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).
The Chicago Files 