Clybourn Avenue’s “Castle”

Well here is another treasure I found during my travels around Chicago!  I was in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago yesterday and stumbled upon this very interesting piece of architecture!  The first thing I thought was, “Wow, this part of the building is very ‘castle-like’!  It looks as if there is a new café opening soon in this interesting structure.

Do you see the, “A.C. Baumann” lettering closer to the top of the structure? I had to find out who this person was!  After a little research, it turns out that this person was a Chicago real estate pioneer who purchased the building after its completion in 1887.  Having arrived several decades earlier from Germany, one can see why he chose this ‘castle’ design; it no doubt loosely reminded him of the (albeit, grander) castles adorning Germany’s landscape.  Despite the fact “August Baumann” never lived in the building, I suppose he felt it fitting to ‘claim the tower’ with some personal lettering for posterity.  Or perhaps he was an early adopter of the “label maker”.  You know the one I am referring to, don’t you?  If you own it, label it; in case it goes missing.  I mean, sometimes buildings have been known to simply wander off never to be claimed by their owner, lest they are labeled.

Silly Sunday; (I think I’m the only one grinning at the moment, but that’s okay.  Laughing at myself is something I full heartedly do quite often)!

I hope your day is filled with fun, frivolity, and for heaven’s sakes, please do not forget to label your abode (or anything else, for that matter).