Springer Block

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Springer Block, Bay State Building
Life Span: 1872-1990
Location: SW Corner W. Randolph and State Streets, 70 State (old), 126-146 North State Street,
Architect: Carter, Drake & Wright, Addition designed by Louis Sullivan in 1888

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1874

Springer Bldg.

Sherwood John B.

Tappan, McKillop & Co.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
Springer Bldg.—State sw. cor. Randolph.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904
Bay State Bldg.—70 State sw. cor. Randolph.

Chicago Tribune, June 13, 1872

A Magnificent Ornament for a State and Randolph Corner—The Commercial Building.
The largest office building in the burnt district will soon be commenced at the southwest corner of State and Randolph streets. It will be known as the Commercial Building and will occupy nearly one quarter of the block reaching south from Randolph street to the alley, and west from State street to the alley coming out on Randolph street, with the exception, possibly, of two small lots the owners of which have not yet decided what course to pursue. It may be that they will decide to adopt the same architecture as the rest of the block. The building will have a frontage of 195 feet on State street and 54 feet on Randolph. With the exception of the 107 feet on the corner, the buildings will be 41 feet front by 107 feet in depth, and if the two owners spooken of adopt similar plans the two stores on Randolph street will be included in this block, and will be 41 feet front by 107 feet in depth. The first 107 feet by 54 belong to George A. Springer, the next 20 feet south, and adjoining to W.R. Robeson, of Boston, the next 37½ feet to Joseph Matteson, and the southerly lot on the alley, 18½ feet by 95, yo T.S. Clarkson. The building will be four stories in height and faced with Cleveland sandstone and terra cotta cornice. It will be arranged for banks, offices and stores, and will cost $150,000. Plate glass will be used in all the front windows, from the basement to the fourth story. It will be ready for occupancy by the first of November. Part of the structure is already built up to the third story, and the portals already put up make a very massive and eleant appearance. Carter, Drake & Wright are the architects.

The Land Owner, September, 1873

THE SPRINGER BLOCK, CORNER STATE AND RANDOLPH STREETS.
(See Illstration, pages 157.)
This imposing edifice is one of our better class of buildings, notwithstanding its erection immediately after the fire. In March following the conflagration, its owner, Geo. A. Springer, one of our old and esteemed citizens and business men, broke ground, and, under the direction of the architects, Messrs. Carter, Drake & Wight, the block went rapidly up. Mr. Springer paid especial attention to the construction, and the result is one of the finest and best business buildings in the new city, at once an ornament to State street and a monument to its owner.

This building has a frontage on State st. of 107 feet by 35 feet on Randolph st. The lot then runs 95 feet back, in rear of its southern end, being irregular in form. This makes the south store 20 x 95 feet, with two other stores 55 feet in depth, the lot being in that shape. The front is of Athens limestone and Amherst sandstone, in the beautiful Veronese style, very carefully built.
The hall-ways are lined with St. Louis pressed brick. On this structure is the first terra colta cornice built in Chicago, lined with brick, rendering it fire-proof. The chimneys and angle are of the same material. The cost of the building was $75,000, and it was built by days-work. Mr. Springer has displayed in this fine structure the bestof taste, both in his architecture and the choice of materials, as well as in the perfect arrangement of the stores and offices. He has also been fortunate in his tenants, who are as follows :

The Commercial Agency of Tappan, McKillop & Co. has a ten year lease of the second, third and fourth stories of this fine building. This agency is one of the largest and most vigorous branches of the Commercial Agency established by Arthur & Lewis Tappan, in New York City, in 1835—the first institution of the kind in the world. Since then these agencies have kept pace with the commerce of the globe. So important and valuable have they become that business men can no more dispense with them than ship-masters can with chart and compass. The first agency was so well planted in the rich and prolific soil of New York, and it was so carefully and conscientiously watched, matured and cultivated, that “its branches ” have indeed ” run over the wall.”

The Chicago branch has well sustained the reputation of the original institution. It is fitting, therefore, that it should occupy the best rooms in Chicago for a commercial agency. To this corner, ornamented by the gilded insignia of the agency, converge all the street railway cars of both the south and the West Divisions of the city. All, even of the North Side cars, halt and turn within two minutes’ walk of this building. These railway cars afford to messengers to and from the agency constant and direct conveyances during every business hour of the day.

This Chicago branch was organized in 1858 by a most amiable, competent and efficient gentleman, one who had actually grown up in the original institution. It has become one of the most useful and reliable agencies in the United States. It now gives constant employment, in its rooms, to from 40 to 50 hands. Its clerks handle daily more than 150 huge volumes, containing the written records of all the business men of the great North-West; and as many more charred volumes-the relics of the great conflagration of 1871. These latter are carefully labeled and arranged on shelves for occasional reference.

