Glessner House Museum presents “A Walk Through Time” June 8, 2014

This very special tour, the annual benefit for Glessner House Museum, presents attendees with the rare opportunity to visit the interiors of seven historic homes in and around the Prairie Avenue Historic District. Visitors will be treated to a breath-taking array of beautifully carved wood moldings, leaded glass windows, and fireplaces in elaborate tile, mosaic, and marble. The Glessner and Clarke House Museums are also included on the tour as well as historic Second Presbyterian Church with its important arts and crafts interior and collection of windows including nine by Tiffany Studios and two by Morris and Company.

Tile fireplace in the William Reid house.

Highlights include the dramatic two-story stair hall of the William Kimball house, a stunning mahogany-paneled music room illuminated by a stained glass dome in the William Reid house (1894, Beers Clay and Dutton, architects), an elaborately carved fireplace faced in onyx in the Joseph Coleman house (1886, Cobb & Frost, architects), and the last opportunity to tour the Harriet Rees house (1888, Cobb & Frost, architects) before it is moved one block to the north later this summer. Tour hours are 1 – 4 p.m.

Following the tour, attendees are invited to return to the coach house of Glessner House Museum for a reception and silent auction, featuring theatre tickets, Chicago memorabilia, collectibles, architectural fragments, and other items of interest.

For more information, or to make reservations, please call 312-326-1480. Glessner House Museum is located at 1800 S. Prairie Avenue in Chicago's South Loop.

A Walk Through Time

Sunday June 8, 2014

1:00 – 4:00pm

$50 per person

$45 for museum members

A Walk Through Time on the "Sunny Street of the Sifted Few"

The William W. Kimball House at
1801 S. Prairie Ave., a Chicago landmark
built in 1892, Solon S. Beman, architect.
One of the homes featured on the 2013 tour.

Glessner House Museum, 1800 S. Prairie Avenue, Chicago, will present its annual house tour of the Prairie Avenue Historic District entitled “A Walk Through Time” on Sunday June 9, 2013 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.  The tour will feature the interior of six private homes constructed between 1868 and 1894; an 1870 mansion now serving as a boutique hotel; the Glessner and Clarke house museums; and historic Second Presbyterian Church with its large collection of Tiffany windows.  Tickets are $50.00 per person and may be purchased in advance or at the door.  For reservations, please call 312-326-1480, or visit Glessner House Museum Web site for further information.

This very special tour presents attendees with the rare opportunity to see the interiors of several mansions built in the late 19th century on what was then known as the “sunny street of the sifted few.” These homes feature a breath-taking array of beautifully carved wood moldings, leaded glass windows, and fireplaces faced in elaborate tile, mosaic, and marble. For a complete listing of the homes on the tour click here.

Following the tour, participants are invited back to the Glessner House Museum coach house for a reception and silent auction, featuring an array of wonderful items old and new!

Book 2 takes place during
The 1893 World’s Fair.

For a fictional account of what life on Prairie Ave. was like, you might enjoy the “Avenue of Dream” series, which is set on that “sunny street of the sifted few.” The books take place during the years 1892 through 1896, during one of the most exciting eras in Chicago history. Book 1, The Pursuit of Lucy Banning and Books 2, The Dilemma of Charlotte Farrow, in the series are available at bookstores everywhere and at Amazon.com. Book 3, The Invention of Sarah Cummings, releases this September.

Check out the review of The Pursuit of Lucy Banning in USAToday. 

Christmas on Prairie Avenue: Nineteenth Century Style

This Christmas card depicts the Glessner House decorated for the holiday.

When Prairie Avenue was home to the “sifted few” back in the late nineteenth century, Christmas wasn’t the extravagant celebration it is today. Oh, sure, they exchanged gifts and had parties, but home decorations weren’t as elaborate or displayed as long as they are today. In fact, it wasn’t until fairly late into the 19th century before Christmas trees displayed were over three-feet tall. During most of the century, small table-top trees were the norm. Decorations for the tree were often hand-made, even on Prairie Avenue!

