I visited an estate sale today at 2024 W Warren and found out that the old house there was sold and being demolished. This house looks to me to be from the 1860s and one part of it from the 1850s. Does any one have any info on the history of this house? I found an ad in the Tribune archives for the sale of the house from March 25, 1872. 281 Warren was the old pre-1909 address.
Re: Pre-fire House at 2024 W. Warren to be demolished
Posted by:
Berwyn Frank
(---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 28, 2012 02:50PM
The house looks totally ancient. It's really a shame that it's going to be torn down. Here is a photo to get a better idea.
with that enclosed porch job, I wonder if the front of the building was to the right (Facing East) ??
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/28/2012 09:11PM by Lance Grey.
Re: Pre-fire House at 2024 W. Warren to be demolished
Posted by:
Berwyn Frank
(---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 28, 2012 09:25PM
The original poster of this thread and I were there this afternoon. You won't believe the way this place looked inside. We got some pics I will post later. Absolutely amazing and a crying shame that it's going to be torn down. The family lived here for at least 50 years and were very involved in the African American community of the near west side.
Re: Pre-fire House at 2024 W. Warren to be demolished
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2012 01:50AM by graylander773.
Re: Pre-fire House at 2024 W. Warren to be demolished
Posted by:
Berwyn Frank
(---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 29, 2012 02:06AM
YES! That's the porton that we think is circa 1860. If you looked on the other (east) side of that portion you can still make out a window that has intricate mouldings on it.
This house is a true gem and should be properly documented before it is demolished.
Re: Pre-fire House at 2024 W. Warren to be demolished
I have read -- in Old Chicago Houses (1941) by John Drury -- that in the 1930s there was an Historic American Building Survey undertaken by the W.P.A. federal architects' project in Chicago. And also, their plate drawings, detailed sketches of the interior and trim, are in the permanent files of the Library of Congress and the Burnham Architectural Library of the Art Institute.
For an example, search --- Daniel H. Sheldon House --- for another wooden cottage on the Near West Side that escaped the Fire of 1871:
http://www.loc.gov/topics/content.php?subcat=21
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2012 03:33PM by nordsider.
Re: Pre-fire House at 2024 W. Warren to be demolished
WayOutWardell Wrote:
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> There were a number of 'orange-rated' houses
> nearby from the 1870s that were demolished in the
> '90s...this one looks older than any of those.
> Wow.
>
> I gather the house with the interesting porch one
> door west is now gone? It's still there in Google
> Street View.
In the original IHPA survey in the 70's there were ten buildings on this side of the block that were worthy of notice. By the time of the of the Chicago Historic Resources Survey in the 80's only three buildings rated notice. They are the Italianate rowhouses at the east side by the alley. They are all orange rated and there used to be three but now only two of them still exist.
2024, the cottage next door (now gone but visible on street view) and the jacked frame up the street are the only other historic structures, but none of them were deemed worthy by either survey.
Re: Pre-fire House at 2024 W. Warren to be demolished
Did some searching...in the 1876 Lakeside Annual Directory, the residents of 281 Warren were Solomon, Samuel and Manny Witkowski and Joseph Hambleton. The Witkowskis are listed in the 1867 Business Directory Of Chicago as doing business out of 205 Clark St. Hambleton, a builder, is mentioned as residing at 281 Warren through at least 1892 and was a member of the Board Of Trade.
Re: Pre-fire House at 2024 W. Warren to be demolished
nordsider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have read -- in Old Chicago Houses (1941) by
> John Drury --
John Drury the news guy?
Re: Pre-fire House at 2024 W. Warren to be demolished
Posted by:
Berwyn Frank
(---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 29, 2012 10:20PM
Mornac Wrote:
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> nordsider Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I have read -- in Old Chicago Houses (1941) by
> > John Drury --
>
> John Drury the news guy?
I believe it was his father who was a reporter for the I believe [i]The Chicago Daily News.[/i]
I have read [i]Old Chicago Houses[/i] AT LEAST a dozen times and it NEVER gets old! I read some books annually and this one has become my "summer book." It's a MUST read or guys like us!
Re: Pre-fire House at 2024 W. Warren to be demolished
Posted by:
Berwyn Frank
(---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: October 29, 2012 10:25PM
AWESOME info Wardell! We think the the middle section of this house is the oldest part. The front was added on and then probably the rear addition.
Even that light bulb and fixture on the rear of the house look ancient.
Regarding the age/style - Mornac mentioned above 'Appalachian Italanate'; there are quite a few similar houses in style/size/adornment in Kentucky and Tennessee - living quarters, often two-stories, with a single story wing for the kitchen in back. In fact, some family members own property in Kentucky on which stands a long-abandoned house that looks very similar to this one. I'd say the middle (living quarters) and rear (kitchen) are original with the front quarters added on, probably replacing the original porch.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/2012 02:52AM by WayOutWardell.