Holden Block facts for kids
The Holden Block is an important old building in Chicago. It's located in the Near West Side area. This building was constructed in 1872, right after the huge Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It was built by Charles C. P. Holden, who was a well-known public official in the area.
The Holden Block is special because it's one of the few buildings left in Chicago that shows off the beautiful Italianate style of architecture. It's also the best-preserved example of this style in the Near West Side.
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A Look Back: History of the Holden Block
Building Chicago After the Great Fire
The Great Chicago Fire in 1871 destroyed a huge part of the city. But people worked very fast to rebuild! In just six weeks, over 300 new buildings were put up. These first buildings were built quickly, so they didn't have much fancy decoration.
However, by the spring of 1872, builders started to add more style. Many buildings from that time, like the Holden Block, were designed in the Italianate style. Even though the Near West Side wasn't hit hard by the fire, new buildings were still built there.
Why Were Commercial Blocks Popular?
Buildings like the Holden Block are called "commercial blocks." They were very popular back then because they could be used for many different things. For example, they could have shops on the ground floor and offices or apartments above.
However, these types of buildings didn't stay popular forever. About 20 years later, tall skyscrapers started to appear. Many commercial blocks were torn down in the 20th century to make room for new, bigger buildings. The Holden Block is special because it survived!
What Does the Holden Block Look Like?
Design and Materials Used
The Holden Block was designed by an architect named Stephen Vaughan Shipman. The building takes up its entire plot of land, which is about 72 feet by 100 feet. The outside of the building is covered in a type of stone called Buena Vista stone. This stone came from Ohio and was very popular for building at that time.
The front of the building has 24 windows. Each window is surrounded by eight different decorative designs. The windows were originally "double-hung," meaning both the top and bottom parts could slide open. Now, they are "single-hung," so only one part moves.
Rebuilding After a Fire
In 1894, a fire damaged the western part of the Holden Block. It also destroyed the south and west walls. But don't worry! These parts were rebuilt by another architect named John M. Van Osdel. He made sure to keep the original look of the front of the building.
The building also used to have a decorative "cornice" at the very top. This was missing by 2011, but it was carefully put back by 2014, making the building look even more like it did originally.
Holden Block: A Chicago Landmark
Surviving Changes in the Neighborhood
In the early 1900s, the neighborhood around the Holden Block became less wealthy. After World War II, it was even known as "Skid row," a place where many people who had lost their homes stayed in hotels. We don't know if the Holden Block was used as a hotel during this time. It was empty when another fire happened in 1954.
Starting in the 1970s, many buildings nearby were torn down to make way for new developments. But the Holden Block managed to survive all these changes!
Becoming a Protected Landmark
Because of its history and unique design, the Holden Block was officially named a Chicago landmark in 2011. This means it's a special building that is protected and preserved for the future. In 2017, it was tied for the tenth-oldest landmarked building in all of Chicago!