The extended experience of its faithful and devoted managers enabled them to proffer to the architect the best possible plan for its grand room and ofices, and all their appendages.

The entrance, at No. 70 State street, is attractive and its access easy. On entering the visitor finds that, for business comfort, conveniences, light and ventilation, the rooms and offices of the agency, and the collection departments cannot be easily excelled; for no expense has been spared in furnishing the agency rooms with furniture and fixtures elegant, attractive and convenient. All these apartments are heated by two portable boilers, which keep in circulation hot water through pipes that form a kind of surbase around the walls of each room. This system of heating is a new process in Chicago, the agency being the only institution in the city which has yet adopted this method of diffusing heat, and it has proved a complete success. In a word, after a careful survey of the premises-external and internal-we are convinced that everything gives evidence of being fully up to the generally improved character of the best commercial edifices in our New Chicago.

The Chicago Journal of Commerce as naturally grew out of the Chicago agency as did its prototype of New York out of the original institution. The rooms occupied by the editors and printers, on the second and third floors, are light, airy and well-ventilated apartments. The Journal has become the largest, the most widely circulated, as well as the most valuable and reliable commercial paper in all the great North-West, and it well deserves the fine office and elegant rooms occupied by its conductors and artisans.

R. D. Kirby, Jeweler.
No. 70 State street is occupied by R. D. Kirby, who has a choice and well-selected stock of jewelry, and a handsomely appointed and well-arranged store. Mr. Kirby is well known in this city, and his customers are numbered among our best citizens. His stock is quite equal to that of any other house in the city. Persons out of the city should not fail to visit Mr. Kirby’s establishment this fall, when they come here to the Exposition.

Other Occupants.
The other stores of this block are occupied by Geo. McElwain & Co., jewelry; Burkitt, Sutton & Stanley, dealers in worsteds, hosiery, yarns, knitted goods, etc.; Halsey Bros., the Domestic Sewing Machine Co., Baker & Gifford, H. P. Merrill, E. J. Turner, and others, making the block a lively hive of business industry, which our artist has graphically shown in his sketch.

Rebuilt Chicago.—The Springer Block, South-West Corner of State and Randolph Streets.

Chicago Tribune, July 24, 1887

The block on the southwest corner of State and Randolph streets, formerly known as the Springer Block, purchased a year ago last January by Sidney Bartlett, is undergoing important changes. It is to be made six stories high. The inside has been almost entirely torn out and the rooms are to be rearranged to suit the convenience of the class of tenants who will occupy it—doctors, dentists, musicians, etc. This is a sort of occupants who have proved very profitable to the owners of the Central Music-Hall, near by. The expenditures on Mr. Bartlett’s building will be about $75,000.

Inter Ocean, January 29, 1888

BAY STATE BUILDING.
The Bay State Bullding, corner State and Randolph streets, as shown in the accompanying cut, has, under the direction of Mr. Byron Lathrop, agent, and the supervision of Messrs. Adler & Sullivan, architects, has undergone a thorough remodeling, and is in its present handsome state the most desirable office building in the city. Its advantages are a frontage of 109 feet on State street situated in the very center of retail business and the entire street-car system. The entrance hall and vestibule have a floor of English tile and walls and ceiling of Italian marble. Like ail first-class office buildings it is furnished with one of Hale’s
best hydraulic passenger elevators; the halls are exceptionally light, being entirely of glass above the wainscot. The offices front and rear are unusually light because of the very large windows which carried from the ceiling nearly to the floor. The sewerage and plumbing are as nearly perfect as they can be made. Hot and cold water will be furnished in every office. The building has been fire-proofed after the most approved plan; it is heated throughout by steam from large steel boilers under the low pressure system, in fact everything will be maintained first-class and parties desiring offices in the building will find Mr. Lathrop, 115 Monroe street, a most obliging and pleasing gentlemen to deal with.

The Occupants.
Already quite a large number of the offices have been let while the store-rooms on the ground floor are occupied as follows: Corner, with a frontage on both State and Randolph streets,
Shourds, Storey & Kasper, jewelers, importers of diamonds, watches, etc., in connection with a full line of silverware. At No. 68 is James P. Dwyer, cigars and tobacco, the oldest tenant in the building, having occupied the store he is now in for fifteen years. Mr. A. C. Swanson, manufacturer of fine home-made candies occupies store No. 70, where he has succeeded in drawing to himself a large patronage. Joining Mr. Swanson is the Chicago Fruit House, No. 72, a retail branch of Messrs. Page & Ostatag, 129 South Water street, who make of this the headquarters on State street for choice fruits, nuts, oranges, etc. Mr. Edward F.. Roehl, importer and dealer who takes first place as the leader of fashions in this line occupies store No. 73.