Tasteful Celebration
The Glessner House at 1800 S. Prairie, and one of the few surviving mansions from those glory days, helps shed some light on the Christmas traditions of the period. If you were to visit the home during the 1888 celebration, you’d have seen a small tree in the schoolroom, where Glessner children George and Fanny would have had it displayed on their desktop. For many years, holiday decorations were displayed mostly in the schoolroom. In later years, the Glessners had a large tree shipped by train from their estate in New Hampshire. The tree was displayed in the main hallway of the home. When you visit the museum today, you’ll see a large tree in the main hall. You’ll also see greenery tastefully hung throughout the house, as illustrated in the photograph here.

Collectable Christmas Cards
If you haven’t sent your Christmas cards yet, there’s still time. And you can purchase the Christmas card seen here at the Glessner House Museum gift shop. For information on these collectable Christmas cards call 312.326.1480. And for more insight into nineteenth life along Prairie Avenue, visit the official blog of the Glessner House Museum, The Story of House. You can also find the Glessner House Museum on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Book Series Set on Historic Prairie Avenue to Debut in 2012

A new book series set on historic Prairie Ave. during the late-nineteenth century is scheduled for release next year. Book one, The Pursuit of Lucy Banning will be published in June 2012.

Avenue of Dreams
Boasting the three richest men—Marshall Field, Philip Armour, and George Pullman—in the city among its residents, Prairie Ave. was Chicago’s original “Gold Coast.”Author Olivia Newport created a “fictional wealthy family [the Bannings] and put them smack in the middle of this historic neighborhood.” Newport lives in Colorado Springs, but lived in Illinois for a time. The series name is “Avenue of Dreams,” which perfectly describes Prairie Ave. during its heyday. The series starts in 1892 and concludes in 1896.

The Biggest and Most Spectacular

The Harriet F. Rees home is seeking landmark status.

Probably the most exciting time to live on Prairie Ave. was during the World’s Columbian Exhibition of 1893. The World’s Fair was one of the great turning points in Chicago history. With the eyes of the world focused on the Windy City, Chicago had a lot riding on the fair’s success. Many prominent Prairie Ave. residents campaigned to bring the exhibition to the city; they also worked hard to ensure it was the biggest and most spectacular World’s Fair in history.

Survivors Remain
Most of the beautiful homes that lined the avenue are long gone. A few remain, including the Glessner House Museum at 18th and S. Prairie. Another survivor, the Harriet F. Rees home is seeking preliminary landmark status. The home at 2110 S. Prairie sits just outside of the protected Prairie Ave. historic district.

To keep track of Lucy Banning and the rest of the series set on Prairie Ave., be sure to read Olivia Newport’s blog and feel free to leave a comment or ask a question; she’d love to hear from you.

Chicago’s Crazy Weather: It's Never Dull!

Friday was supposed to be a record-breaking hot day. We didn’t set any high-temperature records, but we did have some high winds, rain, and fast-moving clouds over the lake and city. Check out some of the photographs and the video below.

Signs along 16th and Prairie Ave. were knocked down by the wind.

"July 1, 2011"

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Museum Celebrates 125th Anniversary

18 Months of Celebration
On Wednesday, June 1, 2011, the Glessner House Museum will kick off an 18-month celebration commemorating the 125th anniversary of the building of the Glessner House. The home was built for John and Frances Glessner and their family. The original groundbreaking took place on June 1, 1886.

A picture of the Glessner House taken in the nineteenth century

125th Anniversary Fund
Scheduled events include a recreation of the original groundbreaking ceremony, as well as the launch of the 125th Anniversary Fund. The museum hopes to raise $125,000 during the anniversary celebration to complete various restorations and repair projects throughout the Glessner House.

Chicago's Original Gold Coast
The Glessner House is one of the most historic and architecturally significant homes in Chicago. The house, located at 1800 S. Prairie Ave., was situated in an area often identified as Chicago’s original gold coast. Among it’s famous residents were retail giant Marshall Field (1905 S. Prairie), meat-packer, Philip Armour (2115 S. Prairie), and train car manufacturer, George Pullman (1729 S. Prairie).

Glessner House architect, Henry Hobson Richardson's portrait hangs in the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.

