Bronzville Puzzler


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Bronzville Puzzler
Posted by: Chidude84 ()
Date: June 25, 2010 12:50AM

So has anyone been down 43rd Street lately, right off the El stop at 43rd? There are two buildings there that seem to have a past but I'm not able to find anything on them. The first one is located right off the 43rd stop, just east of the station. At first I thought it was originally a church but looking at it further I think it was maybe once a commercial structure or maybe an early theater. It's a solid brick building located right on 43rd and Calumet. Mysteriously, the words "The Forum" are engraved on top of the building, which made me think maybe this was a theater. Any leads anybody??

Second building is about 3 blocks from the 43rd stop, right on the Northeast corner 43rd and King Drive. It's a tall, 9 stories, buff colored brick building that really sticks out in the neighborhood (or maybe it didn't stick out so much at a time when the area was more built up prior to urban renewal) I'm guessing it might have been a hotel during the Colombian exposition but I haven't found any info on this place. The building remains me a lot of the Yale Apartments on 6565 South Yale. Any clues?

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Re: Bronzville Puzzler
Posted by: Helge ()
Date: June 25, 2010 02:01AM

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/69102971@N00/1005391486]Here's your answer on the first building.
[/url]

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/69102971@N00/1449749095]Some people also have answers on the "hotel"[/url]

Hope this helps.

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Re: Bronzville Puzzler
Posted by: WayOutWardell ()
Date: June 25, 2010 02:30AM

The Forum is also mentioned in the book 'Black Metropolis' being used as a dance hall, but one that attracted 'undesirable elements'.

The Tyson was used in 'Backdraft' while it was still abandoned. Seems that it was always the tallest building in the area.

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Re: Bronzville Puzzler
Posted by: Chidude84 ()
Date: June 26, 2010 03:33PM

Thanks all!

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Re: Bronzville Puzzler
Date: June 26, 2010 06:07PM

[b]The building is at 322 E. 43rd st. It was used for the beggining of organized labor in Chicago. It also housed the Dallas resturant. See Polk's chicago 1929 directory.[/b]

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Re: Bronzville Puzzler
Posted by: WayOutWardell ()
Date: June 06, 2011 09:04PM

Looks like The Forum building is soon to be no more...

[url=http://www.wbez.org/blog/lee-bey/2011-06-05/unfunny-thing-going-happen-forum-demolition-planned-decaying-bronzeville-lan#]The Forum - Lee Bey[/url]

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