Among those who have taken offices in the building are Mr. A. Hesler, the oldest established photographer in the city, who occupies five rooms on the top floor, where he hopes, in his cozy, light, and handsome apartments, to be permanently located. Mr. Hester makes it a rule to give his personal attention to sittings, and in this way secures to himself and patrons first-class work. A specialty will be made of life-size carbon portraits, of which he is the sole producer. These portraits, owing to their life-like appearance, durability, and superiority over the cheap crayon work, are becoming highly popular. and preferred by many to oil paintings. The Mezzotint portraits are also made a specialty of by Mr. Hesler. Mrs. A. E. Andrews, manicure and surgeon chiropodist, who was for two years manager for Mr. M. E. Cobb,
is pleasantly located in rooms 310 and 311, where she is now doing business on her own account, making hosts of friends, all of whom express themselves highly delighted with her new and elegantly furnished apartments. Dr. C. S. Eldridge one of the first office tenants in the building is glad to get back to his old quarters where he will occupy rooms 306 and 307. The Doctor expects to be ready to receive at his new offices the latter part of the week.
Among others who have engaged offices in the building, are Wm. E. Cummins dentist. William Pretyman artist, Drs. E. Fletcher Ingals, D. R. Brower, John A. Boynton, F. B. Dickinson. W. G. Bryson and Drs. Alexander and Buvar

In 1888 the building was remodeled, adding two stories. Renamed Bay State and Kranz buildings. Photograph about 1910.

Historic American Buildings Survey, National Park Service, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation, 1963

The building has one basement, and rests on spread foundations

Wall construction, finish and color: The walls are made of smooth-surfaced limestone, with small molded string courses between floors at the window sill levels. The northeast corner of the building is cut off diagonally, and was originally the main face. The 1872 date stone at this diagonal face has been covered with a large sign. The original ivory-colored stone and brown trim is visible on the Kranz portion of the building, but the Bay State portion has been painted gray. An assortment of store fronts and signs has obscured the lower two stories.

Over-all dimensions: 78 feet high (the four original stories plus the two added later). The north side is about 34 feet long, divided into three bays. The east side, about 100 feet long, is divided into twelve bays. The upper two-story addition of 1888 extends south, adding two stories to the building at 124 North State Street, which was not part of the original Springer Block, This building to the south at 124 North State Street and the Krana Building section of the Springer Block also share a continuous simple concrete cornice, apparently a recent alteration,

Openings: The windows of the second floor have segmental arched heads with Gothic labels. Third floor windows have segmental arches. The fourth floor windows have semi-circular blind arches with incised carving in the tympana. The windows are made of wood and are double-hung, with single light sash. Two large bay windows on the east side, made of iron, extend from the third through the sixth floor, and cannot date from before the 1888 addition.

Roof: The Bay State part of the building has a molded iron cornice with parapet, probably added later.

Stairways: The building has two passenger elevators.

Chicago Tribune, October 25, 1973

By Paul Gapp
Urban affairs editor

The Landmarks Preservation Council has asked city officials to con- sider saving four 19th Century buildings in a north Loop area proposed for urban renewal and partial demolition.

All the structures are in the block bounded by Randolph, Washington, State, and Dearborn Streets.

They are:

The Springer Block

Unity Building-137 Dearborn St. “The only office building by Clinton Warren, the famous hotel architect, and once one of the biggest and most famous buildings In Chicago,” the council said.

McCarthy Building (also known as the Landfield Building>-the northeast corner of Dearborn and Washington Streets. “Designed by John M. Van Osdel, it is one of the few surviving buildings downtown dating from 1872, the year after the great fire. A fine example of the style of the period Very interesting in its juxtaposition to Civic Center plaza and nearby buildings,” the council said.

Methodist Publishing House – now known as the Stop-and-Shop warehouse, 12 W. Washington St. The council said it was designed by Otis L. Wheelock and is “a nice example of the bay window variant of the Chicago , enhanced with Sullivanesque orna- ment.”

None of the buildings have been designated an architectural landmark by the city.

The Council, a private organization, made its plea to save the building in a letter to Lewis W. Hill, the city s urban renewal commissioner. It suggested a small governmental committee be formed to study the buildings.

A federal environmental impact statement will be required if the city moves ahead with the renewal project, the council said. Such statements must include an evaluation of architecturally important buildings.

An undetermined number of buildings would be torn down and the cleared land sold to developers for construction of housing, office, and other structures in an irregularly shaped six-block renewal area.

Hill said it will take six months to complete a feasibility study of the -dollar project.

Chicago Tribune, December 28, 1988

3 North Loop Developers to Get Windfall
The city is about to hand three of three of the city’s wealthiest developers a $24.4 million subsidy to build an office complex in the heart of the Loop—the largest renewal incentive in Chicago history.

