Unity Hall facts for kids
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Unity Hall
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 Location in Chicago metropolitan area
Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3140 S. Indiana Ave., Chicago, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | Dixon, L.B. |
| MPS | Black Metropolis TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001092 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 30, 1986 |
Unity Hall is a special old building in Chicago, Illinois. It is located at 3140 S. Indiana Avenue in the Douglas area. This building was built in 1887. It has a long and interesting history, especially for the African-American community in Chicago.
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What is Unity Hall?
Unity Hall started as a social club for Jewish people. It was called the Lakeside Club. The building is made of red bricks. It has cool decorations made of terra cotta and shiny sheet metal edges. A local architect named L.B. Dixon designed it.
A Hub for Political Change
In 1917, a very important person named Oscar Stanton De Priest bought Unity Hall. De Priest was a Chicago alderman. This means he was a local leader in the city government. He was the first African-American to serve on the Chicago City Council.
De Priest started a group called the Peoples Movement Club. He made Unity Hall their main office. This club helped organize the African-American community in politics. They wanted to make sure their voices were heard.
Oscar De Priest's Legacy
The Peoples Movement Club became very strong. It was one of the best organized political groups in Chicago's Black Metropolis neighborhood. This area was a center for African-American culture and business.
Thanks to this strong support, Oscar De Priest made history again. In 1928, he became the first African-American U.S. Representative from the northern states. This was a huge step for civil rights and representation.
Later Years of Unity Hall
After the Peoples Movement Club moved out, another important politician used Unity Hall. His name was William L. Dawson. He also used it as his political office.
From the 1950s, Unity Hall was mostly used by churches. Today, the building is empty. It is on a list of historic places that need protection. This list is made by an organization called Preservation Chicago. They want to save important old buildings.
Why is Unity Hall Important?
Unity Hall is recognized as a very important building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 30, 1986. This means it is a special place in American history.
Later, on September 9, 1998, it was named a Chicago Landmark. This shows how important it is to the city of Chicago. Unity Hall stands as a symbol of political action and community strength.
