From Mies to Mies; A Walk Along Lakeview Avenue, The Next Segment
The title almost sounds like a movie sequel, The Next Segment, but today's bevy of
buildings continue the story of a street packed with so many tales to tell, that one posting can't handle all the time and space.
[Theurer-Wrigley Mansion, Richard E. Schmidt, 1896, 2466 N. Lakeview Avenue, Chicago /Image & Artwork:
designslinger]
We began last time with a building designed by Mies van der Rohe, and we're going to
end with a pair of buildings designed by Mies, so from Mies to Mies we go. First up today though, is a mansion named for gum, but not built by gum.
[Conservatory detail; Front entrance; Theurer-Wrigley Mansion /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
The house was constructed for German/American brewery baron Joseph Theurer in 1896,
but is commonly known as the Wrigley Mansion. William Wrigley, Jr. purchased the 10+ bedroom, ballroom equipped house in 1911. The family vacated the property in the 1930s, and it stood empty, except for a caretaker, for decades. I remember the yellowed, linen, pull-down, roller shades which covered all the window openings and gave the home an aura of mystery and decay. It seemed as though a very old spinster lived there with a thousand cats. But alas, that was only a young man's romantic notion of the aging manse. The Wrigley heirs finally sold the place in the 80s, and today the mansion has been spruced up with great care and attention to detail.
[Marlborough Apartments, 2608 N.Lakeview Avenue, Chicago /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
Lakeview Avenue was once lined with very large, single family homes occupied by very
wealthy families. But as the times changed it wasn't unheard of, or socially repugnant, to consider apartment living, as long as the building had a pedigree, lots of square footage, and room for servants. The Marlborough (an appropriately, aristocratic British name) fulfilled the needs of both the upper and upper-middle class tenant. The Lakeview frontage contained large apartments owned by the building's investors, while the apartments along the Deming Street side of the building were for the lucky few who rented. The classical, architectural detailing reflected the tastefully, restrained elegance of the building's clientèle.
[2700-2710 N. Lakeview Avenue, David Adler, Henry Dangler & Ambrose Cramer, 1917 /Image & Artwork:
designslinger]
The theme of upper class British breeding continued in the townhouses David Adler and
company designed just north of the Marlborough. If you squint you'd think you were on Gower Street in London's Bedford Square district. Adler, and architects Henry Dangler and Ambrose Cramer, seemed to have gotten their hands on a English Georgian Details for the Builder pattern book when they designed this block of housing.
[Stone Medical Center Building (Amalgamated Meat Cutter's and Butcher Workmen of America Building) 1951,
2800 N. Sheridan Road at Lakeview Avenue and Diversey /Image & Artwork: designslinger]
For a real change of pace, we've reached the intersection of Lakeview, Diversey and
Sheridan. Sitting on the northwest corner is the former home of the Amalgamated Meat Cutter's and Butcher Workmen of America Building. Chicago was once home to the largest stockyards in the world, where thousands of butchers slaughtered millions of animals for a demanding consumer market. Now home to a medical center, the union theme of brotherhood is captured in the embracing sculpture which still stands at the front of the building. Needless to say, the union headquarters replaced a fine, old mansion that occupied the corner until 1950 when construction began on this replacement.
[Commonwealth Plaza, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1953-56, 330-340 W. Diversey at Lakeview Avenue and Sheridan
Road /Image & Artwork: designslinger]
Directly across Diversey are the twin towers of Mies van der Rohe's Commonwealth
Promenade Apartments. We started our tour of Lakeview, a few posts ago with Mies, and we close with him. This pair of buildings were meant to be in a complex of four towers, but the other two never got built. So instead of five Miesian curtain-walled buildings bracketing Lakeview Avenue, we just have three. And depending on your point of view, that's either three too many, or two to few!
