South Loop in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Lost Houses of Prairie Avenue: 2000-2100 Blocks

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 14, 2026

1. Lost Houses of Prairie Avenue: 2000-2100 Blocks Marker

Inscription.

Lost Houses of Prairie Avenue: 2000-2100 Blocks. . "Upon the South Side, for a distance of six blocks, Prairie Avenue is pronounced the residence street par excellence... The aggregate wealth of the residents of these blocks is placed at $50,000,000 at a low estimate." Chicago Inter Ocean, 1887 , , 2009 S. Prairie Avenue , Max A Meyer Residence. Built 1888; Burnham and Root, architects , This picturesque row house was among the more distinctive on the street, being executed in the French Gothic style. Mayer was an officer with a successful boot and shoe firm, and died just as the house was being completed. Razed 1955. , , 2100 S. Prairie Avenue , John B. Sherman Residence. Built 1874; Burnham and Root, architects , Sherman was manager of the Union Stock Yards, and his daughter Margaret married the architect Daniel Burnham during construction. Sherman often recommended the firm to his neighbors, making them the most prolific architects represented on the street. Razed 1936. , , 2115 S. Prairie Avenue , David Kelley-Philip D. Armour Residence. Built 1871; architect unknown , Originally built for lumberman David Kelley, this stately Second Empire residence was for nearly 50 years the home of the family of meatpacker Philip D. Armour, one of Chicago's wealthiest businessmen. Armour's widow was among the last residents of the street, dying here in 1927. Razed 1937. , , 2126 S. Prairie Avenue , Edward F. Robbins Residence. Built 1904; Mann, MacNeill and Lindeberg, architects , This was the last house built on Prairie Avenue for 95 years, and was designed in the Federal style of dark red brick with white marble trim. In less than 20 years, it was converted to publishing offices, eventually being occupied by the World Book Company. Razed 2002. , , 2140 S. Prairie Avenue , William F. Tucker-Byron L. Smith Residence. Built 1876; John M. Van Osdel, architect , This imposing brick residence was acquired in 1881 by Byron L. Smith, founder and first president of the Northern Trust Company. Prior to demolition in 1936, the dining room was dismantled and reassembled as a private dining room at Northern Trust.

"Upon the South Side, for a distance of six blocks, Prairie Avenue is pronounced the residence street par excellence... The aggregate wealth of the residents of these blocks is placed at $50,000,000 at a low estimate." Chicago Inter Ocean, 1887

2009 S. Prairie Avenue
Max A Meyer Residence. Built 1888; Burnham & Root, architects
This picturesque row house was among the more distinctive on the street, being executed in the French Gothic style. Mayer was an officer with a successful boot and shoe firm, and died just as the house was being completed. Razed 1955.

2100 S. Prairie Avenue
John B. Sherman Residence. Built 1874; Burnham & Root, architects
Sherman was manager of the Union Stock Yards, and his daughter Margaret married the architect Daniel Burnham during construction. Sherman often recommended the firm to his neighbors, making them the most prolific architects represented on the street. Razed 1936.

2115 S. Prairie Avenue
David Kelley-Philip D. Armour Residence. Built 1871; architect unknown
Originally built for lumberman David Kelley, this stately Second Empire residence was for nearly 50 years the home

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of the family of meatpacker Philip D. Armour, one of Chicago's wealthiest businessmen. Armour's widow was among the last residents of the street, dying here in 1927. Razed 1937.

2126 S. Prairie Avenue
Edward F. Robbins Residence. Built 1904; Mann, MacNeill & Lindeberg, architects
This was the last house built on Prairie Avenue for 95 years, and was designed in the Federal style of dark red brick with white marble trim. In less than 20 years, it was converted to publishing offices, eventually being occupied by the World Book Company. Razed 2002.

2140 S. Prairie Avenue
William F. Tucker-Byron L. Smith Residence. Built 1876; John M. Van Osdel, architect
This imposing brick residence was acquired in 1881 by Byron L. Smith, founder and first president of the Northern Trust Company. Prior to demolition in 1936, the dining room was dismantled and reassembled as a private dining room at Northern Trust.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 41° 51.42′ N, 87° 37.253′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook

The marker near the Chicago Women's Park entrance on Prairie Avenue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 14, 2026

2. The marker near the Chicago Women's Park entrance on Prairie Avenue

County. It is in South Loop. It is on South Prairie Avenue south of East 18th Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is one of several posted along the Prairie Avenue-side fence of Chicago Women's Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1801 South Indiana Avenue, Chicago IL 60616, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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: Rebirth 1966-2004 (here, next to this marker); Upstairs Downstairs (a few steps from this marker); In Chicago Palaces (a few steps from this marker); Decline 1905-1965 (a few steps from this marker); Lost Houses of Prairie Avenue: 1800-1900 Blocks (West Side) (a few steps from this marker); Glory Days 1872-1904 (within shouting distance of this marker);

Sherman house at 2100 S. Prairie image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Chicago History Museum (ICHi-001299), circa 1890

3. Sherman house at 2100 S. Prairie

Lost Houses of Prairie Avenue: 1800-1900 Blocks (East Side) (within shouting distance of this marker); Beginnings 1812-1871 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Regarding Lost Houses of Prairie Avenue: 2000-2100 Blocks. An estimated 90% of the homes that, during the 1870s and 1880s, made Prairie Avenue the city's most sought-after residential location have been razed, many as the neighborhood shifted to commercial and industrial uses starting in the 1910s. Restoration efforts coupled with rezoning and new building have return this neighborhood to its residential roots.

Fence around Chicago Women's Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 14, 2026

4. Fence around Chicago Women's Park

This Lost Houses marker is obscured by the fence but is just to the right of the blue marker seen in the distance on the fence.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 19, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 2 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 19, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.