Sunday, June 20, 2010

historic photos

A week or two ago I downloaded the Dover Street Landmark District report and read through the entire thing over a 2-3 day period during my EL commutes to and from work. I am in love with the history of place so knowing that our street has a significance in Chicago history is just so much fun to me! The report was filled with wonderful historic photos of the street, old architects, train stations and architectural detail shots. I love seeing old photos with buildings I have begun to recognize and are still standing today. And I get the most fun out of seeing people in the pictures and thinking about what their life was like back then living on Dover Street.

Anyway, here's a short clip from the Report and some of the pictures capturing what it was like in the old days! Enjoy!

"The handsome residential buildings of the Dover Street District reflect the history and development of the Sheridan Drive Subdivision (later known as the Sheridan Park neighborhood within the larger Uptown community area) and the associated importance of middle-class housing in late 19th- and early 20th-century Chicago. Possessing a distinctly suburban character, the District is made up of single-family houses, two and three-flats, and small apartment buildings. Situated on wide lots that are generously set back from Dover and Beacon Streets, the buildings of the District exemplify the residential growth and development of this North Side neighborhood in the years after its annexation by Chicago in 1889."


This photo (above) was taken in front of our condo building looking north at our neighbors house - the one with all the children on the front stoop.








Dover Street today