4618 West Armitage Avenue, circa 1940. Photo courtesy of and copyright John Drury, Old Chicago Houses (1)

A few months ago at the Chicago Public Library, I came across the fascinating book Old Chicago Houses written by John Drury and published by University of Chicago Press in 1940. One particular story of an old Chicago farmhouse struck me: the James Von Natta home at 4618 West Armitage Avenue in present-day western part of the Hermosa neighborhood.

UPDATE: On October 2nd, 2014, a demolition permit was issued for the house at 4618 West Armitage Avenue (via Chicago Cityscape). This structure was not a part of the City of Chicago’s Historic Resources Survey in 1985, which may have at least provided a 90-day demolition delay review period, so it has seemingly fallen through the cracks of municipal historic preservation. As of today, the house was still standing in its same condition, with no apparent signs of demolition preparation yet (see photograph below). We will keep you notified of further developments on this disappointing turn of events.

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The building at 2929 N. Clark Street in Lake View was built in 1897, and  has a barber shop in its corner storefront. The current owner believes there has been a barbershop there for most of the years the building has existed, quite possibly over 100 years.

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Many phenomenal architects have left their mark in the world, leaving amazing structures and spaces that fascinate us. The designing, planning, construction, and masonry leaves us in awe, but what leaves me in awe more is the intimate view of that final resting place and space.

My first article in a new series of final resting places is about Graceland Cemetery located 4001 N. Clark Street, which opened in 1860.

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St. Laurence, at the western edge of South Shore, has stood as a landmark in the community since 1911. When it was built, more than a decade before the real estate boom that saw South Shore become a truly urban neighborhood, it served the small railroad suburb known as Parkside.

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