Superior Block

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Superior Block, Fowler-Goodell-Walters Block
Life Span: 1872-1911
Location: 75-79 Clark Street (opposite Court House)
Architect: W. W. Burlington

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1874

Superior Blk.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904
Superior Blk., 77 and 79 Clark

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1911
Superior Blk., 135 N. Clark

Chicago Evening Post, October 5, 1872

SUPERIOR BUILDING,
opposite the Court House. on Clark street, is a splendid building. It is a triple structure, each facade being 22½ feet by 161½ deep. A court in the centre, 30 feet wide, will be covered with plate glass and furnish abundant light. This will be spanned by bridges from the different floors. The material is the Lake Superior brown stone. Medallions in stone and relacters and columns in groups ornament the front. All is surmounted with a beautiful cornice. It is now nearly completed, and is a pleasing and unique structure.

The Land Owner, March, 1872

THE FOWLER-GOODELL-WALTERS BLOCK.
That the Chicago of the future will excel that of the past in the elegance of its buildings there can be no reasonable doubt, after glancing at our illustration of this block now in process of erection site on Clark street, opposite the court house, the foundation and a portion of the walls of which are already up, and the cut stone for which can be seen in the yard in this city. The appearance of this magnificent structure, of which our artist presents a view from the elevations of the architect, W. W. Boyington, Esq., is more like the edifices to be seen in Paris, Vienna and Berlin, than anything in the county, although the Equitable building, in Broadway, New York, has been studied as a model, and improvements made upon its adaptability to business and general style. When completed it will be, beyond question, the most substantial built, best appointed, and most elegant business block in this city. There is none of the cheap material, so much in vogue, to be used; from the foundation stories to the cornice, the whole will be built upon honor, built to stand, built to tell posterity that the fire did not injure the bold spirit of its owners, or extinguish their firm belief in the future of Chicago.

The block is being erected jointly, by Dr. E. S. Fowler and R. E. Goodell, Esq., of Springfield, and J. C. Walters, Esq., for Mrs. Dr. Maxwell, of this city. It is to be five stories, each of the three buildings composing it, owned as above, being 22½ feet front by a depth of 161½ feet. The plans are unique and novel. There will be a main entrance opposite the court house, to a hall twenty feet wide, extending through the entire structure. The building will run back from Clark street, a distance of eighty feet, to a court in the center, thirty feet wide, across which to the east, will be the entrance to the inner buildings. The court will be covered with heavy plate glass. In addition to broad flights of stairs, there will be a large passenger elevator in the hall, midway between the street and the court. The court will be spanned by bridges, leading from the different floors, thus rendering communication between the two buildings feasible and easy. A bulletin board with trumpet speaking tubes, will be placed in the main hall, es occupant of offices having his name over the tube communicating with his respective office, to facilitate business a render communication with the ground floor immediate and easy. This, in connection with the passenger elevator, will render the upper floor equally desirable for tenants.

The basement will be fitted up for brokers’ offices, the first floor for banking houses, the second for insurance, law and kindred pursuits, and the fourth and fifth, equally well appointed and accessible, will be divided into suites for lawyers. The vaults, built of the most approved material will extend to the fourth floor, accessible to all the offices. The building will be heated by indirect radiation, and in every room will be marble mantels and grates. Water will be introduced into each room, supplied from a tank at the top of the building, forced up by the engine. Each hall will be provided with fire plugs, with hose attached.

The material used is Lake Superior brown stone. The front will be elaborately ornamented with medalions in cut stone, groups of pilasters and columns. A large balcony, is seen in our engraving, spans the main entrance, and the cornice is delightfully in keeping with the ensemble of the whole front, rising gracefully in the air, a crowning glory to the superstructure.

Whetever lessons our builders and architects have learned by the fire, as well as the large experience and practical research of the associated gentlemen who own this edifice, will be used in rendering it absolutely fire-proof, convenient for business, and a model for other structures. Many scientific improvements will be introduced, which we have not the space to give in detail.

Our engraving shows a portion of an adjoining building the south. This is being erected by the Drs. Quinlan, and in its general style will conform to this block, giving a large street frontage, in the same style of architecture.

The erection and early completion of such buildings as to as already exerted a powerful influence upon values in the vicinity, and the neighboring property has sensibly felt its effects. H. C. Morey, 116 West Madison street, is the agent for the owners.

Chicago Tribune, April 7, 1872

The handsome row of banks on the east side of Clark street, opposite the Court House, belonging to Messrs. Fowler, Goodell and Walter, respectively, have reached the third story. The brown stone shows elegantly in the elaborate design as the work progresses.

NOTES:

This building, along with the Quinlan building, were raised in 1911 and replaced with the 20 story City Hall Square building.