May as well start posting these here too. 1950 - 2020. Chicago, corner of Ashland Ave and Jackson Blvd. This stretch flipped from 1880s mansions to boarding houses (mostly for medical students) and labor unions then back to fancy townhouses.
The still-standing Richardsonian Romanesque mansion on the right is the Chalmers House (1885, Treat & Foltz). William Chalmers married Joan Pinkerton - yeah, Allen Pinkerton’s daughter. Now their home sits on Union Row under the tower of @CMRJB’s office (Walter Ahlshlager, 1928).
The still-standing Richardsonian Romanesque mansion on the right is the Chalmers House (1885, Treat & Foltz). William Chalmers married Joan Pinkerton - yeah, Allen Pinkerton’s daughter. Now their home sits on Union Row under the tower of @CMRJB’s office (Walter Ahlshlager, 1928).
The still-standing Richardsonian Romanesque mansion on the right is the Chalmers House (1885, Treat & Foltz). William Chalmers married Joan Pinkerton - yeah, Allen Pinkerton’s daughter. Now their home sits on Union Row under the tower of @CMRJB’s office (Walter Ahlshlager, 1928).
Two of the since-demolished mansions were built in the 1880s for Chicago Board of Trade members, Ulric King & Sanford Scribner, but the wealthy fled the neighborhood quickly (and at a $$$ loss) - by 1910 these homes had been sold and turned into boarding houses.
Two of the since-demolished mansions were built in the 1880s for Chicago Board of Trade members, Ulric King & Sanford Scribner, but the wealthy fled the neighborhood quickly (and at a $$$ loss) - by 1910 these homes had been sold and turned into boarding houses.
Two of the since-demolished mansions were built in the 1880s for Chicago Board of Trade members, Ulric King & Sanford Scribner, but the wealthy fled the neighborhood quickly (and at a $$$ loss) - by 1910 these homes had been sold and turned into boarding houses.
Two of the since-demolished mansions were built in the 1880s for Chicago Board of Trade members, Ulric King & Sanford Scribner, but the wealthy fled the neighborhood quickly (and at a $$$ loss) - by 1910 these homes had been sold and turned into boarding houses.
Two of the since-demolished mansions were built in the 1880s for Chicago Board of Trade members, Ulric King & Sanford Scribner, but the wealthy fled the neighborhood quickly (and at a $$$ loss) - by 1910 these homes had been sold and turned into boarding houses.
Before that though, King, Scribner, and Chalmers were buddies with Chicago Mayor Carter Harrison Jr. - he lived across the street. When the Mayor was assassinated in 1893, Chalmers was one of the first to respond.
Mayor Harrison was an avid cyclist - they had no idea how good they had it, you’re crazy to bike down a car sewer like Ashland today.
The rich moved out of these buildings, medical students moved in, and then in the 1950s it became a dorm for Coyne College (a trade school). There are truly a bizarre number of postcards depicting what was a random trade school dorm.
The rich moved out of these buildings, medical students moved in, and then in the 1950s it became a dorm for Coyne College (a trade school). There are truly a bizarre number of postcards depicting what was a random trade school dorm.
The rich moved out of these buildings, medical students moved in, and then in the 1950s it became a dorm for Coyne College (a trade school). There are truly a bizarre number of postcards depicting what was a random trade school dorm.
The rich moved out of these buildings, medical students moved in, and then in the 1950s it became a dorm for Coyne College (a trade school). There are truly a bizarre number of postcards depicting what was a random trade school dorm.
The rich moved out of these buildings, medical students moved in, and then in the 1950s it became a dorm for Coyne College (a trade school). There are truly a bizarre number of postcards depicting what was a random trade school dorm.
The Chalmers house (315 S. Ashland) became a nursing home and then a (pretty questionable imo) religious rehab/addiction center. Also a puppy was rescued from within its walls in 1950. Today it is once again apartments.
The Chalmers house (315 S. Ashland) became a nursing home and then a (pretty questionable imo) religious rehab/addiction center. Also a puppy was rescued from within its walls in 1950. Today it is once again apartments.
The Chalmers house (315 S. Ashland) became a nursing home and then a (pretty questionable imo) religious rehab/addiction center. Also a puppy was rescued from within its walls in 1950. Today it is once again apartments.
The Chalmers house (315 S. Ashland) became a nursing home and then a (pretty questionable imo) religious rehab/addiction center. Also a puppy was rescued from within its walls in 1950. Today it is once again apartments.
When the brick townhouses went up in the 1990s (don’t know when the originals were torn down), the developer reoriented the lot to face Jackson, which had been narrowed after it was designated a Chicago Landmark District. Postcard: Chicago History in Postcards
When the brick townhouses went up in the 1990s (don’t know when the originals were torn down), the developer reoriented the lot to face Jackson, which had been narrowed after it was designated a Chicago Landmark District. Postcard: Chicago History in Postcards
When the brick townhouses went up in the 1990s (don’t know when the originals were torn down), the developer reoriented the lot to face Jackson, which had been narrowed after it was designated a Chicago Landmark District. Postcard: Chicago History in Postcards
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