect.
Chicago University.—The main building of the Chicago University, covering with main tower and turrets an area of 80 by 150 feet is being rapidly pushed to completion, and will be ready for occupation early in the ensuing Spring. Its cost is estimated at $100,000.
Observatory Tower.-Contiguous to the last erection the Observatory Tower commenced last year for the Chicago Astronomical Observatory, has been nearly completed. It is a massive octagonal structure, comprising a solid isolated stone pier, (the cap or tripod stone of which weighs over seven tons) within an octagonal stone tower 35 by 35 feet and has been erected for the reception of the “Great Telescope ” just completed at Cambridge, Mass. The dome 1s now being fnished, and everything prepared for the immediate mounting of the telescope. Cost of the tower alone, $25,000.
Smith & Nixon’s Music Hall.—A very handsome music hall has been erected this year on the southwest corner of Washington and Clark streets by Messrs. Smith, Ditson & Nixon. The hall is enclosed in a block 103 feet front on Washington street by 183 on Clark. The block is four stories in height, with basement, and is composed of pressed brick, with elegant cut stone trimmings. The Hall is in the very centre of the building. removed from all external noises, and is splendidly fitted up. Unlike other city halls, it will only be used as an audience room. The seats all rise from the stage to the rear, the parquette gradually, then the dress circle, and over that the balcony. The room has no angles, the ceilings and corners are concave, and the stage set in an eliptically shaped alcove, so that every sound is reflected to a focus. The hall is lighted chiefly from above, four skylights transmitting the principal light in the day-time. The block contains stores on each front. a large photographic gallery occupying 98 by 103 feet, three stories in height, and also forty-five offices. Its estimated cost was a littler over $100,000. and the block was erected under the supervision of Otto H. Matz, Esq.
Engine House.-An engine House for the “Long John” steamer has been erected on Lasalle street, a few lots south of the old site. It is built of brick, and is 44 feet front by 88 in depth. The building is erected on the plan approved by the city, and superintended by S. B. Nixon.
BLOCKS.
In the erection of handsome blocks in the principal parts of our city the year has been especially characterized, and so numerous and elaborate have they been that we can but mention a few of the principal ones, and must refer the reader for a more exhaustive description to the former issues of the Tribune.
Lombard’s Block—On Monroe street, immediately west of the Post Office, a handsome block 56½ feet front by 88 in depth, has been built of the celebrated Athens marble. It is four stories in height, with basement and Mansard roof and contains 14 stores, 28 or 30 offices, 4 banks and 4 large halls for public purposes. The cost of this enterprise exceeds $120,000.
Custom House Block.—The old dilapidations ylcept1 “Custom House Place,” have given way to a magnificent block extending from Madison street to Post Office Alley. It is five stories in height, the first being of iron, and the reminder of pressed brick, with stone trimmings; it contains in the principal story. 11 stores, each having an average width of 17 feet, and a depth of 70 feet. The cost of the erection is nearly $100,000.
Cobb’s Block.—This block is built on the south-west corner of Michigan avenue and Lake street, by Silas B. Cobb, Esq., of this city. It has a front on Lake street of 120 feet, and one on Michigan avenue of 96 feet. The block is five stories in height, (with the exception of the lower one, which is of iron) being of cut stone. The third floor contains among other stores, two which have a frontage of 52 feet and proportionate depth. The total cost exceeds $90,000.
Magie’s Block.—A handsome, brick, and stone block 40 feet front by 80 in depth, and four stories with basement and French roof, on the southwest corner of Randolph and Lasalle streets. It is intended for the offices of business and professional men and cost $35,000.
Gellatry and Dimmick’s Block—On Lake stroet between Wabash and Michigan avenues. The block consists of two elegant marble fronted buildings, but the whole of the lower story, is thrown into one fine store, the center walls being replaced by iron pillars. It is 25 feet front by 130 in depth, l=five stories in height and cost over $36,000.
Wicker’s Block—This fine block is on the corner of South Water and State streets. It is 80 feet by 50 in depth and four stories in height. The edifice will be used as stores, with the upper stories to be used for the offices of business and professional men. The estimated cost is $85,000.