[Lakeview Avenue Walk /Images & Artwork: designslinger]
We've included this map, which goes along with today's post, as well our previous visits
to the street, which you can find here, and here.
buildings continue the story of a street packed with so many tales to tell, that one posting can't handle all the time and space.
designslinger]
We began last time with a building designed by Mies van der Rohe, and we're going to
end with a pair of buildings designed by Mies, so from Mies to Mies we go. First up today though, is a mansion named for gum, but not built by gum.
The house was constructed for German/American brewery baron Joseph Theurer in 1896,
but is commonly known as the Wrigley Mansion. William Wrigley, Jr. purchased the 10+ bedroom, ballroom equipped house in 1911. The family vacated the property in the 1930s, and it stood empty, except for a caretaker, for decades. I remember the yellowed, linen, pull-down, roller shades which covered all the window openings and gave the home an aura of mystery and decay. It seemed as though a very old spinster lived there with a thousand cats. But alas, that was only a young man's romantic notion of the aging manse. The Wrigley heirs finally sold the place in the 80s, and today the mansion has been spruced up with great care and attention to detail.
Lakeview Avenue was once lined with very large, single family homes occupied by very
wealthy families. But as the times changed it wasn't unheard of, or socially repugnant, to consider apartment living, as long as the building had a pedigree, lots of square footage, and room for servants. The Marlborough (an appropriately, aristocratic British name) fulfilled the needs of both the upper and upper-middle class tenant. The Lakeview frontage contained large apartments owned by the building's investors, while the apartments along the Deming Street side of the building were for the lucky few who rented. The classical, architectural detailing reflected the tastefully, restrained elegance of the building's clientèle.
designslinger]
The theme of upper class British breeding continued in the townhouses David Adler and
company designed just north of the Marlborough. If you squint you'd think you were on Gower Street in London's Bedford Square district. Adler, and architects Henry Dangler and Ambrose Cramer, seemed to have gotten their hands on a English Georgian Details for the Builder pattern book when they designed this block of housing.
2800 N. Sheridan Road at Lakeview Avenue and Diversey /Image & Artwork: designslinger]
For a real change of pace, we've reached the intersection of Lakeview, Diversey and
Sheridan. Sitting on the northwest corner is the former home of the Amalgamated Meat Cutter's and Butcher Workmen of America Building. Chicago was once home to the largest stockyards in the world, where thousands of butchers slaughtered millions of animals for a demanding consumer market. Now home to a medical center, the union theme of brotherhood is captured in the embracing sculpture which still stands at the front of the building. Needless to say, the union headquarters replaced a fine, old mansion that occupied the corner until 1950 when construction began on this replacement.
Road /Image & Artwork: designslinger]
Directly across Diversey are the twin towers of Mies van der Rohe's Commonwealth
Promenade Apartments. We started our tour of Lakeview, a few posts ago with Mies, and we close with him. This pair of buildings were meant to be in a complex of four towers, but the other two never got built. So instead of five Miesian curtain-walled buildings bracketing Lakeview Avenue, we just have three. And depending on your point of view, that's either three too many, or two to few!
We've included this map, which goes along with today's post, as well our previous visits
to the street, which you can find here, and here.
Posted by designslinger at 8/12/2009 2:11 AM 
Categories: Architecture, Architects, History
Tags: Lincoln Park Mies van der Rohe David Adler William Wrigley
Categories: Architecture, Architects, History
Tags: Lincoln Park Mies van der Rohe David Adler William Wrigley
Good job guys. I think the map is a good idea and expect to one day see tourists following your maps on their Iphones throughout The City!
Yes, hopefully they'll be following us in Chicago, and eventually London, Paris and Rome!!
Thanks for the kind words on my home! My father bought the Wrigley-Theurer house in 2004 and we've been working for years to get it in shape. I'm sure he'd be happy to hear that his "great care and attention to detail" are appreciated. Best
How wonderful to hear from you. Your family has done a remarkable job in preserving the house. What a project to take on! It looks great.