Monday, March 7, 2016

Marshall Field's Buildings

Mike Tuggle posted
Looking north on State Street from Washington in 1902.
On the northeast corner is the previous Marshall Field & Co.
Brad Cornelius The current building (from 1907) certainly makes
a statement... but this previous one was far prettier, in my opinion.
When I started this blog, I was thinking more about railroads, canals, and smokestack industries. But I'm learning in terms of number of employees, size of buildings, and number of buildings; retail is a big industry.

In addition to these pictures of their flagship retail store in the Chicago Loop, Marshal Field built the Merchandise Mart as a "wholesale store."

Brad Cornelius posted
Marshall Field's fleet of delivery wagons in 1897. Despite how orderly and efficient this looks It's easy to imagine the noises and smells weren't quite as pleasant.

MWRD posted
A view looking north at the intersection of State and Washington Streets on July 9, 1916.
Darryl Chiostri: On the top of the building across from Fields and further north, there is a sign which appears to be advertising “Edelweiss Beer”, brewed in Chicago by the Schoenhofer Brewery. From its appearance, it might have been illuminated at night. 
Charles Lough: “Meet Me Under The Clock”
Jim Wynne: Photo was taken at 7:40 AM on a Sunday.

John P Keating Jr posted
Marshal Field's on State Street 2006
[When I first saw this photo, I wondered what is the big deal about a corner of the building. Then I realized it was the name "Marshall Field." The store is now owned by Macy.]
Richard Pitchford posted
Helen Sarros operates the new pneumatic tube cash collecting system at Marshall Fields, 1947. These tubes were used to send cash from the sales floor to this location (most likely in the basement), then back to the cashier with change and a receipt.
Historic Photographs posted
The Pneumatic Tube Room at department store Marshal Fields in Chicago, IL. Tubes whisks transaction in 90 seconds, 1947.

Sheila Kirby posted
Shelila's comment: "Pedestrians looking at Marshall Fields Window C1909 Chicago by Chicago past.com."


When our girls were young, taking them to see the windows, buy some mints, and eat in the Walnut Room with the big Christmas Tree was always a treat for the family. The windows had animated displays so that when you started at one end they told a story.
Richard Pitchford posted
Looking east on Washington from State, 1890, Chicago. Marshall Field’s is on the left.
Ryerson and Burnham Archives, Art Institute of Chicago.
Tiffany Foster-Grant posted a couple of collections of pictures of the State Street Store in a public group: 1, 2.

Sheila Kirby posted
[The tree in the upper-left corner confirms the atrium has been decorated for the Holiday Season.]


Marshall Field River Warehouse



Jeff Nichols posted
Chicago River, view from Taylor, 1909. Pitt.
Tom McGrath Looking north. Grand central station/terminal is on the right.
Victor StLawrence Yup. And Marshall Field warehouse on the left.
[The curve in the river reminds one that 1909 was before the river was straightened. Note the coal smoke haze. You can barely see that the Polk Street bridge just this side of the MF warehouse is in the up position. I'm surprised how few boats are on the river.]
Mike Franklin comment

4000 Diversity Avenue Warehouse


 (3D Satellite)
Street View
I learned of this warehouse from a Chicago Tribune article on Jan 14, 2018 on page 3 in the Business Section. The developer Hubbard Street Group plans to build 123 loft apartments on the east side of this 1.5m sq ft property on 22 acres now called The Fields. They will develop 1444,000 sq ft by converting the second floor into parking and building apartments in the third-fifth floors. They will also develop the roof as a deck and other amenities such a fitness center. This is pushing the fashionable residential area even further from downtown.

Early 20th Century


I spotted at least two buildings in this map.
David Daruszka commented on Jeff's posting
And another one in this one.
David Daruszka commented on Jeff's posting

Before the Fire


Historic Chicago posted
The original Marshall Field Department Store (then called the Field and Leiter Store) at the corner of State and Washington (1868)



1 comment:

  1. I was born in Chicago in 1942. We lived in Austin at 5659 W Race St. at the corner of Race and Waller Avenue. My mother was a big fan of the Chicago Loop and we used to take the "El" (electric elevated train) to the Loop regularly. Riding on wicker seats on the rocking, swaying cars was an adventure in itself. We would spend much time in the wonderful world of Marshall Fields. The toy dept. was amazing. Every dept. was amazing tome. We would eat at the fabulous Forum Cafeteria or get a giant stuffed baked potato at Hardings. Other dept store we would explore were Goldblatts, The Fair, and Wiebolts. Morrow's Nut Shops fans exhausted the smell of roasting nuts out to the sidewalk and it was heady perfume indeed. Sadly, theLoop became seedy and rundown and unsafe eventually. The magic is gone now forever.

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