Survivors, Chicago, August 2023

We’ll finish up Chicago by looking at those vestiges from the past that survived the rapid gentrification and rebuilding of the central core of the Windy City which has happened over the last forty years. A hundred years ago, the area north of the Chicago River was a relatively peaceful residential neighborhood, but with the…

Morgan Ford South of Gravois, Bevo

Jumping around a bit, we’re back to the intersection of Morgan Ford and Gravois, and we’ll head south, starting at this replica of a famous landmark in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina. We looked at the intersection before, and saw there was once a row of buildings at the corner that is now a parking lot…

Moses Montefiore Synagogue, Revisited

I knew in my short visit to Bloomington-Normal that there was one place that I had to check up on, and I was pleasantly surprised! The former Moses Montefiore Synagogue has been purchased and renovated into what I believe, according to newspaper reports, a new community space. If the article proved true, it was renovated…

Fanning Elementary School

What’s now Fanning Middle School, and what will soon be a vacant building, was originally an elementary school. It’s one of the most interesting and architecturally rich of the schools designed by William B. Ittner in 1907. Clear views of the school are now blocked by some strange looking trees, but it’s a mix of…

Details, Ainad Temple

I love the Ainad Temple, right in the heart of East St. Louis. There had been rumors that they were going to close, but they instead made a commitment to stay in the city’s downtown. I’m glad, as it will still be here when the city is reborn. It is a beautiful building, filled with…

Old Shriners’ Hospital, Complete

The rehab of the old Shriners’ Hospital is complete, and it is now open as apartments. It won one of the Landmarks Association of St. Louis annual most improved awards for 2019.

Old Shriners’ Hospital

Update: Construction was completed in 2019. The old Shriners’ Hospital, still receiving the finishing touches on its renovation in this photograph, is now open as apartments.

Old United Hebrew Temple, Missouri Historical Society Archives

Update: See the Temple’s current location in this post from May of 2020. I never realized it, but the old United Hebrew Temple on Skinker was a Maritz and Young design from 1927. The strong Moorish inspiration is present in the columns, windows and overall design. The new location, which I realized I have visited,…

Dewey School

Another of the great Ittner/Milligan legacy, the Dewey School was designed by Rockwell Milligan in 1917. It has a great mixture of styles, including Romanesque and Moorish elements. Like many of their schools, there is no central portal, but two twin portals located in the central wing, near the projecting side wings. Holy settling, Batman!

Moses Montefiore Synagogue, Bloomington, Illinois

Update: The synagogue has been renovated by a new owner. Don’t let anyone tell you that smaller cities in America are boring! After eating lunch at a great “farm to table” place downtown, I began wandering around the streets to the east of Bloomington’s center. I spotted this building, and was intrigued; what was it?…