Page 123 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Chicago

F AR THER AFIELD  121

thrived as the center of the
boat-building and -repair
trades. The visitors’ center
(200 West 8th Street) in
Lockport’s historic Gaylord
Building, the oldest industrial
structure along the waterway,
offers maps and information.
Adjacent to the center is a
restored pioneer settlement,
its buildings characteristic
of those built during the
development of the canal.
Will County Historical
Society Museum is located in Interior of Hotel Florence, typical of the town’s Queen Anne-style elegance
Lockport’s scenic 1837 canal
headquarters building. Tour marshland in Chicago’s entire nation, ensued. The US
guides tell stories of the canal far south side, 12 miles government intervened,
and explain historic artifacts. (19 km) south of downtown sending in federal troops. The
Chicago. He hired architect workers lost the seven-week
w Pullman Historic Solon S. Beman and landscape strike, but Pullman’s experiment
was tainted with failure. He died
architect Nathan F. Barrett
District to plan the company town. three years later, in 1897, still
Most of the more than resentful. By 1907, all the houses
Bounded by 111th & 115th sts., Ellis &
Cottage Grove aves. q 95/Dan Ryan 1,700 row houses and in Pullman had been sold to
then bus 111. £ 111th St. (Electric apartment units were private buyers.
District line). n 11141 S Cottage constructed between Plans in 1960
Grove Ave. Tel (773) 785-8901. 1880 and 1885. to demolish the
Open 11am–3pm Tue–Sun. 8 May– Workers rented the area’s buildings and
Oct: 12:30pm, 1:30pm 1st Sun living quarters from create an industrial
of month; call (773) 785-8901. h Pullman, who park were defeated
∑ pullmanil.org expected to realize a by residents. The
6 per cent profit by district of Pullman
Pullman Historic District, collecting rent on all was designated a
one of Chicago’s best- the buildings, includ- national landmark
preserved 19th-century ing the church and in 1971. Today,
communities, is the site of a library. This was the many of the row
fascinating – if ultimately first development to Ornate west window of houses have been
unsuccessful – experiment. The offer the working class Greenstone Church restored and are
town, the first of its kind in the indoor plumbing, gas, individually owned.
US, was built by George M. and recreational facilities. The town is easily explored in
Pullman, founder of the luxury The experiment ended in an afternoon; maps are
rail-carriage manufacturer acrimony when Pullman laid off available at the visitor center.
Pullman Palace Car Company, workers and cut wages without Hotel Florence (11111
to house his employees. In lowering rents during the 1894 S Forestville Ave), named for
1879, Pullman purchased 6.25 depression. A huge strike, which Pullman’s favorite daughter,
sq miles (16 sq km) of eventually spread across the is a superb 1881 example of
Queen Anne style. The hotel
is now a small museum, and
is gradually undergoing an
extensive renovation.
The mansions lining 111th
and 112th streets were built
for Pullman executives; the
Pullman colors of maroon
and green frame the windows
and doors. The Greenstone
Church (1882) and the curved
Beman-designed Colonnade
Apartments and Town Houses
by Market Hall are also worth
a look. The Market Circle
apartments (1892) were
A building that once housed several Pullman Palace Car Company workers bachelor units.

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