West Town in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

John Lothrop Motley Public School

John J. Flanders, architect (original building), Normand Smith Patton, architect (additions)

— Chicago Landmark —

John Lothrop Motley Public School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 18, 2024

1. John Lothrop Motley Public School Marker

Inscription. This Renaissance Revival-style public school building embodies school design concepts that prevailed in Chicago in the late nineteenth century. It was built to relieve existing over-crowded schools in the West Town community area, the population of which was increasing rapidly with immigrants from Poland and Scandinavia. The building was named after an American author, historian, and diplomat who is known for his efforts, as an envoy to the Austrian Empire, to prevent European countries from siding with the Confederacy during the United States Civil War.

Designated on December 14, 2016
Rahm Emanuel, Mayor

Erected by Commission on Chicago Landmarks; City of Chicago.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Immigration • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Chicago Landmarks Commission, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.

Location. 41° 53.733′ N, 87° 39.676′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in West Town. It is on

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Ada Street south of Chicago Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 739 North Ada Street, Chicago IL 60642, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The 1992 River West Gas Fires (approx. ¼ mile away); Northwestern University Settlement House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Elizabeth Peabody Public School Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Milly’s Pizza in the Pan (approx. 0.4 miles away); Bell from the First Holy Trinity Church (approx. half a mile away); Polish National Alliance Building (approx. 0.6 miles away); Home & Bank Trust Building (approx. 0.7 miles away); East Village (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. The

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 18, 2024

2. John Lothrop Motley Public School Marker

marker states that the building dates to 1884, with additions made in 1898.

Regarding John Lothrop Motley Public School. The school closed in 2013; after receiving Chicago Landmark status in 2016 and being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017, the building was converted into a residential building called the Motley School Apartments.

Also see . . .
1. Landmark Designation Report: John Lothrop Motley Public School. The 2016 report on the building's history from the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. (Submitted on November 18, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Motley Apartments official site. (Submitted on November 18, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. John Lathrop Motley: The Witty U.S. Minister to Vienna. From American Diplomacy, a quarterly journal

Excerpt: "And yet for all his talent, devotion and intelligence, he is remembered, if at all, for botching serious assignments in Venice and England. He became involved in a bitter controversy that, after more than 100 years, still smolders in anger in the dispatches, correspondence and memoirs of those
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, November 18, 2024

3. Motley School and Ada Street
who were deeply involved in those events."

(Submitted on November 18, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 216 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 18, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.