The leaders of several civic watchdog groups claim the incentive, called a land “write-down,” is exorbitant. Some even contend that the office complex, or something like it, would have been built anyway, with no subsidy at all.

The developers were promised a subsidy five years ago, but its size could not be determined until Thursday, when the city learned how much it will cost to acquire property on the block east of the Daley Civic Center.

The city will pay the current owners $22.2 million for half the block under a condemnation agreement by Cook County Circuit Judge Earl Arkins.

The city must still acquire another quarter of the block. The remaining quarter is already owned by a three-devleoper partnership that proposes to erect a $400 million office-over-retail complex.

The partnership, called FJV Venture, agreed to pay the city $12.5 million for the parts of the block that the partnership didn’t already own.

The block, bounded by State, Randolph, Dearborn and Washington Streets, is to be the centerpiece of the city’s North Loop urban renewal project. To be designed by architect Helmut Jahn, its base structure will contain a glassy shopping arcade that will connect, in a visual sense, Marshall Field & Coo.’s State Street store with the Picasso statue on the Daley Plaza.

The concept behind the North Loop was for the city to condemn the many raunchy stores and theaters in the six-block zone, and resell the land to selected developers who, in return for a break on the land price, would build what the planners wanted.

Back in 1981, under then-Mayor Jane Byrne, the city floated $65 million in North Loop bonds-enough, it was thought, to buy and resell all six blocks. But the funds ran out after only two blocks, mainly because of administrative delays, high interest rates, and the inexorable climb of downtown real estate prices.

An additional $58 million in bonds was sold in late 1986 by then-Mayor Harold Washington`s administration, with $35 million in proceeds earmarked for the block east of the Daley Center, which planners call Block 37.

But once again the city encountered delays, one being the controversy over whether to save the landmark McCarthy Building at the southwest corner of the block. Meanwhile the price of prime Loop land rose from about $450 a square foot to the $565 and $600 prices agreed to on Thursday.

According to internal city planning documents, the city`s newest cost estimate for acquiring Block 37, demolishing the buildings, and relocating tenants is about $37 million. Subtracting FJV`s $12.5 million payment makes the prospective “write-down” $24.4 million.

The high cost also raises a question of whether the city will have enough funds left over to acquire the Harris and Selwyn Theaters a block north on Dearborn Street. The city wants to buy the landmark theaters and lease them to the Goodman Theatre as part of a “theater row” anchored on the east by the restored Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.

But with at least $37 million going to Block 37, it is uncertain whether the city will have sufficient funds left to buy the theaters. Nearly $17 million of the proceeds were set aside for interest payments. By the mid-`90s those payments are to be covered by property taxes flowing from a rebuilt North Loop.

An FJV executive insisted Thursday that the office project is not over-subsidized, even though the city will pay two-thirds of the $37 million land assembly tab.

“The size of the write-down is no bigger than what was expected,” said Michael Tobin, FJV project manager. “The only way that property could be acquired is through public intervention.”

Tobin also pointed out that under its redevelopment contract with the city, FJV must contribute up to an additional $4 million to a North Loop preservation fund. The fund was used to rehab the Chicago Theatre and will be tapped to fix up the Reliance Building, a nearby landmark.

Michael Leroy, a condemnation lawyer hired by the city, said the sizable subsidy was justified because FJV is limited in what it can do on the property.

Not so, according to civic groups like Metropolitan Planning Council and the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois. Both protested when FJV, after first promising to save the McCarthy Building, convinced city officials last year to rescind its landmark status so the partnership can eventually knock it down.

But a more fundamental critique of the Block 37 deal comes from critics such as Arthur Lyons, head of the Center for Economic Policy Analysis.

“Redevelopment would have happened there a couple of years ago if the city hadn`t gotten involved,” Lyons said. “I call it planning blight. I`m disappointed that Harold Washington didn`t call off the whole thing.”

The late mayor had close ties with one of the FJV principals-Bernard Weissbourd, chairman of Metropolitan Structures Inc. Weissbourd was one of the few white businessmen to back Washington`s long-shot 1983 camapign. The other two firms in FJV are the Levy Organization, headed by Lawrence Levy; and JMB Realty Corp., headed by Neil Bluhm and Judd Malkin.

The big winners Thursday, however, were the owners of the United Artists Theater, 45 W. Randolph St., and the five small shops that wrap around the southwest corner of Randolph and State Street.

Under terms furnished by their attorney, Thomas Burke, Plitt Theaters Inc. will be paid $7.3 million for its dormant movie house, and a partnership called SIDCOR will get $14.9 million for its buildings, including the century-old, Springer Building, once remodeled by architect Louis Sullivan.

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