America's First Great Architect
The Glessner House's architect, Henry Hobson Richardson was America’s first great architect. Based in Brookline, MA, Richardson served as an influence to future architectural legends, Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Nineteenth-Century Time Capsule
The Glessner House Museum is a time capsule representing life in late nineteenth-century Chicago. A life that included lavish parties and celebrated guests, both famous and infamous.

The June 1 kick off event starts at 6 p.m. The cost of the event is $15 per person, $10 for museum members.

The male servants entrance on 18th St.

For more information on other 125th Anniversary events, please visit the museum Web site and/or Facebook page.

Around the South Loop: Christmas 2010

Christmas in the South Loop
Christmastime in the South Loop is special. With the mix of the old and new, the historical with the history making, the neighborhood's character is unique. When you look south on Prairie Ave. from 18th St., you can almost imagine what the street looked like when Marshall Field, Philip Armour, and George Pullman lived there.

History and Prairie Ave.
Some of the remnants of Prairie Ave. remain with us: the Kimball, Coleman, and Reid houses still stand. The home of John and Frances Glessner, at 1800 S. Prairie, is now the Glessner House Museum. The museum offers visitors a glimpse into society life in the late nineteenth century. The home is decorated in the English and American arts and crafts style which, before the Glessner's arrived on Prairie Ave., not too many people were familiar with.

The male servants entrance to the Glessner House.

Character Development
The South Loop neighborhood has developed it's own unique character. In the six years that I've lived in the area, I've seen many changes. I've stopped counting the new high-rises and town homes that were built since I bought my condo in 2004. Many businesses opened during those six years and unfortunately, some of them  didn't make it and are closed; it's tough being a small-business owner during these tough economic times. Still others survive and even prosper. That may be the reason the South Loop is still able to attract large retailers like Trader Joe's and Costco and small businesses like Donna's Cafe, which will be opening soon at 1255 S. State St.

SuccezZ athletic shoe store at 1329 S. Michigan Ave. has the coolest ashtray in town.

Maybe you bought a Christmas tree from Marcel Florist at 1471 S. Michigan Ave.

The Advent wreath at South Loop Community Church reminds us what the season is all about: Emmanuel, God is with us.

These sculptures look less menacing in the snow, but I'm still not a fan.

The tree at the Palmer House Hilton is pretty awesome, don't you think?

South Prairie Ave.: You can almost envision Marshall Field taking a stroll.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. Come back soon to find out what the South Loop was reading in 2010. I'll be counting down the top-ten posts.

Sincerely,
Stephen Reginald
South Loop Connection

Around the South Loop

Yoga in Grant Park: Taking advantage of yesterday's great weather

The warm fall weather has kept the flowers blooming.

Vines are still green and growing.

Fall foliage along S. Plymouth Ct.

A gardener tends to the flowers at Second Presbyterian Church.

Looking north on S. Prairie Ave.

Part of the downtown skyline looking south from Clark and Roosevelt

The refurbished front door at the Glessner House Museum

Top-40 Buildings in Chicago: The South Loop has Two!

The current issue of Chicago Magazine lists the top-40 buildings in Chicago. Included in the list are the Henry B. Clarke House (34) and the John J. Glessner House (19).

The Henry B. Clarke House

 The Clarke House, the oldest house in Chicago is located at 1827 S. Indiana Ave. in the Chicago Women's Park and Gardens. It's original location (the house was moved twice before) was closer to 16th and S. Michigan Ave. The Glessner House, located at 1800 S. Prairie Ave. is a reminder that the South Loop was Chicago's original gold coast. The three richest men in Chicago all lived on S. Prairie Ave. They are in order of wealth: Marshall Field, Philip Armour, and George Pullman. John J. Glessner, far from the richest man on the block, was an executive with a farm equipment manufacturing firm. His firm merged with several others to create International Harvester.

The John J. Glessner House at 1800 S. Prairie Ave.

The Glessner House was designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson. Richardson whose offices were located in Brookline, MA, is considered one of the first great American architects. His unique American style  influenced later architects Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright.

The Clarke and Glessner houses are both museums open all year-round for tours.