Flickr album of today's great FC tour of Industrial Lincoln Park. I was (very) surprised by what I learned of this area.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/k9jdk/sets/72157645070117252/

Great photos, thanks!

I was told once that the iron port with flap cover is a type of floor drain outlet. They're on a lot of factories of the era - Schoenhofen Brewery building, for example. I remember them being all over the old Stewart-Warner factory, too.

daveg,
Thank you for the interesting photos. The photo of the Eugene Dietzgen Co building, reminds me of my late 1940s winter ice skating days, at the tennis courts across Fullerton at Sheffield; now occupied by a Dominick's grocery.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2014 09:35AM by nordsider.

nordsider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> daveg,
> Thank you for the interesting photos. The photo of
> the Eugene Dietzgen Co building, reminds me of my
> late 1940s winter ice skating days, at the tennis
> courts across Fullerton at Sheffield; now occupied
> by a Dominick's grocery.


The Dominick's is gone but a sign on the front of the building says Whole Foods coming soon. Guess the DePaul kids will be asking mom and dad for larger food allowances. ;-)

WayOutWardell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Great photos, thanks!
>
> I was told once that the iron port with flap cover
> is a type of floor drain outlet. They're on a lot
> of factories of the era - Schoenhofen Brewery
> building, for example. I remember them being all
> over the old Stewart-Warner factory, too.

If you're referring to the little square box, most likely these held a key used by night watchmen.

"The approximately five pound circular watchclock was enclosed in a black leather pouch attached to a leather strap and carried over the shoulder. Inside buildings mounted near doors, were watchclock stations consisting of a small metal box with a hinged lid, which contained a numbered key affixed by a twelve-inch chain. The watchman would insert the key into the clock, rotate it and a time stamp would be pressed onto a roll of paper locked inside the clock."

PKDickman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WayOutWardell Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Great photos, thanks!
> >
> > I was told once that the iron port with flap
> cover
> > is a type of floor drain outlet. They're on a
> lot
> > of factories of the era - Schoenhofen Brewery
> > building, for example. I remember them being
> all
> > over the old Stewart-Warner factory, too.
>
> If you're referring to the little square box, most
> likely these held a key used by night watchmen.
>
> "The approximately five pound circular watchclock
> was enclosed in a black leather pouch attached to
> a leather strap and carried over the shoulder.
> Inside buildings mounted near doors, were
> watchclock stations consisting of a small metal
> box with a hinged lid, which contained a numbered
> key affixed by a twelve-inch chain. The watchman
> would insert the key into the clock, rotate it and
> a time stamp would be pressed onto a roll of paper
> locked inside the clock."

This box was mounted on the outside of the building.

daveg Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PKDickman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > WayOutWardell Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Great photos, thanks!
> > >
> > > I was told once that the iron port with flap
> > cover
> > > is a type of floor drain outlet. They're on
> a
> > lot
> > > of factories of the era - Schoenhofen Brewery
> > > building, for example. I remember them being
> > all
> > > over the old Stewart-Warner factory, too.
> >
> > If you're referring to the little square box,
> most
> > likely these held a key used by night watchmen.
> >
> > "The approximately five pound circular
> watchclock
> > was enclosed in a black leather pouch attached
> to
> > a leather strap and carried over the shoulder.
> > Inside buildings mounted near doors, were
> > watchclock stations consisting of a small metal
> > box with a hinged lid, which contained a
> numbered
> > key affixed by a twelve-inch chain. The
> watchman
> > would insert the key into the clock, rotate it
> and
> > a time stamp would be pressed onto a roll of
> paper
> > locked inside the clock."
>
> This box was mounted on the outside of the
> building.


That was common. Watchmen making rounds for large complexes or multiple businesses may not have all the keys. The chart would still show that he was there and rattled the doorknobs.

The things I'm speaking of can be found on exterior factory walls, which line up with the floor level of the building.
If you look at the Schoenhofen Brewery building on Canal & 18th via StreetView, you can see one of these on every space between window bays on all floors of the building.

WayOutWardell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The things I'm speaking of can be found on
> exterior factory walls, which line up with the
> floor level of the building.
> If you look at the Schoenhofen Brewery building on
> Canal & 18th via StreetView, you can see one of
> these on every space between window bays on all
> floors of the building.


I see what you're looking at. They're only on the upper floors.

Yes, those are probably drains. I imagine they're pretty handy when your lauter tun spills wort all over the brewery floor.

I still think the one in the Flikr set is for a watchmen's key.

You may be right. I've only seen the indoor watchclock key stations - smaller, thin metal, single key.

Just noticed some more of those drains all over the building on the west side of Elston across the street from Morton Salt.

Don,t know abt drains or key stations, but backing up on this thread, i skated at fullerton/sheffield as well. Also the lincoln park lagoon, among my fondest mem'ries.

In the pics, the building w the big round turret....on Halsted, is it? Or somewhere along lincoln avenue?

This is a great site....such nostalgia. Glad to have happened on it.