Sad Addition

I've decided to do a little series I'm going to call "buildings I notice on my way to work." Some of them I really like, some not so much. This is only my taste. If you don't agree, that's fine. But I can't see this one winning any awards.

This particular one I will call a "sad addition." Here we have a circa 1920 or so building with a gigantic cinder block addition slapped on top of it.
It's set back a bit, but clearly visible from the street or even the sidewalk across the street. For this project they really cheaped out and used only 2 windows for this huge addition.

Sometimes I think these types of projects reflect a certain trend. The trend is that people only care about what their homes are like inside (and that they have huge master suites and closets for more stuff, etc...etc...). This same trend would include not picking up litter in front of the property.

While the original building has some lovely features such as columns and a nice 2nd story porch all made from brick, the addition is made with inferior construction materials and little attempt was made to integrate the addition with the original building. To me, this says to the community at large, "we don't care that you have to look at this ugly monstrosity, we got some primo space for ourselves."

I wrote a similar series a few years back called The Good , The Bad , and The Ugly and The Beautiful. Just something to pass the time in between projects.

A very special holiday this year

You may have wondered where we've been. The photo at left of Tower Bridge should clue you in.

Yes, we went to England for Christmas!!!

For a pair of old house enthusiasts and admirers of great architecture and history, visiting London was pure heaven. We lapped it up like honey. I'll be sure and post photos on Flickr and a link when I get them organized.


The main reason for the trip was to visit my 93 year old Grandmother, who lives in Reading.

This was truly a very special Christmas for my family. My Mom, sister Kimberley and her husband Sean as well as my nephew Ciaran all made the trip.

We stayed in Reading thru Boxing Day (day after x-mas) and then Steve and I headed to London.

This is the first trip I've taken where I did not miss our dogs. I am evidently pretty codependant on my dogs. They seem to encourage this though, don't you think?
(Photo taken while packing for trip)

If you read the blog the past year, I'm sure you can imagine how overdue we were for a vacation. I am happy to say that I did not think about my job or tenants the entire trip. And I did not log onto a computer for 10 whole days.

I am hoping to make the warm and fuzzy feeling from all the great experiences with family and the amazing history and culture of London last until Spring!

Lesson Learned: Vacations are an absolute good.

New Year's Resolution: We will have more of them.

Looking forward to a great 2008 in houseblogging and otherwise! Happy New Year to all!

Gift Idea for the Preservationist

What could be more tragically romantic than dying while trying to save remnants from a beautiful & historic Adler & Sullivan building slated to be demolished?


This is "what Richard Nickel did", when he fell through the floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange and was buried in the rubble in 1972.

If this intrigues you, I suggest you check out "Richard Nickel's Chicago: Photographs of a Lost City." Here you will see the collected photos by Richard Nickel. His collection includes candid photos of Chicagoans of all types from diverse neighborhoods and of course, photos of amazing buildings that were leveled in the name of progress.


The destruction of the Garrick Theater (see photos) to make way for of all things a parking lot made me gasp out loud. Ironically, the site is the location of the new Goodman Theater.

On the day after his body was discovered, a Chicago Sun-Times editorial cartoon honored him with a drawing of a gravestone with the epitaph:

Richard Nickel
1928-1972
Killed in Action
rescuing Chicago architectural treasures

and from the man himself:

"What a fool I must be. Why am I horsing around, moving the stones from one warehouse to another, while everybody else is making a dandy living, have their own lives and apartments and houses, etc.? It's even a problem for me to buy a car." (Sound familiar anyone?)

and

"Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men."

Charming old Victorian saved from wrecking ball

About a year ago, I posted about a lovely Victorian home in my neighborhood that was in danger of teardown. Alot of wood was exposed and going to rot. I knew if something wasn't done soon, it was destined for the wrecking ball.

Well, I'm happy to report that this house was actually downzoned so that no condos could be built on the land, and as a result the owners opted to do a quick and expedient fix-up job. It has not been what I would call lovingly restored, but it has been preserved.

Wood has been painted. Not quite the quality of work we see over at Petch House, but at least the wood is now protected. I peeked inside (no one lives there yet) and the original wood staircase is intact and was apparently refinished. It has those great high ceilings and beautiful oak floors throughout.

There's something about frame houses that really says "home" to me in such a romantic way. In that "It's a Wonderful Life" way-- you know? Remember when George wants to throw the top piece of the staircase post because it keeps coming off? And he says to Mary, "Why do we have to live in this drafty old barn of a house?" And then at the end of the movie, the house is filled with people and music?

We live in a brick home, which is practical in our climate, but these old frame homes evoke thoughts of building a fire and eating a family dinner in the dining room, and tiptoeing down a creaky staircase after tucking the kids in. It's funny because I've never lived in a home like that but I have all these ideas about what it would be like. Maybe it's all the old movies I've watched so many times. What's your favorite memory (real or imagined) of "home"?

But back to our charming Victorian. Now all it needs is for the right people to come along and take it to the next level. A houseblogger waiting to happen. If you're interested, here's my earlier post about it from before. I've been keeping my eye on this one for a while.