Gaylord Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gaylord Building
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Gaylord Building
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lockport, Illinois |
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| Built | 1838 |
| Architect | Erastus and William Newton |
| Part of | Lockport Historic District (ID75000676) |
| Added to NRHP | May 12, 1975 |
The Gaylord Building is a very old and important building in Lockport, Illinois. It was built in 1838. This building played a big part in building the Illinois and Michigan Canal. The canal was a major waterway that connected the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico.
Today, the Gaylord Building is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. It is also one of 29 special historic sites owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The building is made from yellow limestone, which is a common rock found in Illinois. In 1859, a new three-story section was added to the building. This new part was built in a style called Italianate.
For a while, the building fell into disrepair. But starting in 1983, a big effort began to fix and save it. This restoration project became a great example for how to save other historic places.
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Building the Gaylord Building: A Historic Start
The Illinois and Michigan Canal was a huge project. It started in 1836 and finished in 1848. The canal was 96 miles (154 km) long. It was the last piece needed to connect the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. This connection went all the way to the Atlantic Ocean through the Port of New York.
Lockport was a perfect spot for the canal's main office. It was about one-third of the way from the start of the canal in Chicago. It was also a good place for storing supplies.
Why the Gaylord Building Was Needed
Building the canal was hard at first. It was tough to get enough supplies and workers. Most things had to come from the East Coast. In the 1830s, areas like Lockport were still mostly wilderness. There wasn't a big enough warehouse to hold all the materials for the canal. So, the canal leaders decided to build one. Some people at the time wondered if state money should be used for it.
Choosing Materials and Construction Details
The building material chosen was a bit surprising for a frontier town. However, this part of Illinois has a lot of yellow limestone. This stone is sometimes found right under the ground. Some stories say that stone for the building came directly from the canal's digging site.
The Gaylord Building was built quickly, between May and September 1838. Jacob Fry, who was in charge of the canal at the time, oversaw the work. It cost about $4,014.29, which was a lot of money back then. Using yellow limestone for the building might have even made it a popular choice for other buildings.
The Gaylord Building as a Busy Warehouse
Once the canal was finished in 1848, the building was no longer needed for canal supplies. The Canal Board of Trustees first rented it out, then sold it. Over the years, it had many different owners. For a long time in the mid-1800s, it was owned by George Gaylord. He was a well-known merchant in Lockport.
After George Gaylord passed away, Norton & Company bought the building for $7,500. Lockport had many busy warehouses at that time.
Changes and New Uses Over Time
In 1859, a new section was added to the building. This new part looked very different from the original building. The Gaylord Building continued to be used for many things. It was a warehouse, a machine shop, and even a place where metal items were made. It also housed a printing company. Later, a third story was added to the original part of the building. At that point, it became a warehouse for plumbing supplies.
Bringing the Gaylord Building Back to Life
In 1983, George Gaylord's grandson, Gaylord Donnelley, became interested in the building. He was a very successful businessman. His niece reportedly encouraged him to look at it. He created a company called The Gaylord Lockport Company. It was named after his grandfather.
Gaylord Donnelley spent four years and $2.8 million to restore the building. It had become quite run-down. He brought it back to its original beauty. This included removing the third story that had been added later. He also restored the roofline to how it looked in 1859.
A Model for Historic Preservation
At the same time, people wanted to create a special "Heritage Corridor." This corridor would help tell the story of the I&M Canal. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed a law to create it. In 1987, the Gaylord Building opened its doors to the public. It had a restaurant called Public Landing. It also had a museum with exhibits about the canal.
President Reagan even gave Mr. Donnelley an award for saving the building. The Gaylord Building project became a great example. It showed how old historic places could be saved and used for new purposes.
The Gaylord Building Today: A Center for History
The National Trust for Historic Preservation now owns the Gaylord Building. The Canal Corridor Association helps manage it. It is part of the Lockport National Historic District.
The building is a main spot for learning about the canal. You can find exhibits, tours, and programs there. A trail runs right past the building. This trail follows the old path where mules used to pull canal boats. It leads visitors to other historic parts of downtown Lockport. This includes the Norton Building, which is home to the Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery.