Miller’s Block—A block similar in construction and appearance to the last named erection, has been built immediately west of it on the ground lately occupied by C. Walker’s elevator. The two blocke Join each other presenting a uniform appearance, seeming as only one balding.
Hempstead and Armour’s Block—On River street near Wabash avenue. It consists of two brick stores each 80 feet by 144. They are four stories in height in front, but run back nearly to the wherf, where they are five stories. The cost is estimated at a little over $80,000.
Fullerton Block—A handsome brick block has replaced the old frame stores on the northwest corner of Washington and Dearborn streets, at a cost of $60,000. It is three stories in height, with basement and French roof, and occupies a space of 80 by 124 feet.
Justice’s Corner—A handsome marble block now marks the spot on the corner of Clark and Randolph streets, whose late miserable shanties were sacred to the shrine of Justice “pure and undefiled.” It is four stories in height, exclusive of a commodious basement and Mansard roof, and will cost over $30,000.
Andrews, Otis and Engles’ Block.—Situated on Clark street, a little south of Madison. It is built of pressed brick, with stone trimmings, and is three stories in height. The block is designed for the use of stores and the offices of professional men, and cost over $30,000.
Adams, Allen and Parker’s Block.—A business block of two stores has just been completed on Michigan avenue, between Lake and Water streets. Each store is 36 feet front by 130 in depth, and is four stories in height. The materlal used in ite construction is Milwaukee pressed bricks, and the total cost is $37,000.
BANKS AND WHOLESALE HOUSES.
Necessarily a large number of buildings to be used as banks or wholesale warehouses are included in the blocks of edifices just mentioned, though many handsome structures have been raised on single lots.
Honore and Waite’s Bank.—On the east side of Dearborn street, between Randolph and the Tremont House, a very handsome banking house has been erected within the last few months. It has a frontage of 62 feet on Dearborn by 145 in depth, and is four stories in height, with basement and mansard roof. The font is of handsomely carved Athens marble. In the building are several fire and burglar proof safes, and the whole arrangements are of a most perfect character. The total cost is not less than $76.000.
I. C. R. R. Land Department Office.—A beautiful marble fronted building, perfectly fire proof inside and out, has just been erected on Michigan avenue north of the Adams House, by the I. C. R. R. Co., for a suite of offices for the Land Department. This is the only fire proof building in the city, with the single exception of the Custom House. It is 30 feet front, and runs back 130 feet to Central avenue, three stories in height, with basement and French roof. The building cost over $40,000.
Wholesale House.—A large building handsomely built of cut stone, the upper stories with pressed bricks, has been erected on the corner of Wabash avenue and Randolph street, for a wholesale dry goods house in this city. The building is five Stories in height, has a frontage of 50 feet by 104 feet, and cost over $30,000.
Tyler’s Bank.-On the site of the old Merchant Bank (now torn down) on Lasalle street adjoining the Marine Bank. It is brick, with stone trimmings, and four stories in height, with a basement fitted up like that of the Marine Bank for brokers offices.
Wholesale House.—A large building 25 feet front, by 130, and four stories in height, has been built on Michigan avenue between Lake and Water streets, by D. C. Eddy. The material used is brick, with massive stone cuttings, and the store is intended for the use of some heavy wholesale firm. Its estimated cost is $15,000.
Reid’s Bank—Is on the east side of Clark, between Lake and South Water streets. It is forty feet square, two stories in height with a basement, and elegantly constructed of pressed bricke with cut stone trimmings. This building cost about $16,000.
MANUFACTORIES.
Shufeldt’s Distillery.—This new building is situated on the site of the old Chicago Mills on the North West corner of Wabash avenue and River street. It is built of pressed brick and has a frontage of over 90 feet, running back to the river. The building contains the largest copper still kettle in the States, the vessel being 18½ feet in diameter and 8½ feet in height, capable of holding upwards of 130 barrels. The cost of the erection is $25,000.
NOTES:
l Yclept is an archaic word meaning “called” or “named,” used as a past participle of the verb “clepe”.
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